Ah, Spring!
Spring is on its way and with her come the beautiful weather.
Spending a weekend during Spring in Italy is always a wonderful idea, because our Country is filled with beautiful places to discover this time of year.
Where to go this Spring in Italy? We certainly recommend visiting beautiful outdoors and countrytowns that transform for the season.
There are so many places to visit, it would be impossible to write them all down. So here is our Top 10 choices for our personal favorite places to see in Spring during an Italian vacation.
The Pope’s family, begun the restaurations of the first buildings of this now abandoned medieval town, they dug up a river bed, planted trees and plants from all over the World, to create the modern days Gardens that we all know today, taken care of by 3 women that started a foundation of preservation: the British Ada Bootle Wilbraham, her sister in law an American called Marguerite Chapin, and her niece Lelia.
In 1977 with the death of Lelia, the Gardens were donated to the Foundation Roffredo Caetani, in charge of preserving this immense beauty.
Today the Ninfa Gardens is considered one of the most beautiful English-style gardens in Italy.
Walking through ornamental cherry and apple trees in bloom, magnolia trees, birches, irises and a sensational variety of Japonese maple trees is one of the most romantic experiences in Spring.
And how about Amalfi? Other than giving this region its name, it hosts a beautiful Duomo, a Basilica, and a trail called Vallone delle Ferriere, rich with waterfalls and panoramic views.But the view of the entire Gulf is absolutely spectacular from Ravello as well. This town is particularly known for three special Estates, Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone and the Infinite Terrace, perfect spots for a Romantic outing.
Speaking of romance, we highly recommend eating in one of the many panoramic restaurants in the area, to sample local delicacies like the famous Cetara’ anchovies, spaghetti con le vongole, and pastries from Sal de Riso a Minori.
The Beauty of the city is reflected in every possible aspect. Including gastronomy. One of the most famous local dishes are the “Cicchetti”, for sure. This sort of appetizer is kind of like tapas, fish based or with vegetables, polenta, eggs and achovies and more! A finger food to enjoy with a glass of wine, that venetians call “Un Ombra de Vin“. Other famous local dishe are “Risi e Bisi” (reezee eh beezee), a risotto with peas, a dish dedicated to the City’s Holy Patron, and liver à la Venetian, accompanied with artichockes, typically grown in the lagoon.
Other highlights in this Estate are definitely the Fountain of the Square, embellished with a group of amazing sculptures, the Fountain of the Lumini, which includes 70 water jets shooting from tiny cups, the Fountain of the Table and the Cardinal’s hall, where the previous owner, Cardinal Gambara, used to entertain his guests during summer events.One of the most curious buildings in the park is the “freezer“, a barrel-shaped construction from the early 17th century, built almost 10 meters deep into the ground, which was filled with snow during the winter, to maintain the Cardinals food fresh.
Perched on the gentle hills in the surroundings of Florence, this estate is called the Royal villa.The garden also hosts a rich variety of 500 types of plants and trees, and citrus trees, for which it’s known all over the World. Some plants are said to be over three hundred years old.
All in all, to view an explosion of colors, surrounded by an incredible spring atmosphere with flowers and trees and historical buildings, this is the place to be, for sure.
The Royal Garden of the Palace of Caserta is the perfect testimony of how the Noblemen Luigi Vanvitelli and his son Carlo have embedded the unique style of Versailles with the traditional Renaissance gardens in Italy.More than really big park than a garden, you can walk along the Via d’Acqua, a path to admire the characteristic waterworks like the Fountain Margherita and discover the statues included in the fountain of the God of winds.A day walking in these beautiful gardens are absolutely a must do during Spring in Italy. A skip the line ticket will be necessary for you to book, to guarantee entrance in this beautiful park. We highly recommend a guided tour of the English garden section of the Park. Created by John Andrew Graefer, this English Garden hosts a cryptoporticus (a closed gallery) and the so called Baths of Venus, other than exceptional species of plants from all over the World.
Springtime in Italy could possibly be the best season to visit the Braies Lake in the Dolimites’ mountains. Tourists begin to gather around the summer, so these are the perfect few months to visit, for some peace and quiet, intune with nature.Also the typical spring colors return to dominate the lakeside, while the greys and whites of the winter dispappear. A real gem, hidden in the Mountain range, wrapped in a hug of evergreens and forrests that awaken in Spring.This place is one of the most photographed places in the World. The clear emerald waters, offer an incredible reflections in an amazing pallette of every shade of green, greys and silver.If you arrive early in the morning you could even rent one of the local boats and paddle your way to the center of the Lake for the most beautiful 360° view of this incredible Mountain panorama.
The beauty of Portofino lays in its peculiar position, in a protected bay, facing the Levante riviera, framed in a unique urban and natural landscape: the historical buildings, the churches, the famous little town squares, the tiny dock and the Brown Castle and Light house, all surrounded by the rocks of the promontory in a typical Mediterranean setting. What an unmissable place to be, during Springtime in Italy.
