5 Secret Must-See Italian Locations
Addie and her blog Old World New have been an inspiration to me as I've grown as a blogger over the last year and half.
Old World New focuses on sustainable living and is anchored by Addie's incredible style! Today, she's sharing her favorite hidden places in Italy. Who doesn't love learning more about Italy!?!
Enjoy!
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So you've managed to make your way across the globe and you're finally in Rome, Italy!
My study abroad program in Rome led me to explore a myriad of the well-known sites, as I majored in architecture and interior design.
It also allowed me to learn about a lot of places that the tourist guides don't tell you about and places where the double decker buses won't take you.
So, after you visit the Vatican, snap pictures in the Colosseum and drool over seeing the Pantheon, make your way to these amazing Italian sights.
Calcata
This is a city away from the hustle and bustle of Rome - all you have to do is catch a bus, to catch a train, to catch a bus, and either walk or catch a ride a few minutes down the road in order to enter the city.
It sounds like a lot (I nearly spazzed out because we were running late), but once you get there, all of your worries go away. You can go hiking on a hill across from the city and end up at an overlook that frames the city perfectly, and you can explore the shops of the city while you are there.
This trip is perfect for a full day getaway from Rome--just make sure you don’t miss that last bus back!
Gallese
A walled city on a hill, Gallese is quite the charmer. I was lucky to meet and dine with the mayor on a class trip there, as well as learn about the history of the city from local historians and my professors. Depending on how you travel there, it could take anywhere from 1 hour (by car) to 4 hours (by train and bus) to get there.
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Villa d’Este
If you want to experience an extravagant palace away from the city, visit Villa d’Este. Renaissance architecture, renaissance garden, and my favorite aspect, a water feature that runs throughout the sloped garden. Here (link:
http://www.roninrome.com/sites-and-attractions/tivoli-villa-deste
) is a detailed listing of how to get to Villa d’Este on your own.
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Ostia Antica
Once a port city with stations for trading from all over the known world, Ostia Antica is a well-preserved site that hasn’t been used since the 9th century. It was most active during the first through third centuries A.D. Visiting today, you can see the names of shops created in tile at the market, the amphitheater and stage, walk through covered areas that housed food shops and apartments, and still see statues that stood at the entrances of homes. For transportation, you can catch a commuter train from Rome to be transported into the ancient Roman world of Ostia Antica.
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Monteriggioni
The last place on the list is not in near Rome, but if you visit Tuscany, you must make your way to the walled city of Monteriggioni. It is a quiet walled city that seems to be locked in time away from the rest of the world. You scale stairs to enter the city, and once you’ve entered, you can explore the few streets that it has, and walk around the perimeter of the wall to see the view of the rolling country side.
I purchased hand-spun wool yarn from the artisans there and I still cherish it to this day, in the form of ear warmers. Tourism is a major source of income for many of the people in Italy, so I am glad that my purchase went toward the local economy.
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Cities on hills, a million bus rides away, ancient Roman ruins and a unique experience of Italy unlike the one you experience while in the big city. Take a walk on the wild side, step away from the city for a day or more, and experience the “secret” treasures that Italy has to offer.
Thank you to Natalie for allowing me to share my Italian secrets with you here today!
xoxo, dolls and dudes,
Addie - Old World New
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Get even more of Addie's travel tips, thrifty fashion, and sustainable lifestyle ideas here: