Santa Magdalena: A Guide to the Italian Dolomites
Santa Magdalena in South Tyrol offers some of the most dramatic scenery in the Italian Dolomites. Here’s everything you need to know before you visit — from hiking trails to when to go.
Places to visit
Italy is a country full of history, culture and outstanding natural beauty. Some must-visit places include the romantic city of Venice with its famous gondolas and canals, the capital city Rome, home to ancient ruins like the Colosseum and the Vatican City. Florence is famous for its Renaissance art and architecture. The Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are renowned for their stunning coastal scenery. Other notable places include the fashionable city of Milan, the picturesque region of Tuscany, the historic city of Pompeii and the beautiful islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Beyond cities and landscapes, Italy is also known for its delicious cuisine and world-class wines.
– Venice: Known for its romantic ambiance, iconic gondolas, and beautiful canals.
– Rome: The capital city is home to ancient ruins like the Colosseum and the Vatican City.
– Florence: Famous for its Renaissance art and architecture.
– Amalfi Coast: Renowned for its stunning coastal scenery.
– Cinque Terre: Another area known for remarkable coastal views.
– Milan: A fashionable city, known as a global hub for design and fashion.
– Tuscany: A picturesque region with rolling hills, vineyards and historic towns.
– Pompeii: An ancient city with well-preserved ruins from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
– Sicily: The largest island in the Mediterranean sea, known for its rich history and diverse architecture.
– Sardinia: A beautiful island with stunning beaches and clear blue waters.
– Italian Cuisine: Famous for its delicious food like pizza, pasta, gelato, and many regional specialties.
– Italian Wines: Italy is one of the largest wine producers in the world, with famous varieties like Chianti, Prosecco, and Barolo.
Why Italians Speak With Their Hands — And What Each Gesture Means
Discover the meaning behind Italian hand gestures, where they came from, and what they say about Italian culture — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
The Italian Cafes That Have Been Open for 300 Years and Never Lost Their Magic
Step inside Italy’s oldest cafes — from Venice’s Caffe Florian (1720) to Rome’s Antico Caffe Greco — where history was made one espresso at a time — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Sorrento Has Been Italy’s Most Beloved Escape for 200 Years
Perched above the Bay of Naples, Sorrento has captivated travellers for two centuries. Find out why this cliffside town is far more than an Amalfi gateway — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Hiking in Val di Funes: The Dolomites’ Most Photographed Valley
Val di Funes in South Tyrol is home to the Geisler peaks, the Church of St. Johann in Ranui and the Adolf Munkel Trail — one of the finest half-day walks in the Dolomites. Here is everything you need to plan your visit.
The 24-Hour Good Friday Procession That Has Kept Trapani Awake Since 1612
Discover Trapani’s ancient Processione dei Misteri — Sicily’s 24-hour Good Friday procession that has wound through medieval streets every year since 1612. — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
The Night Lucca Switches Off Its Lights and Burns 10,000 Candles
Every September, Lucca fills its medieval streets with thousands of candles for the Luminara di Santa Croce — a 900-year-old tradition unlike any — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why One Tuscan Town Has Been Carving the Same Stone for 3,000 Years
Volterra, Tuscany, has been carving alabaster for 3,000 years — from Etruscan funeral urns to modern workshops still open to visitors — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why the Balsamic Vinegar in Your Cupboard Is Nothing Like the Real Thing
The real balsamic vinegar of Modena takes 25 years to make and tastes nothing like the supermarket version. Here’s what makes it extraordinary — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Positano Still Surprises People Who Think They Already Know It
What to know before visiting Positano: the best beaches, arrival tips, and why timing is everything — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Italians Have a Sacred Hour Every Evening That Visitors Keep Missing
Discover the Italian aperitivo tradition — the beloved pre-dinner ritual that turns six o’clock into the best hour of the day — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Every Italian Family Guards Its Sunday Ragu Recipe Like a Secret
Discover why Sunday ragu is more than just a pasta sauce in Italy — a slow-cooked ritual passed down through generations of Italian families. — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Trieste Has Always Felt Like It Belongs Somewhere Else
Trieste sits at the edge of Italy — but feels like nowhere else. Discover this Habsburg city of coffee, castles, and literary ghosts — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Every Italy Trip Is Incomplete Without a Day in Assisi
Discover Assisi’s medieval streets, pink stone basilica, and Umbrian valley views unchanged since the 13th century — the perfect Italian day trip. Plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Naples Treats Its Pizza Like a Religion — and UNESCO Agrees
Why Neapolitan pizza is unlike anything else: its UNESCO heritage status, strict rules of authenticity, and the three iconic Naples pizzerias every visitor should know — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Gubbio’s Ancient Race Still Moves Grown Men to Tears Every May
Discover the Festa dei Ceri — Gubbio’s 900-year-old race through its medieval streets every May 15 — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
The Italian Village Your Great-Grandparents Left — and Why You Should Visit It
How to find and visit your Italian ancestral village — the journey that changes everything — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
How Locals Eat in Venice — the Tiny Bars Most Tourists Walk Right Past
Discover cicchetti — Venice’s beloved small-bite tradition eaten standing at tiny bacari bars, and how locals eat brilliantly for under ten euros — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Finding Italy’s Weekly Market Is the Best Thing You’ll Do There
Discover Italy’s weekly market tradition — the mercato settimanale where locals buy fresh produce, meet neighbours, and taste before they buy — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
The Italian Town That Never Stopped Speaking Its Conqueror’s Language
Explore Alghero, the Sardinian city that has spoken Catalan for 700 years — medieval towers, lobster on the harbour, and caves in the cliffs. — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why the Wine Villages of Piedmont Are Worth a Trip to Italy Alone
Visit Barolo, La Morra and the Piedmont wine villages — home to Italy’s greatest wine and some of its most beautiful UNESCO landscapes — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.