For longer trips, it’s smart to use companies who sell multi-stop plane tickets. BootsnAll has Indie, which allows you to search, price, and buy all online, within minutes.

We chose three longer trips that include Italy in the plan. Keep in mind that with any of the trips below, you can completely customize to make your own, even the departure city! Simply register for a (free) account, change any destinations and dates around, click “search fares,” and instantly get a price. If you like any of the prices and trips you see, you can purchase them – all online.

This round the world trip originates in New York City before going to Morocco, Rome, Russia, China, Bangkok, and LA before returning home.

This trip is a great one for anyone looking to take a gap year. Visit some amazing regions of the world – South America, USA, Europe, and SE Asia on your world tour.

This 8 stop RTW trip goes through Southeast Asia, China, and Europe before coming back to the US.

Photo credits: Diliff,

• Milan Metro Cuff
  If, by chance, you happen to love jewelry, Milan AND public transportation, then I'd be willing to bet you'll love the Milan Metro Cuff almost as much as I do. (via @ehalvey on Twitter)
• Rome Resources
  This is a fantastic round-up of Rome travel resources available online, from things to do to places to eat to how to get around. I'm proud to have a couple of WhyGo Italy's Rome articles included on this list – I'm in very good company! If you're going to Rome, you really need to check out this array of resources.
• Witness: The murder of Giovanni Falcone
  The 20th anniversary of the murder of anti-mafia judge Giovanni Falcone just passed on May 23rd. This audio program includes an interview with Falcone's former colleague, and it's absolutely worth a listen. (via @JohnDickie1 on Twitter)
• How to not get robbed
  There are precautions you can take against looking like a target that pickpockets in Italy will go after, but this post also gives you some ammunition – what to look for so you can spot a would-be pickpocket before they're anywhere near your wallet. (via @katja_dlam on Twitter)
• How to seduce in Italian
  This may be a niche topic, not advisable if you're traveling in Italy with your sweetie, but here's a list of pick-up lines and bedroom banter in Italian!
• 4 spots that make you taste something else in Rome
  Craving something other than Italian food during a longer-than-average stay in Rome? Here are a few spots to get good foreign fare. (via @scooteromatours on Twitter)
• Traditions of the Land: Food in Italy Part I
  I love this profile of two of the most famous food exports from the Emilia-Romagna – parmigiano-reggiano and Parma ham. Plus, the photos are gorgeous.
• Over a fifth of households in south in ‘relative poverty’
  Southern Italy has long been economically more disadvantaged than the north, and recent statistics still tell the same story.
• Life in Italy vs. Spain
  This blog post about the process of buying stamps in Rome & Barcelona is amusing, but it surprised me – I mean, I've heard horror stories about the Poste Italiane, but I've never had problems buying postcard stamps at a tabaccaio before!
• Police arrest mayor of Pantelleria
  The mayor of this Sicilian town was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe to employ a local businessman's son in the town hall.

Here’s a rundown of the news stories about the Brindisi bomb. I’ll keep this page updated as more reports come out.

Updated May 24, 2012

• Italian school hit by bomb attack
  Even before the devastating earthquake hit Finale Emilia on May 20, there were already shockwaves in the southern Italian city of Brindisi on May 19 when a bomb blast at a vocational school killed one and injured several more. Initial suspicions were that the bomb was a retaliatory attack by the mafia, but officials later said the bomber acted alone.
• Italy police close in on school bombing suspect
  Officials in Brindisi said early on May 21 that they had identified the bomber from surveillance tapes, but that he had disappeared. His brother was among several people the police questioned.
• Italy bomb: Man detained as Melissa Bassi funeral held
  Later on May 21, officials said a man was being held for questioning in connection to the bombing "to see if he has an alibi," but they haven't said whether it's the suspected bomber from the CCTV footage.
• Bombed Brindisi school reopens before 16-year-old’s funeral
  The school where the bombing took place was re-opened on May 21, just before the funeral of the 16-year-old girl who was killed in the blast.
• No hypothesis excluded over Brindisi bomb, says minister
  Officials earlier said that they suspected a solo bomber rather than a mafia-related motivation, but now they’re saying they aren’t ruling anything out. They also released the man they were questioning, so the search continues for the bomber.
• Red Brigades group denies responsibility for teen’s murder
  The Red Brigades deny that they had anything to do with the bomb in Brindisi, and their message says “students and workers are certainly not our targets.”

