Day 1 – Iconic Venice

• Begin at Piazza San Marco. Wander past the soaring spires of St. Mark’s Basilica, marvel at its mosaics, then climb the Campanile for panoramic views over Venetian rooftops and the lagoon.

• Next door is the Doge’s Palace, where you can walk state rooms, cross the Bridge of Sighs, and learn about Venice’s political past.

• Board a vaporetto on the Grand Canal—Venice’s main artery. Ride past grand palazzi, bridges, and water-gates, hopping off at landmarks like Rialto Bridge or Santa Maria della Salute.

• In the afternoon, dive into quieter neighborhoods such as Cannaregio or Dorsoduro. These sestieri (districts) hold narrow canals, historic churches, artisan shops, and authentic cafés far from mass tourism.

• As dusk falls, take a gondola ride—ideally through lesser-known canals—to capture the city’s soft glow and intimate ambiance.

• For nightlife, Campo Santa Margherita is lively with bars, street musicians, and a youthful evening vibe.

Day 2 – Art, Food & Hidden Gems

• Spend a morning at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a modern art museum housed in a palazzo on the Grand Canal. The collection features key 20th-century European and American works, and many days include free presentations in the gallery or garden. The museum opens 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and is closed on Tuesdays. The regular adult admission is about €16, with discounted rates for students.

• After the museum, stroll through the artsy Dorsoduro district or walk toward Accademia Bridge and visit the Gallerie dell’Accademia for Venetian masters.

• For lunch, try cicchetti (Venetian tapas) at local bàcari (wine bars) or enjoy seafood risottos in canal-side osterie.

• In the late afternoon, rent a small boat (or join a guided boat trip) to explore hidden canals—those narrow waterways that fewer tourists see—especially around the Giudecca or Cannaregio Canal.

• Keep an eye on special seasonal events: for example, Venice celebrates Festa del Redentore in mid-July, marked by spectacular fireworks over water and temporary bridges connecting Giudecca to the city.

• As evening deepens, wander the lantern-lit alleys, pause at waterside restaurants, and absorb the reflections dancing on the canals.

Summary & Useful Details

• The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is located between the Accademia Bridge and Santa Maria della Salute, on the Grand Canal.

• The museum’s opening hours are 10:00 am to 6:00 pm daily, with Tuesday closures.

• Adult admission is around €16, with discounts (e.g. to €14) for seniors, students, and various membership holders.

• There are free presentations in the museum (on Peggy’s life or works of art) offered daily for visitors.

• Venice has introduced a day-trip access fee (around €5) for non-overnight visitors on certain peak dates between 8:30 am and 4 pm to reduce overtourism.

• Venice has banned personal recreational boats (kayaks, paddle boards) on major canals like the Grand Canal to reduce congestion; only licensed operators are allowed in many main waterways.

• The Festa del Redentore is held on the third Sunday of July each year; it features fireworks over the lagoon and special processions across temporary floating bridges.

What is the best time to visit Venice?

The best time to visit Venice is during the spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) when the weather is pleasant, and crowds are relatively lesser.

How do I get around Venice’s canals?

The most efficient way to navigate Venice’s canals is by using the Vaporetto, the public water bus, which connects various locations throughout the city.

What are some must-try foods in Venice?

Some must-try foods include cicchetti, squid ink risotto, and tiramisu, which are local favorites reflecting Venetian cuisine.

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The trulli (the local name for the cone-roofed stone houses; trullo in singular) have been here for centuries and some of them are still inhabited by tiny Italian grannies who refuse to swap their one-room stone house for an apartment in a block of flats in the new part of the town. Fair enough, we reckon.

Alberobello, Rione Monti | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

History of the trulli fairy houses

According to legend, the trulli (from Greek trullos – dome) were invented as a cunning plan devised by the inhabitants of the village when the local count introduced a tax on every newly built house. To avoid paying, the locals started building these stone, storehouse-like structures to mislead the tax collectors. If necessary, they could be dismantled in a matter of hours because the walls were dry-stone. The whole family used to live in one room, with the roof space often being separated with a plank “ceiling” where the kids were sent to sleep. Today, the trulli are protected by UNESCO.

