The Italy Travel Podcast - An Only A Bag Podcast

How else to better announce a name change (and minor updates) than an episode dedicated to it?

That's right, a name change! In 4~ weeks, on April 22nd (Earth day, woohoo!) we will officially change our name to "The Italy Travel Podcast". But before we did so, we wanted everyone to have a chance to familiarize themselves with the new name, check out this episode, and even offer their feedback if there's something we missed!

You can check out our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast

You also might notice it has the new "Podcast Art"! While this is nearly finalized—there are a few little details we wanted to add—we were too excited not to share it with you all!

As always, thank you all so much for listening and being part of this exciting community!

xDarcy and Nathaniel

PS. And fret not! This is not the episode for today. Today, we're talking about Headlines, so go check out the Headlines episode that published just after this!

This week we're in the Cilento, on Wednesday we talked about the Certosa di San Lorenzo di Padula, today we're talking about the medieval town of Teggiano.

In this episode, we're talking about everything from Teggiano's origins in the 11th century and the drama filled Conspiracy of the Barons in the 15th century to the city's modern day charm. We'll also tell you about the practicalities of getting there. We're in southern Italy where public transportation is limited, but that means unique experiences are in abundance! Get off the beaten path with us this week as we explore Teggiano.

If you're looking for a guided tour of the city of Teggiano, you can check out our friend Viviana's website ⁠Guida Turistica's where she offers guided tours of Teggiano and places all over the Cilento and Campania!

The Princess of Costanza Festival is every year around August. You can check out the website here principessacostanza.com.

If you're looking to book a hotel in Teggiano, we recommend the hotels below

Antichi Feudi Dimora D'Epoca Expedia | Booking

Hotel La Congiura dei Baroni Booking

Casa Rurale Faraone in the valley of Teggiano Booking

These hotel links are affiliate links, and while we don't represent any of the companies listed, we do receive a small commission, which goes towards supporting Only A Bag. We appreciate your support! 

If you'd like to support us, but you don't have the time to hunt down all of the affiliate links scattered across the website, a listener suggested (thank you!) putting them all in one place, so we have! Head over to ⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). If you'd like to support the podcast in other ways, you can donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 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. ⁠

Thanks for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel

NOTE: Our original upload had Nathaniel talking over himself—a cut audio part that never got cut, apparently! As of 13:20GMT we've updated the episode. If around the 9~minute mark you hear Nathaniel talking over himself, you might need to re-download the episode. Sorry for the confusion, everyone!

This week we're headed back to the Cilento to talk about two fairly "hidden" locations that should be on anyone's southern Italian tour: the Certosa di Padula and the town of Teggiano.

The Certosa—or Charterhouse—is a Carthusian monastery boasting beautiful gardens, frescoed ceilings and walls, and some of the most ornate and painstaking cut-marble floors we've ever seen. Plus, it has this absolutely wonderful spiral staircase resembling a conch, and another much more grand sweeping staircase outside. I know what you're thinking, going all the way there for some staircases and gardens? Not at all! The Certosa di Padula is also home to the world's largest cloisters.

But if we're being honest, it's so much more than that. If I had to described it, I'd say it stands as a sort of temple to "what once was". A place of silence, a place of incredible wealth and power, and a place of community. And if you're in the area, it's well worth the visit.

For more information about the Certosa, you can check out their website: https://certosadipadula.org/

And if you're looking for a guided tour, you can check out Guida Turistica's website where she offers guided tours all over the Cilento and Campania—including the Certosa!

If you're looking to book a hotel near the Certosa di San Lorenzo di Padula, we recommend the hotels below

Villa Cosilinum in the medieval town of Padula Expedia | Booking

Grand Hotel Certosa just steps from the Certosa itself Expedia | Booking

Ca' del Conte - Maison de Charme in the valley of Padula Expedia | Booking

These hotel links are affiliate links, and while we don't represent any of the companies listed, we do receive a small commission, which goes towards supporting Only A Bag. We appreciate your support! 