The 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck very early on Sunday, May 20, toppling buildings and leaving thousands homeless. The death toll stands at seven currently, although that number could rise as rescue efforts dig through the rubble. Aftershocks have rippled through the region since the original quake, further damaging structures and frightening residents.

The earthquake’s epicenter was about 22 miles north of Bologna in a town called Finale Emilia, and there are reports of people feeling the shaking as far away as Milan and Venice. Many historic buildings, including castles and churches, are among those heavily damaged or completely destroyed by the quake. The roof of a 16th century chapel near Ferrara that had been recently restored may be beyond repair after collapsing. A 14th century castle in San Felice Sul Panaro partially collapsed. In Finale Emilia itself, churches with “centuries-old paintings” inside were badly damaged, but one of the most enduring images to come out of the rubble thus far is the town’s also “centuries-old” clock tower – half of the tower collapsed during the earthquake, cutting the clock face in two.

One of the more unexpected stories to come out since the earthquake is that some of the warehouses that store the region’s famous cheeses – parmigiano-reggiano and grana padano – were damaged, which officials are saying led to more than 300,000 giant wheels of cheese being destroyed. Clearly the loss of cheese doesn’t compare with the loss of life, and yet it’s important to remember what a big financial loss those 300,000 wheels of cheese represent to the region. One conservative estimate says it’s at least €250,000 worth of cheese.

I’ll continue to update this page as more stories come out, and (hopefully) as donation funds are set up to help the rescue and relief efforts.

More reports on the earthquake (updated May 24, 2012):

• Earthquake strikes northern Italy
• Deadly northern Italy earthquake hits heritage sites
• Earthquake in northern Italy damages medieval churches and castles [PHOTOS]
• In pictures: Italy earthquake
• Dozens of aftershocks rattle Italy following earthquake
• Emilia gripped with fear after deadly earthquake
• Cheese worth 250 million euros destroyed by Italian earthquake
• Architects issued warning ofseismic dangers to Italian officials two days before earthquake (via @dreamofitaly on Twitter)
• Earthquake in Northern Italy [In Focus photos from The Atlantic] (via @legalnomads on Twitter)
• Earthquake in Italy Devastates the World’s Artisanal Cheese Supply [includes the quote, "Considering that what you see here represents the work of seven companies for two years, this means that the repercussions on the rural economy of these farms and this territory will feel it pretty badly."]
• Emilia shaking with fear as strong aftershocks continue

