Italy is accessible again to visitors with Covid entry rules relaxed but some restrictions still remain for visitors. Tourists must produce either proof of full vaccination; a negative PCR or rapid lateral flow tests or a Covid-19 recovery certificate.
To enter bars, restaurants, and other venues, travellers will need to show “Green Pass” which is currently available for fully vaccinated tourists. The long-awaited relaxation of travel rules has brought Italy back on the radar and there are a wide range of experiences to truly live La Dolce Vita in the destination this spring.
Here are some of the attractions and activities that are now available for UK visitors.
Pasta making class in Florence
Local chef Massimo was born in Peccioli, a Tuscan village and home to some of the world’s most delicious cuisine and fresh produce. Guests can follow Massimo to a small family-run olive farm, where the resident ‘Mamma’ will teach visitors how to make traditional local pasta before settling in to join a family-style meal with a selection of local wines.
ToursByLocals (www.toursbylocals.com) offers the nine and a half hour Cooking class on olive farm & pasta factory Full Day tour for £1,215 for four people (prices vary on group size). The tour includes guiding services, private transportation, admission tickets, a lunch with Tuscan specialties including wine and aprons as souvenirs.
Go back in time in Trento
Trento is a cosmopolitan city seeped in history and heritage, surrounded by soaring mountains and teaming with buzzing bars and world-class restaurants. The fascinating inner city - restored over the last several years - is brimming with ancient sites waiting to be discovered, including Roman remains, the stunning Piazza Duomo, Buonconsiglio Castle, churches such as Santa Maria Maggiore, Palazzo Pretorio, the fountain of Neptune and Cattedrale di San Vigilio.
Visit elegant hotspot Villa Madruzzo Hotel & Restaurant which is a is a foodie favourite offering traditional Alpine cuisine championing local Italian produce. After exploring Trento, guests can indulge in the hotel’s idyllic wellness centre through the Madruzzina Gallery, equipped with a Finnish Sauna, Turkish Bath and Tea House.
Enjoy a 5-night stay at 4* Villa Madruzzo Hotel and Restaurant for £580 for two adults. The hotel was the home of a noble family in the sixteenth century. Based on two people sharing, bed and breakfast basis. Dates: 14-19 April 2022. Book here.
Uncover Lucca
Explore the picturesque Piazza Giglio, where Puccini’s opera used to perform, Piazza Napoleone where Lucca’s summer festival shows are held and Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, which provides a mix of historical charm and the perfect people watching spot. Visitors can enjoy an aperitivo in one of the countless cafés and restaurants in the courtyard. Located here is Grand Universe Lucca, Autograph Collection, still a must-visit destination in Tuscany after its opening last year.
Stay at the Grand Universe Lucca, Autograph Collection, a former Palazzo during the Renaissance overlooking two of the most beautiful piazzas in Lucca. With the perfect location, Grand Universe Lucca has 55-guestrooms and nine unique suites. Prices for a one-night stay over Easter 2022 start from £279.50 (based on two adults sharing). www.granduniverselucca.com.
Enjoy history and romance in Rome and Venice
Spring is the best time to enjoy two of Italy’s iconic, beautiful and breath-taking cities of Rome and Venice. Very different, the two cities complement each other to create the ultimate Italian twin city get-away.
Travel deals platform HolidayPirates has a five-night Rome & Venice holiday package for £269 per person. Enjoy a unique and memorable Italian getaway and spend two nights in Rome in a 4-star Hotel Napoleon and three nights in 4-star Smart Hotel Holiday in Venice. Flights included from London Gatwick and London Stansted, as well as train transfer between Rome and Venice. This package is based on two people sharing on a bed and breakfast basis.
Barga, Tuscany’s charming medieval destination
The hilltop town of Barga is largely still under the radar, but it has a captivating setting, with views across to Apennine Mountains and many acres of vineyards, olive groves and woodland. Barga is famous for its rich cultural life in the summer with exceptional music festivals. Travellers will enjoy strolling along the winding streets of the old town away from the tourist hordes.
The Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa features 180 classically styled rooms, a full-service beauty spa, indoor and outdoor pools and an upscale restaurant featuring regional and international cuisine. Prices for a one-night stay over Easter 2022 start from £185.23 (based on two adults sharing).
Majestic Black City in Sicily
The magnificent city of Catania is on the east coast of Sicily. The city is brushed by the Ionian Sea and ruled by Mount Etna, Europe’s most significant volcano. Once, the metropolis got destroyed by the catastrophic volcano eruption but revamped in true Baroque style, built using lava!
ToursByLocals (www.toursbylocals.com) offers an eight-hour Catania Tour - Myths, Art & Culture, Local Food and Traditions of Sicily Tour for £1,246 for eight people (prices vary on group size). The tour includes guiding services, private transportation, admission tickets, lunch in the Catania city and the option of wine tasting.
Learn the art of wine tasting in Piedmont
Nestled in the Italian Alps, Piedmont features some of the country’s highest peaks, as well as five wine-growing areas with sweeping vistas of vineyards, medieval towns, the Castle of Grinzane Cavour and lakes including Maggiore and Orta.
For aspiring sommeliers, Albergo L’Ostelliere Villa Sparina offers guided tours and tastings in its 18th century wine cellar. Located in the heart of Piedmont, the winery-resort is the ideal place to finesse wine tasting abilities.
Citalia (citalia.com) offers a 7-night stay at 4-star Albergo L'Ostelliere Villa Sparina Resort from £739 per person. This includes one free night accommodation, flights from London Gatwick, and breakfast daily, saving up to £305 per couple. The rate is based on two people sharing and June 3 departures.
Relax at the Grand Palladium, Sicily's Only Five-Star All Inclusive Resort
Having launched last summer, the Grand Palladium Sicily is the only five-star all-inclusive resort on the stunning island of Sicily. Comprising of two hotels and 469 rooms, the resorts boast an exciting mix of entertainment options, high-quality facilities, and an incredible location.
TUI offers a 7-night stay at the five-star Grand Palladium Garden Beach Resort and Spa with spa facilities and four pools in Sicily priced from £701pp (All Inclusive) including return flights from London Gatwick. Based on May 1, departure for two adults sharing. Full details of the deal can be seen here.
Discover the Amalfi Coast from Pompeii to Pizza
The Amalfi Coast, on the southern coast of Italy, is famous for beautiful beaches, picturesque towns and of course the wonderful pizzas and gelatos. This tour explores its dramatic coastline as well as the world-famous ruins of Pompeii, the winding streets of Positano and Amalfi.
Exodus Travels’ eight-day Amalfi Coast: Pompeii & Pizza Family Holiday is priced from £1,699 per adult and £1,275 per child and includes return flights, transfers for group flight, B&B accommodation, four lunches, five dinners, all transport and listed activities. (Exodus.co.uk, 0203 1312 785)
Navigate Sardinia by bike
Visitors will navigate their way through the quaint former mining village of Nebida and the colourful town of Pula passing expanses of vineyards and olive groves. The route hops between the islands of St Pietro and St Antico where visitors will try delicious fresh fish alongside locally made cheeses and flatbreads.
Headwater’s eight-day trip Undiscovered Sardinia Cycling is priced from £1579 per person and includes flights, all accommodation, breakfasts daily, one evening meal, route directions and maps, high-quality bikes, luggage transfers and a transfer from Cagliari to Nebida on day one. (Headwater.com, 01606 369121)
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