Travel tips to plan your trip to Italy

Travellers renting their holiday home with Summer In Italy save money!

Luca, from the Summer In Italy staff, attends Mamma Agata's Italian cooking school in Ravello and finds out that there is much more to be found than just cooking.

If you are not keen on reaching your villa by public transportation, you will be happy to know that taxi or limo service (or car with driver service) is available and can be booked ahead of time.

The most comfortable way to travel along the Amalfi Coast and Sorrentine Peninsula is certainly by bus.

Here are the links to the transportation sites that a traveler to Southern Italy might be interested in.

For you, as a traveler to Italy, it might be important to be aware of any transportation limitations that might affect your trip.

The experience of buying train tickets in Italy may make you feel compartmentalized.

There is a refreshing font where wine flows freely for anyone who wants it.

Campania is the leading region in apricot cultivation.

Since 2000, Castiglione del Lago has homed a Slow Food presidium in order to promote and conserve the Fagiolina del Trasimeno.

Prosciutto di Norcia is a cured prosciutto crudo, produced in the mountains of eastern Umbria.

The villages scattered all around the Cilento coast maintain a very ancient fishing technique, but non so closely tied to it than the pretty town of Pisciotta.

Cacioricotta is a soft cheese typical of the Cilento National Park.

With more than 250,000 coffee bars within the peninsula, it's obvious that Italians are passionate about coffee.

A pre-dinner drink for relaxing, socializing and enjoying a glass of vino with a few nibbles – sounds like happy hour!

A pre-dinner drink for relaxing, socializing and enjoying a glass of vino with a few nibbles – sounds like happy hour!

A specialty of Cetara on the Amalfi Coast is a centuries' old tradition of fish preservation, and the results are delicious.

Saint Joseph's Day is March 19, which is also Father's Day in Italy.

Pecorino Bagnolese is a cheese made with raw sheep milk coming from bagnolese ewes.

Sicily has a reputation for its sweets, and many are created with the island's almonds, a tradition for centuries.

Burrata is a creamy fresh cheese that is a specialty of the Puglia region.

BYOB - And Fill It Up A unique store found in many Italian towns is the cantina for vino sfuso.

With more than 250,000 coffee bars within the peninsula, it's obvious that Italians are passionate about coffee.

The Ragusano DOP is one of the oldest cheese traditions on the island of Sicily, and one of the most flavorful, too.

If you have searched the web looking for activities to do while vacationing on the Amalfi Coast, there is no doubt that you have already read about Mamma Agata and her incredible cooking school in Ravello.

We know that dining is one of the highlights of any trip to Italy.

Forget bacon and eggs.

Since Italy is a peninsula surrounded by three seas, it is no surprise that seafood makes its appearance on plates all over the country.

Italy is known for its fabulous cuisine, and pizza is probably the item most beloved world-wide.

The dog days of summer…the old expression rings true throughout Italy when the heat hits.

Have you ever wondered how to get milk from a herd of buffalo?

Once you have peeled your eyes away from the stupendous scenery of the Amalfi Coast, one of the first things you’re bound to notice is the large lemons hanging from the trees.

The stereotyped image of the Roman 'osteria' is so captivating to condition for centuries the whole regional wine production.

The hills that surround the city of Salerno and stretch from the Amalfi Coast to the Cilento National Park give an extra-virgin olive oil with an intense colour and a unique fruity taste.

Agerola is known as "Città del Pane" - city of bread – nationwide popular brand that recognizes some Italian towns where this product assumes a special value due to the peculiar characteristics.

At Summer in Italy we do care about our guests, and this is why, in order to help you making your food shopping in Italy just perfect, we would like to share a few tips about high-quality local products.

In ancient times, the shepherds in Agerola dressed a big mantle to take shelter from cool and dampness, and reached Naples to sell their products.

Its unique and special characteristics, very much appreciated even abroad, gives the name to "Fico Bianco del Cilento": once dried, the sweet peel gets light yellow coloured rather than chestnut brown if oven-cooked.