• Less than half of Italians support gay marriage
  "Less than half" translates to 43.9%, which, frankly, is a higher number than I would have expected.
• Pizza Shirt
  I love pizza & all, but – just no. (via @MorettiBeer on Twitter)
• Another crackdown on ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate
  There have been yet more Calabrian mafia arrests, this time including some local politicians.
• Making Pasta for the Pope: Abruzzo’s Mastri Pastai
  I think the title is a bit of a misnomer here, as there's only an incidental mention of pasta being made for the Pope, but this piece about the town of Fara San Martino in Abruzzo and its reputation for making some of Italy's finest pasta (including, yes, some made for the Pope) is interesting nonetheless. (via @tweetaly on Twitter)
• Woman leaps to death from Leaning Tower of Pisa
  The woman who jumped from the tower in Pisa left no note, so officials are saying she's not among the high number of economic-related suicides in recent weeks, but it's still troubling. Apparently four women have leaped from the tower to their death in the past two years.
• Man kills self, throws his two small children from window
  While it's not clear whether this particular murder/suicide can be linked to the recent spike in suicides related to Italy's economy, the killing of the two children makes this the most tragic suicide report I've heard so far.
• Mafia boss breaks silence over Roberto Calvi killing
  30 years after the 1982 murder of Roberto Calvi, known as "God's banker," in London, one of the men accused of killing him (and later acquitted) is speaking out for the first time. Francesco Di Carlo says he didn't kill Calvi, and that one day he may reveal who did. Di Carlo now lives in central Italy. (via @andreavogt on Twitter)
• Piazza Navona vandal acquitted on psychological grounds
  The man who threw a brick at the Trevi Fountain (but, thankfully, failed to do any damage) & later broke two dragon heads off a fountain in the Piazza Navona has been cleared of criminal charges but ordered to spend two years in a psychiatric facility.
• Monti pledges to improve bike conditions in Italy
  Italy's PM says, "the government is committed to promoting policies of sustainable transport and reducing street accidents that involve cyclists." The article says Monti is a "known bike enthusiast."
• Woman leaps to death from Leaning Tower of Pisa
  The woman who jumped from the tower in Pisa left no note, so officials are saying she's not among the high number of economic-related suicides in recent weeks, but it's still troubling. Apparently four women have leaped from the tower to their death in the past two years.
• Rick Steves: Cinque Terre’s Floodlore & Casualties
  As the Cinque Terre rebounds from the floods of last October, Rick Steves just visited the area for the first time since those floods. I posted a video he shot in Vernazza to the WhyGo Italy Facebook page (it was a moving couple minutes, during which it certainly sounded like Rick was choked up), & this article has just succeeded in making me shed happy tears. Yes, there's still much to be done in the Cinque Terre, but it's really remarkable how far they've already come. (via @ryanvb on Twitter)
• Six Pizzas in Rome That Will Make You Forget Naples
  My friend Katie Parla dishes on Roman pizza for Eater.com – and let me tell you, when Katie issues recommendations for food, you listen. (Well, I definitely listen. And I suggest you do the same.)
• Six-City App Giveaways For Travelers by Fodor’s
  The six Fodor's city guides that are now free include Rome, so if you've got any plans to visit the Italian capital (or any of the other five cities) you can now get your Fodor's guide on your iPhone for free instead of $6.99. (via @WalksofItaly on Twitter)
• Terrorist group claims responsibility for "kneecapping" attack on CEO
  An anarchist group has claimed responsibility for the shooting of a businessman in Genoa. They say they are planning at least 8 more acts of terrorism in response to the arrests in Greece of suspected members of the group.
• EU sees Italy on track to balance budget
  This is good news, given the recent spate of suicides, attacks, and protests over frustrations regarding unemployment, high taxes, and general economic troubles (see more stories on these topics below). I really hope they're right in their prediction that the Italian economy "should begin to pick up in the second half of 2012."
• Man self-immolates from ‘joblessness, taxes’
  Another economy-related suicide, this one in Sicily. Sadly, it's not even the first in recent weeks involving self-immolation.
• Human-sized dummies hung around Rome in protest at suicides
  These protestors in Rome are calling for PM Mario Monti to step down.
• Two tax inspectors attacked near Milan
  It's not just suicide rates that are rising – so, too, are attacks on tax collection agency Equitalia.

