Every village or region in Italy has its own character, every landscape corner its own story to discover. It would take a thousand trips just to fully explore our country, but as we know, we don’t always have so many holidays and vacations available. But the “long weekend” formula is magical and allows us to take advantage of holidays and special dates to enjoy a short vacation. So we’ve created a brief list of destinations to help you plan your weekends, from major art cities to their natural surroundings.
Here are 8 travel ideas for a great long weekend discovering the boot-shaped peninsula!
8 Ideas for a Long Weekend
Here are eight destinations to visit for short city breaks: small trips within reach, interesting villages nearby, a charming historic center, and all the wonder of a weekend vacation filled with history and culture.
Classic destinations or less traveled, familiar tips or new surprises: take a look at this brief guide and choose your next holiday spots.
Rome
The capital, as we well know, has thousands of years of rich history: the allure of the Eternal City is irresistible. From the Roman Forum, with the iconic Colosseum, to the Vatican with St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, the list of sights is endless. But sometimes, you just want to wander and breathe in all that history, appreciating how it creates visible layers: an ancient column worked into a modern facade, a church is another thing to pay attention to, because they represent the power of the various rulers and benefactors who built them. The most famous, immortalized in films, is the Trevi Fountain, recently restored, where legend says that tossing a coin guarantees a return trip.
And, of course, food lovers will find comfort in home-style trattorias, where creamy and simple cacio e pepe pasta is unmissable, as well as gricia or the queen, Carbonara.
Naples and Surroundings
The ruins of Pompeii, south of Naples, are on every art and history lover’s list, while Naples itself has a lively aura that captivates the most curious visitors. Not only is it Italy’s third-largest city, but also one of the oldest and most artistic. Its center is a UNESCO World Heritage site or a fabulous village like San Gimignano.
Trento and Surroundings
For a rejuvenating weekend, you can’t miss a nice getaway to Trentino. Here you have easy access to the Dolomites, as you are surrounded by them. But also all the comforts of a human-scale urban center.
Trails, bike paths, castles to visit, great food, and unspoiled nature. And if you have a few days to venture even further into the mountains, South Tyrol is just a 45-minute drive away.
Alberobello and Surroundings
And finally, we return to southern Italy. Here, during your holiday weekend trip, you can explore the town of Alberobello with its trulli houses featuring conical roofs. Take advantage of low prices and the beautiful countryside in Puglia. Moreover, it’s not far from Lecce, a small gem where you can eat and drink excellently in the heart of Salento. Here you can visit the famous beaches of Gallipoli, Porto Cesareo, or the beautiful Ostuni.
Palermo
Palermo is heartbreakingly beautiful, with its vast number of churches in a distinctive style. The main architectural influence is Byzantine, but the style you’ll see most is Sicilian Baroque. There are so many small churches that it’s worth simply wandering around and exploring everything you find!
Give Palermo the time it deserves, and stay downtown to enjoy it fully during your long weekend.
Another charming element that attracts tourists are the open-air markets. Buzzing with energy and life, the crowd can be felt from a distance. In fact, it’s not uncommon for locals to haggle for the best price on fresh fish or seasonal fruit. Set aside a morning to visit one of the main markets. You’ll find gems like Vucciria or Capo to get a good sense of Palermo’s lifestyle. Palermo is also a paradise for food lovers, with everything from street food to gourmet available 24/7.
You’re in Sicily, so you can’t skip a visit to the beach! The closest one is reachable by bus, and it’s Mondello, a perfect paradise with turquoise water and soft sand.