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Italy

Destination guide

Rome

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From Perth to Rome direct in under 16 hours: you land in Rome in time for a morning espresso.
Fettuccine with parma ham ragu.

It’s impossible to get a table at this restaurant, so I just rocked up

The 35-seat restaurant in Bologna is a legend, whispered about by Michelin inspectors and the Italian food community.

  • Natasha Bazika

‘Don’t turn up without a booking’: Rome will be busier than ever this year

With pilgrims flocking to Rome for the Catholic Jubilee, you’ll need to plan ahead and follow these tips to avoid the holy masses.

  • Justin Meneguzzi
The remains of vintage cars and motorcycles in the Borbone family’s tunnel.

The hidden underground world beneath an Italian city

Created more than 2400 years ago, this hidden world disappeared for 55 years, only to be rediscovered in 2005.

  • Kerry van der Jagt
Caffe San Marco, a long-time haunt of intellectuals, radicals, businesspeople and writers.

Italy’s coffee capital? It’s hard to go past this cafe-loving city

The baristas have the timing and grace of ballerinas, and even the coffee at the railway stations is great.

  • Justine Costigan
Fresh coffee and “la gioia”… the haircut is just a bonus.

The highlight of my visit to Italy was somewhere totally unexpected

I’ve needed a haircut for months, but as usual, I’ve been putting it off. I’d been butchered before when travelling.

  • Justine Costigan
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Cyclists crossing Via Giuseppe Mazzini of Ferrara with the tower of San Giorgio cathedral in background.

Not Florence: Italy’s other beautiful Renaissance city (with no tourists)

Overshadowed by its more famous neighbours, Ferrara has something those cities don’t – no signs of overtourism.

  • Justine Costigan
The Vatican gardens, seen from St Peter’s Basilica.

The world’s smallest nation has some astonishing sights

An outsized history as the seat of the Catholic Church brings with it an incredible collection of art and architecture.

  • Brian Johnston
I was picturing The Sound of Music… but it was more like my school.

What would you do for cheap lodging in Italy? I spent a night with nuns

I have a fantasy of staying somewhere like the abbey in The Sound of Music. But my last-minute monastery stay reminds me of school.

  • Justine Costigan
Accommodation in Rome, especially near Vatican City (back left), is at a premium for Holy Year in 2025.

I stayed in Rome’s poshest area and it was surprisingly cheap

The city’s upper brow may live here, but for tourists it’s a sweet spot – close enough to the city’s most visited sights and far enough to feel Roman.

  • Natasha Bazika
A trip to Florence in the wintertime can help you escape crowds.

In winter, this Italian tourist mecca is a different (better) city

While a winter-time trip to Florence will never be yours alone, it allows you to adopt a laziness that feels in keeping with the true spirit of the city.

  • Kurt Johnson

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/topic/italy-b01