How to get an authentic Italian experience
If you’re visiting Italy, you’ll want to make the very most out of your journey. That means exploring the authentic side of Italy, including its culture, lesser-known destinations, and traditional accommodations.
Of course, this can be tricky without a seasoned guide, so we plan to give you the tools and information you’ll need to explore the authentic side of Italy, whether you go by yourself, or with others.
Uncharted Italian destinations
To explore Italy’s authentic side, you need to get away from the traditional tourist traps. That means visiting towns and villages off the beaten path. While these places may not have the accommodations or facilities that typical tourist towns do, they’re much more closely aligned with an authentic Italian experience.
The medieval town of Barga, for example, is known for its unique blend of Italian and Scottish influences. You may not know, however, that it’s also been awarded for its numerous places of cultural interest and well-kept historic center.
Additionally, if you want to see an incredible preserved city like Pompeii, then Herculaneum may be your best bet. Another ancient city preserved by volcanic material and very close to Pompeii, Herculaneum is off the beaten track and far less popular than the world-famous Pompeii.
Embracing and engaging the local culture
To get the full experience, you can’t just visit the towns and cities – you also need to try the food, drink the wine, and join the festivals! Italian culture has a variety of regional festivals and dishes that aren’t available to the average tourist.
To ensure you embrace the full scope Italy has to offer, consider a walking holiday through Italy’s picturesque landscape. Routes along the Ligurian Coast pass through charming villages and enchanting coastal scenery, making it perfect for anyone who wants a more authentic experience.
Practical tips for authentic travel
Keeping several travel tips in mind can help ensure your experience of Italy is as authentic as possible. Each of these will serve to enhance your experience, and may also get you better treatment from the locals. These include:
Travelling during the off-season
If you visit Italy during the peak of its tourism season, wherever you go, attention will be split between the high volume of tourists. On the other hand, vacationing during the off-season means you won’t have to compete with other tourists for attention and can receive a much-improved service.
Learning basic Italian
Perhaps one of the best things you can do before your vacation is to learn some key words and phrases in Italian. You don’t need to master the language, but showing the locals that you’ve gone to the effort to respect their language can go a long way – and it might even earn you some goodwill.
Respect local customs
Similarly to learning some basic Italian, making sure you’re aware of local customs can go a long way. Italians seeing you obey their traditions may be happier to help you or provide you with exclusive information, purely because you’ve respected their local customs. Good behaviour will also improve the relationship between locals and future tourists, leading to a better experience for everyone.