Alberobello, Rione Monti | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

How to explore the trulli in Alberobello

The trulli in Alberobello are concentrated in two areas, while the rest of the town has normal Italian-style streets and buildings.

Rione Monti is the most touristy area with countless souvenir shops. Some of the trulli here have become restaurants, hotels or AirBnBs.

Alberobello | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

One of the most emblematic photo sites in the town is the row of houses with pagan symbols on their roofs. The truth is there is nothing mystical about these symbols – they were ordered by the local tourist office in the 1930s because Mussolini was expected to pay a visit to the town.

Alberobello, the “mystical” signs on the roofs | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

I’d recommend spending more time in Aia Piccola – the other trulli area that has thankfully remained trinket-free. This is actually a residential area where many of the houses are still inhabited; it’s much calmer than its noisy neighbor, and you’ll probably be one of just a handful of tourists around.

Alberobello, Aia Piccola | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

One of the best views of the trulli comes from the vantage point of Belvedere Santa Lucia (see the map below).

There are a few small museums showcasing the story of the houses. The biggest of them is the Museo del Territorio, which features 10 trulli and allows you to get an idea of what life was like in Alberobello in the past.

Where to see more trulli

While Alberobello is the most famous and most densely concentrated of Italy’s trulli towns, it is not the only one. Traditional stone houses are scattered around the whole Valle d’Itria region.

Alberobello, Rione Monti | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Tips

1. Summer is scorching here and everything closes at noon, so plan to rest between 1 and 5 pm.

2. You probably know this already, but just let us remind you to skip the restaurants with huge signs in English saying “tourist menu” – you will get more food for less money if you walk a few blocks away from the tourist area (tested!).

3. There are many shops selling local products that will let you taste high-quality vinegar, olives and sweets for free.

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Map:

The nuraghes

Nuragic structure – a nuraghe

Since the first time we heard about the ancient cultures of the Ozieri and the Nuragic civilizations, who used to live on the island of Sardinia, we knew the remains of their imposing buildings, temples and burial sites would be the highlights of our road trip in North Sardinia. One of the symbols of Sardinia is the nuraghe – a circular tower built by the Nuragic civilization around 3,500 years ago. You can use your imagination to guess what they were used for, because historians have no idea – only hypotheses (military bases, ruler’s residences, religious spots etc.). There are more than 700 nuraghes left on the island and you will see many brown signs pointing to them while you drive. Visit one (or several) and feel the ancient vibes they exude. Some of the best-preserved examples in the northern part of Sardinia are Palmavera (near Alghero) and Nuraghe Santu Antine (near Torralba).

Alghero: the Catalonian city

Alghero, Sardinia

This is the most Spanish city in Sardinia – it was colonized by Catalonians in the 16^th century and has maintained this special atmosphere ever since. The old town of Alghero is encompassed by a historic citadel with imposing towers and gates, some of them turned into museums or accessible for panorama-lovers to take a look at the roofs of Alghero from above.

Detour idea: Hop on a boat from Alghero’s port and visit Neptune’s grotto, which hides a massive salt lake in its bowels. Boats leave several times a day.

The fairy houses: Necropolis of Anghelu Ruju

One of the highlights of our trip – the Necropolis of Anghelu Ruju (pronounced An-gheh-loo Roo-you) – is a complex of 5000-year-old, underground, rock-hewn tombs that you can explore and even enter (if you feel comfortable in narrow spaces!). For many years the locals, being unable to imagine how these hollow rocks had appeared, believed they were the houses of fairies, and that’s how they named them: domus de janas (homes of fairies). There’s a very fairy feeling here, though the site is actually an ancient graveyard. Who knows, maybe tourists will walk on and wonder about our graves some 2000 years from now.

Read more about Anghelu Ruju.

