I Visited Every Region In Italy and I Regret It. Here’s Why…

I Visited Every Region In Italy and I Regret It. Here’s Why…

Yes, I visited every single one of Italy’s 20 regions from Sicily all the way up north to Valda Oa. And here’s the brutal truth. I kind of regret it. Over the last 21 years, I’ve covered Italy for both work and yes, for pleasure. And while that may sound like the dream, visiting all 20 regions taught me something that most tourists don’t realize. Let’s be honest, some regions left me speechless, while others made me wonder why I spent my time and my money. Today, I’m going to break down which ones and what I do differently if I was planning a trip right now. Oh, and stick around because there’s one region that’s so overrated, I would never tell friends to waste their vacation there. Are you ready? and [Music] I’ll explain where I’m at here in a minute. Stick with me. Regret number one, trying to collect all 20 regions. But I thought the more I saw, the better I’d understand Italy. So, what happened? I sped through regions without actually experiencing them, savoring them. My pro tip advice for you is base yourself in one place. If you have the time, visit two to three regions. But if you’re on a short time frame and you only have a one week vacation, well, whatever you do, don’t try to visit multiple regions. Base yourself in one place, one region, and travel around to the different towns. Maybe use a train or something. That way, you’ll see more, stress less, and you’ll actually get a better understanding of Italian life without just ticking a box. Italy, all 21 regions. Have you seen them? Regret number two, spending time in filler regions. But not every region has the same pool. Some are more industrial or some more agricultural. So instead of squeezing in moles or Lombardia’s flat plains, I should have spent more time in Pulia’s whitewashed towns or on Sicilles beaches or up north in the Dolommites. And hot take skip Vald de Oa unless you’re super into skiing. expensive tolls and tough valleys to drive. I’m not a huge fan of the region up in the far northwest. If you are mental and really want to ski, which by the way, I’ve never done so, I would suggest the Dolommites or hopping over the border into Austria or sh Slovenia. And my advice, focus on regions with diversity, landscapes, food, and culture allin one. Do I regret visiting Malays? Well, let’s just say the highlight was a gas station panino. Comment Malays down below if you’ve ever heard of the region or let me know if you even think it exists. Regret number three, overestimating the regional differences. I thought each region would feel wildly unique. So instead, I was visiting yet another medieval hilltop town when I had already seen 15. My advice is balance your trip. Do a mix city, countryside, coast. You don’t need to visit both Tuscanyany and Umbria, which feel the same in many areas. The same with Lombardia and Alilia Romana. They have a lot of overlap, a lot of similarities. My hot tip, spend two weeks in Marquet. You’ll get beaches, mountains, and beautiful, unique towns like Orbino without the Tuskanyany price tag. You know, Italy just doesn’t serve pasta in every town. Sometimes it serves deja vu. Do you remember earlier I said I’d explain where I’m at? Well, I’m in the heart of Italy in Tuscanyany, the city of Florence. Right down that way is the river Arno with the Ponte Veio going over it. Up this way, well, if you continue on past the Iris Garden, follow the path, you’ll see Patali Michelangelo with the bronze statue of David and the beautiful view of Florence. [Music] Regret number four, missing out on the joy of repeats. I was always chasing the new place. So, I missed going back to Sardenia or Sicily as often as I could have, and that’s where you really feel Italy on the second or third visit. I’m getting bit by mosquitoes. Damn. And don’t feel guilty about repeats. Sometimes it’s on that second or third trip where you actually understand a place. Not all regrets are created equal. Missing Sicily twice, that’s criminal. Now, what are some specific places I recommend in the regions in Pulia way down in the south in the heel of Italy’s boot? Visit the city of Leche. Spend a few days there. Head off to the hilltop town, the Cheetah Bianca Ouni, and maybe base yourself and spend some time in the hilltop towns between Chesternino and Loco Rotondo. I would recommend renting a villa there and staying there for a couple weeks and really exploring Pulya, Sicily. There’s so much you can do on the island from hikes up Mount Etna to the beaches down below. I recommend Polarmos Chaos, Terramina’s Views, and Chefu or Trap for the seafood. The Dolommites, they’re spread over a few different regions, but let’s focus in on Tantino Alto Adij up there in the north of Italy. Those UNESCO bluntshaped mountains, base yourself in Ortis or Canace. There you get worldclass mountains without leaving Italy. Skiing in the wintertime, hikes in the summer. Marqu. Now, this is off the beaten path for many. I mentioned it earlier, specifically the town of Orbino. Or you can make a day trip, although it can be a bit touristy, to Grand. It’s a beautiful medieval hilltop town, stunning, and a great place to explore in the early morning before the crowds get there. And one of my faves that I’ve been recommending recently is the Coonero Coast. Beautiful coastline that is off the beaten track. In Marqu you get Tuscanyany vibes without the Tuskanyany prices. Do you remember at the start of the video I said I’d get to that overrated region? Well, for me it’s Lombardia. Milan has its fashion buzz and sure the lakes are stunning and up north you have some beautiful mountains but the crowds and the sprawl very industrial area and the richest region in all of Italy all of that left me cold. If you’re short on time you can skip Lombardia. If you want to dive deeper and you’re planning a trip to Italy well there’s great news. I just put out a new e guide PDF that you can download have on your pocket offline on your phone called Italy Unlocked. About 100 pages ram jam full of information. Boots on the ground experience from me for you. My 21 years of living in this great country. All sorts of information in there. How to get to and from Italy. How to get around Italy once you’re here. some of my recommended hotels all throughout Italy with Google links, my recommended restaurants, and things you should look out for. How to stay safe on your travels. Hotels or Airbnbs? I help you decide which is best. There’s a link to download it in the description. Italy unlocked. So, yes, I regret racing around all 20 regions because it taught me that more isn’t always better. The smart move is fewer places and going deeper. But here’s the real question. If you’re planning a trip right now, which mistakes should you avoid even before you buy your ticket? I covered that in this next video. Never do this on vacation. 10 mistakes tourists always make and how you can avoid them. See you over there. Next [Music]

I visited every single one of Italy’s 20 regions, from Sicily to Trentino Alto Adige, and the truth is I kind of regret it. Over the last 20 years of living here I have traveled the country for work and for pleasure. While some regions left me in awe, others made me wonder why I even bothered.

In this video I share the biggest regrets from trying to see it all and the lessons that will help you plan a smarter trip. You will learn why racing through every region left me exhausted, which areas feel repetitive, and why some regions are better skipped altogether. I will also explain why chasing repeats in Sicily or Sardinia would have been far more rewarding than ticking off another industrial region.

I give you my honest recommendations for where to spend your time instead, including Puglia’s coast, Sicily’s food and views, the Dolomites, and Le Marche as a great alternative to Tuscany. And I reveal the one region that left me most disappointed and why I would not send friends there.

🛵 Italy Unlocked – Travel Guide. Travel Italy like a local! http://bit.ly/3UOSQkb

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