• Minetti’s college pal testifies to night at Berlusconi party
  More salacious details are coming out about the "bunga bunga" parties at Berlusconi's mansion. The latest witness apparently called the mansion "a whorehouse" during a wire-tapped phone call.
• Carabiniere officer among 15 ‘Ndrangheta arrests
  Among those arrested in the recent crackdown by the anti-mafia police is one policeman – a Carabiniere officer in Calabria who "is accused of mafia association."
• Anniversaries in Italian History: Dates Every Curious Traveler to Italy Should Know
  This month's Italy Roundtable marked our one-year annivesary since the first post, so we talked about – what else? – anniversaries! For her post, Melanie covers important dates in Italian history that every traveler should know. Why? Because you'll see them everywhere as the names of streets and piazzas.
• Italy Roundtable: Happy Anniversary to Us!
  Rebecca notes that not all years are created equally, although the same amount of time passes for each one. She's had a pretty big-deal year, and it's kind of exciting (to me, anyway) that each of the Italy Roundtable members has had something to do with that.
• Predicting our future: a first date at Niki de Saint Phalle’s Tarot Garden in Maremma
  I've always wanted to visit the Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture garden in Tuscany, ever since I saw photos of it years ago, so I love that Alexandra's Italy Roundtable post is about her first visit there – on her first date with her future husband! Coincidentally, they have an anniversary coming up this month, too.
• Celebrating your wedding anniversary in Tuscany
  In her Italy Roundtable post, Gloria's highlighted the things you can do in Tuscany if you're celebrating an anniversary there – including museums and crafts involving paper, wood, crystal, and china.
• Kneecapping of Italian nuclear power firm boss prompts terrorism fears
  A shooting in Genoa has brought back memories of the terrorism of the Red Brigades 40 years ago. (via @andreavogt on Twitter)
• Tips for Visiting Rome in Summer
  Among some of the often-repeated tips on this list were a few I hadn't thought of before – including "bring deodorant from home." Why? Italian deodorant doesn't include anti-perspirant, which is something you'll miss in the height of a Roman summer.
• 20 arrested in Catania mafia sweep
  The anti-mafia police continue to make arrests in southern Italy – this time in Catania. Among those arrested was a long-time mafia boss who was released from jail in 2010 after serving 18 years. He had been trying to reorganize what police are calling a "decimated" clan.
• Senior citizen throws self in Po River after tax bill
  This is another in the increasing number of Italians who attempt suicide after getting a tax bill or having their pension cut. This man survived, but many have not.

anno – (noun) year

It feels like not so long ago I was visiting Italy for the first time, head poking out of the top of the water taxi from Marco Polo Airport to the canal city of Venice, sea air blasting me in the face and occasional tiny drops of water pelting my cheeks, utterly awe-struck at every single thing in my frame of sight. The taxi spilled us onto the sidewalk and we turned a corner as St. Mark’s Square curled in around us, opening its arms and enfolding us at the same time, the late-July sun still radiating from the stones under our feet. The light may have been fading, but that only meant there was a serenely ethereal glow cast across a city that, to this day, remains my favorite in all of Italy.

At least that’s how I remember it.

The year was 2001, and I was a mere 29 years old at the time. Today, having just turned 40 and with so many Italy trips in my rear-view mirror that I honestly can’t recall how many times I’ve been there, I’m prone to romanticizing that first trip like it’s something out of a Merchant Ivory film. I make no apologies for this. Italy has this effect on people, and I’m not immune.

My days in Italy feel as if they’ve blurred into one, details slipping through my fingers, but when I think of how the Italians use the word for “year” I’m inclined to think those moments aren’t truly lost.

Quanti anni hai?, they ask when they want to know how old you are, but the words mean “how many years do you have?” We possess those years, whether we can recall every second or not. I possess Italy in a similar way, by having visited the country, soaking up each trip through seemingly insignificant moments that get tucked into spots in my brain I may never find again – but probably don’t need to.

Last year marked a decade since my first trip to Italy, and it was also (somewhat ironically, I realize) the first year I haven’t set foot in the country in nearly the same amount of time. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about missing out on celebrating my 10-year anniversary with Italy in Italy, but when I think about all those years I have – all those days, minutes, seconds spent drinking in Italy like a sponge – I know that Italy will always be in me, even if I’m not always in Italy.

Italy is simultaneously there – sitting on the dock of southern Europe and dangling the toe of its boot in the Mediterranean – and here, a stubborn ember in my heart. This means, of course, that I happily carry Italy with me wherever I go. It also means I am never quite as whole as when I’m there.