Sassari: the city of the nine giant candles

Sassari, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

If you can be in Sassari on 14 and 15 August, you will witness a particularly quirky Sardinian festival: Candelieri, when nine gigantic wooden candles pass through the city in a solemn procession to honor the Virgin Mary, who saved the city from the plague. The old part of Sassari is quiet and inhabited mainly by lazy cats who, on a hot summer day, won’t even make the effort to turn their heads in your direction. For a good chat and a creative atmosphere, sit and sip a coffee at one of the student cafes around the university (in the city center).

Basilica della Santissima Trinità di Saccargia

Basilica della Santissima Trinità di Saccargia, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

We had no intention of visiting this basilica, but the contrasting black basalt and white limestone facade blazing in the sun forced us to pull over by the road. If it reminds you of Tuscany, that’s no surprise because it was built in Tuscan Romanesque style. It’s a 30-km (18-mi) drive from Sassari on the way to Ozieri and Thiesi (see the map above).

Sant Andrea Priu Necropolis near Bonorva

Sant Andrea Priu Necropolis near Bonorva, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

You might feel like you’ve seen too many burial sites already, but this one is worth the road traveled (plus the route cuts between scenic hills and plains). One of the domus de janas (remember, the fairy houses = ancient rock tombs) at Sant Andrea Priu Necropolis, the Tomb of the Chief, looks like a 5000-year-old luxury apartment with its 18 rooms sheltered in a cave. Near the main group of rock chambers, there is a headless stone bull believed to represent one of the gods of the Ozieri culture.

Thiesi: a random stop with beautiful street art

Thiesi, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

There was one time when we had been driving for so many hours and got so hungry that we started imagining each other as hot dogs. So we stopped in the first town – Thiesi – where according to the old traveler’s tradition all restaurants were closed. After all, it was before 4 pm and Italians take their resting time seriously. We rambled through the streets, discovered some amazing murals and finally stopped at the only bar open at the time, where we were the only customers and were fed with the last two sandwiches available. That’s what I call luck!

Ozieri and the San Michele cave

Ozieri, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

We visited the town of Ozieri with the intention to see the San Michele cave, known for its domus de janas and some ancient rituals that took place there. Unfortunately, it was closed that day and we had to go on.

Detour idea: Nuoro, the literature town. We didn’t have enough time to go to Nuoro but if you do, plan a stop here – it’s one of the cultural hubs in Sardinia. It also contains the house of Grazia Deledda, a writer who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1926 for her exquisite texts describing life in Sardinia (if you want to fully immerse yourself in island life, read some of her works before you hit the road).

Olbia: the happy town

Olbia, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

The Ancient Greeks called Olbia ‘The Happy Town’ and all the tourists practicing dolce far niente (literally translated as ‘sweet doing nothing’) did indeed look happy. Olbia is a port with laid-back cafes and plenty of cork tree souvenirs (you will see the cork trees while you drive).

Detour idea: La Maddalena is probably the most beautiful archipelago in Sardinia – with unreal blue water and myriads of tiny rocky islands accessible by boat tours, it creates the perfect atmosphere to lay back, bask in the sunshine and imagine you are Robinson Crusoe. Or how does a lonely island picnic sound? The resort area of Costa Smeralda is just a stone’s throw away if you need a few days of concentrated sun intake.

Necropolis of Li Muri: the ancient stone circles

Li Muri in Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

This late Neolithic funeral dolmen will remind you of other stone circles seen all over Europe. Follow the brown road signs and you will reach a small widening of the road, where you can park and climb a shaky wooden ladder to get across a barbed wire fence. We weren’t sure if this was really legal, but why would they put the ladder there if you were not supposed to use it to trespass on someone’s private property?

Santa Teresa Gallura: the gate to Corsica island

Santa Teresa Gallura, Sardinia

This city was founded in 1808 as a base to cope with the large numbers of smugglers landing on the island, whereas today only tourists from Corsica set foot here. Climb the city’s highest tower – Torre di Longonsardo – for the best view around, and if you haven’t visited the island of Corsica yet, take the ferry (one hour) for a day trip.

