Explore every episode of the podcast The Italy Travel Podcast - An Only A Bag Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RERUN: Carnevale in Venice | 04 nov. 2026 | 00:27:30 | |
As we mentioned in last week's episodes, we're in the middle of visiting the United States, so we've been running around and didn't have the time to record a new episode. That said, with Carnevale coming up (in a few months, so you still have time!) we wanted to go ahead and give y'all some information to plan your trip! Venice particularly is beautiful in the winter (well, year round), and when it's packed with people in fantastic costumes, it's all the more amazing! If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast You can also donate to us on ko-fi! For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| The Cursed Mansion on the Grand Canal in Venice | 30 oct. 2026 | 00:25:51 | |
In celebration of upcoming Halloween we're traveling to the Ca'Dario, the palazzo on the Grand Canal in Venice allegedly cursed and perhaps haunted by prior residents. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast You can also donate to us on ko-fi! For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Is Wine Healthier in Italy? | 28 oct. 2026 | 00:37:56 | |
This question comes up a lot, especially for travelers from America who have either heard—or experienced first-hand—the fact that Italian wines seem to not affect them as negatively. As some of you might be like this (feel a little worse for wear after a glass of wine, like Nathaniel after any red wine) and might be planning on a vineyard tour while visiting Italy , we wanted to look into what validity this claim has, and how to prepare for any wine-related trips! If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast You can also donate to us on ko-fi! For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Trucking Protests Throughout the South—What This Means For You | 23 oct. 2026 | 00:29:12 | |
Update: We recorded this on Tuesday and since then, the protests have spread as more gas stations run out of gas and grocery stores run out of food. Today we're talking about the trucking protests that started in Puglia and have spread through most of the south. While these protests might affect your trip—such as the lack of fuel to certain ports in the south making Capri and Ischia harder to reach. As of posting this episode, trains are running as normal. Like we always say, we're not a news podcast, but we'll keep you posted. It's likely that the protests won't last too much longer. So if you're planning on coming in November, your trip should be completely normal! If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast You can also donate to us on ko-fi! For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Milan in the News: Violence and Demonstrations | 21 oct. 2026 | 00:58:04 | |
Today we're talking about the recent protests and violence in Milan. It caught a lot of people by surprise and its exact origins are still unclear. This is a developing situation so things may have changed by the time you hear this. As of right now, this seems to have had a minimal impact on tourists in Milan and across Italy, but we felt that it was important to talk about. Various cities across Italy including Torino and Bologna have seen student protests on the heels of the protests in France, but it seems that something different is going on in Milan. It has taken a number of officials, ministers, and even the mayor by surprise, so in this episode, we're going to explain why this one is so different. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast You can also donate to us on ko-fi! For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Off the Beaten Path: Ostia Antica | 16 oct. 2026 | 00:44:13 | |
While it's not wildly off the beaten path, we've found that it still manages to get forgotten on most whirlwind trips through Italy. Of course, Pompeii and Herculaneum are a bit more impressive, but if you're looking for an evening stroll down a beautiful stretch of ruins, an incredibly well-preserved ancient city, or entertainment in a historic theater, look no further! If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast You can also donate to us on ko-fi! For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Rabies in Italy: What to Do and When to Relax | 14 oct. 2026 | 00:50:35 | |