If you'd like to support us, but you don't have the time to hunt down all of the affiliate links scattered across the website, a listener suggested (thank you!) putting them all in one place, so we have! Head over to ⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). 
If you'd like to support the podcast in other ways, you can donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 
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.

Thanks for listening! 
xDarcy and Nathaniel

We're continuing the theme of "Architectural Madness" in this episode as part of our second installment of our Off the Beaten Path series. Today we're talking about La Scarzuola, a castle-like sculpture garden and architectural complex in Umbria.

If you'd like to visit La Scarzuola, you can make reservations and read more about it at lascarzuola.com.

If you're looking to stay in a small town near La Scarzuola, we recommend these hotels:

Hotel Vannucci in Città della Pieve Expedia | Booking

Ca' de' Principi in Piegaro Expedia | Booking

If you're looking to book a hotel in Orvieto, we recommend these hotels which are all located in the city center:

Hotel Virgilio - Expedia | Booking

Palazzo Piccolomini - Expedia | Booking

Hotel Corso - Expedia | Booking

If you're looking to book a hotel in Perugia, we recommend the hotels below:

Locanda della Posta Boutique Hotel - on the main street of the historic center - Expedia | Booking

Hotel Fortuna - just off the main street in the historic center - Expedia | Booking

Hotel Priori Secret Garden - in the historic center near shops and a local pastry shop -  Expedia | Booking

These hotel links are affiliate links, and while we don't represent any of the companies listed, we do receive a small commission, which goes towards supporting Only A Bag. We appreciate your support! 

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 or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 our second installment of our Off the Beaten Path series and in this episode we're talking about Architectural Madness. In particular, the Rocchetta Mattei. A fever dream mash-up of Moorish, Italian Art Nouveau, and Medieval styles in a 19th century mountaintop castle between Bologna and Florence.

What started out as a dream and a sanatorium became a life-long project, and then a second life-long project.

As mentioned in the episode, Rocchetta Mattei is reachable from Florence and Bologna, perfect for a day-trip if you've already knocked a lot off the rest of your list.

If you’re looking to book a hotel in Florence, we recommend the three below:

FH55 Hotel Calzaiuoli: -well-situated, traditional and luxuriously cozy- Expedia | Booking

Albergo Firenze: -incredible location, 24hr front desk- Expedia | Booking

Hotel La Scaletta Al Ponte Vecchio: -other side of the river, bright, open, with a terrace overlooking the city of Florence-  Expedia | Booking

If you're looking to book a hotel in Bologna, we recommend the hotels below:

Hotel Metropolitan -upscale, in the city center - Expedia | Booking

Hotel Panorama - budget option in the city center - Expedia | Booking

Starhotels Excelsior - near the train station - Expedia | Booking

These hotel links are affiliate links, and while we don’t represent any of the companies listed, we do receive a small commission if you book a hotel through any of the links.

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 or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

Today we're continuing our discussion about Paestum. We're talking about all of the cool things you can visit including three greek temples, a museum, an ancient neighborhood, sacred sites, and a Roman forum. Plus we'll get into the practicalities of getting there and getting tickets.

You can find more information on the park and buy tickets on the official

Paestum and Velia website.

If you're looking to book a hotel in or around Paestum, we recommend the hotels below. There are several different areas to stay in when you visit Paestum, near the archeological park, in the modern city, or near the beach. Next to each hotel we have listed the general area it is in. 

Tenuta Duca Marigliano Boutique Hotel - near the archeological park of Paestum -  ⁠Expedia⁠ | ⁠Booking*⁠

Hotel Villa Rita - near the archeological park of Paestum - ⁠Expedia⁠ | ⁠Booking*⁠

Savoy Hotel & Spa - near the beach of Paestum - ⁠Expedia⁠ | ⁠Booking*⁠

Mec Paestum Hotel - in the modern city of Paestum - ⁠Expedia⁠ | ⁠Booking*⁠

Hotel Royal Paestum - best budget hotel near the beach of Paestum - ⁠Expedia⁠ | ⁠Booking*⁠

Hotel Dei Templi - best budget hotel near the archeological park of Paestum - ⁠Booking*⁠

If you're interested in taking a tour of Paestum, we recommend our friend Viviana! You can see her website and tours ⁠here⁠.