Detour idea: If you want to stay longer, Spiaggia di Rena Bianca is the best beach in the city.

The island of Corsica (optional)

Bonifacio, Corsica | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Ferries leave several times a day to Bonifacio, Corsica, from Santa Teresa Gallura. The Corsican town has a postcard-like harbor, an old town full of cobbled streets, souvenir shops and restaurants with tiny, tiny tables. Climb the Staircase of the King of Aragon and if you crave fresh air, follow the marked hiking paths that will take you out of the town to some rocky outcrops offering breathtaking views. Don’t miss the graveyard-town of Bonifacio, which consists of tens of family tombs resembling real-life houses. All of these tombs are colorful, with roofs, windows and flower pots in front of them.

The Elephant-shaped rock

The Elephant Rock, Sardinia

On your way south, just a few kilometers before the coastal town of Castelsardo, stop by the road to take a photo with an elephant. The Roccia Elefante (Elephant Rock) is 100% created by nature and makes an impressive backdrop for a photo.

Castelsardo: the colorful seaside town

Castelsardo, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

This colorful coastal town has so many beautiful vantage points that you can spend a whole day walking from restaurant to restaurant sipping the local Vermentino wine or mirto liqueur. Start with the old town and its rock-perched Sant Antonio di Abate Cathedral. Roam the steep streets and talk to the nice old ladies selling their handicrafts, then soak your feet in the warm, shallow water of the tiny beach.

Read more about Castelsardo.

Monte D’Accoddi – step back into ancient Mesopotamia

Monte D’Accoddi, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

It’s time to check out a (supposed) piece of Mesopotamia in Italy! This more than 6000-year-old megalithic pyramid is amazing for the fact that there is nothing like anywhere else in Italy or in the whole Mediterranean. At the same time, it very much looks like a Mesopotamian temple (ziggurat), which leads scientists to wonder how the two places were connected in those ancient times. Nobody has yet discovered the secret – maybe it’ll be you who unearths the key piece of evidence! Take an information brochure about the monument in your language and learn more about the mystical rituals that took place here.

Driving in Sardinia

I found driving in Sardinia rather care-free – the drivers didn’t seem as anxious as those on the continent, and the traffic wasn’t bad at all. Most of the roads are narrow and curvy as they follow the hills and rocks of Sardinia, and you can’t drive at high speed, so plan enough time to get from one point to another. The best part about driving in Sardinia is that the landscape changes all the time – from high, red-colored mountains and rugged coastlines to endless fields and colorful towns. And don’t forget about the long lines of old men sitting on benches in the town centers watching you as you pass by them:

Is that you, the granddaughter of Anna Maria? | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

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Practical travel tips for Italy

1. Italy welcomes millions of tourists every year, but don’t expect Italians to speak English. Before you go, it’s well worth jotting down some useful phrases in Italian. Italians are genuinely flattered when a foreign visitor makes an effort to speak their language, and will open their hearts to you.

2. If you stay long-term in Italy, you’ll need a personal tax code (called a codice fiscale, something like social security number in the USA) to get access to various services, or to rent an apartment.

3. August is the worst month to visit Italy (especially after August 15) because all Italians take their vacations at that time – the roads are jam-packed, many places are closed and the beaches are crowded.

4. In many parts of Italy, regional trains (treni regionali) don’t run on Sundays. This inconvenience is usually partially covered by a local bus that stops at each town on the route (but not always at the railway station – don’t forget to ask for the actual location). So if you have to head somewhere on a Sunday, plan carefully!

5. You’ll want to take photos all the time, so getting a second memory card and a back-up battery pack for your camera is a really good idea.

6. When visiting a world-famous attraction, buy your tickets in advance if possible. Leonardo’s Last Supper in Milan, for example, can be visited only with a reservation, and tickets sell out months in advance.

7. Bring comfortable shoes. Italy’s big cities require a lot of walking to get from one attraction to the next, while in small towns streets are often made from cobblestones and are not high heel-friendly.

