We're coming up to the end of the year, and many people are looking to fit in just one more small holiday before Christmas. Italy is a country that is filled with history and culture that even when the summer sun has faded, it offers exciting attractions and things to see all year round. So, where in Italy is good for a weekend? We're taking a look at the best Italian cities to visit for a weekend break, and in order to do this, we're heading away from the most well-known tourist hotspots to discover 5 fascinating Italian cities that can be appreciated and visited in just one weekend. These Italian destinations might be places that you've never even thought of visiting, but you'll be sure to enjoy what is on offer with these 5 Italian city breaks.
Matera
From being one of the oldest but least known Italian cities in the world, to becoming European Capital of Culture in recent years, this Italian city is becoming increasingly popular and was recently named the most welcoming city on earth. Welcome to Italy's incredible historic city of Matera.
This charming Italian city has a lot to offer and is a great Italian city for a weekend break: take a stroll through the narrow streets that make the city an amazing open-air museum where you can still breathe the essence of ages past. It is a simple plan but it is the best way to get the most out of "the city of stones". Matera was originally a town built around humble cave dwellings that slowly became more and more popular, eventually converting the cave dwellings into real houses near the deep gorge of Gravina, which remain populated as they were in centuries past up to today.
Take a tour to discover this ancient city which has been truly brought back to life in recent times: beautiful caves, art galleries, activities, events and excellent restaurants with delicious traditional Italian food!
What to visit in Matera:
- Matera’s old town: la città vecchia has a network of streets, tunnels and alleys that intertwine in such a beautiful and wonderful way that the city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. In the Sasso Caveoso area of the city you can find the original cave houses still intact, while in the Sasso Barisano you can see the workshops of artisan craftsmen who still work non-stop in the old-fashioned way. You should also make sure to visit Civita, the oldest part of the city.
- The Cathedral: with its impressive bell tower, Romanesque facade and a beautiful stained-glass window, this church stands at the highest point of the city and is home to a breathtaking view out over the rooftops and surrounding landscape.
What to eat in Matera:
- Traditional bread from Matera, pane materano, is the most typical product of the area awarded the Protected Geographical Indication (Indicazione Geografica Protetta or IGP). Crispy on the outside and very soft on the inside, it’s something that everyone needs to try.
- Dried sweet peppers that are fried are also typical of the area, as are many other types of peppers and preserves.
- Ciallèdd is a traditional peasant’s dish. The main ingredients are stale bread, potatoes, onions, herbs and edible flowers: a true local delicacy.
- Strazzate are sweet biscuits typical of Matera and Basilicata. These almond-based pastries are made using egg whites, sugar, grated lemon and a choice of dark chocolate chips, coffee or liqueur.
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Genoa
One of the old Italian Maritime Republics, Genoa has always been the focal point of trade and activities. Rich in architecture, history, art, culture, literature and music, the historic old town of this city is the largest in Europe and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.
If the charm of Genoa has you intrigued, then don't hesitate when it comes to booking a city break in the city before Christmas, where you'll be able to take a stroll through the narrow streets of this fascinating historical city and soak up its wonderful atmosphere which is even more special during the Christmas season!
What to see in Genoa:
- Galata Museo del Mare: Genoa is home to the largest maritime museum in the Mediterranean. Thanks to a mixture of videos, reconstructions and interactive installations, you can immerse yourself in a truly exciting undersea adventure, something which is sure to appeal to adults and children alike!
- Acquario di Genova: this is one of the main attractions of this city and is great for all the family, adults and children alike. It is the largest aquarium in Italy and the second biggest in Europe, after the Oceanográfico in Valencia. Wander around and admire over 12,000 animals belonging to 600 different species in 70 exhibition tanks, including jellyfish, seals, dolphins, sharks, penguins and much more! Visit the website for more information.
- Porto Antico and the Lanterna: this area really is the soul of Genoa with its lighthouse, the icon of the city. It is the third oldest lighthouse in the world to still be up and running in 2022.
- Piazza De Ferrari: the main square is the beating heart of the city. Genoa's main "piazza" houses a wonderful bronze fountain, and don’t forget to look up and see the Doge's Palace, the Carlo Felice Theatre and many other historic buildings in the area.
What to eat in Genoa:
- Genovese focaccia is authentic and delicious, and is the typical dish of this city. It is eaten at any time of day: for breakfast, lunch, as a mid-afternoon snack or for dinner. There are two main types that you can try, one with oil and another with cheese.
- Pansoti with walnut sauce: this is a fresh Ligurian pasta which is similar to ravioli. Traditionally, this type of pasta is served with pesto or walnut sauce and is filled with preboggion, a mix of wild herbs that grow in the area such as chard, borage, nettles and parsley.
- Farinata, the ultimate street food in Genoa. The farinata is a thin savoury cake made from a mixture of chickpea flour diluted with water, oil and salt and then cooked in a wood-fired oven.
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Mantua
Mantua is the perfect Italian city for a weekend break in and is a hidden treasure in Lombardy just waiting to be discovered! It is the city of the Gonzaga family, who became Dukes of surrounding area and brought the city back to life in the middle ages, before converting it into a real gem of the Italian Renaissance that boasts an unrivalled artistic beauty, history and culture.
What to see in Mantua:
- The Duke’s Palace: the palace is main monument of the city and was the official residence of the Gonzagas. This giant palace has over 500 rooms and a surface area of more than 30,000 m2 (which is around 323,000 sqare feet)!
