How to pin down the magic of Italy? Is it the heady romance immortalized by Anita Ekberg wading into the Trevi Fountain in “La Dolce Vita?” Is it the inimitable delight of its food, so fresh that to not indulge in multiple servings of carbonara and gelato seems criminal? Is it the charm of the people, carefree and flirtatious enough to hold a lengthy conversation with you in Italian, not caring that you barely understand a word? Or is it that there is just so much in Italy: so much history, so much art, so much food, so many gasp-inducing views?
Year after year, Italy rises to the top as the favorite travel destination of Andrew Harper members. We asked Andrew Harper travel consultant Joe Colucci, a most devoted and experienced Italophile, why he thinks Italy is, over and over, the place where so many clients want to be.
“I think Italy feels like a second home to many people; subscribers feel very comfortable and welcomed back,” says Colucci. “It may not be the most ‘service-oriented’ of places, but unlike some other countries that show disdain for American tourists, Italy welcomes them every time. And it has an abundance of everything most Harper subscribers are looking for: art, history, style, attitude, tradition and great food and wine. And so much of the culture changes as you travel north to south, east to west and to the islands. You could never tire of Italy.”
To obtain the Harper Traveler’s favorite destinations in Italy, we plied Colucci and other Andrew Harper travel consultants and clients for answers. As everyone who loves Italy knows, the dolce vita is a lot less sweet when stuck in a crowd, so we queried our sources on the atypical experiences and places they recommend in these regions—travel highlights that have let them savor the pleasures of Italy beyond the fray. Divided by region, these are their little travel secrets to help Italy feel even more like home. Andiamo!
True, it may be crowded and pricey, but that doesn’t make the city of water any less irresistible. With bottle-green canals flowing amid ancient buildings, it’s like Casanova and Canaletto are still among us, skirting through the city’s narrow alleyways or praying fervently in the Santa Maria della de Salute. These are the uncommon Venetian adventures that Andrew Harper’s Colucci and Laura Newman of travel partner Absolute Italy recommend.
Private Dinner at Hotel Ca'Sagredo: “Indulge in an unforgettable private dinner in one of the elaborately decorated salons in the Ca’ Sagredo. Dine under a baroque masterpiece in the intimate Sala del Tiepolo, or surrounded by Venetian splendor in the grand Sala della Musica.” –Joe Colucci
Savor St. Mark's in the quiet: “With enough advance notice, you can bypass the crowds at St. Mark’s Basilica entirely. Our travel partner can arrange for a private, after-hours visit, allowing you to experience the ancient church’s golden byzantine mosaics in peace. The mysterious, incense-tinged atmosphere positively vibrates with history in quiet moments like this.” –Joe Colucci
Drink a Bellini at Harry's Bar: Harry’s Bar Venice carries just as much historical grandeur as its Parisian counterpart. The former watering hole of Hemingway, Capote and Callas, among many others, Harry’s Bar Venice “is one of those classic places that may have many visitors,” says Newman of Absolute Italy, “but if one really wants to feel like part of the traditional days of grand European touring, one should stop in for a bellini, the peach puree and Prosecco cocktail invented there in the ‘30s.” –Laura Newman, Absolute Italy
Explore Venice's secret gardens: If you see a hint of wisteria climbing over a medieval wall, chances are that behind it blooms one of Venice’s many splendid private gardens. A guided tour of these verdant retreats is one of the best ways to escape the summer heat and crowds. Amble amid green hedgerows, lavender and rosebuds to savor Venice at its most romantic and refreshing. –Laura Newman, Absolute Italy
A misty, wintery Venice: “Venice is even more romantic in the winter, when Piazza San Marco floods and you have to find higher ground to avoid getting wet. The next thing you know, you are in a café having café corretto—espresso with a shot of grappa—at 10 a.m. In winter, the mist at night envelops the city so that it is perfect to get lost in.” –Joe Colucci
A stay in rural Tuscany with all of its related pleasures—walks among the olive groves, sipping local wines in the garden, the toll of church bells from a nearby village—is one of our clients’ favorite ways to escape. While enjoying a Tuscan idyll, these are the noteworthy experiences Andrew Harper travel consultants, and travelers are talking about.
