Seven weeks in Italy
TRIP-OF-A-LIFETIME — FIVE STARS!
In planning our seven-week trip through Italy, my wife and I wanted to “slow-travel” as a couple - staying 7-10 days in a single location before moving onto the next province. Fortunately an internet search located a travel agent who was perfect at Italy-SlowTravel.com. Tamara Palinkas proved to be a master in working with local partners in several different Italian provinces from north to south to provide the ideal itinerary.
Bari: The last Roman town
I am not a city person. We live in a tiny village among green hills, and whenever I am in Milan, Rome or any other big city, I feel that one day is enough. Of course I am impressed by The Last Supper or Bernini's sculptures, and I enjoy laughing with friends at a Trastevere wine bar, but the following day I just want to get back to nature or a small fishing village by the sea. Having said that it's quite surprising that I love Bari, although it's the second largest city of the Mezzogiorno, with over 300,000 inhabitants.
San Vito: a simple fishing village
My personal history with Puglia began in San Vito about ten years ago. I was traveling with friends — three small children between us — and we were staying in a masseria not far from Bari. After settling into our apartments, we wanted to head straight to the sea, and our host recommended San Vito.
I love off-seasons, especially post-summer. I know, I can afford to love them as being a freelancer I can travel when crowds disappear from my favourite places. In off-season beaches have that special silence and the everyday local life seems closer than ever.
Slow travel in Puglia
Can you visit Puglia without going to Ostuni, Polignano a Mare, and Bari?
Over the past months, I guided five small-group tours through Southern Italy, and now that I’m finally back at my desk, I’m excited to share some highlights with you. Let’s begin in Puglia — but off the beaten path.
During our previous trips to Cilento we mostly explored the coastline, so this time we decided to head inland, towards the wilder hills and mountains of the region. The official name of the park is Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, and today our destination was the Alburni mountains.
We are sitting at Bonora in Castellabate, me with a glass of Aglianico Cilentano and my travel journal. In the age of AI, I still much prefer writing using pen and paper.
Every year in mid-October, I travel to Puglia with my groups. My local guide friend, Giusy, joins me for part of the program, and over the years we've developed a few rituals for our free time.
Life in Cilento is not easy. The territory misses many components of modern life: large factories, high paying office jobs, cruise ships and hyper-tourism. Young people migrate to Naples, Rome, Milan or other countries, searching for a better life. However, there are people who appreciate the values of Cilento and work hard to attract more, conscious travelers to this region.
Have you seen the movie Benvenuti al Sud? If you have, you know what I am talking about. If you haven’t, you should, especially if you are planning a holiday to Southern Italy. It is very funny and shows the negative perceptions and stereotypes of South Italy, which turn out to be mere prejudices.
Italy is currently fifth on the list of most visited countries in the world. Tourism is booming, hotels are packed, cruise ships tower over small ports, people queue for hours to get into the Vatican or even worse, to a certain bar because it went viral on social media. However, the crowds are concentrated in a handful of cities like Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan or Como.
I have been to many amazing beaches in my life. Thailand, New Zealand, Costa Rica and Mexico are at the top of my "favourite beach" list. And Italy, of course, with its turquoise sea and white sand or rocky beaches in Liguria, Puglia, Sardinia or Sicily. To be honest, the beaches of Procida are not...
