How to avoid crowds in Tuscany, Sicily, and Marche

If you don’t explore the arched passages of the Colosseum, skip the Spanish Steps, and gaze at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican with marvelous ecstasy, then what is a trip to Italy?

“Absolutely relax,” Margherita Migliorini said Capanor Villa, Luxury accommodation in the Tuscan countryside. Her family has owned this villa for generations-it used to be a working farm.

Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. According to data from the World Bank, the country received more than 95 million tourists in 2019, ranking third in Europe after France and Spain, and sixth in the world after the United States, China and Mexico.

Now, Italy is accepting some international tourists.The EU this week agreed to reopen its borders Travellers who have been vaccinated, And countries from the list of countries with low Covid-19 infection rates. According to Reuters, the list may be finalized as early as this week.

Italy has announced that residents of the European Union, the European Schengen Area, the United Kingdom and Israel Quarantine can be avoided If they test negative for Covid within 48 hours of arrival.

Passengers from the U.S., Canada, Japan and the United Arab Emirates if they pass “Covid-tested flights“Enter Rome, Milan, Venice or Naples. These flights require passengers to undergo negative tests before and after arriving in Italy.

These cities are one of Italy’s less-traveled tourist destinations, and even in summer, these cities make the little-known areas of the country quiet and peaceful.

According to the Bank of Italy’s 2020 “International Tourism Survey”, in 2019, less than half (nearly 42 million) Italian tourists came to Italy for vacation. According to the report, more than 9 million of these arrivals bought packages for travel.

Although the term “tour” may mean travelling by bus under the guidance of a flag-waving guide, some companies design escorted or self-driving tours for vacationers seeking loneliness.

Find Your Italy, a Milan-based travel agency, specializes in “Off the beaten track”Country tour. Small group tours to destinations such as Abruzzo and Puglia, as well as self-driving routes to Langhe, Piedmont and Sicily ) And other places for self-driving trips start at 645 euros (780 US dollars).

Company manager Roberta Leverone told CNBC: “I think this year may be a good opportunity for individual travelers to visit art cities, because they will not be as crowded as usual due to the lack of large booking groups.”

From March to November, Find Your Italy arranged an 11-day self-driving tour of eastern Sicily, which included excursions led by archaeologists, art historians, chefs and wine producers. Company website.

“We recommend this trip [a] There is a self-driving option, but there may be a private driver,” Leverone said.

Sicily is very popular in July and August, so Leverone recommends a trip to Milan and Lake Como to avoid congestion or Sardinian food, wine and nature tours, She said it was quiet all year, except for August.

Nobles once flocked to the thermal baths of Baia, an ancient Roman resort city near the coast of Naples. The volcanic activity that once attracted wealthy Romans to the area is also why part of the city is now located 50 feet below the sea.

Divers can explore seven underwater archaeological sites, including the remains of ancient villas, collapsed pillars and colorful mosaics.

One of the most important underwater sites is Claudio’s Nymphaeum, which was once part of the Royal Palace. Although most of the site contains the original Roman ruins, the underwater statue has been copied and the original was moved to the nearby Museo Archeologico dei Campi Flegrei, which reopened in April.

In the Marche region-along the central “calf” of the Italian boots-in the Grotte di Frasassi or Frasassi caves.

The guide leads the tourists along the path to visit the Crystal Lake and the never-ending hall and other features.Visitors can get a sneak peek in the following ways “Silent Night” a cappella live performance video Andrea Bocelli last December.

The cave can be explored in less than two hours, allowing plenty of time to visit the Temple of Valadir, an octagonal church built at the entrance of the nearby cave. Grotte di Frasassi website features Itinerary of one to three days Visitors can visit the 13th-century frescoes in the medieval town of Fabriano, the narrow alleys of the ancient city of Jesse, taste the region’s famous white wine Verdicchio, and a spreadable salami called ciausculo.