8. Even if you don’t have much time, spend at least one night in a small, non-touristy town. Your hallowed status as a foreigner will guarantee you a warm welcome from the locals and a deep, genuine sense of communication that is hard to achieve in the big tourist centers.

9. Most shops, supermarkets and restaurants close between 1 pm and 5 pm. On Sundays they are closed all day. My first Sunday in Italy, in a small provincial town, was marked by hunger and desperate roaming around the city in search of somewhere to buy food. I found nothing. In the end, I had two spoons of sugar (the only edible product at home) until one bar finally opened its doors at 3 pm and I filled my kitchen with croissants.

A proverb many travelers swear by!

Food and drink

10. If you eat at a restaurant, you may find two add-ons on your bill – service and coperto (cover charge). They are usually a fixed sum per person. The only region where coperto is illegal is Lazio, which includes Rome.

11. Choosing a small, family-run restaurant or trattoria two blocks away from the tourist area is the best idea 99% of the time.

12. You will recognize good gelato by its bland colors. They don’t put artificial colors or flavors in quality Italian ice-cream. That’s why banana gelato will usually look grayish rather than bright yellow.

13. If you want to try having your morning coffee the Italian way, order an espresso at the bar, gulp it down while you stand and exchange some gossip with the bartender. There’s no sitting at a table or leisurely sipping here.

14. Don’t ask for ketchup or mayo on your pizza. It is considered rude to the cook and a demonstration of bad taste. You’ll be happy to discover that Italian pizzas don’t actually need anything more.

15. Plan a visit to a food market. Most cities and towns have a weekly/monthly farmer’s market (ask at your hotel when and where it takes place) where vendors will be happy to offer you free samples of cheese, olives, bread and cookies. It is usually acceptable to bargain at these markets, especially if you plan to buy in bulk.

16. A typical Italian meal consists of antipasto, primo, secondo, contorno and dolce (appetizer, first and second courses, side dish and dessert). Italians seem to have no problem swallowing this glut of food, while a foreigner trying to compete with them will most probably be sweating and having trouble breathing by the time the tiramisu is served.

Practice dolce far niente

17. Dolce far niente (literally translated as ‘sweet doing nothing’) is the Italian concept of not hurrying, not taking anything personally, taking your time and enjoying life. It’s one of the best things you can learn from your trip to Italy.

18. Let yourself fall in love with an Italian girl/boy. Because what would a holiday to Italy be without a touch of romance?

19. Italians are famous for their transportation strikes, so allow for a few extra hours when you head to the airport.

20. Try hitchhiking in Italy. The last time I did it in Sicily, I was picked up by two lemon-growing workers who took me and my friend to the beach, even though they were not going in that direction. They were so nice that they even offered to come back later and take us to the town where we were staying.

21. It’s no use arguing with Italians about whether they did or did not invent pizza, pasta, football or fashion… Facts are powerless when it comes to national pride. Just enjoy the delight on their faces when you agree that Italy is the best country in the world!

22. Or simply forget everything and follow the wise man’s advice: visit Italy at least once a year!

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“From the dome of St. Peter’s one can see every notable object in Rome… He can see a panorama that is varied, extensive, beautiful to the eye, and more illustrious in history than any other in Europe.” – Mark Twain

“Rome is not like any other city. It’s a big museum, a living room that shall be crossed on one’s toes.” – Alberto Sordi.

“Yes, I have finally arrived to this Capital of the World! I now see all the dreams of my youth coming to life… Only in Rome is it possible to understand Rome.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

”Italy has changed. But Rome is Rome.” – Robert De Niro

Read more: Rome – tips from a local

“Rome holds my psyche in balance. Whenever I’m there, it’s like a holiday.” – Giambattista Valli

“A fool is one who admires other cities without visiting Rome.” – Francesco Petrarca 

“Rome – the city of visible history, where the past of a whole hemisphere seems moving in funeral procession with strange ancestral images and trophies gathered from afar.” – George Eliot

Read more: Why do we toss coins in the Trevi Fountain?

