Italy Dreams

Category: Milan

  • Discover Your Italy Helps You Get Off-the-Beaten Path

    Steps seen in the Umbria region of Italy, a lesser known destination you may get to know on a tour with Discover Your Italy. Photo shared by Aurelio V.

    Want to watch art restoration in progress behind the scenes in Florence? How about trying freshly pressed olive oil in southern Italy? Or taking a trek on top of the expansive Dolomites with a mountain guide?

    If you’re looking to discover Italy beyond the tourism check-off list like these activities, then get in touch with Discover Your Italy: Fuori Itinerario.

    Their name says it all. “Fuori Itinerario” means off-the-beaten path in Italian, and that says a lot about the types of travel that they offer.

    Discover Your Italy is based in Umbria, which itself is a region of Italy off-the-beaten path and less touristy than many other areas of the country. The tourism company also has an office in Milan, says Sara Caligiuri, a marketing specialist with the firm.

    The company was started by Matteo Della Grazia and Daniella Mencarelli, a husband-and-wife team who are passionate travelers and want to share the authentic beauty of Italy.

    A quiet view of Italy’s Lake Como, in northern Italy.

    Going Off-the-Beaten Path

    Discover Your Italy works with clients to find out their preferences so they can craft a custom itinerary for them, Caligiuri says.

    “It’s not just about the beautiful landmarks that everyone knows, but also the hidden gems,” Caligiuri says. “We are experts in Italy. Having a lot of connections is key for us. It’s important to know the suppliers and to have contacts with artisans and locals so we can craft authentic experiences.”

    The company specializes only in Italy so the knowledge of their country is deep.

    “Every itinerary is designed by the people who live in Italy, and everything that we recommend is because we personally know it. We don’t sell pre-packaged tours; everything that we sell is tailor -made and completely customized to the precise needs of the client,” Caligiuri explains.

    Discover Your Italy has many English-speaking/American clients, including many multigenerational travelers. What they’re looking for is comfort and expertise. “They don’t want to have a complication, they just want to enjoy their experience,” she says.

    Some, but not all, may have already seen the big cities like Florence or Rome or Venice and want something more in-depth. “We’ll combine cultural highlights with hands-on local experiences,” Caligiuri says.

    The famous Galleria in Milan.

    Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

    Just where will a travel itinerary with Discover Your Italy take you? You can go where your heart desires, but here are a few examples of regions you might visit with the company’s assistance:

    • Umbria, located right in the heart of Italy and close to Tuscany. Although it’s similar to Tuscany, it doesn’t have the crowds or fame. In fact, Umbria has many hidden gems. Perugia, the Umbria-based hometown for Discover Your italy, is famous for its Eurochocolate Festival in November (yum).
    • Abruzzo, about 2 hours from Rome and filled with national parks and coastline.
    • Basilicata, which is home to Matera, the oldest city in Europe.
    • Le Marche, famous for mountains, beaches, history, and art but lesser known than other regions.

    Yet if you’re looking to visit one of Italy’s more famous cities or regions, you’re still in luck when you work with Discover Your Italy. A private guide can take you and your travel companion through highlights in Florence, Rome, Venice, Sicily, the Dolomites, and lots more.

    Rome’s famous Colloseum. Picture shared by Jessica Caceres.

    In addition to customizable travel plans, other advantages of traveling with Discover Your Italy include:

    • Stays in boutique hotels
    • A private meet-and-greet when you arrive in Italy
    • Restaurant suggestions
    • Exclusive amenities
    • Pre-departure tips
    A restaurant view in Florence, Italy.

    Tips for Planning Your Trip to Italy

    Ready to buy that flight ticket to Italia now? Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you prepare for your Italy trip and once you’re onsite, as shared by Caligiuri:

    • Consider working with a tour company like Discover Your Italy to plan your trip. Italy has so much to offer, it can be overwhelming to plan. It also can be time-consuming. Planning on your own could cost you more and put you in danger of falling for tourist traps. Even planning transportation to different cities can get complex at times. “It’s important to know the behind the scenes, where the real Italian experiences are,” she explains.
    • Add less, not more. Tours to Europe/Italy often involve packing in many cities in just 10 to 14 days. Yet traveling at this rhythm can make it harder to really get to know each place. That’s why Discover Your Italy advocates for taking your time in just a handful of regions per trip, or even remaining in just one region. “You can really get to see a lot without getting stressed,” Caligiuri says.
    • Book six or seven months in advance. As you likely know, Italy is a popular travel destination. Booking in advance within a six- or seven-month timeframe helps you find the accomodations and travel plans you want.
    • Focus on understanding the culture from a local perspective. This will broaden your experience of Italy and help you appreciate how much the country differs even region by region.
    • Stay curious and stay open. “Italy has a lot of layers. We have history, art, food, nature, and landscapes. We have a lot of offerings for different kinds of people and interests,” Caligiuri says. By staying curious and open, you can experience the country’s different layers.
    • If you decide to work with Discover Your Italy for your Italy trip, let them know if you have any niche interests. Those special interests may become a part of your visit. If you or someone in your group enjoys fishing, for example, you may find yourself fishing while on your trip.