Aspettami, cara. Torno subito.

Other Voices from the Italy Blogging Roundtable

Happiest of happy anniversaries to my Italy Blogging Roundtable cohorts! Find out what anniversaries they’re talking about by clicking on the links below.

• ArtTrav – Predicting our future: a first date at Niki de Saint Phalle’s Tarot Garden in Maremma
• At Home in Tuscany – Celebrating your wedding anniversary in Tuscany
• Brigolante – Happy Anniversary to Us!
• Italofile – Anniversaries in Italian History: Dates Every Curious Traveler to Italy Should Know

Invited Guests at the Italy Roundtable

Last month we asked you to pull up a chair to the Italy Roundtable – yes, you – if you had something to say on any one of the topics we’ve covered in the previous year. Many of you took us up on the offer. Here are a few of my favorites.

• Kate paints a lovely picture of an evening in Sicily; it’s why she says she came to Italy, although I’d guess she may not have known that when she first arrived. Such is the charm of the country – you don’t know why you’re there until long after you’re there.
• Kate evidently was so taken with our invitation that she actually wrote two posts in reply – the second is about a gift given to her by a former student, and I dare you to read it without ending up with a big grin on your face.
• Nerys wrote about how her version of comfort food has changed since leaving Wales and moving to Milan – it’s no longer chicken soup.
• Lisa writes about Italy for the same reasons she feels at home there – and much of that has to do with how the women in her family take on renovation projects.
• Linda has lots of reasons to write about Italy – some practical, some ethereal, and all lovely.
• Diana’s poetic post about the elements has the calming effect of a deep breath (which I’m fairly certain she intended). Also, I’d love to see the sunset from that little wall by her barn someday.

photo by Rob Young

• Italy Roundtable on Facebook
  At long last, a year after we first started, the Italy Roundtable has its own Facebook page! Have you enjoyed our themed ruminations over the past year? Come "like" the Facebook page, where we're working on posting an archive of all the posts we've done.
• Truck in Naples stopped with cocaine hidden behind mayonnaise jars
  Apparently 23 tons of mayo isn't enough to hide 62 kg of cocaine from the police.
• Door-to-door hands on cooking lesson in Venice
  Here's yet another perk of renting an apartment in Venice during your trip – you could have an Italian cooking lesson right at "home!" The folks from Cook in Venice will come to you, teaching you how to cook a 4-course Venetian meal during a 3-hour lesson.
• Pink Flamingos in Italy?
  As I am one Oregonian in love with Italy, I've been enjoying following along with Bethany & Ted of TwoOregonians.com on their recent Italian adventures. This post is a sweet portrait of a relaxed side of Italy, which – really, I promise – isn't so terribly hard to find.
• Calabria Travel Deals
  Planning a trip to Calabria or elsewhere in Southern Italy? My friend Cherrye at My Bella Vita offers discounts on her travel consulting services & travel packages each week to her Facebook community.
• Man hangs himself in playground
  The number of suicides by people who are distraught over their own personal economic woes (as a result of Italy's economic woes) continues to increase. This man was in Vicenza, part of the Veneto, which has the "highest nationwide number of small-business owners who have committed suicide."
• Marinella, the Neapolitan king of ties
  You've got to get up really early to get ties at this shop – between 6-9am, say the proprietors, is the best time!
• Venice looks to restore Rialto Bridge
  …And if you've got a spare few-million-euro lying around, you could be the heralded benefactor behind the Venice monument's restoration.
• Italian art experts accused of censoring phallic fresco
  A 13th century "tree of fertility" fresco in Tuscany recently went through a restoration – but in the process, the experts who did the restoration work have been accused of painting over "the numerous penises and testicles" which used to hang from the tree's branches.
• Venice Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Campanile di San Marco
  Did you know Venice's Campanile is just 100 years old?
• Film: Must See: Habemus Papam
  I saw this Nanni Moretti film earlier this year at an international film festival, and it was all kinds of delightful – with an unexpected "that'll make you think" element, too.
• Unemployed Italians become shepherds
  The high unemployment rate among Italy's young people has led some of them to follow in their parents' footsteps tending livestock.
• Ferraris snag Italy’s tax dodgers
  It seems like a no-brainer, but those with the windfall of extra cash from not paying their taxes can't seem to resist big spending on luxury goods. It's these purchases that are helping police catch tax evaders in Italy.
• Why Italians Think I’m Weird
  I just love this list… I can relate to so many of the things the author does to alternately horrify or confuse the Italians – #10 most of all.
• Pizzeria Sorbillo in Naples Damaged in Fire
  I saw news of this last week, but it was all in Italian. Here's some info in English on Katie Parla's site. (Katie is the one who gushed about Naples to me prior to my first visit, which I'm sure helped me fall in love with the city.)
• My First Post-Flood Stroll Down Vernazza’s Main Street
  Rick Steves shares a brief video he shot while visiting Vernazza – you can see the damage still visible on the town's main street, but also that life has returned (along with the visitors) to the main square. The mayor even makes a cameo appearance!
• Hospitalised Andreotti ‘joking, breathing normally’
  Senator for Life and former Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, subject of the film "Il Divo," has been hospitalized with heart trouble. The 93-year-old politician is said to be in "serious but stable" condition.
• Priest sentenced for child sex abuse
  A priest in Genoa was arrested based on phone tapped conversations with drug dealers in which he allegedly arranged for meet-ups with minors. His lawyers say they'll appeal.