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>>> Discover more thematic collections of travel quotes.

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But first, discover its meaning as explained by Italians…

When I first arrived in Italy more than 10 years ago, the first two expressions my Italian friends taught me were piano, piano (‘little by little’) and dolce far niente (literally ‘sweet doing nothing’). But the latter phrase made famous by the Eat, Pray, Love book and movie franchise means so much more than its literal translation, that you can practically call it an untranslatable phrase.

Here’s what a few Italians shared about the saying’s deeper significance, as well as some advice about how exactly you can steal this beautiful concept and incorporate it into your life.

***

Dolce far niente… dolce = sweet || far(e) = do || niente = nothing > literally: the essence of doing nothing and enjoying it. Nothingness is that pleasant experience of enjoying time going by, letting your thoughts taking over… I guess it’s very much in our mentality as Italians. We are lucky enough to have the beauty of amazing landscapes, from the coasts and seasides to the highest mountains. That is where dolce far niente is at its best, where all that matters is living the moment. No stress, no pressure, nothing matters; just live in the moment, a ‘doing nothing’ moment.

Tessy Morelli from Meet Your Mood

Coffee is a good ‘dolce far niente’ ingredient | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

***

Dolce far niente is a way of life. We, the Italians, live to celebrate with good wine and a plate of pasta, no matter whether it is a normal everyday lunch or the most important holiday in the country. Dolce far niente is a way of thinking always fixed to the moment, in which we can finally ‘do nothing’ and enjoy it. 

Selene Scinicariello from Viaggi Che Mangi

***

Dolce far niente is this sensation when you sit at a bar in an Italian village while you drink coffee and watch the passersby. Time slows and for half a second you admire life in its simplicity, and you only want to smile.

Maria Vittoria from SimplyEcoNomads 

***

A memory comes to mind when you mention il dolce far niente. When I was a child, my parents used to send me to stay with my grandmother while they were at work. She was a warm and caring woman who spent all day doing housework and taking care of her grandkids.

Sometimes I saw her putting a chair outside, on her front doorstep, and sitting down for a while just watching the street, greeting neighbors and waiting for the sunset. If I asked her: “Nonna, che fai qui?” (“Grandma, what are you doing here?”), she always answered “niente” (nothing).

This is hard to explain. Literally, Dolce far niente is doing anything without getting bored. It’s a particular kind of ‘me time’ when you don’t do anything in particular: no massage, no reading, no sleep – just observing the buzz of life around you and recharging your batteries. It sounds like idleness, but it’s actually something different. It’s more like a break from the rat race. It’s a moment to reorganize your energy. It’s a way to unwind and to put some distance between you and your life and, magically, to see it better as a whole.

Emanuela Aliberti from The Italian Midday

Read more: Why Venetians don’t walk between the columns in St Mark’s Square

7 unusual things to do in Sicily

8 philosophies of a happy life from around the world

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If you have toured Sardinia at all, you should have noticed there are many remains from its ancient past; the prolific Nuraghic civilization left towers literally every mile or two. There are, however, even more mysterious places on the island, leaving scientists wondering how to connect facts that don’t seem to have anything in common.

Monte D’Accoddi Hill is one of these places – a seemingly random hodgepodge of ancient cultures that should have never met each other. The megalithic altar is made of huge stones arranged in neat layers. It’s the perfect place to imagine for a moment that you are an ancient high priest – straighten your back and walk solemnly up the 40 m (130 ft) ramp to the top of the hill, where you can confess your deepest desires to the gods. Although the altar is only 9 m (30 ft) high, the view from the top is spectacular and sweeps over the surrounding fields, which were perhaps once filled with worshipers.

Monte D’Accoddi in Sardinia, Italy | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

What happened at the sacred site of Monte D’Accoddi?