- Castello San Giorgio: St. George’s Castle is a must-see in the city and a symbol of the power of the Gonzagas. The castle has an incredible collection of original Renaissance frescoes and other works of art that you cannot miss out on visiting. Here you can also see the famous Camera degli Sposi del Mantegna room.
- Palazzo Te: this is a compulsory stop for history lovers visiting Mantua. You'll feel as if you're reliving an era of luxury and splendour with the palace’s great lounges, immense gardens, stables, shortcuts and hidden passageways.
What to eat in Mantua:
- Mantuan pumpkin tortelli are part of the typical cuisine of northern Italy. This traditional dish consists of fresh pasta filled with pumpkin, mustard, amaretti biscuits and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese – a seemingly risky combination but one that provides the perfect balance between sweet and bitter to impress even the most sophisticated of palates.
- Stracotto d'assino is made from either donkey meat or beef cut into small chunks, and is marinated for a long time in Lambrusco and then stewed until it becomes very soft. It is traditionally served as a sauce for pasta or with polenta.
- Pike in sauce is a dish for lovers of fish and seafood. The pike is boiled and put in a sauce with capers, vegetables and wine. The whole thing is left to marinade and gain flavour for 12-24 hours in the fridge, before it is ready to eat accompanied by polenta bruschettine.
- Sbrisolona is the typical sweet dessert of the city of Mantua. It is a hard cake which is crumbly and has an intense flavour. It is made with butter, eggs, almonds, flour, cornflour and vanilla and is ideal for dipping in a nice glass of sweet dessert wine.
Modica
Modica is one of the most picturesque towns in Sicily, and perhaps in all of Italy. It is located in the province of Ragusa and sits on a high plateau, but in spite of its beauty, the city isn't as well known and doesn't attract as many tourists. The city has a very important past and was the former capital of the county, something which many visitors are unaware of. Mostly Baroque in style, it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693 and what remains of the old city today has been declared a World Heritage Site.
Take this opportunity to get to know this charming town more intimately and marvel at its beauty, tradition, architecture, history and gastronomy!
What to see in Modica:
- Castle of the Counts: the historical seat of the political and administrative power of the city. Its position made it an impregnable fortress as it is surrounded by thick walls with towers on either side and two of the three sides were formed by the rocky walls of the promontory on which it stands.
- The Church of San Giorgio: 250 steps lead you up to this beautiful church with its impressive facade.
- The historical town centre: take a climb up the ancient, slanting streets and take a look at Modica from above. The whole old town is full of architectural beauties that are best appreciated from the air.
- The beaches of Marina di Modica: after a nice tour of the city centre, relax on the beach and immerse yourself in the beautiful Sicilian waters of Marina di Modica.
What to eat in Modica:
- Chocolate from Modica. As of 2018, Modica chocolate has obtained the prestigious IGP recognition. It has a unique taste and texture that comes from its "cold" manufacturing process, making it crumbly, grainy and a dark black colour... these are just some of the features that have made Modica chocolate increasingly popular throughout the world.
- Scaccia is a real speciality of the province, and is a sheet of stuffed durum wheat pasta that is worked to the point of becoming soft and is then folded over itself. As far as fillings are concerned, go wild: tomato, ricotta, caciocavallo cheese, sausage, aubergines, onions... you can really put anything inside!
- Cucche, a strip of bread dough that is rolled into a twisted bun shape and stuffed with caciocavallo cheese and sausage and baked in the oven. A delicious (and extremely calorific) snack!
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Perugia
Perugia, often known as the city of chocolate, is the ideal destination for a weekend break in Italy this autumn/winter 2022. In the heart of Umbria, the greenest region of Italy, sits this charming, cheerful town which is always buzzing with events, activities and ancient tradition, especially during the Christmas season. Explore the spectacular narrow streets and alleyways, be amazed by the pretty piazzas and take a look at the city from above from one of the amazing panoramic viewpoints.
What to see in Perugia:
- Fontana Maggiore: this fountain dates from 1278 and is in the Piazza IX Novembre square. The fountain, one of the most beautiful medieval fountains in Italy, is a masterpiece in pink and white stone that was designed in the thirteenth century by the Pisa brothers.
- Palazzo Priori: the palace that houses the National Gallery of Umbria and the City of Perugia. Here you can see works of art by Pinturicchio, Perugino, Piero della Francesca, Raphael and many other thirteenth- and fourteenth-century artists.
- Museo Storico Perugina: this museum in Perugia is an absolute must-visit for all chocolate lovers! Take a tour to discover delicious Italian chocolate and relive a century of history including photographs, videos, equipment, machinery... and finally, you can't miss out on a visit to the factory workshop with the Chocolate School!
What to eat in Perugia:
- Strangozzi is a long fresh pasta similar to fettuccine which is usually seasoned with truffles or norcina (with minced sausage, truffle and fresh cream).
- Torta al testo is a delicious flat bread based on an ancient recipe and is a traditional alternative to leavened bread. It’s common to eat it with a range of fillings such as sausage, suckling pig, vegetables, soft stracchino cheese or a rocket salad.
- Palombacci alla perugina is dish where the main ingredient is wild pigeons that are seasoned, wrapped in slices of ham and then cooked in earthenware pots with garlic and bay leaves, soaked in vinegar and boiled in a warm broth.
- Brustengolo: this typical dessert from Perugia is made with corn flour and dried fruit and nuts, including walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, sultanas and dried figs.
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