Incu's guide to your end-of-winter escape, Italiano style. 

Around this time each year the exodus of Australians in search of warmer weather and a head start on their summer tan begins, and, what better place to vacation than the incredibly contrasting country of Italy. We take a look at three spots on our Italian itinerary this European summer. 

 

The Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre coastline is made up of five small towns dotted along majestic miles of marble cliffs and turquoise water. Each town is connected by a myriad of walking trails, ruins and monuments rich with legend and history.  

The most famous walk in the Cinque Terre is Via Dell’Amore - The Way of Love. Full of trinkets left by couples to symbolize their everlasting love and understandbly popular with couples in their golden years for both its beauty and the relatively flat terrain. 

We reccomend taking the high walking tracks through the mountains that fall behind each of the villages, here you'll find miles of hill-top vineyards and some of the most breathtaking views to share with friends and loved ones. For incredibly fresh seafood and handmade pasta visit Rosa at Ristorante il Casello overlooking Monterosso beach near the bowling green. 

 

 

Milan

There’s something understated and elegant about the people of Milan. They make riding bikes in heels or a suit look just as romantic and effortless as it does on the big screen. Take the subway, and you’ll be serenaded with classical music and state of the art facilities – a noticeable contrast to the underground in many other European cities.

The lifestyle in Milan is slightly less touristic than Rome, however the city makes up for what it lacks in big-big-ticket attractions like Vatican Cities and Coliseums with a plethora of smaller must sees. The city’s famed Duomo and Piazza appear on many of the fantastically photo-shopped Milanese postcards and the Convent of Sta. Maria dell Grazie, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ is not to be missed.

We recommend visiting Villa Necchi Campiglio (pictured above), an incredible house museum home to many of the best parties during Milan Fashion Week. Constructed between 1932 and 1935 by the Milanese architect Piero Portaluppi, the Villa was featured in one of our favourite Italian films ‘I am Love’ starring Tilda Swinton. 

 

Venice

The famed floating city made up of a myriad of untouched islands and separated by lagoons is the historic center of northeast Italy.

Incu visited Venice last year and spent a rushed two days soaking up the culture (literally, we fell in a canal) and eating our way through many of the back-street bistros.

We recommend timing your visit with the Venice Biennale which takes over many of the main islands every two years. Here you will find some of the worlds best contemporary artists exhibiting their works in dramatic and contrasting pavilions.

Take a short boat ride to the Lido, a long body of land which separates and shelters the main township of Venice from the ocean and ride the length of the coast. Here you’ll find bohemian beach bars hidden in the thick bush that dots the length of the trail and shabby-chic beach bungalows made from drift wood and found objects.

Stay at Hotel Antiche Figure on Santa Croce and ask Bruno, the dashing night manager about the best local attractions.