• 6 Ways to Make Your Italian Vacation More Interesting
  Italy is an incredibly popular tourist destination, yes – but there are still ways to make your vacation pictures stand out from everyone else's. You can visit a region most people don't get to, or focus on one aspect of the culture (like the food!). This article highlights a few ways to make your Italian holiday a bit more unique.
• Five Foods To Avoid in Italy
  In this guest post I wrote for Matt of LandLopers.com, I'm highlighting things you should NOT eat in Italy – as a way to help you find the good stuff.
• Venice Decoded: Uncovering the City’s Signs and Symbols
  I love all the tidbits in this post, but I was especially excited to learn about the symbolism of a Venetian gondola – I'd never heard any of that before. I'll never look at a gondola the same way again…
• Rome… For People Who Don’t Like Cities
  This is an excellent set of tips for anyone who feels overwhelmed by Rome (ahem, like me) or is just overwhelmed by the idea of any big city.
• Over 2.5 million Italians unemployed, highest since 2004
  Italy's unemployment numbers have been dismal for years, but new statistics show they're getting even worse.
• In Orgosolo, preserving ancient silk art
  Did you think silk was only made in China? Would you be surprised if you found out you could find silk-makers in Sardinia? (via @Charming_Italy on Twitter)
• Mystery Tuscany: 12 Places. 12 Stories. A Fantastical Journey.
  I love this… 12 short films about various places around Tuscany, each with a mysterious story to tell. You can watch each one online or on your iPhone (each costs 0.79euro), & judging by the preview they're beautifully made.
• An Afternoon at Gladiator School in Rome
  I've heard of this gladiator school in Rome before, but I've never done it. This post from my friend Amie shows why so many traveling families love to bring their kids to this school!
• The perils of being LGBT in Italy
  Italians don't exactly have progressive attitudes toward anything other than heterosexual relationships, and some gay people in Italy blame the Catholic church's influence for Italy being 20+ years behind much of the rest of Europe on gay rights issues. (via @vespadiaries on Twitter)
• Northern League councillor ‘kills self over fraud’
  Things continue to get worse for Italy's Northern League party…
• 2012 Language Immersion Tour in Puglia: August 19th – 26th
  If you like the idea of challenging yourself with the Italian language, of taking your skills to the next level, all while enjoying an Italian vacation – then you might be interested in this trip. (via @michellefabio on Twitter)
• Train traffic disrupted after Roma Termini collision
  Two Frecciarossa trains going about 30km per hour collided at Rome's Termini station, causing a delay to train traffic in and out of Rome. No passengers were hurt in the collision, and a few members of the train crew suffered only minor injuries.
• Italian census data released
  New data on the Italian population shows that the percentage of foreigners living in Italy has increased dramatically in the last decade – it's nearly three times what it was 10 years ago. Another finding in the data is that people living in what are described as "rough" conditions – camper vans, tents, huts – has also tripled in the last decade.
• The Power of Art – Caravaggio (complete episode)
  I recall loving the BBC's Simon Schama art series – each one was educational & fascinating. I had no idea entire episodes were available online! Here's the Caravaggio episode (others are on the right-hand column, if you've got a few spare hours). (via @3pipenet & @understandrome on Twitter)
• Half young Italians think mafia ‘stronger than State’
  I'm not surprised by the findings of this survey at all…
• Apps for Venice
  Well, that's a fun use for Pinterest! A hotel in Venice created a Pinterest board just for Venice iPhone & other smartphone apps.
• World’s Most Delicious Street Food
  So, I'll acknowledge that most of this slideshow has nothing to do with Italy – but the fact that they've highlighted my favorite pizzeria in Naples (which also serves kick-ass fried goodies at the take-away window) makes me very happy, indeed.