Around 6,500 years ago the area was dotted with round huts organized in a settlement, most probably belonging to the people of the ancient Ozieri culture. Although at that time there was no altar here, the settlement was centered around a few other important stones. A menhir (a 4,7 m/16 ft tall upright stone to the left of the altar today) was used to utter prayers and perform rituals and sacrifices, together with other peculiar stones. You’ll see these strange shapes – including a trapezoid, an egg-shaped stone, a circular stone and several stones that form a table-like structure – around the area.

These stones were originally painted red. The ramp was erected later.

Monte D’Accoddi in Sardinia, Italy | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Why is Monte D’Accoddi so unusual, and where does Mesopotamia fit into the whole story?

The answer is simple: nowhere else in Italy or the whole Mediterranean has a similar altar been discovered. In terms of architecture, its closest relatives are ancient Sumerian temples called ziggurats (dating back to around 3000 BC). To date, 32 ziggurats have been discovered in Iran and Iraq, revealing with them some of the world’s oldest known scripts.

Archaeologists are perplexed at how such a similarity can be observed in two cultures that have never been connected in any way (at least as far historians know), especially in their cults and temple-building.

Useful information

Monte D’Accodi is 20 km (13 mi) from Sassari and 45 km (28 mi) from Alghero. You will need a car to reach the site, as there are no public buses that go there. The opening hours change according to the season; in summer, the site is open from 9 am to 7 pm. Tickets cost 3 euros. You can find more information about the site’s working hours, prices and other details here.

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Monte D’Accoddi, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

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#1 The Italian wolf is Italy’s national animal. The animal plays a huge role in Italian culture; according to legend, Romulus and Remus – who founded Rome in 753 BC – were raised by a she-wolf.

#2 Italy is home to the only active volcanoes in Europe – Etna, Vesuvius and Stromboli.

Mount Etna – the biggest and most active volcano in Italy– Wikipedia

#3 Jewish people would often hide in Italy’s ancient catacombs while they were being persecuted during WWII.

#4 There is a free 24-hour red wine fountain in central Italy. It was built in 2016 by a local winery in the village of Caldari di Ortona. It is “not for people to get drunk, but a gesture to the town”.

#5 It is illegal to die in the town of Falciano del Massico in Campania in South Italy. This law has been in place since 2012. The reason? The cemetery is full…

#6 Italy is home to the biggest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in the world. There are over 50 to be exact, including the aforementioned Mount Etna.

The city of Verona – one of Italy’s many UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Kimmo Räisänen / Flickr

#7 Italians believe that the number 17 is bad luck. That explains why some buildings in Italy don’t have a 17th floor. This superstition comes from the Roman numeral for 17: XVII. That’s because these letters are an anagram of VIXI, which in Latin means “I have lived” or “My life is over”.

#8 Italy is home to the oldest continually operating university in Europe. The University of Bologna was founded in 1088 and remains to this day one of the most prestigious universities in Europe.

The University of Bologna – the oldest in mainland Europe – Wikipedia

#9 500,000 Italians visit exorcists yearly. The Roman Catholic Church is training a new generation of exorcists due to the high demand.

#10 The island Poveglia in northern Italy is one of the most haunted places in the world. In the 18th century, the island was used as a quarantine zone for people who had fallen ill with the plague. Two centuries, later the buildings on the island were converted into an asylum for the mentally ill. Nowadays, public access is not permitted to the abandoned island, which is often listed among the most haunted places in the world.

After this list, you probably got into the mood to visit the country. Don’t hesitate to look for vacation rentals in Italy with cozycozy and enjoy your stay!

Pin this list now so it can be your secret weapon next time you are explaining why Italy is so great:

Read more:

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Even if you whisper your secrets while you’re inside the Ear of Dionysius in Sicily (in Italian: Orecchio di Dionisio or Orecchio di Dionigi), everyone will hear them, no matter whether they are close to you or at the furthest end of the cave. This man-made rock formation in Syracuse (southern Sicily) is designed so that even the slightest mumble is amplified clearly.