(You can jump to 17:30 to skip Nathaniel's story.) So, this is probably one of our strangest episodes, or rather, for the two of us, it feels strange because it was recorded fairly late on Tuesday night after having spent 4 of the last 5 days driving back and forth to a hospital some 2~ hours away. As we've mentioned in previous episodes, mostly off-handedly, Italy has eradicated rabies. So if you do happen to get bit by a dog, for example, nearly every single emergency room is thinking more about muscle/nerve damage or tetanus and not rabies. Which is a good thing! As mentioned in the episode, Nathaniel recently came in contact with a bat, and mostly to follow the guidelines he found on the Italian health website, he went to the hospital, and this set off a very minor game of hot potato. All along the way, Nathaniel kept thinking, "This will make such a good episode!" (To be clear, Nathaniel is totally fine.) If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast You can also donate to us on ko-fi! For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Yankee Go Home—Do Italians Want Americans to Stay Home? | 09 oct. 2026 | 00:47:11 | |
This episode is titled after the stickers you may see around Florence; black text on a yellow background reading "Yankee Go Home". In this episode we're addressing concerns about Florence locals hating American tourists. But we're also talking about the true negative impact that tourism has had on Europe and what we can do about it. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast You can also donate to us on ko-fi! For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| "Expat" vs "Immigrant" What is the Difference? | 07 oct. 2026 | 00:34:22 | |
There has been a discussion circulating on the internet about whether we should stop using the word "expat". In this episode we're talking about what these terms mean, who uses them, and our thoughts on whether getting rid of the word "expat" would make a positive change. This discourse affects tourists too, because there is a much larger conversation happening around outside influence on Italy, where it's coming from, how much harm is being done, and who's at fault. We'd love to hear your thoughts! You can chat with us and your fellow listeners for free on Pateon! If you'd like to support us in other ways, check out our paid tiers on Patreon. You can also donate to us on Ko-fi. For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Headlines: The Political Episode—Upcoming Election, Gas Prices, and Recent Decrees | 02 oct. 2026 | 00:39:11 | |
While we try not to delve too much into the political side of Italy mainly as it will rarely affect your trip to Italy, today's episode jumps right into it! Next year, December 22nd will be the election day for a Prime Minister and a fair amount of Senate seats, so already the news is ramping up with headlines ranging from things like Meloni's government cutting a widely-hated road tax only for next year (the election year), to gas prices being capped, to a ban on burqas and niqabs in schools. As mentioned, very little of this will affect your trip—either this year or next—but just like any election anywhere, the more fear-inducing a headline is, the better it sells. So we wanted to explain that while some headlines might seem scary at first glance, it's likely they have more to do with political saber-rattling than anything else. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Headlines: October Strikes, Rome's Coolest Neighborhood, and Sorrento Coastline Redesign | 30 sept. 2026 | 00:38:37 | |
Sorry this is late! I (Nathaniel) scheduled it for Thursday, not Wednesday! We're back for another headlines episode! So much has happened this month, so today we jump into upcoming strikes, airport closures, the upcoming redesign of Sorrento's coastline (hello, new free beaches!), and Esquilino being named the world's 10th coolest neighborhood! If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| How to Harvest Olives in Italy | 25 sept. 2026 | 00:35:12 | |
This is the time of year for harvesting lots of foods in Italy, one of the main ones being olives (primarily for making olive oil). Continuing with the theme of talking about an experience rather than a destination, in this episode we're talking about what it's like to harvest olives and how you can do it. Harvesting olives is hard work, but if you're someone who enjoys getting their hands dirty, seeing the fruits (pun intended) of their labor, and having a big lunch after, then participating in an olive harvest might be a great experience for you! If you're someone who prefers to do a little bit of picking, but mostly wander scenic spaces and have lunch, check out our last episode as well, on harvesting grapes! The festival mentioned in this episode is called La Festa dell Olio and is in San Quirico d'Orcia from the 5th to the 8th of December in 2026 (it's an annual festival, but dates change yearly). If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| How to Harvest Grapes in Italy (The Vendemmia) | 23 sept. 2026 | 00:29:05 | |
