ITALY - SKIP THE BUCKET LIST
By Leah Marie Armstrong . Leah’s from Canada and lives in Portofino, Italy. She’s married to an Italian Captain, who presently works on cruise ships. She is an avid Blogger, Painter and runs a Bed & Breakfast on Portofino Mountain. She spent her earlier career in the cruising, travel and hospitality industry and has a passion for photography, olive picking and Slow Cooking.

With a newly opened Bed & Breakfast, I have spent countless hours researching travel trends in Italy and tried to wrap my head around why most sites completely skip over Liguria. Here is my conclusion: Liguria’s not a Bucket List destination.
The Big 3, Rome, Florence and Venice are casting a huge shadow over the rest of Italy. So, while all three are great places, your bucket lists are killing your chances of having a truly authentic Italian experience.
When you decide to come to Italy, I suggest you get this one important item on the table and decide how important your bucket list is. Are you a Vacationer or a Traveller? This distinction will determine the kind of experience you will have in Italy, and if you should maybe mix things up a bit.
Here is how I define them:
The Big 3, Rome, Florence and Venice are casting a huge shadow over the rest of Italy. So, while all three are great places, your bucket lists are killing your chances of having a truly authentic Italian experience.
When you decide to come to Italy, I suggest you get this one important item on the table and decide how important your bucket list is. Are you a Vacationer or a Traveller? This distinction will determine the kind of experience you will have in Italy, and if you should maybe mix things up a bit.
Here is how I define them:

A Vacationer, is someone who works 80 hour weeks, saved up every penny and desperately needs a break from every day life. They want to experience a lifestyle that is different from their own but be pampered with all the comforts along the way because those 80hour weeks have finally caught up to them. They have a bucket list, Rome, Florence, Venice, a limited budget and only 10 days to do it all.
Sound relaxing?
The Traveller, is someone who wants to explore new things. Live outside their protective box, try new things and sink their teeth into as many new and exciting experiences as they can. They will splurge on an expensive bottle of good Prosecco and then dine on the local focaccia because that is what the locals do.
If you are a Vacationer, Italy can be an exciting place to spoil yourself with rich food and fine wine. The luxury you can experience here is second to none if you want to indulge, but I would skip the bucket list places and head to the smaller villages to really soak up all that goodness. Yes, Rome, Florence and Venice are great cities, no doubt, but after 80 hour work weeks, is this really how you want to spend your vacation? Surrounded by noisy tour buses, crowded streets and overpriced coffee bars?
Italy is a chaotic country, or as I like to call it, a beautiful mess. The energy is a coffee induced frenzy. Be sure to bring your sense of humour along too because you’ll need it in spades!
Sound relaxing?
The Traveller, is someone who wants to explore new things. Live outside their protective box, try new things and sink their teeth into as many new and exciting experiences as they can. They will splurge on an expensive bottle of good Prosecco and then dine on the local focaccia because that is what the locals do.
If you are a Vacationer, Italy can be an exciting place to spoil yourself with rich food and fine wine. The luxury you can experience here is second to none if you want to indulge, but I would skip the bucket list places and head to the smaller villages to really soak up all that goodness. Yes, Rome, Florence and Venice are great cities, no doubt, but after 80 hour work weeks, is this really how you want to spend your vacation? Surrounded by noisy tour buses, crowded streets and overpriced coffee bars?
Italy is a chaotic country, or as I like to call it, a beautiful mess. The energy is a coffee induced frenzy. Be sure to bring your sense of humour along too because you’ll need it in spades!

So, what else is there on offer if you skip the big 3? Oh, so, so much! I cannot list them all here, but for starters, the walled city of Lucca, natural springs and spas in Acqui, fresh water lakes in Stresa, Amarone wine in Verona, sandy beaches in Isola d’Elba, pesto in Genoa, focaccia in Recco, Italian Riviera in Santa Margherita and mountain hiking in Portofino.
Wait? Did you just read mountain hiking in Portofino? Yes, that is correct! Portofino is famous for being a beautiful destination by the sea. And it truly is! Super yachts and sailboats flank her port and super models strut along the piazza wearing the latest fashions. It is worth a visit. Then, when you get bored with all the fuss, head up the mountain, take a deep breath of fresh country air and enjoy the spectacular view below. Hike your way across the top of the mountain to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, go for a swim and take the ferry back.
So, whether you are a Vacationer or a Traveller, I suggest you chuck your bucket list and rethink how you want to experience Italy in all her glory. You won’t regret it!
For more information on places to go, visit www.visititaly.com
Wait? Did you just read mountain hiking in Portofino? Yes, that is correct! Portofino is famous for being a beautiful destination by the sea. And it truly is! Super yachts and sailboats flank her port and super models strut along the piazza wearing the latest fashions. It is worth a visit. Then, when you get bored with all the fuss, head up the mountain, take a deep breath of fresh country air and enjoy the spectacular view below. Hike your way across the top of the mountain to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, go for a swim and take the ferry back.
So, whether you are a Vacationer or a Traveller, I suggest you chuck your bucket list and rethink how you want to experience Italy in all her glory. You won’t regret it!
For more information on places to go, visit www.visititaly.com
Images copyright of the author and Di Mackey
Click on any image to enlarge it |
Want more of Italy? See Bordighera and Bordighera and Genoa and Lake Como and Photographic Holiday and Radda and Sardinia 1 and Sardinia 2 and Spas and Style & Culture