The Ear of Dionysius in Syracuse, Sicily | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

The rumor:

Rumor has it that the local tyrant Dionysius I of Syracuse ordered the huge grotto hewn into the rocks to keep prisoners inside. The opening in the ceiling was specially designed for the tyrant to overhear the prisoners whispering their dirty secrets. Another, more disturbing version of the story says the perfect acoustics served as an ancient microphone for the screams of the prisoners.

The truth:

As interesting as this portrayal of the cunning ruler may be, there has been no proof that it really happened. Archaeologists have found out that the cave was in fact used to provide water storage for Syracuse. The entrance of the cave was formed after a major earthquake caused one of the walls to collapse and, for obvious reasons, it was no longer possible to store water here.

What you’ve missed:

Earlier in the tourism history of the Ear, it was possible to get to that tiny opening in the ceiling of the cave and, copying Dionysius, actually hear for yourself the secrets people were whispering down in the pit. For safety reasons, access to the opening was later forbidden.

Fun fact:

Italian painter Caravaggio visited the cave during his trip to Sicily and is suspected by many historians to be the author of the rumor that Dionysius tortured his prisoners there. While Caravaggio was on the island, he painted a few of his most famous works, including The Burial of Saint Lucia in the church of Santa Lucia alla Badia on Piazza Duomo in Syracuse. You can enter the church for free to admire the impressive painting.

Burial of Saint Lucia by Caravaggio (1608)

The challenge:

When I visited the cave, there was an opera singer in one of the tourist groups next to me. At one point the lady burst into song, creating some hauntingly beautiful tones that echoed in a most amazing way for a few seconds. So, the challenge is: get to the bottom of the cave and sing your favorite song in full voice. You can record it to remember the experience.

How to get to the Ear of Dionysius:

The Ear of Dionysius is located in the Greek archaeological complex in Syracuse (when you enter, just follow the signs for the Ear). The ticket for the whole complex – which consists of an ancient amphitheater, a rock-hewn fountain and many limestone formations – costs 10 euros. Spare at least three hours for the site. Bring sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat as the sun is merciless and there are few places to hide from it.

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Visiting a wine museum or winery in Tuscany is one of the highlights of the region, but how about a whole town dedicated to Italian wine? The World Wine Town of Castagneto Carducci, in Bolgheri, a small settlement (75 mi/120 km from Florence), has arrived straight from your dreams to soak your senses in Sassicaia, Ornellaia, Grattamacco and other exquisite wines that have acquired a legendary status among connoisseurs.

Courtesy of World Wine Town Bolgheri

How do you create the perfect wine town?

If the amazing feat of the Italian entrepreneur Franco Malenotti and his team makes you think about your own dreams, here are a few necessities you’ll require to found your own wine town. You should have a centuries-old farm situated in Tuscany (other world famous wine regions will do, too). Then, you will need an Oscar-winning art director to design your wine museum. Someone like, let’s say, Dante Ferretti…

For the whole project you’ll need at least 12 million euros, because you want this to be a genuine, world-class wine center, not just a tacky theme park. We wish you the best of luck – please send us an invitation when your wine destination is ready!

Courtesy of World Wine Town Bolgheri.

Sensory Wine Museum

Have you ever wondered what wine used to be in the time of the Etruscans? The Sensory and Multimedia Museum in Bolgheri is housed in a two-story building (dating back to the 1500s), exploring the history of wine and food from the region in an emotionally engaging way. After having covered the olden days, you’ll be able to hear some contemporary stories about wine told by the very people who make the delicious drink today. The museum features a wine tasting area where you can decide which wines to add to your favorites.

Courtesy of World Wine Town Bolgheri

What else can you do in the wine town?

Open up your senses and try the organic and carefully selected food at one of the three restaurants in the wine town. Most products are local and have traveled only a short distance, which makes your dinner fresh and sustainable. A visit to the culinary school will open your mind to the secrets of the local delicacies, while the Wine Academy in Bolgheri is among the best places in the world to discover the subtleties of your favorite drink. A campus for students studying Tuscan wines will soon open.

Courtesy of World Wine Town Bolgheri

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