Rome—Italian food is always a vacation favorite.
getty
Italy is always a perennial travel favorite, and there’s always a good reason to explore new delights, particularly culinary ones. From Lake Como and Pompeii to travel writers’ favorites of Campi Flegrei’s ancient baths and Tuscany’s wild Garfagnana, these Italy travel trends have something for everyone, and with food-led travel booming, the seafront restaurants in Positano, Sardinia, Liguria, and Puglia are drawing travelers with a passion for food.
CNTraveler’s recently listed of the Best Things To Do In Lake Como, such as the End of War museum, where Mussolini was stopped at the end of World War Two, the Silk Museum celebrating Como’s role as the silk capital in the 19th century, and Villa Gaze from the James Bond and Star Wars franchises.
Lonely Planet lists the Best Day Trips from Rome, including the ancient ruins at Ostia Antica, the UNESCO World Heritage City of the Dead in Cerveteri, and, of course, Pompeii. And its writers list the Underrated Italian Getaways, notably the ancient baths at Campi Flegrei, west of Naples and Garfagnana in Tuscany.
Italy Travel Food And Hotel Pairings
Italian travel specialists Citalia showcase Italy’s most spectacular seafront restaurants, each paired with nearby hotels, following the trend of people seeking cuisine-led travel—their research shows that over two in five (42%) travelers say food and drink is the most important factor when selecting a destination. Wine tasting and vineyard tours are also popular.
La Sponda in Positano is the perfect place to eat spaghetti with lobster at sunset, paired with the elegant Palazzo Murat. In Sardinia, try Le Dune for Bottarga-topped pasta over a long lunch, with uninterrupted views across Campana Beach, staying at the Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia.
On the Amalfi Coast, follow in Stanley Tucci’s footsteps in Searching for Italy to eat the signature dish at Ristorante Lo Scoglio, the Spaghetti alla Nerano—fried zucchini and Provolone del Monaco. You can swim in the sheltered coves of Marina del Cantone, eat in the family restaurant founded in 1958 with produce grown on the family farm, and when the sun is low, you can eat overlooking the sea. The Hotel Marincanto is nearby, on the water.
If octopus is more your thing, you can lunch, barefoot on the sand at the Michelin-starred La Pineta in Tuscany, staying at the Augustus Hotel and Resort. Heather Green of Citalia suggests “La Pineta feels effortlessly special because it doesn’t try too hard, you’re dining barefoot on the beach, yet the sourcing and technique are exceptional. I’d suggest timing your visit for lunchtime, when the sea and sunshine become part of the experience.”
Alternatively, you could opt for the tasting menu for dinner at Ristorante Sarri in Liguria. Try the seafood crudo with Ligurian olive oil, led by Michelin-starred chef Andrea Sarri with sea bass tartare, fish carpaccio and seasonal pasta shaped by what’s landed that morning on the menu. Explore the old town of Porto Maurizio before heading off to Royal Hotel Sanremo.
Suspended inside a limestone cave above the Adriatic, Grotta Palazzese in Puglia, is one of Italy’s most theatrical dining rooms, perfect for sea bass, scollops, lobster and caviar. Arrive before sunset in the place once used for 18th-century banquets, it’s now led by Apulian-born chef Martino Ruggieri, whose tasting menus showcase regional seafood and refined southern flavors. You can spend your time swimming in the cove below the town’s bridge, Monachile, before heading off to a room at Il Melograno, a 16th-century masseria surrounded by olive groves.
Or try Da Gemma, open since 1872, on the Amalfi Coast for the Linguine alle vongole, best at lunch after exploring Amalfi Town. Stay at the Hotel Marina Riviera with views over the Tyrrhenian Sea and a rooftop swimming pool, and stop by the Amalfi Paper Museum that’s housed in an old paper mill dating back to the 13th century.
If you’re looking to try new places, in picturesque settings across trending Italy travel hotspots, these seaside gems should provide some inspiration.
MORE FROM FORBESForbesWar And Rising Costs Threaten Europe’s Summer Tourism SeasonBy Alex LedsomForbesEU Citizenship—Which Countries Issued The Most Passports In 2024?By Alex LedsomForbesEurope’s New Border Control, EES, Is Now Operational—What To KnowBy Alex Ledsom