    For more information on Discover Your Italy, visit their website.

    You also can discover more about Discover Your Italy’s travel expertise in our article “Here’s Why to Visit Italy in the Winter and Off-Season.”

    Happy travels/buon viaggio!

  • 11 Fun Facts About Milan, Italy

    The Galleria Mall in Milan.

    If you’re planning to visit Italy, will you spend some time in Milan? This cosmopolitan city often gets overlooked for Florence, Rome, Venice, and other destinations.

    Yet don’t rule out Milano just yet. This city of 1.3 million people (more than 3 million if you include the full surrounding area) has plenty of history and can serve as a great place to stay if you plan day trips to other destinations in northern Italy.

    The Milan Duomo/Cathedral is never too far away from your Milan view.

    To help gear you up for Milano, here are 11 fun facts about the city.

    –Milan will host the 2026 Winter Olympics. The games are formally called the 2026 Olympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina and will be held from Feb. 6 to 22, 2026. However, only a few of the activities will actually take part in Milan. Many of the sports will take place mountainous areas a couple of hours away from Milan, in northeast Italy.

    —Milan is the second-largest city in Italy, second only to Rome. Rome has 2.7 million people within the city itself and more than 4 million people if you include surrounding areas.

    —Milano is the capital city of Lombardy, which is one of Italy’s 20 regions (similar to states in the U.S.).

    Souvenirs for sale in Milan.

    —Looking for some nearby day trips? Milan is only an hour by train from the famous Lake Como (read our article here for a guide on day tripping around the lake). It’s also under an hour from the charming city of Brescia as well as Verona (yes, as in Romeo and Juliet) and Bergamo.

    —“The Last Supper” painting by Leonardo DaVinci is in Milan, located at the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. It’s highly recommended to book in advance to see the popular artwork.

    Inside Milan’s Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II.

    —If you like shopping, then you’ll be impressed to know that the oldest mall in Europe and perhaps the most continuously active mall in the world is Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It was designed in 1861, but it took 12 years to finish building it. You’ll find very cool architecture and some expensive shops and restaurants.

    —Want good luck? Here’s something to try when you’re at the Galleria. The mall has several mosaics on the floor, in honor of Italian nobility. One of the mosaics has a bull–and legend has it that if you spin around three times on the bull’s–hmmm, cojones–it will bring you good luck. We passed on that opportunity when we were in Milan, but maybe you’ll want to try it! If anything, it’s fun to watch tourists give it a whirl.

    Pasta dish made in Milan, but risotto is actually Milan’s specialty.

    —Of course the Milanese (as people from Milan are called) enjoy pasta like all good Italians, but they also are known for some non-pasta dishes. These include risotto alla milanese (a rice dish with saffron) and ossobucco (braised veal shank with bone and marrow), among other classics.

    The Milan Duomo/Milan Cathedral on a busy day.

    —The Milan Duomo (Cathedral), a central part of the city and its tourism, is the fifth largest Christian church in the world. It’s also said to have the most statues of any Christian church–3,400 in total, along with 135 gargoyles (that’s a lot of gargoyles!). It was built in 1386 and took a whopping five centuries to complete, with some final touches on its facade in the 1960s.

    Sforzesco Castle in Milan.

    —Did you know that Milan has a castle? It’s called Sforzesco Castle, or Castello Sforzesco, that was constructed in the 15th century. The castle has several art collections, including antique art and musical instruments. On a recent Milan visit, we didn’t make it to the inside but we were able to walk around the exterior along with many other people who were strolling around the city that day.

    Fashion is never far away when you’re in Milan. Note the fashion ads behind the pastries for sale inside one of Milan’s train stations.

    —Milan is considered the Fashion Capital of the World, but do you know which fashion businesses are located there? They include the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Prada, Valentino, and Versace. Some of the major Italian fashion brands are now owned by global conglomerates, but they still have headquarters in Milan.

    Buon viaggio/happy travels, and enjoy your trip to Milan!

    Milan at night.