Well what to say, another year is coming to a close and we have decided to round up our top 10 articles from this year. On The Italy Insider, we seek to promote beauty and contemporary Italian lifestyle, sharing with you a different side of our beautiful country. Whether this be lesser known destinations, exciting insights by locals or new and unmissable places to discover – and these pieces have been your favourites from this year.

An Insider’s guide to the alluring city of Mantova

Mantova and its neighbouring town Sabbioneta have been a Unesco World Heritage site since 2008. Under the rule of the Gonzaga family from the 14th to the 18th century, Mantova became a model and testimony of urban, architectural, and artistic achievement in the Renaissance period. Sabbioneta, on the other hand, was built by Duke Vespasiano Gonzaga in the second half of the 16th century. Its star-shaped city walls, grid-like street plan, public spaces, and monuments make it one of the best examples of an ideal city in Europe. Discover our Insider’s Guide to Mantova here.

Pocket Guide to Pantelleria

Pantelleria has some of the most beautiful sunsets we have ever seen. A gigantic red sphere melts into the horizon, painting the sky indigo, violet, yellow and pastel blue as it descends into the sea. There is no surprise that the island has spiritual essence; cultures, influences and natural elements collide together to create a wild, enchanting setting. Elements that mark the foundation of Pantelleria, island that in Arabic translates to ‘Daughter of the Wind’. Discover our pocket guide to Pantelleria here.

10 Picture Perfect Stays in Puglia

Waking up among the wilderness of the Itria Valley and enjoying outdoor lunches shaded under the olive trees, walks among the baroque façades of Nardò to the white washed town of Ostuni, spending the day at the beaches in the Salento coastline like Santa Maria di Leuca or Torre Lapillo to picking up a pasticciotto Leccese in the homonymous city – Puglia has become the IT destination for many this year and will continue to grow. So if you have this charming destination on your travel bucket list, we have gathered our favourite masserie, airbnb’s and villa rentals for your ultimate stay. Read here.

Genova: A Gastronomic Guide

Genoa is timeless, a poetic destination that through its alleys, its port and the magnificence of its palaces coupled with contrasting shadows and lights unveils its own character and that of its locals. When visiting Genoa, strolling around the historic centre – one of the largest in Europe – is a must. A network of alleys and ancient medieval buildings overlooking the sea, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006. Discover a journey through the best culinary outlets in the city, from fine dining to smaller bakery’s and cafes. Read our guide here.

Matera: An insider’s guide to the city

Why visit Matera? Well, Matera is unique as it is one of the few places to have entirely retained its authenticity. Since the prehistoric times, the inhabitants used caves, quarries, ravines of the rocks of the Murgia – soft and golden stone – to dig their homes. Houses and stables, churches and palaces have been built in the walls of the gullies and connected to each other by stairs, roads, alleys, ascents and descents. It’s a world that seems to grow in the stone and from the stone to expand into an exterior so unique that it has been selected as a location for about 20 movies – only to mention the latest: No time to die by James Bond. From sleeping in renovated caves, savouring a meal on a terrace overlooking the ancient landscapes and walking off-the-beaten-track to discover the heritage of Matera – these reasons alone are enough to book your trip to this destination. Read our guide here to find out more.

A holistic break in Florence

Florence is a city of many things to many people. The home to exquisite art and renaissance history, bustling with character and full of Romance. It’s a city made for long sunny days and even longer starry nights. And whilst Florence encapsulates the perfect Italian way of living that travellers so often come to love and marvel at, with all that beauty around, it can be easy to indulge the senses, or rather, over-indulge. So, whilst it goes without saying that a few days in Florence is never enough, even when you only have a small window of time in this masterpiece of a city, there are some perfect ways to keep yourself balanced while you’re away. Discover how, here.

5 Things to do in and around Taormina

When planning your trip to Taormina, know that there will be a lot more to the city than pretty bougainvillea lined streets, granite and beaches (as much as we love all three of those things). The city is rich in art and history and it’s location, close to Mount Etna, makes it the perfect base for experiencing the majestic volcano. Scroll through five things we recommend you do when visiting the city but above all, don’t forget to wake up at sunrise at least once to watch Mount Etna painted against a pastel pink sky. Read our recommendations here.

Renowned ‘pizzaiolo’ Franco Pepe’s reveals his pizza secrets

Caiazzo, in Campania, is a small and ancient town with its origins dating back to the 9th to 7th century B.C. It is a place rich in artistic heritage and unique characteristics, but before Franco Pepe and his pizzeria Pepe in Grani, it was relatively unknown. Franco Pepe was born in Caiazzo, where his family owned the Antica Osteria Pizzeria Pepe (still a well-known and active establishment) and a grocery store. In 2012, in the historic center of Caiazzo, Pepe in Grani was inaugurated. An entire building (including 2 rooms for accommodation) dedicated to pizza, which was a groundbreaking concept! Since then, every evening, the queue fills the alley. But when Franco Pepe envisioned, dreamed, and then launched his project, none of this was guaranteed or predictable. Read our conversation with Franco Pepe here.

The most beautiful parks in Italy

The desire to explore unknown gardens and discover the history behind them, along with a new sensitivity toward the environment and the pleasure of sharing enjoyable moments outdoors, are driving a new category of travellers who make horticultural tourism a rapidly evolving phenomenon. The botanical tourism sector is also growing in terms of quality offerings. Just think that the network of Grandi Giardini Italiani (a cultural enterprise founded in 1997 to promote and enhance Italy’s most beautiful gardens) now includes about 150 gardens that meet strict botanical, artistic, and historical standards. Additionally, 35 of these green gems feature accommodations (hotels, bed and breakfasts, agritourisms) where visitors can stay overnight after their visit. Discover the most beautiful parks in Italy from North to South here.

La Tuscia: An insider’s guide

Nestled between Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio, La Tuscia boasts a diverse landscape characterised by rolling hills, verdant valleys, and picturesque towns. This region is dotted with ancient Etruscan ruins, medieval villages, and Renaissance palaces, each telling a story of centuries past. From the mystical Etruscan metropolis of Tarquinia and Cerveteri to the medieval architecture of Viterbo’s historic centre and the beauty of Italy’s – dying town – Civita di Bagnoregio: here is everything you need to know about the region.