Not-So-Obvious Reasons Why Italy Should Be Your Next Travel Destination

Published on by J. Kelland Perry

Ah, wanderlust. I’m experiencing you again.

My husband and I are beginning to yearn for a return trip to Europe. We are planning on seeing England sometime in the future, but we still get a warm and fuzzy feeling when we look back on our trip to Italy.

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We all know that food is one of the main draws to Italy. After all, it’s undeniable that their pizzas and pastas are the best in the world, and we feasted on both often, during our travels there.

Many people visit the country to experience the renowned cuisine, and crowds upon crowds of tourists frequent the popular cities of Venice and Rome.

But there is more to Italy than these things. Here are some not-so-obvious reasons why Italy should be your next travel destination.

Wonderful Festivals

One thing I hadn’t known when we visited is that Italy knows how to put on a good festival. If we ever return – and I hope we do – we won’t forget to sample a few. In the summer months, there are many outdoor festivals, full of music for locals and visitors to enjoy. One festival you won’t want to miss is the Carpino Folk Festival. It’s the biggest folk festival in the country and is fantastic if you want to listen to some haunting melodies. You can find out more about this festival in this article.

Amazing Craft Shops

Shopping is one of the biggest draws to Italy. The clothes are fantastic, and you wouldn’t want to leave without visiting some of the designer stores. But as well as clothes, there are some fabulous craft shops. You’ll find many towns across the country with stores selling all the craft items you could possibly need. One place to go to is the Palazzo Pitti. As this feature explains, you can find some great artisan shops here, selling ceramics and leather. You’ll be going home with a full suitcase of fabulous finds if you head to beautiful Italy. All you need is the money!

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The Beautiful Countryside in Tuscany

The views are one of the best things about Italy. Places in Italy like the Amalfi Coast are some of the most stunning in the world. If you head to Tuscany, you’ll see the gorgeous countryside, full of vineyards and olive groves that are breathtaking. The Apennine Mountains are a sight to behold. I recommend you find somewhere to stay in the heart of the Tuscany countryside to have an unforgettable Italian holiday.

We stayed in a lovely villa for an entire week while we were in Tuscany, and took day trips to Florence and Siena. Next time, we have to remember to book a trip to a winery for something a little different.

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Beautiful churches

Even if you are not religious, the churches in Italy are worth taking in. For one thing, they are absolutely beautiful treasures of architecture. They were a highlight of our trip and something I will never forget. Just make sure you cover up out of respect when you visit the churches, or you won’t be allowed in. 🙂

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As well as all this, the country has some of the nicest people in the world. My husband and I would go back in a heartbeat!

Have you ever travelled to Italy?
Do you have any not-so-obvious reasons to add it as a destination?

36 thoughts on “Not-So-Obvious Reasons Why Italy Should Be Your Next Travel Destination”

  1. Yes, I LOVE Italy. I’ve been there three times so far, and my guy and I are hoping/wishing/thinking of going back again. The first time we traveled there to get our daughter, who spent her junior year abroad in Florence. For a week she gave us a tour of all the churches/sites/museums that she learned about – best tour guide EVER. (She also knew the best cheap but delicious restaurants.) The other two times we went with friends and stayed at a villa each of those times. Day trips to Sienna, etc. Loved every minute, except both times were in August and it was in the 90s and quite hot. Not a lot of AC in Italy. Anyway, thanks for helping me relive those wonderful memories. Do you have a favorite Italian town/city?

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    1. How wonderful that must have been, to have your daughter as a trusted tour guide for your first trip! And your two stays in villas sounds equally divine. I imagine August was quite hot, though; we were there in June so it was not very hot, just warm.
      I can’t narrow down my favourite city or town. Maybe if I returned another time I could decide. We visited and/or stayed in Rome, Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Badia Agnano, Stresa, Baveno, and Verbania. Missed the two large centres of Venice and Milan, but maybe next time.
      Thanks for sharing your experiences. 🙂

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      1. All of those small towns are so amazing. My favorites were Volterra and San Gimignano. Sitting in a café in the stone streets, sipping on a beer and people looking (men and women from every nation). Unmatchable. 🙂

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  2. Ciao Bella! I love it too Jennifer 💕 We are so lucky to get to Italy every year…. we are able to add it on to my trip to visit family in Scotland. We stay in Tuscany and visit various festivals and markets around the area. The wine festivals are a special draw for us!! The people are so friendly and appreciative of visitors.

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    1. Wow! Lucky you! Every year? That is wonderful. Yes, we found the people very friendly too. The couple we rented our villa from were sooo nice, and so was the staff in the hotels and the owners of a B & B we stayed in. 🙂
      Thanks for chiming in. 🙂

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    1. I would have thought you would’ve gravitated to the Italian countryside, Andrea. Perhaps you never had the chance? I have such a clear memory back in 2011 of my sister and I walking along a dirt road in Tuscany, looking over the hills and valleys. Pure heaven.

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      1. When I went to Italy the first time it was on a coach tour when I was 21, the first time I’d been abroad – so I did drive through countryside of all varieties, but strangely given that I love Italy I’ve never chosen to take a longer holiday there, just to visit on city breaks. We don’t go abroad these days as we like to holiday in the UK with the dog, but maybe in the future!

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  5. I’ve been following the traveling posts of several blogging efriends. You-all are surely making me want to see the world. Anthropologists think that one of the reasons humans peopled the planet is because we have a wanderlust that no other species has. I’m starting to feel it.

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    1. I read an article a while back about how a segment of the human population actually have the wanderlust gene, or whatever it is that makes them yearn to travel. I love to travel, but I also have a strong nesting instinct, so coming home is wonderful too! 🙂

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  6. What is the expression? “80% of the food in Italy is amazing. The remaining 20% is even better.” Or something like that. We were there as a family about 5 years ago. It was fantastic! Something manically about the place. I can’t wait to go back ….. Maybe next year?

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  8. Great post and reasons why you’d want to return to Italy. We’ve been twice and loved it both times. The history is crazy and the food is amazing.
    We’ve also been to England and France and loved both places, especially the countyside of both countries.
    Bucket list..:)

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  9. Jennifer, your pictures are giving me wanderlust as well. It looks so beautiful there! When you say cover up to visit churches, what do you mean? Like a head covering? ❤
    Diana xo

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  13. Hi Jen! What a lovely post! I have Italy on my bucket list! My best friend is a CPA and travels there all the time for her company. Hope to stow away with her one day soon! Visiting the villages of the Cinque Terre is a dream of mine. 🙂

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