For something a little different than what we normally do, we wanted to talk about an experience rather than a place. Specifically, we wanted to talk about grape-picking in Italy (called a "vendemmia"). While some of the larger vintners and wine productions use paid professionals who know how to pick grapes without damaging the vines or soil, a massive number of smaller productions, agriturismi, and private vineyards can use all the help they can get. Or, if you'd prefer to make it more of an experience, this is the time of year to find a festival for the vendemmia! From now until mid-November there are a number of festivals (mostly in small towns) celebrating the vendemmia with markets, food, and demonstrations . For a list of the open "cantine" (places that make wine) and upcoming festivals you can check out this link: https://movimentoturismovino.it/ Or, you can search the internet for the name of the town or region you're going to with "Vendemmia" to see if they'll host one. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Off the Beaten Path: Sword in the Stone and Abbey of San Galgano | 18 sept. 2026 | 00:38:10 | |
What's the point of living in Italy and having a podcast on traveling in Italy if we're never going to talk about Italian legends? That's right, today we're talking about the [somewhat] famous Sword in the Stone, merely 45 minutes away from Siena. Yes, it's an actual sword in the stone! And yes, we know who put it there! There's also the fairly strong theory that it influenced the story of King Arthur's Excalibur. We're also talking about the nearby Abbey of San Galgano, nearly a shell of the gothic abbey it once was, it sits now a beautiful ruin you can visit. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Off the Beaten Path: The Fourteen Towers of San Gimignano | 16 sept. 2026 | 00:49:30 | |
We're coming into fall and thinking about one of the best regions to visit this season, Tuscany. Today we're talking about San Gimignano. While it's certainly no secret, this little town famous for its many medieval towers is a great place to visit in the autumn and off season. We'll tell you how to get there and what there is to see and we'll get into the history. "What's going on with all those towers?" "Can you visit them?" We'll tell you about it in this episode. Below are some helpful links: Getting there from Siena The easiest way to get to San Gimignano from Siena is by bus. You can look at tickets on the Autolinee Toscana website, but it's easier to buy them in person at the Piazza Gramsci in Siena (the ticket office is underground). Getting there from Florence There are two ways to get to San Gimignano from Florence on public transport. You can can choose to take a train for part of the journey and then switch to a bus or you can take a bus the whole way. To book a the trip that involves a train, go to the Trenitalia website. To book a journey just on the bus go to the Autolinee Toscana website. Links for What to See and Do Civic Museums website with tickets and info for several sites including the Three Grossa and Palazzo Comunale. Official San Gimignano website of the Pro Loco with info on upcoming events, tourist info, a list of local shops, and practical info. Website of the Pro Loco, an official site for San Gimignano where you can find info on upcoming events, what to see, a list of local shops, and practical info. - Torre Chigi official site - Torre Nomipesciolini official site - Torre Useppi on Booking.com * Torre Useppi official site *Links with an asterisk are affiliate links. We don't represent these companies, and if you use one of the affiliate links to book your experience, we receive a small commission. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Trains! Need to Know Info and What To Do When Things Go Wrong | 11 sept. 2026 | 00:42:42 | |
On some of our first train journeys in Italy, amid the cacophony of voices and stress not wanting to miss our train, we were so overwhelmed we forgot some of the standard information to look for, like the train number, the carriage number, and how to use the departures board to find our platform. We'll tell you everything you need to know to get to your train with the least amount of stress possible. We'll also talk about some of the most common things that could go wrong and what to do. "I have a big suitcase, where do I put it?," "There's someone in my seat, should I ask them to move?," "There is a train strike, is my train cancelled?" Or, even worse, "I've missed my train; help!". Likewise, you can check out our article on "What to do if you missed your train in Italy". Here are links to guaranteed trains in case of a strike. These are PDF files from each train company's official website. Italo PDF If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Trains! Trenitalia vs. Italo, How and When to Book, and Discounts | 09 sept. 2026 | 00:39:51 | |
