5 Things We Hate and 5 Things We Love About Italy

Italy can inspire and frustrate in equal measure, but thisFood
vibrant and colorful country has too many good pointsThe home of pizza, pasta and gelato, or ice cream,
that even the most irritating quirks can only add to itsItaly is an exciting destination for food-loving travelers.
unique charm.Backpackers staying in hostels in Italy should, however,
Hateavoid filling up on pizza and pasta as these are
Queuestraditionally starter dishes, followed by a main course
Closing your eyes and imagining you are back in theof seafood or meat.
days of the gladiators while visiting the Colosseum isHistory
rather difficult when you are surrounded by thousandsOne thing Italy is not short of is history and the
of noisy tourists. Italy is home to a wealth of importantcountry's glorious past is reflected in the architecture
cultural and historical sights, so it is hard to avoidof major cities like Rome, Venice and Florence.
encountering jostling lines of people. Making an earlyTreasures dating from Ancient Rome to the
start from Italy hostels to beat the masses is definitelyRenaissance sit comfortably alongside contemporary
a good idea.and 21st century architecture, so travelers visiting
Drivingthese cities are likely to come across a crowd of
While the idea of jumping on a scooter in centraltourists taking photos of a recognizable landmark or
Rome or hiring a convertible and hitting the coastalstunning facade on almost every street.
roads of the Riviera may seem perfect, the reality canStyle
be somewhat different. Italian motorists are notoriousItaly seems to have more than its fair share of
for their 'relaxed' approach to highway etiquette sobeautiful people, looking like they've just stepped off a
backpackers planning to get behind the wheel on a tripcatwalk, sporting chic designer threads and managing
to the country should be prepared to acceptto pull off sunglasses indoors. This is perhaps
maneuvers that elsewhere in Europe might promptunsurprising given that it is the homeland of famous
road rage.fashion houses such as Gucci, Versace and Dolce
Italian Sport& Gabbana; travelers wanting to join the stylish
Italy boasts some of the best soccer teams in theset or just people-watch should head for the Riviera or
world and Italians are not shy about letting their fellowMilan.
Europeans know of their prowess. Italian off-the-fieldCountryside
boasting is almost as famous as on-the-pitch skills soAs well as boasting some of the world's finest cities in
non-Italian fans of the beautiful game should beRome, Florence and Venice, Italy is also renowned for
prepared.its beautiful rural regions. From the rolling hills of
Public HolidaysTuscany to the lakes of the north, Italy's breathtaking
Everyone enjoys public holidays - unless you arescenery has been inspiring artists and drawing-in
backpacking and find you can't check into any hostelstravelers by the millions for centuries.
in Italy, that is. The country celebrates 11 events withBeaches
national holidays every year, and each town marks itsRather than jetting halfway around the world, many
saint's feast day as well. These holidays can mean theItalians opt to holiday at home and, with the beaches
closure of services such as information offices,they have on their doorstep, it's not hard to see why.
restaurants and public transport so planning ahead isBackpackers keen to bag the best and most
essential to avoid mishaps like stranding, hunger andaffordable spots on the coast should follow the locals
being unable to find hostel accommodation.away from the popular but pricey Riviera to the
Loverelatively unspoilt gems of Sicily and Sardinia.