LE STRADE DEL VINO
by Antonio Mauriello

Many people ask me about tips and advice when travelling Italy. I thought that if I published them here, one at a time, everybody could enjoy and share.

A reader asked me: "I will be travelling to Italy this summer for the first time. Any advice for me?"

Italy is a small country, even compared to Ontario. However, it is very dense with things to see, do, and explore. There is something for all tastes. The first-time tourist, just by looking at the map, thinks that the entire peninsula can be visited in a few days... NO!
If you do that, you will just get a very superficial idea of what Italy, its culture, character and romance are all about. So, slow down, immerse yourself slowly and absorb everything you can. Remember: there will always be another trip!
Here are a few tips:

1) Plan the theme of the trip: are you interested more in the big city or in the countryside? Art, architecture, history, or nature and forests? Mountains, lakes, or seas? Wineries, vineyards, local markets and small trattorias, or spas and Roman baths? After you've decided on the theme, you already have chosen a subset of regions and restricted the number of places to visit.

2) Avoid the months of July and August. This is when all the major factories and industries in the North close for the summer holidays, so a 'river' of tourists will flow to the major summer destinations. If you have to travel in these two months, stay in the major cities. They are disserted by the locals and the traffic is literally a fraction of the usual.

3) Decide on the method of transportation: if you decide to drive, you'll have to learn a few hand gestures... not to do yourself (no, please!), but to understand what the other car's driver is telling you. The railroad system is wonderful and safe, and it touches all the cities and villages.

BUON VIAGGIO!!!