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Giulia Ferrante

Field writer, Italy: cities, food and where to stay, based in Bologna

Italy by rail. Lives in Bologna

Last field trip Sep 202660 guides published
  • Italy
  • Food
  • Honeymoon

Languages: English, Italian

About

Giulia is from Bologna and writes Italy the way a local would tell a friend: which neighbourhood is still a neighbourhood, which trattoria stopped trying, when Venice is bearable. Her where-to-stay guides for Rome, Florence and Venice are written from paid stays, and she always offers the town two stops further down the line.

Field trips

Months, not dates, for privacy.

  • Sep 2026Venice and PaduaOff-season lodging, lagoon day trips, one night in Treviso, 5 nights
  • May 2026RomeMonti, Trastevere, Prati stays compared, 6 nights
  • Feb 2026FlorenceOltrarno and Santa Croce, 4 nights

Guides by Giulia Ferrante

a cobblestone street with tables and chairs at nightCultureWhy Italian cafés charge more to sit downGiulia Ferrante · Updated Oct 3, 2026a stone wall with a clock tower in the backgroundWhere to stayWhere to stay in Gozo: Victoria, Marsalforn, Xlendi or a villageUpdated Oct 3, 2026a stone wall with a clock tower in the backgroundHow toGozo day trip from Malta: ferry, route and the last boat homeUpdated Oct 3, 2026Venice canalAlternativesVenice without the day-fee crowds: five lagoon townsGiulia Ferrante · Updated Oct 3, 2026cars parked on the side of a streetHead to headStay in Valletta or Sliema? Which Malta base fits your tripUpdated Oct 3, 2026a stone wall with a clock tower in the backgroundHow toGetting around Gozo: bus, taxi, hire car or tour comparedUpdated Oct 3, 2026cars parked on the side of a streetHow toValletta museums and tickets: what to book and what to skipUpdated Oct 3, 2026cars parked on the side of a streetItineraryValletta in 2 days: cathedral, palace, forts and bastionsUpdated Oct 3, 2026Colosseum arena photographyWhere to stayWhere to stay in Rome: six neighborhoods comparedUpdated Oct 2, 2026The jagged peaks of the Seceda mountain range in the Dolomites, ItalyHow toHut to hut in the Dolomites: booking the rifugiUpdated Oct 2, 2026aerial view of city buildings during daytimeWhen to goThe best time to visit Italy, from the Alps to SicilyUpdated Oct 2, 2026blue sea under blue sky during daytimeHead to headSardinia vs Sicily: which Italian island should you pick?Updated Oct 1, 2026a castle sitting on top of a cliff next to the oceanWhere to stayWhere to stay in Ischia: five towns compared by ferry, beach and priceUpdated Oct 1, 2026a body of water surrounded by mountains with Doubtful Sound in the backgroundWhere to stayWhere to stay on Lake Garda: five bases from Sirmione to RivaUpdated Oct 1, 2026brown concrete building under blue sky during daytimeHead to headVerona, Vicenza or Padua: which Veneto city to visitUpdated Oct 1, 2026a row of white houses with thatched roofsHow toBari to Alberobello day trip: train, car or tour, and a plan for the dayUpdated Oct 1, 2026brown concrete building under blue sky during daytimeItineraryVerona in 2 days: Arena, Juliet's House, Castelvecchio and Ponte PietraUpdated Oct 1, 2026blue sea under blue sky during daytimeItinerarySardinia in 7 days: a road trip from Cagliari to AlgheroUpdated Oct 1, 2026people walking near beige concrete building under blue sky and white clouds during daytimeHow toEtna day trip from Catania: bus, cable car, guide or tourUpdated Oct 1, 2026aerial view of city buildings near body of water during daytimeHow toSorrento to the Amalfi Coast: bus, ferry or car to Positano and AmalfiUpdated Oct 1, 2026aerial view of city buildings near body of water during daytimeHead to headSorrento or Naples as a base: Pompeii, Capri and the Amalfi CoastUpdated Oct 1, 2026people walking near beige concrete building under blue sky and white clouds during daytimeHead to headCatania vs Taormina vs Syracuse: which base in eastern Sicily?Updated Oct 1, 2026Crowd gathered in a large, historic italian piazzaItinerarySiena day trip from Florence: bus or train, plan and when to stayUpdated Oct 1, 2026the ruins of the ancient city of pompeiItineraryWhat to see in Pompeii: a self-guided route and what to skipUpdated Oct 1, 2026a rocky coast line with Faraglioni in the backgroundWhere to stayWhere to stay on Capri: three bases, from the Piazzetta to AnacapriUpdated Oct 1, 2026brown concrete building under blue sky during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Verona: four bases from the Arena to VeronettaUpdated Oct 1, 2026mountain ranges across the seaWhere to stayWhere to stay in Naples: old town, Chiaia, the station or VomeroUpdated Oct 1, 2026Crowd gathered in a large, historic italian piazzaHead to headSiena or San Gimignano: which Tuscan hill town should you pick?Updated Oct 1, 2026mountain ranges across the seaHow toNaples to Pompeii and Herculaneum: trains, tickets and one-day timingUpdated Oct 1, 2026a large building with a towerWhere to stayWhere to stay in Bologna: four bases for food, trains and