Are you ready for holidays in one of the most amazing countries in the world? Italy is one of the most popular camping destinations in the world, which allows you to choose any type of holiday: cities of art, sea, lakes, mountains, plains, etc. In Italy, you can find what you prefer the most. Italy has wonderful beaches, not to mention the so-called "Maldives of Salento", the crystal clear waters of Sardinia and the spectacular Aeolian Islands, just to give a few examples. If you prefer mountains, in Italy you will find fantastic ski resorts or mountain villages. So, Apennines or Alps? You choose. Italy not only offers spectacular landscapes, amazing food, friendly people, and historic artworks – here you can find tremendous variety, whether you are looking for a family holiday, a solo trip, a little getaway with friends, or a romantic city break.
Italy is a boot-shaped peninsula in southern Europe surrounded by crystal clear waters and mountains crisscrossing the interior, dividing it into regions. Top tourist regions? Of course, the most popular and worth visiting Italian regions are Lazio, Lombardy, Basilicate, Emilia-Romagna, Calabria, Liguria, Tuscany, Apulia, Sicily, and Veneto.
Lazio is worth a visit because it is home to the capital of Italy - Rome, the Eternal City, or the so-called open-air museum. Rome is a must if you have never been here, and there is plenty more to see and do in Lazio as well. There is a coast to explore, medieval towns, and small mountains to hike, as well as lakes to see.
Lombardy is one of the gems of the north. It is the wealthiest region in the country and is home to cities such as Milan, a famous city of fashion. It is also known as Italy’s lake district as it boasts destinations such as Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, and Lake Garda.
Basilicata is a region of forests and mountains in southern Italy. Sometimes this region is forgotten by tourists, but it can be even a plus to explore it without banked-up traffic and tourist crowds.
If you are a history lover, you definitely have to explore Emilia-Romagna, it is home to several fascinating cities like Florence or Ravenna, that look as if they have come straight from the Renaissance era.
For an authentic Italian experience, go to Calabria, a region in southwest Italy that occupies the "toe" of the country’s boot-shaped peninsula. It is a sun-baked region of rugged mountains, old-fashioned villages and coastline with many spectacular untouched beaches.
If you are a lover of breathtaking views of the ocean and a relaxed resort vibe, check out the northwestern region of Liguria. Here you will find the iconic seaside destination of Portofino, famous for its picturesque harbor.
Do not forget the magical Tuscany, with its rolling green hills, sprawling vineyards, Renaissance towns, and grand villas lining the countryside.
Another amazing region to explore is Apulia, which is not as well-known as some of the other regions in Italy but is worth seeing. Located on the eastern coast, Apulia makes up the heel of the boot that is Italy. It boasts 500 miles of sandy coastline as well as some magnificent countryside, the baroque city of Lecce, the city of “trulli” (Alberobello), and other charming places to see.
Explore the biggest Italian island, Sicily. It is an ideal place to go if you are looking for a relaxing Italian getaway. And, if you are up for sightseeing, it also boasts plenty of ancient ruins from Greek and Roman times.
Finally, it is worth visiting the region of Veneto, a northeastern Italian region stretching from the Dolomite Mountains to the Adriatic Sea. Venice, its regional capital, is well known for its canals, Gothic architecture, and Carnival celebrations.
Let’s mark some of the most interesting historical facts about the fifth most visited country in the world.
Since classical antiquity, ancient Etruscans, various Italic peoples (such as the Latins, Samnites and Umbrians), Celts, Greek Colonists and other ancient peoples have inhabited the Italian Peninsula. Rome was founded as a Kingdom in 753 BC and became a republic in 509 BC. The Roman Republic then unified Italy at the expense of the Etruscans, Celts, and Greek Colonists of the peninsula. Rome led the federation of the Italic peoples, and later, with the Rise of Rome, dominated Western Europe, Northern Africa, and the Near East. By the mid-19th century, the Italian unification led to the establishment of an Italian nation-state. The new Kingdom of Italy, established in 1861, quickly modernized and built a colonial empire. After the WW1 Italy became Republic.
If you are planning your first trip to Italy, you may be unsure which cities to visit. It is a tough decision, and for good reason, Italy's cities offer a perfect mix of scenery, historic and ancient sites, museums, and, of course, amazing cuisine. What is more, Italy's major cities can easily be visited by train, which is a very convenient way to travel.
Rome is the capital of Italy which offers a variety of sights and experiences. At every turn, you will discover ancient monuments, ornate medieval and baroque churches, beautiful fountains, art-filled museums, and Renaissance palaces.
