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“Our trip to Italy was part of our three-month European tour. We arrived in Italy around May 11th and stayed until July 6th, almost two months to thoroughly explore the country. With such a long time and our own transportation, we were able to visit most of Italy's most beautiful places, from north to south, from remote areas to urban centers,” Trinh Nam Thai said.
Spending nearly two months exploring every destination in Italy, Trinh Nam Thai and his wife, Pham Bich Ngoc, had a trip filled with countless memorable experiences.
Breathtakingly beautiful destinations
Italy is renowned for its diverse landscapes, ranging from majestic mountains and vast seas to volcanoes, meadows, and valleys filled with flowers—all incredibly impressive.
“I love the majestic, picturesque beauty of the Dolomites. Or the dreamy, captivating atmosphere of Tuscany when the clover fields are ablaze with red. Adding to that is the golden hue of ripe wheat bathed in the sunset – truly a mesmerizing scene. Not to mention waking up early in the morning on farms in the hills, gazing at the sea of clouds drifting lazily right outside my door. It makes life feel so worth living,” said Trinh Nam Thai.
A fairytale-like landscape in the real-life Dolomites.
Speaking of the sea, Trinh Nam Thai loves the roads in Positano or around the Amalfi region, with its spectacular mountain passes. According to him, this is the most beautiful coastal road in Italy, with houses clustered together, exuding a vibrant color. A highlight is the food made from yellow lemons, especially the lemon ice cream. This ice cream is served in a large, beer-glass-sized lemon, with the inside shaved off and filled with a refreshing, cool, and slightly tingling shaved ice cream.
There's a beautiful sunset viewing spot at the end of the village; you can admire the beauty of this place while traveling from Positano to Amalfi.
A unique lemon ice cream
Furthermore, Cinque Terre is an area comprising five villages located along the Mediterranean coast in northwestern Italy: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. These areas were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Cinque Terre is renowned for its pristine natural beauty, with ancient villages perched on sheer cliffs.
In addition, Trinh Nam Thai was surprised by the diversity of unique villages in Italy. The mushroom-shaped village of Alberobello is a town in southern Italy, famous for its mushroom-shaped trullo houses. These houses are built of limestone and have conical roofs. They were built in the 16th and 17th centuries by local farmers to avoid government property taxes.
Or consider the unique Centuripe village, a small town perched on a hill in the province of Enna, Sicily. Viewed from above, the village resembles a reclining human figure, with clearly defined head, torso, and legs. Centuripe was founded by the ancient Greeks in the 7th century BC. The village was destroyed several times by Roman, Arab, and Norman invasions. However, it has been rebuilt and improved, and remains a thriving town to this day.
It's unclear why Centuripe has this unique shape. Some believe it's due to the village's development over time, while others believe the design was intentional. Whatever the reason, Centuripe remains a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world.
"Italy is a vast country, so don't be greedy and try to visit too many places. Focus on each area to experience it more deeply, instead of wasting time traveling to cities far apart," Trinh Nam Thai emphasized.
Trinh Nam Thai has visited hundreds of different ancient villages, but the most impressive are Civata and Matera. These two ancient villages are quite remote and difficult to access. Civata is ancient, isolated, and sparsely populated. Matera is nestled in a gorge surrounded by the Gravina River, offering spectacular views to visitors. Many films have been shot in this village due to its stunning beauty, most notably the "James Bond" movie.
In Italy, if you love vast meadows, you can visit the secluded valley reserved only for adventurers in the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini National Park. This place is like a fairy tale, with endless meadows, a few horses running around in the evenings, or endless fields of flowers, their colors like painted canvases. And if you want to witness volcanic eruptions, you can conquer volcanoes like Etna, Stromboli, and Vesuvius.
Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe, located on the island of Sicily. The volcano is 3,323 meters high and has a crater area of 250 square kilometers.2Etna is known for its frequent and intense eruptions, creating unique and spectacular sights.
Mount Etna is located on the island of Sicily.
Mount Stromboli is an active volcano located on the island of Stromboli, a small island north of Sicily. The volcano is 924 meters high and is known for its frequent lava eruptions. Stromboli is a popular tourist attraction, where visitors can observe the lava flows from afar.
Vesuvius is an extinct volcano located near the city of Naples in southern Italy. This volcano, 1,281 meters high, is famous for its eruption in 79 AD, which destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Vesuvius is a popular destination for hikers who can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area.
A common difficulty when traveling in Italy is parking. Parking at tourist destinations can sometimes be inconvenient, especially on the islands. Bringing your car is expensive, parking in a lot is risky due to potential collisions with other cars, or there might even be no parking space at all. Living expenses in Italy are also quite high, and extending your trip will inevitably increase costs.
Candinini, Dolomites - one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the world.
Admire the ancient medieval town of Castelluccio from afar.
A handy guide for Vietnamese tourists exploring Italy.
"Italy is a vast country, so don't be greedy and try to visit too many places. Focus on each area to experience it more deeply, instead of wasting time traveling through cities far apart," Trinh Nam Thai emphasized.
Each region in Italy has its own unique characteristics; from a certain perspective, its cultural diversity is likened to the three regions of Vietnam: north, central, and south. If you want to see a dreamy, romantic Italy, visit in April or mid-May to admire the poetic beauty of Tuscany. If you want to sunbathe and go to the beach, choose May or June, but avoid Italy in July as it is quite hot and crowded. For the mountainous regions of northern Italy, the best time is in late June, early July, or the last two weeks of October, which is the most wonderful time to see the autumn foliage.
Arena di Verona is a Roman amphitheater in Verona, Italy.
Lago del Tirano, a forgotten gem in central Italy.
Besides, Italy is an expensive place, so plan carefully. Consult with friends who have traveled there frequently to determine a suitable itinerary that fits the health of everyone in the group and create the most optimal plan. For getting around Italy, renting a car is the most convenient option for greater independence, but if traveling alone or as a couple, consider using public transport.