The Tuscan Maremma

If you have never heard of the Tuscan Maremma then you’re missing out on one of the most genuine and humbly beautiful territories left in Italy.

Think quiet country towns where traditions are still celebrated in vibrantly colored festivals. Think sunflower-flooded fields and open spaces. Think locals who still sit in front of the sandstone homes they have owned for generations. And think dishes prepared following family recipes with not even a whisper of a tourist menu in sight.

Intrepid Italians have been heading to the Tuscan Maremma, tucked inconspicuously between the borders of Southern Tuscany and Lazio, for decades. They come here for the territory’s unparalleled natural beauty, which transitions from gorgeous beach and breathtaking nature reserve to snow-dusted mountain peak, all in a matter of kilometers.

Far from the bright lights and tourists of nearby cities Rome, Florence and Siena, the Tuscan Maremma has also ferociously maintained its heritage and culture, first shaped by the pre-Roman Etruscans, but influenced by medieval warlords, Spanish invaders and Renaissance dukes.

But best of all, the Tuscan Maremma has kept its provincial charm, giving you the chance to experience the Tuscan countryside as a true local, even if it is only for a little while.

On this page, you’ll find information about the Tuscan Maremma including how to get there and what to do once you arrive.

Navigating the Tuscan Maremma

If you look up the Tuscan Maremma on a map, you won’t find it. Officially the territory goes by the rather dry name Provincia di Grosseto or Grosseto Province, but the locals have been calling it the Maremma for centuries and no one can seem to find a good enough reason to stop doing so now.

In the past, the Tuscan Maremma was a cluster of very independent states, which has left its modern residents with almost no inclination to band together to form one unified provincial transport system. This can make traveling on public transport fairly difficult. Some areas are serviced by a very efficient train network, but most aren’t. That said, if you have patience and aren’t easily fazed then you can reach almost every corner of the territory by bus.

Still, you’re better off renting a car. The Tuscan highways in the territory aren’t heavily trafficked so you don’t have to worry about aggressive drivers. If you’re flying into the Tuscan Maremma then pick up a car at the airport. The two closest airports are Rome’s Fiumicino and Pisa’s Galileo Galilei, depending on where you’re staying, and this is where it gets tricky. Geographically, the Maremma covers almost one third of Tuscany. That means it will take you at least three hours to get from one end to the other, if you’re lucky.