Florence is one of Italy's most important Renaissance architectural and art centers. Its Duomo and Baptistery are magnificent and always crowded with tourists. Florence has several excellent museums with many famous paintings and sculptures, including Michelangelo's "David" and Botticelli's "Birth of Venus." The best time to visit the cities of Rome and Florence is spring and autumn.
Unlike anywhere else in the world, Venice is a unique city built over the water in the middle of a lagoon. Venice is one of Italy's most beautiful and romantic cities. There are numerous museums, palaces, and churches to visit, and wandering along Venice's canals and getting lost in its maze of narrow streets is always enchanting.
Milano one of Europe's wealthiest cities, is known as a city of fashion, has lots of stylish shops, galleries, and restaurants, and has a faster pace of life than most Italian cities. It also has a rich artistic and cultural heritage. Its Gothic cathedral is magnificent, while La Scala is one of the world's most famous opera houses.
Napoli is one of Italy's most vibrant cities. It lies on the coast and is the most important city in southern Italy. Naples retains much of its Baroque character and is a starting point for trips to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the Amalfi Coast. It holds many historical and artistic treasures, and is famous for pizza and desserts!
Bologna is known for its beauty, wealth, and cuisine. Its flat streets are lined with arcades, making it a good walking city in every kind of weather. It has one of Europe's oldest universities. Bologna is the biggest city in northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, and its Piazza Maggiore is one of the biggest squares in Europe.
Verona is most recognized as the setting for "Romeo and Juliet" but it is also famous for its Roman Arena (the third-largest in Italy and the venue for a top opera festival. Verona has a good medieval centre, Roman remains, and an interesting castle complex.
Built into a seaside cliff in the middle of Italy’s gorgeous Costiera Amalfitana, Positano is now a popular resort destination perfect for couples. Positano is most crowded from April to October. Beyond strolling through town and admiring the colourful houses, visitors can enjoy fresh seafood, do some shopping at boutiques, or relax at the beaches. There are also several hiking options from Positano that follow the coast or go deeper inland.
Turin, in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy, is a major cultural hub with excellent museums, elegant shops, and good restaurants. There are also some very nice examples of Baroque architecture and historic palaces, famous coffee houses, artisan workshops, and streets with covered arcades.
Cinque Terre is worth visiting. It is technically five villages considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These five villages are so close together that visitors can walk from one town into the next. Cinque Terre is famous for its colourful buildings, fresh seafood, impressive hikes, and stunning views. Corniglia is the smallest and one of the least crowded villages (it lacks sea access), while Monterosso is the largest and busiest.
Italians like to say that one life is not enough to visit all the beautiful places in Italy. And it is totally true. But let’s try to focus on the most popular places that are definitely worth seeing at least once in your life.
1. All roads lead to Rome
It is a city that has so much to offer, starting with monuments like the Colosseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, and ending with amazing piazzas like Piazza di Spagna or Piazza Navona. For a glimpse of Roman day-to-day life, go to Campo Dei Fiori. Drawn in by the inviting smell of fresh-baked bread, sit here with a cup of coffee and watch as locals peruse the daily farmers’ market, shopping for everything from local cheeses and juicy fruits, to the best cuts of meat.
2. Florence
It is the symbol of elegance, art, culture, and architecture in Italy. Two of the most important places to visit in Florence are probably Piazza del Duomo, with the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore and the adjacent Giotto’s Bell Tower.
3. Cinque Terre (literally: the Five Lands)
It is a set of five perched villages linked together along a short stretch of cliffs on the Italian Riviera, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which you cannot forget while in Italy.
4. The Amalfi Coast
It is the ideal destination if you want to take a break in a mix of culture, elegance, wonderful nature and breathtaking rocky coast. The coast is best visited during the off-season to avoid the tourist crowds. The Amalfi coast is well known for the production of limoncello liqueur made from lemons grown in terraced gardens along the entire coastline, which is worth a taste.
5. Lake Como
It is famous for the natural beauty of its setting and the handsome villas on its shores. Everyone always talks about Bellagio when it comes to Como, but that is only because they have not been to Varenna. Overlooking the lake’s most famous town, this quiet neighbourhood has an unpretentious charm with its old fishermen’s houses and a picturesque waterfront.
