Add these destinations to your travel bucket list
With the days getting longer and the temperatures warmer, travelling in Italy between the tail end of February and early March can be a true delight. There are pleasant strolls to be taken, fantastic feasts to be had, and plenty of destinations still devoid of the tourist throngs.
Which is all to say: start planning a visit to the Bel Paese right now. Better yet, take inspiration from the places we’ll be going to.
Viterbo (and its nearby hot springs), Lazio
BEST FOR: History buffs who love to relax
With an attractive mediaeval centre painstakingly restored after wartime bombing damage, an imposing papal palace and stunning views of the Tuscia (the historical region that was once home to the Etruscans) from several vantage points, Viterbo is lovely this time of year.
Spend the day exploring its picturesque and maze-like streets, eat some local specialties such as acquacotta, a heart-warming soup made with old bread and vegetables (it’s delicious), then head just outside the city to relieve any winter blues at one of the many thermal springs that dot this territory – some of which have been used since Etruscan and Roman times. Blissful, right?
Verona, Veneto
BEST FOR: Hopeless romantics
For romance-obsessed types, February is all about celebrating love. To do that well beyond Valentine’s Day, Verona is the place to be. Not just because it was the setting for the greatest love story ever told – that would be Romeo and Juliet, of course – but also for its charming centro storico, its lofty arena where you could catch a show, and the many artisanal botteghe you can shop at, taste delicious cold cuts and cheeses, and even indulge in a wine tasting or two.
Word to the wise: After you’ve strolled around and pretended to be in a Shakespearian play, go to Lago di Garda, easily reachable by car or train, to explore more mediaeval villages, take in super pretty views, and explore the many castles, lush gardens and villas dotting the lake.
Langhe, Piedmont
BEST FOR: Wine aficionados
A hilly UNESCO-protected region in Piedmont between Cuneo and Asti, the Langhe is a quaint, verdant trove of vines-covered hills, tiny, dreamy villages and some of Italy’s most highly prized red wines, Barolo and Barbera. But you also come here to find the best brasato, beef braised in full-bodied wine, handmade crumbly meliga biscuits dipped in Barolo for dessert, and a crop of mediaeval castles straight out of a fairy-tale, from Castello di Govone, and Castello di Grinzane Cavour to those of Monticello d’Alba. One of the Bel Paese’s most underrated wine regions, in our opinion.
Siena, Tuscany
BEST FOR: Wanderlusters in search of the Tuscan sun
Considered one of Tuscany’s jewels, it is easy to be bewitched by the unique charm of Siena. A trip here means marvelling at the town’s gorgeous 13th-century main square, the Piazza del Campo, which is still the city’s symbolic and physical heart, but also exploring the cool boutiques, wine bars and restaurants that have emerged in recent years among its restored treasures.
Not to be missed: Piazza del Duomo with the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and its marvellous polychrome marbles, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo and the Baptistery of Siena, as well as the nearby complex of Santa Maria della Scala.Oh, and a bistecca alla fiorentina, of course.
Word to the wise: There are two staples you can’t leave Siena without trying — panforte and ricciarelli. The former is a hard cake made with spices and dry fruit, the latter soft almond-based biscotti that are utterly addictive.
Termoli, Molise
BEST FOR: Alternative travellers
Molise doesn’t get enough attention, and that’s too bad. The whole region is rich in priceless cultural heritage, refined art, unique natural landscapes and mouth-watering local cuisine. Termoli is one of its major towns, and a delight to explore. Founded around the 10th century, it’s a fortified city sitting atop a promontory featuring a castle, a cathedral and seaside ramparts where ancient fishing equipment, called trabucche, jut out over the sea. It’s also home to Italy’s narrowest street, Rejecelle, and a 19th-century “new” town lined with lovely shops, restaurants and street sculptures. Need another reason to go? How about its beach, which runs in a shallow, sandy bay north-west all the way to the Abruzzo border – and it’s practically empty this time of year.