The Great Unveiling: “Andrew Harper clients traveling to Tuscany in September and October should make sure to see the yearly unveiling of the intricate mosaic floor of the Duomo of Siena. For most of the year, visitors can’t even sneak a peek at the 56 mosaic panels representing the sibyls, scenes from the Old Testament, allegories and virtues that lie beneath their feet: they are usually covered to prevent damage. The floor dates from the 14th through 16th centuries and is one of the most ornate of its kind in Italy—so don’t miss the majestic mosaic unveiled.” –Laura Newman, Absolute Italy
Torre del Lago and the Puccini Festival: “In Torre del Lago, Puccini converted an old watchtower into a villa overlooking a lake, and from there he wrote his celebrated operas. If you want to hear ‘Madame Butterfly’ and ‘Tosca’ in their land of origin, come to Torre del Lago’s yearly Puccini Festival, an opera-lover’s wonderland in an outdoor theater on Lake Massaciuccoli.” –Joe Colucci
Explore smaller towns like Pienza and Montalcino: “Pienza is one of the first towns built with the Renaissance concept of an ‘ideal town.’ Many other towns in the region were fashioned after Pienza. The first time I visited the city I remember looking over the valley and all the sesame seed plants were in bloom. It was a field of yellow shag carpeting. I also recommend visiting the abbey of Sant’Antimo located outside of the town of Montalcino. As we left, the monks started to chant, and right at that moment the wind blew, and the scent was so remarkably fragrant!” –Joe Colucci
Marble Caves of Carrara: Come take a peak into the raw material of great art. Michelangelo and other Italian sculptors obtained the marble for their masterpieces from the quarries of Carrara. Take a tour deep into the caverns of these majestic mines with an expert guide who likely grew up amid the marble—and whose grandparents probably did, too. Hardhat required. –Laura Newman, Absolute Italy
Horseback riding in Maremma: “Wow, it is the Wild West of Tuscany! Horseback riding through Maremma, the gorgeous coastal area in southwest Tuscany, was amazing and surreal. We traveled along paths that cut through Mediterranean maquis, the wistful scrubland of the region, went through rivers that run through the plains, and past old farm houses and ancient ruins. Unforgettable.” –Andrew Harper traveler
A short drive southeast of Naples, the Amalfi Coast has all of the sun-kissed, seaside charms of southern Italy. Picturesque villages toppling over rocky cliffs, enveloped in so many hues of blue you can’t discern the sea from the sky—this is one of the Harper members’ most beloved getaways. These are the highlights.
Hike the Path of the Gods: “The ‘Path of the Gods’ is exactly what its name implies—heavenly. The path runs between the towns of Positano and Bomerano. You end up in the hills looking down on one of the world’s most famous and beautiful coastlines. With a name like that, how could you not be tempted to see if it were true?” – Joe Colucci
Take in the famous view from the Hotel Caruso in Ravello: This is a view to thrill and transform you. French author André Gide said that Ravello was “closer to the sky than the seashore.” It inspired the composer Wagner in the writing of “Parsifal,” and legend has it that the devil, while tempting him with the wondrousness of the world, brought Jesus to see the view here. One Andrew Harper client says that the best place to witness Ravello’s famed view is the Hotel Caruso: “Set high up, there is an out-of-this-world pool with a view to match.” –anonymous Andrew Harper client
Private boat tours: “Get a taste of the life of the locals with a private boat excursion along the undiscovered part of the Levanto Coastline, away from the crowds of tourists in the main drags of Positano and Sorrento. See the secret parts of the Levanto Coastline (less well-known, but no less evocative) made up of enchanting villas, medieval watchtowers, Moorish castles and natural bridges of rock. Pass the picturesque town of Atrani and then stop for a swim near the Marmorata waterfall.” –Laura Newman, Absolute Italy
Culinary tour: “Visit a mozzarella cheese making workshop where an expert will teach you about the process of cheese making, then proceed to the tasting room for a sampling of the various types of freshly made cheeses, accompanied by fresh breads. Then off you go to a winery, where the resident expert will accompany you on a tour of the vineyard followed by a tasting of their red and white wines paired with bruschetta and other delectables. Divine.” –Laura Newman, Absolute Italy
Andrew Harper members have access to full travel-planning services through Andrew Harper Travel.
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