Besides the top 5 places to see in Italy, naturally, there are 5 top things to do in this amazing country:
1. Hiking in Cinque Terre.
Spectacular views, picturesque villages, wild open landscapes, and local experiences, it is hard to beat the five towns of Italy's Cinque Terre and the cliff path that connects them. You can hike from one town to the next, returning or moving on by train.
2. Gliding through Venice in a gondola.
It may be Venice's number one cliché, but drifting along a canal in the graceful curve of a gondola is one of the top things to do in Italy. Finding a gondola in Venice is easy, they gather along the Grand Canal by the Doge's Palace and at the Rialto Bridge.
3. Explore Mount Etna.
It is Europe's tallest and most active volcano. Etna dominates the east coast of the island of Sicily. Within the nearly 48,000 acres of Etna National Park are the active crater, volcanic vents, fumaroles, hot springs, lava flows, and an ice cave that remains frozen throughout Sicily's hot summers.
4. Go skiing in the Sella Ronda.
The Sellaronda is a circuit that leads skiing fanatics or simply active guests to explore the Sella massif in the Dolomites. A special highlight is the yearly Sellaronda Ski Marathon where participants will complete the circuit at night. During the event, the path is illuminated using only the participants’ helmet torches.
5. Go to the beach.
Italy has a lot of coastlines, from miles-long stretches of white sand to tiny, secluded coves hidden by spectacular cliffs. In August, it seems that everyone in Italy heads to the popular beaches of Italy. Those private beaches are literally umbrella to umbrella. It is a slice of Italian life like no other, as much a social scene as it is about the sand and sea. But not all beaches are like that. In Puglia, in the heel of Italy's boot, beaches are hidden in coves, protected by the Natural Regional Park of Costa Otranto, and there is always plenty of space on the long beaches.
What is Italy without food? Italy can claim to be the food capital of the world. The country's culinary tradition is as old and unique as its history and culture. Food and wine play an important part in the unique Italian experience. Italy is best known for pizza and pasta, but there are many more dishes, like risotto, meats, focaccias, bruschettas, salads, different kinds of cheese and so on. But, let’s try to determine the 5 most appreciated Italian foods.
The first one is pizza, but not a simple pizza, it is a Neapolitan pizza. All Italians say that pizza in Naples is definitely the best, and, one of the oldest and best-rated pizzerias in Naples is "L'antica Pizzeria da Michele", where people almost every day wait in long queues, saying that it is worth it.
The second one is pasta. Did you know that there are approximately 350 different types of pasta in the world? For example, due to its shape, farfalle pasta is often called "butterfly" pasta, or capellini pasta is called “angel hair” pasta. While in Italy, you must try "spaghetti alla carbonara". There are plenty of venues serving decent "spaghetti alla carbonara" in Rome, but some of the best are Vascello (Monteverde), Salumeria Roscioli (Campo dei Fiori), and Da Danilo (Esquilino).
The third dish is lasagna. It is traditional Italian comfort food. There are many ways to prepare it, but the most popular variation remains the classic Lasagne alla Bolognese, made with ragù (meat-based Bolognese sauce), Béchamel sauce, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. It is like real magic in your mouth!
The fourth dish is risotto. This famous dish is preferred by the elite as the ingredients used to prepare it are generally high-end and luxurious. For instance, risotto alla Milanese is infused with saffron, which is an expensive commodity in itself. Risotto al Nero di Sepia is prepared with arborio rice, cuttlefish, and squid ink, which are all top-shelf ingredients as well.
And last but not least, is the Fiorentina steak. The T-bone beef steak is cooked for five to seven minutes so that the outside layer is grilled, leaving the inner steak rare or medium-rare. Hard-core Italian food connoisseurs only eat this steak if the beef is from Tuscany. However, there are equally good options available in Rome, Milan, and Sicily.
Above all the amazing Italian cuisine, Italy is very famous for its wines, which are produced in every region of the country. The most famous ones are Barolo (Piedmont), Cannonau (Sardinia), Franciacorta, known as the Italian Champagne (Lombardy), Lambrusco (Emilia-Romagna), and Chianti Classico (Tuscany).
Italy has 58 properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, containing the historic centres of Rome, Florence, Siena, Naples, Venice and its lagoon, Piazza del Duomo in Pisa, the Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico) in Padua and many others.
The government of Italy has established 24 national parks throughout the country. One of these parks is located on the island of Sicily, and three others are located on the island of Sardinia. The oldest one is the Gran Paradiso National Park, located in Piedmont and nestled in the Graian Alps mountains. But, there are 5 top national parks that you can not forget while in Italy:
1. Cinque Terre National Park.
As mentioned before, Cinque Terre is an amazing place, famous for its colourful buildings, fresh seafood, impressive hikes, and stunning views. It is the smallest national park in Italy but it is definitely worth a visit and is included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Bellunesi Dolomites National Park.