The 90% of artichoke's production in Campania is concentrated within the province of Salerno, specially into the Plain of Sele.

San Marzano is one of the most acclaimed variety of tomato, grown in the area between Salerno and Naples known as Agro Nocerino-Sarnese.

The hazelnut of Giffoni IGT, known as "Nocciola di Giffoni" belongs to one of the most precious Italian varieties: Tonda di Giffoni.

Caciocavallo Silano is a semi-hard cheese, made with vaccine milk, seasoned 15 days minimum.

All over Italy, especially in the summer months, the piazzas and parks are alive with the sound of music.

Staying in one of our villas provides you with a kitchen, saving you money on dining expenses.

Have you ever wondered why August is the "ghost month" in Italy?

The tradition of Pasquetta is a closely-held one, maintained with almost religious fervor though it is a civil holiday.

On December 8, a religious observation is also a national holiday that kicks off the Christmas season in Italy.

High arbors of elaborate lights illuminate the streets, folk or rock music fills the air, delicious aromas waft temptingly, while the cheerful chatter of voices rises.

Creative shopping, understated purchases and second-hand markets have nowadays become a luxury yen, but in the fifties they did not exist yet, because the reconstruction after two world wars made any piece of furniture or even simple ornaments strictly necessary.

Ever wonder about the witch-like woman with a broomstick that you see in Christmas markets around Italy?

Saint Joseph's Day is March 19, which is also Father's Day in Italy.

Getting off the beaten path to reach charming villages and visit vineyards generally requires a rental car.

In our continuing Rules of the Road series, we’re familiarizing your with the basics of driving in Italy.

Italy is criss-crossed with a high-speed road network called the autostrada.

In our continuing series, Rules of the Road, we're giving you the lowdown on gassing up.

One of the great things about driving on the Autostrada, apart from being able to unleash the inner Indy racer in you, is the pit stops.

According to the Italian law about passenger safety, any time you seat in a vehicle fitted with seat belts it is compulsory to wear them.

Windsurfing is an exilarating sport, an experience that defines emotion and life!

Even though you will not need international calling skills to contact Summer In Italy (we provide a USA/Canada toll-free number for your convenience, and a toll-free fax number as well), there is still a good chance that as you plan your vacation you find yourself in need to place a few phone calls to bella Italia (to book a tour, a private transfer, or maybe a table at a restaurant).

This topic has always been much debated -- but people continue to weigh in on tipping versus not tipping.

Bancomat (pronounced with long "a"s as "Bahn-ko-maht") is the name of the automatic systems for collecting cash from your bank account in Italy and in many European countries.

A short Italian trip, discovering the most beautiful varieties of this enchanting flower and specialized garden centres.

If you are wondering if Campania, the region of Amalfi, Sorrento and the Cilento National Park has enough to offer to entertain your kids, the short answer is: yes!

Throughout the month of August you can experience the majestic ruins of Paestum in a whole new light.

And so you are making plans to have your wedding in Italy: congratulations!

It used to be that people would inquire about cellular service for Italy.

If you are looking to buy airfare from North America to Italy, there might be times when you would start thinking that airlines have gone crazy with the price of flight tickets, and that there are no cheap flights or discount offers available.

There are two very common questions, in planning a trip to Italy.

Most rental villas or apartments do not come equipped with a land line phone for guests to use.

Electricity in Italy is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC).

If you are planning to hire a rental car for your stay in the Amalfi/Sorrento/Cilento area, chances are that you might be wondering whether we have special advice on local agencies that offer good rates.

Unknown to most tourists, wonderful networks of footpaths criss-cross the peninsula and Capri, connecting little villages by easy paths and venturing on rougher ways up into the mountains.

Rome, from a tour guide's perspective: Relax, have your first cappuccino, walk around via Condotti, Spagna, Navona, Trevi, Pantheon, Corso Visit the Roman forum, Palatine hill, Colosseo Spend all day at the Vatican museums The above is the standard itinerary that pre-occupies all visitors to Rome-"Can we do it all in two days?