Whether you’re traveling by car or public transport, you can’t hope to see all of the Tuscan Maremma in one hit unless you want to spend the majority of your vacation in transit. The best thing to do is make a list of everything you want to see before you leave and plan your journey around that. If you want beaches, base yourself on the Argentario Coast. If you want to see the glory of the Etruscan empire, head for Vulci and the Fiora Valley. While if you want to immerse yourself in naturalistic pursuits, set yourself up in Monte Amiata.

Where to Stay in the Tuscan Maremma

If you couldn’t possibly imagine staying in anything but utmost luxury than the Tuscan Maremma has a handful of high-end hotels. You’ll find them in the main tourist spots – Grosseto, Massa Marittima, Saturnia and the Argentario Coast.

But as magnificent as these hotels are, they’re not going to offer you a real sense of the Tuscan Maremma. So much of this territory’s charm lies in the fact that it is a provincial destination, unfussy and untouched by excessive tourism, so if you stay in a five star hotel, you’re kind of missing the point.

You’d be better off booking a B&B or agriturismo. Not only are both considerably cheaper than any hotel, they’re also family owned, so you’ll wake up to a homemade breakfast of local sweets and coffee, usually included in the price, and plenty of friendly banter from the owners.

As an added plus, agriturismi are usually working farms. They’ve been a staple in the Maremma since a few plucky farmers realized tourists wanted to stay on their considerable and considerably beautiful farmlands to experience the Tuscan lifestyle.

Most agriturismi offer you the choice of room or apartment, depending on the size of your group, and are usually converted historical buildings decorated in the typical country Maremman style – think vintage furniture and exposed beams.

When it comes to entertainment, most agriturismi will have a pool at the very least, but you could also be treated to wine tasting sessions, cooking and horse riding lessons, olive oil and cheese making demonstrations, fishing trips and bike tours, the list goes on. Not to mention, there are always the hectares of open countryside for you to walk through or the kids to run wild through.

What to Do in the Tuscan Maremma

The Maremma is one of the few places in the world that can really claim it has something for everyone.

If you want beaches, you can while away the days on the crystal clear sands of the Argentario Coast, between Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano. Not impressed? Then book a tour to Giannutri Island. A breathtaking marine park, the island is only an hour from the mainland, giving you plenty of time to explore its beauty above and below the waterline.

If you’re looking for a bit of history, pull on your sightseeing boots and pick an era. Every century from pre-historic to Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance is represented somewhere in the Tuscan Maremma. But for a quick fix, don’t miss Vulci, one of the abandoned capitals of the Etruscan empire, Etruria, and now a massive open-air museum.

If you’re a naturalist by nature then you’re literally spoilt for choice in this corner of Southern Tuscany. Every year, hundreds of cycling enthusiasts pack their bags and their bikes and head for the trails that weave their way through the Tuscany Maremma’s many nature parks. Those of us without bikes need not worry, there are plenty of other ways to appreciate the territory’s incredible beauty including hiking, horse riding, skiing and sailing.

And finally, if you’re itching for a spa holiday, forget about all the other activities mentioned above and head straight for Saturnia. The Tuscan Maremma is trumped as Italy’s hottest hot spring destination and Saturnia is its capital. It’s there that you’ll find the paradisiacal Cascate del Mulino hot springs, where you can relax in 37°C water for free with the gorgeous Tuscan countryside as your backdrop. You’ll never want to leave.

Then of course, there’s the food, but you’re in Tuscany after all, so it should come as no surprise that Maremman fare is some of the finest you’ll have ever tasted!

About the Author:
Elisa is an Australian journalist who came to Tuscany for a year, fell in love, how cliché? And decided to stick around. Not one to keep paradisaical holiday destinations to herself, she now writes a Tuscan travel blog and online travel guide about the infinitely beautiful Tuscan Maremma, so that others can get a taste of la dolce vita.

photos by: ComunicaTI, Elisa Scarton (and may not be used without permission), strato56, JarleR