This place is known all over the World as a city of love and art. In this panoramic spectacle, the streets fill with colors and flowers during Spring. And a flowery scent of almond all year round.The downtown of Sulmona has a dozen boutiques and artisanal shops selling the town’s primary product: sugared almonds.
Called Confetti in Italy, are not just a colorful delicious nutty treat, but are also one of the most used party favors for all sorts of events, weddings among other. That’s why, being there a large production of Confetti in the area, the Town has decided to base the life and local production the primal form of business.With the several factories in Sulmona, this place has gained the famous brand of world producer of Confetti. Other than the industrial production, the artisans have mastered quite a creativity intuition
Selling their produce first hand, in the shops around town. In a form of colorful flowers, ornamental pieces, grapes, butterflies, cartoon characters, and other great inventions that are so nice to see and delicious to eat.This town, with its traditions and curiosities is always so colorful and joyful, that it looks like Springtime all year round.
Matera is included in the list of the most famous and visited artistic cities during springtime.
The official list sees it in 5th position after Florence, Rome and Venice.This fascinating city, is a mandatory venue in any bucketlist. Especially during spring. After all, this season is ideal to visit the so called City of Stones, beautiful of course but that turns into a heated furnace in summer.Climbing along the narrow streets uphill, exploring the caves and very ancient buildings, going up and down the narrow, steep stairs, you will discover a truly magical village, inspiring and admired all over the world. Due to its excessive, degradating state in the 50s when it was semi-abandoned it was known in the early years as Italy’s shame
However with an association of hardworking locals, wealthy and cultural organizations, the town of Matera was recuperated and restored into the marvelous gem we all know today.
The structures, carved entirely in the stone, host several museums and luxury hotels. The restorations and repurpose of the Town was aimed to maintain it’s peculiar architectural aspect. Thanks to which it gained the title of World Patrimony by UNESCO in 1993.
The historical center of Matera is known as the actual City of stones, carved and built ontop of a deep sloap called the Gravina, that divides the territory of Matera completely in half.
As Mel Gibson said:
“Some parts of this city are over 2000 years old, the architecture, the entire blocks of rocks that hosted constructions and houses, the surrounding areas and the stone grounds, added a special perspective and a background that we used to create the imposing sets of Jerusalem. The first time I saw Matera, I lost my mind! It was simply the perfect ambient to use in the film.”
This is certainly the truth. Matera is one of those things you can hardly forget. The slopes, the prairies, the forests and this impressive construction, made of tiny niches one next to the other, to think that people used to live here in ancient times is simply amazing.
Spring in Matera is absolutely beautiful. This site, a museum en plain air is full of history and traditions, a place that attracts millions of visitors from all over the world, used in films as movie sets and simply to recharge and find inspiration in life. Matera is an incredible town to visit during your spring in Italy.
So, in conclusion, our peninsula is the ideal destination for a Spring vacation. Here is where you can enjoy beautiful sunny days visiting wonderful places, from the most conventional and famous to the unknown gems of the Italian Countryside. Visit Italy in Spring! We guarantee you will not find anything like it.
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Explore the Amalfi Coast on this private local tour from Naples Port If you dock in Naples Port, we want to make sure you visit as much as possible in the Belpaese. That’s why we highly recommend this private tour. A trip to visit the Amalfi Coast in a day, during your cruise. The beautiful coast, dotted with quaint villages perched on a rocky promontory. Sorrento , famous for its Marina Grande, Piazza Tasso and its narrow streets which are full of bars and restaurants. Sorrento is great for shopping with a multitude of shops selling everything from clothes to their famous lemons! Sample the local Limoncello drink or visit the 13th century “Paradise Cloister” built in Arabian style Positano, the Cliff village, is situated in a panoramic position on one of the most marvellous stretches of the Amalfi Coast. One of the VIP, Actors, models and singers’ favourite place to be! Your tour driver will drive you to the city centre of this unique litte village of the Amalfi Coast, giving you some fee time to explore the hidden little roads of the city centre. Be sure to visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, for example. For lunch, your tour driver will be happy to suggest one of the best typical italian restaurant in the area Ravello, located on top of the Dragon Valley, it is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The beauty of Ravello has been charming travelers,artists and vip of all nationalities for centuries. Known for the Villa Cimbrone‘s “Terrace of the Infinite” and Villa Rufolo, an estate on the ledge of the sea, which inspired many artists, writers and composers like Wagner. Amalfi, famous for its picturesque lanes for you to explore, and tiny boutiques overflowing with traditional products local to this region, including Amalfi’s famous limoncello liqueur, colourful ceramics, and hand made paper. At the end of the tour you will be returned back to the port with plenty of time before ship’s departure, glancing one last time at the mesmerizing sceneries which you will keep as memories that will last a lifetime.
