A road trip through Italy is always a good decision. Italy is perfect for romantic roadtrips. From rich history to magnificent culture. Picturesque small villages and dreamy village roads. To be honest, you can close your eyes and point your finger blindly at a point on the Apennine Peninsula, and you're unlikely to miss it completely.
Where to go on a road trip in Italy? The choice of region depends on your wishes and preferences. Big cities are not very grateful for road tripping, because of the congestion at the entrances and parking, and in addition, some mishap may ruin part of your vacation. Therefore, it is better to avoid cities with cars, which will not be a problem, because the Italian landscape itself offers enough for a real vacation.
That's 5 great ones roadtrips in Italy, which you can tailor to your interests, or you can combine or combine them into one big trip.
Roadtrip in northern Italy - cities and the Alps
If you drive west from Venice, you encounter a new sign every fifty kilometers: Padua, Verona, Brescia, Bergamo and Milan. Above these cities rise mighty mountains known for their beautiful natural parks. From the unspoiled Dolomite hiking and cycling trails, which attract lovers of active pastime, to romantic Verona or the popular tourist destination of Lake Garda.
Further north, the landscape, the smells from the kitchen and even the names of the villages will remind you more and more of Austria. You can also take the vertical from the Anholtzertal valley to Verona and make a detour via Modena to Bologna, then back north via Ferrara. You won't run out of sights on the way.
Northern Italy - the Riviera from Genoa to Livorno
The Apennines rise above the Ligurian Sea, so this region is full of impressive images of carefree villagers and a wild blue sea, over which the black mountains rise. Visit the port towns there and let yourself be enchanted by their bustle, masts, colorful life and the smell of oil mixed with the smell of fresh fish.
Huge Genoa, where you go down like a slide, charming hilly La Spezia, deep into its bay, or Livorno, where tourists somehow get completely lost, will satisfy your thirst for ports. About twenty kilometers down the coast from Genoa, visit Portofino, and within easy reach of La Spezia is Portovenere, with its impressive sea walls and tall but narrow buildings. The village of Bassia, on top of a hill above La Spezia, has a spectacular view that makes it worth going off the beaten track.
Roadtrip through Central Italy - Tuscany and Val D'Orcia
Tuscany is beautiful! With its gentle hills, century-old cypress trees, secluded estates and villas, and fortified hill towns. It seems as if every meter of the path is like a picture from a postcard. It would be ideal if you could find accommodation somewhere near Siena, as only this offers a good starting point for exploring the countryside and surrounding towns. If you come to Florence, walk the Ponte Vecchio, see the cathedral and walk the streets to feel the atmosphere of the city.
Visit the city of Lucca, take a photo at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, visit the picturesque San Giminiano, decorated with many towers, and explore Siena, incredibly beautiful in red brick. Val D'Orcia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site south of Siena, where the fairytale image of Tuscany that has gone around the world was probably born. The fortified towns of Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino, like islands in a sea of gentle green hills, are a piece of history that simply enchants you.
Roadtrip through southern Italy - Rome, Naples and Calabria
If you drive from the north towards Naples, stay a few days in Rome, and Naples is also worth devoting some time to the famous Neapolitan pizza. Visit Amalfi, Sorrento and Salerno, and you can also relax on the beautiful beaches of Positano.
Visit Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii as early as possible in the morning to beat the tourist crowds. Continue south through picturesque towns along the Tyrrhenian Sea to Calabria, or choose one of four national parks to stretch your legs a bit. Reggio Calabria is a city on the very edge of the Apennine peninsula and the "pearl of the Ionian Sea", which separates the Strait of Messina from Sicily.
Sicily - Coastal Circle
If you are coming from the mainland, your first stop will be in Sicily - Messina. Dedicate two days to Palermo and Catania, and you can also visit several smaller towns in one day. Take at least a week to discover Sicily. You can make a full circle around the coast, and you can also cross the island on the highway that connects the two largest cities. On the way from Messina to Catania, visit Taormina and Mount Etna. Continue to Syracuse, or if you have more time, spend it exploring the towns in the hinterland of Noto Bay.
Your next destination is Agrigento, best known for the Valley of the Temples and the magical cliffs that descend like steps into the sea - Scala dei Turchi. As you approach Palermo, take your time to stop at Monreal, Segesta, another archaeological site, and Erice, with its beautiful views. After Palermo, head east to the charming town of Cefalu, famous for its beautiful beaches and stunning views of the Aeolian Islands.
