The Reality of Genoa: The City That Wrote Down Which Private Houses Had to Host the King
In 1576, the government of the Republic of Genoa established an administrative system that had no equivalent anywhere in early modern Europe.…
Regional Guide
Italy
Explore the best of Italy: sights, culture, routes and travel tips from PenguFly, plus cheap flights to plan an unforgettable trip to Italy.
Cheap flights to Genoa: the airport built out into the sea, the coast it actually opens, and the two autumn deadlines nobody tells you about
Genoa's airport is shaped by geography. Pinned between the steep Ligurian Apennines and the sea, Genoa has almost no flat land along…
The Reality of Turin: The City That Put a Test Track on the Roof of Its Car Factory
At the southern edge of Turin sits a building that explains the entire city in a single architectural gesture. The Lingotto factory,…
Cheap flights to Turin: the airport train, the ski shuttles, and the Milan habit that costs you an hour
Here is the arithmetic that decides a ski trip to the western Italian Alps, and almost nobody runs it. Fly into Milan…
The Reality of Matera: The City Italy Emptied by Law
The Sassi—the two sprawling districts of cave dwellings cut directly into the limestone ravine—are widely considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited…
Cheap flights to Bari: the door to Puglia, the private railway to Matera, and the Sunday trap
On an early trip to southern Italy, I booked a bargain flight to Bari, planning a weekend getaway to the historic cave…
Cheap flights to Milan: three airports, the “Milan” that’s actually Bergamo, and the train that decides your morning
On one of my first trips to Italy, I booked a remarkably cheap ticket to "Milan" on a budget carrier. It was…
The Reality of Matera: From National Shame to Boutique Showcase
Stand on the edge of the plateau at first light and look down into the Sassi. The two great bowls of stacked…
Cheap flights to Rome: Fiumicino vs Ciampino, the train question, and the ZTL that fines you by mail
On my first landing in Rome, I automatically purchased a ticket for the highly advertised Leonardo Express train to Termini Station. I…
The Real Bologna: Ragù, Porticoes, and a Working City
Stand under the deep shade of a portico near the Quadrilatero on a Tuesday morning, and you will see the city at…
The Reality of Palermo: Crossroads, Street Food, and Arab-Norman Stone
Walk into the Ballarò market at mid-morning and the noise hits you like a physical force. This is the abbanniata—the loud, melodic,…
The Chaos and Charm of Naples: Pizza, History, and Spaccanapoli
Stand for five minutes on Spaccanapoli, the narrow street that slices straight through the historic centre of Naples, and the city throws…