quietUpdated Oct 1, 2026A winding road lined with cypress trees in the rolling hills of Tuscany, ItalyItineraryTuscany itinerary for 7 days: Florence, Chianti, Siena and Val d'OrciaUpdated Oct 1, 2026the ruins of the ancient city of pompeiHead to headPompeii or Herculaneum: which ancient site to visit, or bothUpdated Oct 1, 2026a castle sitting on top of a cliff next to the oceanThings to doIschia thermal parks and spas: which one to pickUpdated Oct 1, 2026a large building with a towerItineraryBologna in 2 days: towers, porticoes, San Luca and a food routeUpdated Oct 1, 2026blue sea under blue sky during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Sardinia: four bases for beaches, cities and covesUpdated Oct 1, 2026A winding road lined with cypress trees in the rolling hills of Tuscany, ItalyWhere to stayWhere to stay in Tuscany: five bases from Chianti to the coastUpdated Oct 1, 2026a body of water surrounded by mountains with Doubtful Sound in the backgroundItineraryLake Garda in 3 days: Sirmione, the east shore and Monte BaldoUpdated Oct 1, 2026a castle sitting on top of a cliff next to the oceanHow toIschia day trip from Naples: boats, timing and what fits in a dayUpdated Oct 1, 2026a rocky coast line with Faraglioni in the backgroundItineraryCapri day trip from Naples or Sorrento: boats, plan and Blue GrottoUpdated Oct 1, 2026white and brown concrete houses during daytimeItineraryMatera in 2 days: the Sassi, rock churches and the gorge viewUpdated Oct 1, 2026Leaning Tower of Pisa, RomeHow toLeaning Tower of Pisa tickets: timed slots, bags and age rulesUpdated Oct 1, 2026a row of white houses with thatched roofsThings to doThings to do in Alberobello: trulli, viewpoints and what to skipUpdated Oct 1, 2026aerial view of city buildings near body of water during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Sorrento: four bases, from Piazza Tasso to Sant'AgnelloUpdated Oct 1, 2026white and brown concrete houses during daytimeHow toHow to get to Matera: Bari trains, buses, parking and the Sassi ZTLUpdated Oct 1, 2026a row of white houses with thatched roofsHead to headAlberobello vs Matera vs Ostuni: which to see on a Puglia tripUpdated Oct 1, 2026Leaning Tower of Pisa, RomeItineraryPisa day trip from Florence: trains, Tower slot and a planUpdated Oct 1, 2026A winding road lined with cypress trees in the rolling hills of Tuscany, ItalyHead to headTuscany or Umbria: which region fits your week in ItalyUpdated Oct 1, 2026the ruins of the ancient city of pompeiHow toPompeii tickets and how to visit: timed slots, prices, bags and gatesUpdated Oct 1, 2026houses on mountain near sea under blue sky during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Positano: four bases, from the beach to NocelleUpdated Oct 1, 2026white and brown concrete houses during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Matera: Sasso Barisano, Caveoso, Civita or PianoUpdated Oct 1, 2026a rocky coast line with Faraglioni in the backgroundHead to headCapri vs Ischia vs the Amalfi Coast: which should you pick?Updated Oct 1, 2026houses on mountain near sea under blue sky during daytimeHead to headPositano or Amalfi or Sorrento: which base for the coast?Updated Oct 1, 2026mountain ranges across the seaItineraryHow many days in Naples? A 2-day plan and how to add PompeiiUpdated Oct 1, 2026people walking near beige concrete building under blue sky and white clouds during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Catania: four bases, from the Duomo to OgninaUpdated Oct 1, 2026a large building with a towerHow toDay trips from Bologna: Modena, Parma, Ferrara and Florence by trainUpdated Oct 1, 2026Crowd gathered in a large, historic italian piazzaWhere to stayWhere to stay in Siena: four bases, from the Campo to a Tuscan farmUpdated Oct 1, 2026Venice canalRulesVenice access fee: who pays, which days, and how to bookUpdated Oct 1, 2026a body of water surrounded by mountains with Doubtful Sound in the backgroundHead to headLake Garda vs Lake Como vs Lake Maggiore: which Italian lake to pickUpdated Oct 1, 2026Leaning Tower of Pisa, RomeHead to headPisa or Lucca: which Tuscan city fits your trip, or bothUpdated Oct 1, 2026houses on mountain near sea under blue sky during daytimeHow toHow to get to Positano: bus, ferry, car and airport transfersUpdated Oct 1, 2026
DestinationsWhere to go, when to go and how to get around in 221 countries. Every practical fact shows the date we checked it and who checked it.Where to stayNeighborhoods walked end to end: who each area suits, how far it is from the airport train, and the hotels we would book ourselves.PlanVisas and entry rules, travel insurance, eSIMs and rail passes, explained in plain words and rechecked when the rules change.EventsFestivals, concerts and tours with confirmed dates, rooms near the venue and the fastest way on to the next city.StoriesField reports and data stories from the road. We time the queues, count the costs and say what changed since last year.

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