In Italy, the waiter brings your child's pasta out first, strangers stop to admire your baby at tollbooths, and gelato is a perfectly reasonable parenting tool. In this episode, Katy sits down with Untold Italy team members Olivia and Cassandra, two mothers living and raising kids in Italy, to talk through what family travel there really looks like. From choosing the right stroller for Roman cobblestones to finding accommodation with space for toddlers to run, they cover babies, school-age kids, and teenagers.

Find the episode show notes at untolditaly.com/331

Want Olivia or Cassandra to help you plan your family trip to Italy? Check out their profile pages here

• Olviia's profile page
• Cassandra's profile page
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The Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast editing and audio production by Mark Hatter. Production assistance by the other

A quick update from Katy on the Palio di Siena, happening in Piazza del Campo this Thursday July 2. The race itself takes ninety seconds. The four days of build up around it are why people come. 

Summary: Katy walks through what happens during the four days of the July Palio, including the daily trials, the Corteo Storico procession, the contrada street dinners, and what you need to know about getting a spot in the piazza if you want to be there for the race. She also suggests a smaller-town alternative for travelers who want similar medieval pageantry with fewer crowds, the Giostra del Saracino in Arezzo on Sunday September 6.

Listen to our longer epsiode abour Siena - Episode 205 - to learn more about this beloved Tuscan medieval city.

Want someone who really knows Italy to help plan your trip? Our Italy experts love answering your tricky questions and designing trips that take you to the Italy you imagined - start planning here

Not sure where to start? Get the Untold Italy podcast guide with 315 epsiodes organized by topic.

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The Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast editing and audio production by Mark Hatter. Production assistance by the other

Local Silvia Riganese takes us on an inspirational walk though Sicily's capital Palermo. We visit the markets and main sights but also delve deep into local neighborhoods like Ballarò where you can feel the beating pulse of the city. Of course our day ends up on the beach with a beautiful sunset after a coffee, or three!

Find the episode show notes at untolditaly.com/330

Want someone who really knows Italy to help plan your trip? Our Italy experts love answering your tricky questions and designing trips that take you to the Italy you imagined - start planning here

Not sure where to start? Get the Untold Italy podcast guide with 315 epsiodes organized by topic.

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The Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast editing and audio production by Mark Hatter. Production assistance by the other

A quick update from Katy on the one thing that catches out even experienced travelers heading to Italy: the International Driving Permit.

Summary: If you are driving or renting a car in Italy on a license from outside the EU, Italian law requires you to carry an International Driving Permit alongside your home license. Katy explains what the permit is, why the rental desk and the Carabinieri will ask for it, where to get one, how much it costs, and how long it takes. 

Not sure where to start? Get the Untold Italy podcast guide with 315 epsiodes organized by topic.

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The Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast editing and audio production by Mark Hatter. Production assistance by the other

Learning some Italian before your trip can transform your experience in Italy - and it may be easier than you think. Regardless of your age or previous language-learning experience, Italian is considered one of the most accessible languages for English speakers. In this episode, Italian language coach Monica Cazzamani Bona from Su Misura Italy shares practical strategies to help you learn Italian in a way that fits your goals, learning style and schedule.

Find the show notes at untolditaly.com/329.

Want someone who really knows Italy to help plan your trip? Our Italy experts love answering your tricky questions and designing trips that take you to the Italy you imagined - start planning here

Not sure where to start? Get the Untold Italy podcast guide with 315 epsiodes organized by topic.

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The Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast editing and audio production by Mark Hatter. Production assistance by the other

Eight hundred years ago, St Francis walked the roads of central Italy with nothing — and today, those same roads are waiting for you to explore. 

Katy sits down with Sara Zanni, Bologna-based archaeologist and hiking guide, to explore the Via di Francesco. Thirteen trails through Umbria, Tuscany, and Lazio, all converging on Assisi, through ancient forests, olive groves, and small towns home to art treasures you will never find on a standard itinerary.

Show notes with links and resources here > untolditaly.com/328

Want someone who really knows Italy to help plan your trip? Our Italy experts love answering your tricky questions and designing trips that take you to the Italy you imagined - start planning here

Not sure where to start? Get the Untold Italy podcast guide with 315 epsiodes organized by topic.

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The Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast editing and audio production by Mark Hatter. Production assistance by the other

A quick update from Katy on short-term rental restrictions in Italy and why she thinks hotels are the smarter choice for most travelers.

Summary: Cities including Florence, Venice, Bologna, Milan and Rome are all introducing their own restrictions on short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo. Florence has gone furthest, banning new tourist lets in its historic centre and expanding that ban. Katy shares her personal take on hotels versus rentals, and explains what to check before you book a short-term property in Italy.



Not sure where to start? Get the Untold Italy podcast guide with 315 epsiodes organized by topic.

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The Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast editing and audio production by Mark Hatter. Production assistance by the other

Your Italy travel questions answered. In this Q&A episode, Katy covers choosing a base in Tuscany and for the Cinque Terre, getting around the northern lakes, electrical sockets, how not to get ripped off by taxis, and ordering in restaurants. Practical, honest advice and travel inspiration for anyone planning their Italy trip.

Show notes with links and resources here > untolditaly.com/321

Want someone who really knows Italy to help plan your trip? Our Italy experts love answering your tricky questions and designing trips that take you to the Italy you imagined - start planning here

Not sure where to start? Get the Untold Italy podcast guide with 315 epsiodes organized by topic.

The premium Untold Italy app has ad-free access to our complete archive of 300+ episodes searchable by place and topic

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The Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast editing and audio production by Mark Hatter. Production assistance by the other

A quick update from Katy on the heatwave currently hitting Italy and what it means for your trip, plus a note on today's Festa della Repubblica national holiday.

Summary: Italy is under Level 3 red heat alerts across Rome, Florence, Bologna and Turin, with temperatures hitting 35 degrees in late May. Katy shares practical tips for traveling in the heat, from shifting your day to beat the midday sun to the free drinking fountains you will find across most major cities. She also covers today's Republic Day holiday, the free museum day it brings, and why the big sites may be worth skipping today in favour of the celebrations.

Not sure where to start? Get the Untold Italy podcast guide with 315 epsiodes organized by topic.

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The Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast editing and audio production by Mark Hatter. Production assistance by the other

Local guide Francesca Ermini maps out a perfect day in Florence, starting early near the Duomo, crossing the Arno into Oltrarno, and ending at Piazzale Michelangelo as the afternoon light drops. From a 13th century church most visitors walk straight past, to craftsmen working behind unmarked doors, to the iris garden that opens for just a few weeks each spring. Florence is a dream and it is worth exploring past the main checklist attractions.

Find the episode show notes at untolditaly.com/326

Want someone who really knows Italy to help plan your trip? Our Italy experts love answering your tricky questions and designing trips that take you to the Italy you imagined - start planning here

Not sure where to start? Get the Untold Italy podcast guide with 315 epsiodes organized by topic.

The premium Untold Italy app has ad-free access to our complete archive of 300+ episodes searchable by place and topic

FOLLOW: Instagram • Facebook • YouTube 
GET OUR NEWS: Subscribe here
TRIP PLANNING SERVICES: Learn more here
JOIN US ON TOUR: Upcoming departures

The Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast editing and audio production by Mark Hatter. Production assistance by the other