“Le Marche is one of the best areas for travelers looking for a more immersive and authentic experience in Italy,” said Juliana de Brito, the founder of the organization. Wonderful Marche website“In Le Marche, you can still find the heritage of ancient craftsmanship that has been passed down over time. [which are] There is a danger of disappearing. “

This includes papermaking traditions dating back to the 12th century and hand-made shoe craftsmen, which de Brito says can be found in the south of Marche, where some of the most famous Italian shoe factories are located.

She also recommends the natural parks in the area, including many Monte Conero coastal trails that can be explored on foot, bike or horseback. She called Marche “a paradise for food and wine.”

“This is an incredible mosaic that combines geography, climate and history,” De Brito said.

Italy has the only active volcano on the European continent. A 15-day trip will take tourists to hike all these volcanoes-Vesuvius, Etna and Stromboli, as well as volcanoes (in dormant state but not Not extinct).

This”Volcanoes in Italy-Grand Tour“From Volcano Discovery, a travel company specializing in volcano tourism, focusing on nature, culture and archeology. This is a walk and a study tour, the latter describes a trip that combines learning and travel.

According to the website, the difficulty level is described as “easy to difficult” and it is conducted by a group of 6 to 12 travelers.

The next tour is scheduled to start in October this year, but a custom date can be provided upon request.

Although it is located in the Umbrian town of Castelluccio high in the Apennines in central Italy, Severely damaged in the earthquake In 2016, people still came to the area for natural social distancing outdoor activities, such as rafting, biking, and “La Fioritura” or “The Flowering” that takes place from late May to early July each year.

During this period, vibrant daffodils, poppies, violets, and clover fill the plateau where the town is located. Combining with hang gliding or paragliding is an extraordinary sight. According to the website, beginners can take a two-person flight, starting at 100 Euros (122 USD). Prodelta, the local gliding school.

Tuscany tops the list of many travelers, but those who can avoid the charms of Florence, Cinque Terre and San Gimignano can find distant comfort in luxury villas, such as Capanor Villa, Near the town of Bucine.

The villa is a typical Tuscan country estate with swimming pool, independent cottages (suitable for larger groups) and vast rural scenery. During the day, guests can head to the small towns scattered in the area and relax in the evening with a sumptuous home-cooked Italian dinner prepared by the owners living nearby.

The weekly fee ranges from 3,500 to 5,920 Euros (4,285 to 7,250 USD).

Travelers who like hotels can consider Como’s flagship European resort. Como Castle Del Niro, Will reopen on June 11th and will include a refurbished health center. The hotel can arrange outdoor activities such as truffle hunting-the manor is home to three types of black truffles-and the ultimate remote experience-a hot air balloon ride at sunrise.

Those who plan to pass this summer can take a look Monte Verdi Tuscany, A luxury boutique hotel in the village of Castiglioncello del Trinoro. After 18 months of renovation, the hotel will reopen to guests in January 2022, which will include a regeneration clinic, refurbished spa facilities and new hotel suites.

Tourists who don’t want to skip the Colosseum this summer should know that they have other options.

TripAdvisor reviews clearly pointed out one of the best reasons to visit Pozzuoli Flavian Amphitheater: “quiet”, “actually for ourselves” and “we are the only tourists there”.

Located on the outskirts of Naples, the venue is the third largest amphitheater in Italy and once had as many spectators as the Colosseum-about 50,000 people. It is known for its impressive basement preservation, which showcases the storage locations of gladiators and animals and how to use trapdoors and pulley systems to hoist them into the arena.

The smaller Verona Arena attracts more visitors, but it is still far below the 7 million visitors to the Colosseum before the pandemic. The fierce gladiator competition has been replaced by a more benevolent form of entertainment-opera performances.

Since 1913, this nearly 2,000-year-old venue has been the venue of the Verona Opera Festival. Tickets for this year’s Opera Festival will be held throughout the summer and will go on sale on May 25th.