Europe
Italy
Returning to explore the roots of our civilization.
Returning to Italy is always a pleasure. I'll take you through the corners you still have left to discover, or the ones you already know, to see them in a new way.
Italy unfolds in layers, and each one calls for its own pace: imperial Rome, Renaissance Florence, and Venice floating among its canals, linked by high-speed train so the journey itself is a pleasure, not just logistics. Contrast sets the tone: mornings with a private guide through the historic heart of each city, free afternoons to get lost without an agenda on streets you already know by heart, and a full afternoon at a century-old Chianti winery, among vineyards and medieval villages that never make it onto the typical postcards. Further south, the Bay of Naples adds a completely different Italy: the Amalfi Coast explored in a convertible, the Blue Grotto of Capri, and a volcano, Vesuvius, that still smokes above the vineyards. And further south still, Sicily closes the circle with layers of history stacked one on top of another — Arab, Norman, and Byzantine living side by side in the same mosaics —, an active Etna explored by off-road vehicle, and postcard towns like Cefalù and Taormina, perched between the sea and the volcano. It suits the traveler who has already experienced Italy as a tourist and now wants to understand it as an insider, with time for silence inside an empty basilica first thing in the morning. This isn't a checklist itinerary: it's an unhurried way to explore a country that never runs out.
Datos del viaje
Experiences
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A cooking class with Sorrento lemons, at a family farmhouse
At Fattoria Terranova, a visit to the lemon nursery and a class with the chef where Sorrento lemon is the star ingredient in every dish, with a homemade limoncello tasting.
View experience: A cooking class with Sorrento lemons, at a family farmhouse
On the hills of Sant'Agata sui due Golfi, overlooking the Bay of Naples, the Ruoppo family welcomes visitors to their agritourism farm, Fattoria Terranova. The visit begins at the lemon nursery, where the history and cultivation of the famous Sorrento lemon is explained, and continues in the kitchen, where the executive chef guides the preparation of a full menu — starters, fresh pasta, main course, and dessert — with lemon as the star ingredient in every dish. The class ends with a homemade limoncello tasting.
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Positano and Amalfi by convertible car
A classic Alfa Romeo Spider drives the coast to Positano and Amalfi.
View experience: Positano and Amalfi by convertible car
A classic convertible — a 1970s Alfa Romeo Spider — winds along the curves of the Amalfi Coast to Positano, a village best understood by walking its vertical alleys rather than listing its viewpoints. The route continues to Amalfi, with its Cathedral of Saint Andrew and the staircase leading up to it, before wandering the seafront promenade and the lemon-grove hills surrounding the town. It's a way to explore one of Europe's most photographed coastlines without the bus stops or the large tour groups.
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Chianti in its castle
Lunch and a wine tasting at a historic winery among vineyards.
View experience: Chianti in its castle
A lunch and wine tasting at a historic winery in the Chianti region, among hillside vineyards, with a seasonal menu prepared using ingredients from the estate itself. The host explains the winemaking process and the particularities of the Tuscan terroir, in a Renaissance dining room that's part of the winery itself, far from the area's more touristy tasting circuits.
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Etna by off-road vehicle, with a wine tasting
A 4x4 route along the slopes of Europe's highest active volcano, with a tasting and lunch at a winery.
View experience: Etna by off-road vehicle, with a wine tasting
An off-road route along the slopes of Etna, Europe's highest active volcano, with a mountain guide driving through lava flows, forests, and vegetation that changes with altitude. The route includes a short walk to a viewpoint and ends at a local winery, with a tasting of volcanic wines and lunch, before heading back down toward the coast. This experience depends on the day's weather conditions, and the temperature at the summit can be much lower than on the coast.
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A ball that only exists one night a year
Access to one of the most distinctive masked balls of the carnival, in a historic palace.
View experience: A ball that only exists one night a year
Access to one of the most distinctive masked balls of the Venice Carnival, held in a historic palace in the city. It's an annual event with its own calendar, so availability depends on the trip's dates, but for those whose visit coincides with it, it means experiencing the Venetian carnival from inside the ballroom, among period costumes and live music, rather than watching it from the street like any other spectator.
Itinerary ideas
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9 days
The Classic Grand Tour
Rome, Florence, Venice
View itinerary idea: The Classic Grand Tour
Rome as the grand gateway, with plenty of time for the historic center and the Vatican, a stretch in Florence with day trips to Pisa, Lucca, Chianti, and Siena, and a close in Venice, among canals and palaces.
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8 days
Sicily: Palermo, Etna, and Syracuse
Palermo, Cefalù, Taormina, Etna, Catania, Syracuse
View itinerary idea: Sicily: Palermo, Etna, and Syracuse
Palermo as the starting point, with the Byzantine mosaic at Monreale and the bustle of the Ballarò market, the coast to Taormina and its Greco-Roman amphitheater, a 4x4 ascent of Etna with a wine tasting, and a close between Catania and Syracuse, with the old town of Ortigia and the Greek theater.
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8 days
Amalfi Coast: Naples, Capri, and Positano
Sorrento, Naples, Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Paestum
View itinerary idea: Amalfi Coast: Naples, Capri, and Positano
Naples and Sorrento as a base, with the Blue Grotto of Capri, an excursion to Vesuvius and a winery beside the volcano, the historic center of Naples and a cooking class with Sorrento lemons, and a close by vintage car through Positano and Amalfi, with a stop at the ruins of Paestum.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to travel to Italy?
From April to June and from September to October, with good weather and less heat than in high summer. Official Italian tourism organises visits by season and highlights the appeal of spring and autumn. These are ideal months for cities and landscapes, and for avoiding the summer crowds.
How long should a trip to Italy last and how long does it take to get there?
Between 8 and 10 days lets you combine two or three bases, for instance a great city, Tuscany and the coast, without spending the trip on trains. There is a direct flight from Spain of 2 to 2.5 hours, so you can leave in the morning and have lunch at your destination.
What documents do I need to travel to Italy from Spain?
A valid national ID card or passport is enough, and no visa or compulsory vaccinations are needed. Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises carrying both documents, kept separately, and notes that a passport is mandatory if you arrive on flights from non-EU countries. As of November 2026; confirm at the official source before travelling.