It is located in northern Italy and covers an area of 12 square miles. In addition to the majestic mountains, the national park landscape includes springs, swamps, rivers, and canyons. At the park, you can enjoy hiking, rock climbing and canyoning.
3. Stelvio National Park.
It stretches down from the Alps in northern Italy. Come and enjoy the amazing valleys, majestic ridges and crystal clear lakes. It is of those national parks in Italy that just seems to include all the abilities. The park has plenty of walking trails that cater to all levels, from beginners to pro hikers.
It is located mostly in the region of Abruzzo and has an area of 2,014 square kilometres. The Park is extremely rich in geological, environmental, anthropological and cultural goods, go and find them!
5. Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu National Park.
It is located in the east coast of Sardinia. Among the animals and huge birds living in the park, luxurious flowers and rare butterflies, you can see the highest peak of the Gennargentu mountain range, Punta La Marmora and numerous natural monuments.
Would love to know the best Italian events/festivals? Want to be a part of them?
1. Carnival (Carnevale).
It takes place in the weeks leading up to Easter in many Italian towns and is well known for its elaborate floats, and parades.
2. The Palio of Siena (Il Palio di Siena).
It is one of Italy's most famous competitions. Siena's Palio is a horse race run in the piazza. The horse race takes place in both July and August..
3. The Madonna Bruna festival (Festa della Madonna Bruna).
Usually it is organised on July 2 in Matera and is one of the most interesting processions you can ever see. The festival ends with a surprise, and, late at night, there is a spectacular fireworks display over the Sassi of Matera, which is an amazing sight.
4. The Infiorata Festival.
It is organised every year throughout May and June and it is the festival when Italian cities transform streets into carpets of flowers. Sounds interesting? This is not only an interesting tradition, it is a breathtaking scene. It is worth planning a trip to see these exquisite floral creations. Some of the most notable displays include the towns of Orvieto in Umbria, Pienza in Tuscany, Potenzoni di Briatica in Calabria, and Brugnato in Liguria.
5. Summer music festivals.
Like in many other countries, Italy has a lot of summer music festivals of different kinds of music for everyone’s taste. Going to a music festival or outdoor concert during summer can be a highlight of a trip to Italy, depending on which city you are in and what kind of music you like. Highly reccomended is Firenze Rocks & camping.
Italy is probably the best place for camping. Why? Because the country offers everything for camping enthusiasts: amazing landscapes including sea, lakes, mountains, plains, good weather, which has a significant compact on a camping experience, and of course, good food.
There is a huge variety of camping types in Italy: farm, motor home, naturist, marina, glamping, and city camping. But, the most popular ones are family-friendly campsites which are well-equipped for both adults and kids. Don't want to leave your four-legged friend at home? Bring them along! Most Italian campsites are pet-friendly, but check it before going.
These camper spots are solely designed for motorhomes. In Italy RV campings are well-equipped, usually, come with electricity connection and water drainage. Sanitary facilities and camper service are always at your disposal in the campsite’s area. Go enjoy the best camping experience in Italy's natural surroundings!
Want to go glamping in Italy?
The most popular destination for glamping in Italy is the region of Tuscany. Glamping offers different kinds of accommodations, from the most popular to the most unusual ones: tended cabins, safari tents, cottages, yurts, villas, domes, tree houses, bell tents, and many others. There are a lot of unique tourist opportunities as well, from some of the more unusual offerings like trailer glamping or even glamping in caves. It all depends on what kind of camping you prefer the most. You can enjoy the culture of Italy without getting crammed into a city full of tourists!
Choose the ideal Italian camping type with fantastic facilities, comfortable accommodation, many activities and much more to ensure a super sun-kissed escape. Holiday parks are the best choice for quality camping. Many Italian holiday parks will welcome you with a combination of bathing resorts, comfortable accommodation, many shops, a wide choice of restaurants/bars and a variety of activities blending harmoniously with the beauty of nature. Thus, many of holiday parks are pet-friendly, where you can walk your dog everywhere on the campsite and access all areas, where you can find pet showers, off-leash areas, and even pet beaches. Holiday parks are the best choice if you are planning holidays with your friends or family, it is the place, where you will find both relaxation and entertainment. Do not wait and book your holidays now!