Instantly Italy

Italian language, culture and travel tips

[Hidden Italy] Santarcangelo and Torriana: The Stunning Beauty of Inland Romagna

If you want to Be Italian For A Weekend, you can join the Vespa ride and get a three-day email crash course about Italian culture! You will also get full access to Your Italian Toolbox, a library of Italian learning materials.

Every time you mention Rimini, a very common image comes to the mind of an Italian: endless beaches full of people. 

As a matter of fact, Rimini has 15 kilometers of beaches, 250 beach clubs, and more than 300 hotels. Its sandy coast and the shallow waters make it a perfect destination for families with kids, while its bars and nightclubs attract young party people from all over Italy.

[Read more…]

10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Liguria (When It Will Be Possible To Travel Again)

If you want to Be Italian For A Weekend, you can join the Vespa ride and get a three-day email crash course about Italian culture! You will also get full access to Your Italian Toolbox, a library of Italian learning materials.

At the moment, we don’t know when it will be possible to visit Italy again. 

We hope it will be soon but we have no clue. This makes writing about traveling a bit weird because you are giving recommendations to people who are not able to follow them – for the moment, at least.

[Read more…]

[Hidden Italy] Villa Necchi Campiglio: A Jewel in The Heart of Milan

If you want to Be Italian For A Weekend, you can join the Vespa ride and get a three-day email crash course about Italian culture! You will also get full access to Your Italian Toolbox, a library of Italian learning materials.

As I have said in a previous post, Milan is a city that keeps its beauty hidden. 

Some of the most important attractions in the city are undoubtedly quite visible. For example, if you go to the city center, you can’t miss the Duomo even if you try to: if you get off at Duomo metro station, you will see it from every exit you decide to take.

[Read more…]

[Hidden Italy] Cervo: A Little Perched Village That Will Steal Your Heart

If you want to Be Italian For A Weekend, you can join the Vespa ride and get a three-day email crash course about Italian culture! You will also get full access to Your Italian Toolbox, a library of Italian learning materials.

I have taken a decision: I want to show you all the charming villages in Liguria. 

It is going to be quite an effort because there are a lot of beautiful villages in Liguria but it’s a nice sacrifice to make because it gives me the possibility of enjoying the beauty of places I know and discovering new ones too.

[Read more…]

10 Reasons Why You Should Include Milan in Your Italy Itinerary

If you want to Be Italian For A Weekend, you can join the Vespa ride and get a three-day email crash course about Italian culture! You will also get full access to Your Italian Toolbox, a library of Italian learning materials.

Milan has been considered one of the ugliest Italian cities for a very long time.

Everybody said it was grey and depressing, a place where people would only think about working and making money because there was no real beauty around.

[Read more…]

[Hidden Italy] Leonardo’s Vineyard in Milan

If you want to Be Italian For A Weekend, you can join the Vespa ride and get a three-day email crash course about Italian culture! You will also get full access to Your Italian Toolbox, a library of Italian learning materials.

When I say that one of my favorite cities in Italy is Milan, I frequently get puzzled looks. 

But I strongly believe what I say: Milan is a really beautiful city if you take the time to go beyond the obvious and discover what’s hidden behind the surface.

[Read more…]

[Hidden Italy] A Visit to Bussana Vecchia, an Abandoned Village That Has Found a New Life

If you want to Be Italian For A Weekend, you can join the Vespa ride and get a three-day email crash course about Italian culture! You will also get full access to Your Italian Toolbox, a library of Italian learning materials.

My mission to help you discover interesting and unique places in Liguria continues. 

In these past months, I have taken you to Noli, a small place with a very long and important history, to Triora, a remote village up in the mountains that is famous for its dark past, and to Verezzi, a small town that offers scenic views and great hiking opportunities. But there are many more places to discover.

[Read more…]

[Hidden Italy] The Gardens of Villa della Pergola in Alassio

If you want to Be Italian For A Weekend, you can join the Vespa ride and get a three-day email crash course about Italian culture! You will also get full access to Your Italian Toolbox, a library of Italian learning materials.

Even if I am not an expert gardener, I have a sincere passion for plants and gardens.

In particular, I really like visiting gardens and I am very lucky to live in Italy because there are a lot of very beautiful Italian gardens to visit and enjoy.

[Read more…]

Tips for Visiting Italy: An Interview with Kathy McCabe of Dream of Italy

I will never be grateful enough for Instagram and all the beautiful people I have met on that platform.

You know, we always hear many complaints about social media but so far I only have positive things to say about them – and about Instagram in particular. Social media are made by people and being able to connect to people who share your passions, your interests, your way of thinking, no matter where they live, is truly awesome.

[Read more…]

[Hidden Italy] Visit Triora, The Village of Witches, Awesome Bread and Fascinating Old Houses

If you want to Be Italian For A Weekend, you can join the Vespa ride and get a three-day email crash course about Italian culture! You will also get full access to Your Italian Toolbox, a library of Italian learning materials.

As I said quite a few times before, some of the most unique villages in Liguria are not by the sea.

Well, don’t misunderstand me, there are some true gems by the sea, like Varigotti, Camogli, Portovenere, Cinque Terre and many more, but the sheer uniqueness of some places inland is incomparable, in my opinion.

[Read more…]