In this episode we're talking about several things that may affect your trip to Italy including January 2025 strikes, the new Trevi Fountain fee, Rome's new line C Metro stop, and (just for fun) Amazon drones.

Here is a quick list of upcoming strikes we mention in this episode:

- January 9 - airline/airport strike 

This includes a national ground staff strike from 1-5pm, EasyJet's flight crew will strike for 24 hours , Vueling's flight attendants will strike from 10am-6pm, there will also be a 24 hour baggage handling strike at both Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa.

Flights should be guaranteed from 7-10am and 6-9pm

Here is a link to a list of guaranteed flights.

- January 12-13 (from 3am Jan 12 to 2am Jan 13) - Trenord in Lombardia (region in the north including Milan)  here are links to Trenord's info for what to do in case of a strike and guaranteed train list.

- January 13 - National Taxi strike 

- January 13 - 24 hour Bus strike in Umbria (Busitalia Sita Nord)

- January 31 from 1pm to 5pm - Verona Villafranca Airport air traffic control strike

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review!

If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going! You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel 

Only A Bag

In this episode we're breaking down some of the headlines and Italian news stories you may have heard about recently. We're talking about food and a hot-button housing issue that affects just about everyone, so that means it's a long episode!

In this episode we talk about how Italian cuisine has been added to UNESCO's "Intangible Cultural Heritage" list and the reactions that has garnered. We also discuss the housing crisis happening in Italy, and what it means for Italian residents as well as tourists.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review!

If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going! You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel 

Only A Bag

This episode is a continuation of our last episode, a rerun of our first episode of 2025 "The Wide World of Italian Christmas Sweets (or, Wintertime Treats)." We hadn't planned on coming out any episodes this week, but then we thought better of it, it's the holiday season after all. We hope you're all enjoying the holidays or just chilling out at home! We'll be back next week with brand new episodes, happy holidays!

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts!

If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going! You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel 

Only A Bag

Last week we said that, because we're taking a week-long break for the holidays, we wouldn't be putting out any episodes this week, but then we thought "that's not the holiday spirit!" So, this episode is a rerun of our first episode of 2025, "The Wide World of Italian Christmas Sweets (or, Wintertime Treats)!" In fact, it's the first half of that hour-ish long episode. The second half is coming to you on Friday. Happy holidays!

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts!

If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going! You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel 

Only A Bag

WARNING: Sensitive Santa Claus data in this episode. If your kiddos are expecting a visit from Santa this year (and listening), this episode may not be appropriate.

Today we're talking about the bones of St. Nicholas! These bones, entombed in Bari, exude a mysterious liquid and, according to legend, have done so for hundreds of years. We'll also talk about some of the other dark history related to St. Nick including how his bones came to be in Bari, why there are bits of him in Venice, and tales from his life in Anatolia (modern day Antalya, Turkey).

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts!

If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠⁠here⁠⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going! You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel 

Only A Bag

In today’s episode we’re talking about walking trees and holiday demons! First, we’re in a small town in Basilicata called Satriano di Lucania, where trees come to life and process through town as a part of their Carnevale celebration in February. The Walking Forest, or Foresta che Cammina, is a little-known celebration about reestablishing a relationship with the Earth and protecting the climate for future generations.

Then we go to the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region to talk about three Krampus parades, called Krampuslauf. These parades have ended for 2025, but there are a few other Krampus events, you can find a list of them on the Trentino da Vivere website.

The official website for the Walking Forest (Foresta che Cammina) in Satriano di Lucania, Basilicata is carnevaledisatriano.it. Here is a link to the the weeks long volunteering opportunity for people 18-30 years old, Volontari da tutta Europa per la Foresta che Cammina. This page is only in Italian, so you may need a translator in your browser.

Websites with more info for each of the Krampus celebrations we talk about are listed below:

Val di Fassa - visittrentino.info

Skiing Krampuses at Dolomiti Superski - dolomitisuperski.com

Toblach - south-tirol.com

Kastelruth - suedtirol.info

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts!

If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠here⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going! 
You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel 
Only A Bag

Carnevale in Italy doesn't always mean elaborate period costumes and papier-mâché masks, sometimes it means massive floats poking fun at political figures as well as confetti, stuffed animals, and candy being thrown into the crowd. As we mentioned in Wednesday's episode, one thing is for sure at a Carnevale celebration, it's a party.

Today we're talking about Carnevale celebrations in eight different towns across the country. Here is a list in case you'd like to look them up for yourself. Under each is a link to the official website of the celebration as well as a hotel suggestion (the hotel suggestion is an affiliate link, and if you book through our link, we receive a small commission).

