Genoa’s location on the northern Italian coastline near France makes it a convenient location to go to.
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Make sure you’re on the correct half of a long-distance train because it might split into different destinations at a city hub. Destination signs are typically posted by the car entrance. Avoid the slower regionale, interregional and diretto trains unless you want to spend several hours admiring scenery. Take the Eurostar, Intercity and EuroCity trains for the fastest service. They differ by price, destination and schedule.
Hire a local guide to learn the anecdotes, history and hidden sites of the major cities, such as Florence, Rome and Venice, and significant smaller cities, Sienna, such as Perugia and Vincenza. Make sure that your guide has a current license; Italian guides are tested and licensed by local governments. Contact the town tourist office before your arrive for listings and recommendations for a local guide. Call and arrange a date and time for your tour, because popular guides are often booked up in advance, even in the off season.
Pay attention to the Italian seasons. Much of Italy has a four-season climate. Winters are coolest in the northern regions with snow not uncommon. Southern Italy rarely sees snow but expect temperatures to slide into the 40s and 50s Fahrenheit if you are visiting during the winter. Italy is home to numerous local festivals that fall at various times during the year. The popularity of the festival may influence how hard it is to travel to a particular area during a particular time. For example, the central Italian city of Siena hosts the Palio horse race twice a year. During the race riders ride bareback on top of horses around the central square. The festival is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Prepare well in advance if you would like to visit Siena at this time.
Eat like an Italian. Avoid restaurants near tourist attractions or in large piazzas. Look for eateries on small, narrow side streets. Even in the midst of downtown Florence’s historic center, I Due Fratellini, a favorite lunch stop for locals, is located just off the architectural marvel Orsanmichele. Stop a resident on the street and ask him where is his favorite place for lunch, ice cream or pizza. Italians have very strong opinions about food and they like to share them; you will probably find yourself personally escorted to a trattoria, introduced to the owner and treated as an honored guest.
The Kingdom of Sicily
If you will be traveling to Italy in the spring, fall or winter, make certain to pack appropriate outerwear. Spring and fall often bring rain, so a funky umbrella or designer raincoat can be lifesavers; to draw less attention to yourself as a tourist, avoid ponchos or brightly colored outdoor rain shells. Winters are remarkably cold, but Italians keep their fashion sense by wearing the latest in winter jackets, often in floor-length styles.
Kristy Ambrose enjoys writing about pet care, travel and teaching. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Victoria.
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