Or check out these tours on Viator:

Small group tour of Paestum with an archeologist ⁠Viator*⁠

Private tour of Paestum with an archaeologist ⁠Viator*⁠

*These hotel and tour links are affiliate links, and while we don't represent any of the companies listed, we do receive a small commission which goes towards supporting Only A Bag. We appreciate your support! 

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 or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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, Nathaniel gives us the briefest of histories on this ancient site located in the region of Campania in southern Italy. From early tribes like the Enotrians and Greek settlers from Sybaris to the Grand Tour and WWII, Paestum has endured and served many purposes through thousands of years. We'll tell you all you need to know before you go.

You can find more information on the park and buy tickets on the official

Paestum and Velia ⁠website⁠.

If you're looking to book a hotel in or around Paestum, we recommend the hotels below. There are several different areas to stay in when you visit Paestum, near the archeological park, in the modern city, or near the beach. Next to each hotel we have listed the general area it is in. 

Tenuta Duca Marigliano Boutique Hotel - near the archeological park of Paestum -  Expedia | Booking*

Hotel Villa Rita - near the archeological park of Paestum - Expedia | Booking*

Savoy Hotel & Spa - near the beach of Paestum - Expedia | Booking*

Mec Paestum Hotel - in the modern city of Paestum - Expedia | Booking*

Hotel Royal Paestum - best budget hotel near the beach of Paestum - Expedia | Booking*

Hotel Dei Templi - best budget hotel near the archeological park of Paestum - Booking*

If you're interested in taking a tour of Paestum, we recommend our friend Viviana! You can see her website and tours here.

Or check out these tours on Viator:

Small group tour of Paestum with an archeologist Viator*

Private tour of Paestum with an archaeologist Viator*

*These hotel and tour links are affiliate links, and while we don't represent any of the companies listed, we do receive a small commission which goes towards supporting Only A Bag. We appreciate your support! 

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 or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 epsiode we talk about some newly opened sights, the Belvedere Antonio Cederna, a public terrace in Rome with a panoramic view of the Colosseum and the Garden if Ninfa, an English-style garden in Cisterna di Latina, a town south of Rome. We also discuss the renovations that will be ongoing at Giotto's Bell Tower in Florence and at the Teatro Sannazaro in the Chiaia neighborhood of Naples. Plus we talk about the collapse of the "Lover's Arch" near Lecce and some new metro stops in Rome. 

If you're looking for where to stay in Rome, here are some recommendations

Palazzo Cardinal Cesi: Expedia | Booking

Trastevere Roma | UNA Esperienze: Expedia | Booking

Palazzo Montemartini Rome: Expedia | Booking

If you're looking for where to stay in Florence, check out the hotels

FH55 Hotel Calzaiuoli: Expedia | Booking

Albergo Firenze: Expedia | Booking

Hotel La Scaletta Al Ponte Vecchio: Expedia | Booking

If you're looking for where to stay in Naples, here are a few of our recommendations

Art Resort Galleria Umberto Expedia | Booking

Starhotels Terminus Expedia | Booking

Pinto Storey Hotel Expedia | Booking

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 or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

We're back with headlines and today we're jumping straight into the important bits: strikes in the rest of February and March!

Likewise, we also wanted to mention the recent news that the United States has suspended Global entry but only for the United States, not for everywhere. So if you're still planning on purchasing or using Global Entry for Italy, you can do so!

*Edit: We realized that Mr. Snuffleupagus is from Sesame Street and "heffalumps" are from Winnie the Pooh. Sorry for the mix-up!

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 or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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 conversation about overtourism. Why are there so many tourists? Can we, as tourists, do anything to curb the problems? Why do many locals want more restrictions or bans on short-term vacation rentals? We'll answer those questions and talk about how the problems with over tourism can be solved and who can solve them.

In this episode we talked about the Venice Entry fee and how it's affected tourism. You can check out Darcy's article "⁠What is the Venice Entry Fee in 2026?⁠" to see how it may affect your trip.

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 or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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