Cento in Emilia Romagna

Official Site: carnevalecento.com

Hotel suggestions: Monteborre (Cento) and Hotel De Prati (Ferrara)

Foiano della Chiana in Tuscany

Official Site: carnevaledifoiano.it

Hotel suggestions: Boutique Hotel L'Imperatrice (Foiano) and Vogue Hotel Arezzo (Arezzo)

Viareggio in Tuscany

Official Site: viareggio.ilcarnevale.com

Hotel suggestionss: Villa Tina Hotel (Viareggio) and Hotel Ilaria or Hotel Palazzo Alexander (in Lucca)

Ronciglione in Lazio

Official Site: ⁠carnevaledironciglione.org

Hotel suggestions: La Canonica dei Fiori - Anna Fendi Country House (Ronciglione)

Putignano in Puglia

Official Site: ⁠⁠⁠carnevalediputignano.it

Hotel suggestions: Petrantiche - Albergo Diffuso and Dimora Clementina (Putignano)

Acireale in Sicily

Official Site: ⁠⁠⁠carnevaleacireale.eu

Hotel suggestions: Baroque (Acireale) and Habitat Boutique Hotel (Catania)

Fano in Marche

Official Site: ⁠⁠⁠carnevaledifano.com

Hotel suggestions: Siri Hotel and Hotel De La Ville depandance di Hotel Augustus (Fano)

Milan in Lombardia

Official Site: ⁠⁠⁠comune.milano.it

Hotel suggestions: Hotel Milano Castello and Palazzo Segreti (Milan)

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠here⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going! 

You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel 
Only A Bag

Carnevale is just around the corner, so let's talk about it! When is it? What is it? Well, that all depends on where you are. In Venice, Carnevale means Venetian masks, costumes, and comedy. Near Turin in Ivrea, it means historical, and very sticky, orange fights (yep, the citrus fruit). Wherever you are, Carnevale means festive food and a party.

The official Venice Carnevale website is carnevale.venezia.it.

The official Ivrea Carnevale website is storicocarnevaleivrea.it.

To learn more about Carnevale pastries in Venice, check out Darcy's articles Traditional Venetian Pastries for Carnival (or Carnevale) and 7 Best Places to Eat Frittelle in Venice.

Looking for Hotels in Venice? Check out our favorites below! These are affiliate links, and if you book through them, we receive a small commission.

Ai Mori d'Oriente in Cannaregio - A great area for restaurants and bars, a little quieter as well.
Acca Hotel in San Polo - Convenient, between San Marco and the Santa Maria train station.
Aqua Palace in Castello - Near the Arsenale Water Show
Hotel A La Commedia in San Marco - The heart of the city around Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) where the main festivities of Carnevale happen.

Palazzo Veneziano in Dorsoduro - More residential with lots of great wine bars and places for small bites.

Looking for Hotels in Ivrea? Because it's a small town, there are very few, but here are our suggestions. Including three in nearby towns which are drivable to Ivrea.

3T Boutique Hotel in Ivrea

ReArduinoIvrea in Ivrea

Villa Soleil in Colleretto Giacosa

Il Talucco B&B in Valdengo

Hotel Cavour Et Des Officiers in Bard

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠here⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going! You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel 
Only A Bag

In this episode we're continuing our discussion about visiting Italy in the winter. Today we're talking about how different cities and regions change during the cold months. What cities go along with business as usual and which turn to ghost towns? Are things closed in the winter? Does it get cold in southern Italy? In this episode we'll tell you all about it, so you can plan your trip fully prepared.

If you're planning to visit Venice this winter, check out Darcy's article When Does Venice Flood?

Want to learn more about the holiday lights in Salerno? You can visit their website here.

The cities and towns that we talk about in this episode are:

Venice (Veneto)

Florence and Siena (Tuscany)

Perugia (Umbria)

Rome (Lazio)

Naples, Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi Coast (Campania)

Taranto and Locorotondo (Puglia)

Palermo (Sicily)

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠⁠here⁠⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going! 

You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel 

Only A Bag

It's wintertime in Italy and the most northern bits of Italy know how to make things festive and cozy. In this episode, we're talking about towns in the Italian Alps. These towns are great choices for an Italian winter vacation with skiing, snowshoeing, Christmas markets, mulled wine, and thermal baths.

In case you want to look them up on your own, the towns we're talking about specifically are:

- Gressoney-Saint-Jean (Aosta)

- Gressoney-La-Trinité (Aosta)

- Livigno (Sondrio)

- Tirano (Sondrio)

- Bormio (Sondrio)

- Bressanone/Brixen (Trentino-Alto Adige)

- Merano (Trentino-Alto Adige)

- Bolzano (Trentino-Alto Adige)

We also talk about the Treninio Rosso in Tirano, a scenic train through the Italian Alps, as well as Dolomiti Superski, a project connecting ski facilities, hotels, rental, etc. in 12 towns in the Dolomite mountains.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠here⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going! 

You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel 
Only A Bag