price from €93.50
Today your tour driver will take you “off the beaten path” to enjoy a day excursion to Sulmona. Once arrived in Sulmona your tour driver will introduce you to the history of this charming little town and will give you some free time to walk around and explore the area. Sulmona has several squares, churches and palaces of historical significance. Sulmona is also famous across Italy and beyond for the production of the country’s finest sugared almonds, known in Italian as “confetti”. They can be found at almost any important event, from weddings, christenings, graduation or anniversaries. The region of Abruzzo is well known for the great food and strong wines, too. Your driver will recommend a great restaurant for lunch! And visit to the Confetti factory and Museum is a must. The museum features well-preserved original equipment and photos, and of course you can taste and buy confetti too. At the end of this exciting day you will enjoy a relaxing journey back to Rome.
price from €110.00
Get ready to have the time of your life! You will travel through some of the most beautiful roads in Italy. Crossing through the golden hills, adorned with olive groves and vineyards. Dotted with small medieval buildings. Wine tasting Package for Wine Lovers and Tuscany So quaint, so unique! On your way to Tuscany, your tour driver will give you a nice introduction to what makes this area so peculiar. He'll give you some anecdotes on it's history and traditions. Including stories on the famous Tuscan wines. So many notorious selections, depending on the different areas of the Tuscan region. The location you will visit, masters the art of Chianti wine production As you marvel at the typical Tuscany atmosphere, you will arrive in one of the best wineries of the Region. You will enjoy a private tour of the vineyards, accompanied by winery's staff all the way through the experience. You will also tour the several stories of the winery, visit the cellars, learn all about the different steps and processes they adopt to create their fantastic wines. But what kind of wine tour would it be, without a private tasting? That's right! After the tour, your local guide from the staff will walk you through a tasting of the several wines they produce, while you sample their deliciousness. And what is the best way to pair them, if not with some local culinary delicacies? The winery's chef will create the perfect menu for you, to pair with their finest selections of wine, as you relax and take in the beautiful landscapes in the distance. Such a magical place to be! Before returning to Rome, make sure to make a quick stop in the beautiful San Gimignano a World renowend Medieval Town. It's features, fortress-like, tell an incredible story of ancient times. Famously known as the town of the Fine Towers, it boasts with all sorts of architectural wonders. It is definitely worth a visit even if brief. From there you will enjoy a nice, relaxing ride back to your Rome location, thinking about the day you just spent. Which you will remember for years to come.
price from €200.00
Surround yourself in the typical venetian atmosphere, on this private Venice Island Tour Your private English speaking guide will greet you at the cruise terminal, to take you on a private boat ride through the Lagoon. This Venice Island Tour will give you a taste of the true Venetian Lifestyle. You will be surrounded by different features and sceneries within a blink of an eye. The lagoon hosts some of the most important species of the Italian fauna and flora. The two most important islands in the venetian lagoon are Murano & Burano. One is the lagoon’s “art district”, Murano, famous for its renowned glass-works, Worldwide. Glass-work has always been a pillar in Venice’ culture and lifestyle, for centuries. And one is the fishermen’s Island, Burano. Incredible how this charming venue is still strongly attached to ancient traditions. During the tour you will find that the two completely different lifestyles coexist in perfect harmony, creating a unique atmosphere that determines the singularity of the local culture. *Upon request, if you’d like to spend more time in Burano, before returning to the cruise terminal, you can enjoy a traditional Venetian meal and taste some of the best fish dishes in Italy, in a local Burano restaurant.
price from €940.00
The first visited venue will be the Doge’s Palace. Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace), the HQ of ancient Venetian Republic, is perhaps the most illustrious of buildings in Venice’ landmarks. It not only was the private residence of the Doge of Venice, it also hosted the House of Government of the Venetian Republic throughout the Centuries. It now houses decorations and art works and paintings! During your visit you will get a complete insight, thanks to the knowledge of your private guide, of the true meanings of this City’s history, artistically, politically and aristocratically. From The Doge’s Palace you will walk to the World famous “Ponte dei Sospiri” (The Bridge of Sighs) from where you can see the “New Prison of Venice”, built in the late 16th century. Your guide will then take you to see the Basilica of San Marco also known as the Golden Church as it is covered in almost two acres of golden mosaics and admire the golden the magnificent Golden Screen. The day will continue with a private boat tour to admire the Venetian lagoon. During the tour you will visit Murano, where the art of glass making is still strong in the local community and where you can find glass men workshops, that produce art creations with glass. At the end of this Venice Full Day tour, you will return to Piazza San Marco. *Upon request we can organize a private transfer back to the cruise port
price from €725.00
+39 06.999.77.65
+39 339.159.25.40
info@discoveryguidedtours.com
9 hours