It's been about two years since we had a dedicated episode on trains in Italy, and given the fact that there have been some minor changes this year (including the fact that Trenitalia will be rolling out their Rome-Munich line next year!) plus some changes the to types of tickets and rolling stock themselves, we thought this week we should give it some attention! We're talking about how and when to book tickets and standard discounts to look out for. "Is it better to book online ahead of time or should I get my ticket at the station? Are trains in Italy usually on-time? What does 'Trenitalia' or 'Italo' even mean?" We'll answer these questions and more in this episode. For those of you who would like to peruse some articles, you can check out our posts on: The difference between Trenitalia and Italo The difference between Trenitalia and ItaliaRail If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Traveling in the Shoulder Season: What to See, Do, and Eat | 04 sept. 2026 | 00:32:57 | |
We're continuing our discussion on traveling in the autumn shoulder season. We're talking about what to expect in terms of weather from October beach days to cozy dreary days in the North. We'll also talk about what makes fall in Italy special ,aside from the cooler temperature and perhaps smaller crowds. It's the food and the festivals. This is harvest time, from grapes and olives to chestnuts and truffles. That means it's a time to celebrate and eat! In this episode we talk about doing a search for upcoming festivals wherever and whenever you plan to travel. You may get more results by doing the search in Italian. Below are phrases that you can copy and paste to help with that search. You can use the words "festa" and "sagra" almost interchangeably, both can mean festival. feste e sagre in italia a (month you're visiting) example: sagre in italia a novembre "festivals and feasts in Italy in November" feste e sagre a (place you're visiting) a (month) example: feste e sagre a venezia a novembre "festivals and feasts in Venice in November" If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Traveling in the Shoulder Season: Essential Tips for Fall Travel | 02 sept. 2026 | 00:31:50 | |
This week we're talking about traveling in the shoulder season, specifically in the fall and a bit of winter. In this episode, we're talking about the major differences between "on-season" and "off-season" and the pros and cons of traveling during this period in Italy. We'll answer questions like "Are there fewer tourists and lower prices in the shoulder season?" and "Do things close in the off-season?" If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Headlines: New Pedestrian Law, Uffizi Restoration, Drought | 28 août 2026 | 00:25:34 | |
Once again, headlines! And once again, it's been a light month (thankfully). We're talking about the new Uffizi restoration project which should make your next trip a lot more comfortable, the effects of the recent heatwaves and droughts, and lastly, a new law aimed at pedestrians that penalizes crossing the street while being on your phone. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Headlines: Strikes in September, Rome Ticket Changes, Autolinee Toscana and More! | 26 août 2026 | 00:33:56 | |
This week we're talking about headlines! And while it's been a pretty quiet month—most people have fled to the beaches or mountains so there's very little that's happened—there have been some small changes and updates to Rome's ATAC (or urban transportation) tickets, increases in Autolinee Toscana's tickets, and, of course, upcoming strikes. Trains guaranteed in a strike: https://www.trenitalia.com/it/informazioni/treni-garantiti-incasodisciopero.html If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Off the Beaten Path: Capri's Certosa of San Giacomo | 21 août 2026 | 00:33:03 | |
In the middle of the town of Capri sits the quiet and oftentimes empty Certosa di San Giacomo. Out of the sun, an uninterrupted view of the Faraglioni, and astonishingly empty. In this episode, we talk about a place that should be on the beaten path but has somehow evaded major waves of tourism. Plus, they often hold events or art shows here, so even if you don't really want to walk around another church or chapel, there's still plenty to see! Tickets for the Certosa of San Giacomo: https://museicapri.cultura.gov.it/en/certosa-di-san-giacomo-en/ If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Off the Beaten Path: Capri's Gardens of Augustus and Via Krupp | 19 août 2026 | 00:28:50 | |
Capri can feel like it has very little "off the beaten path" as it has pretty much defined the path. That said, it's really like anywhere else in Italy; one step off the main road and suddenly you're alone. Or, almost alone. To be fair, the Gardens of Augustus aren't really off the beaten path, but at the same time, we wanted to offer our thoughts on how populated it is, if it's worth the trip, and how long it takes to walk through it. Plus, given the current heatwave, there's clearly a demand for places in the shade, of which it's a classic option. There's also Via Krupp, the winding footpath carved into the side of Capri's stone mountains leading down to the Marina Piccola. It's not always open, but when it is, it's well-worth the walk! Tickets to Gardens of Augustus: https://culturaeturismo.comune.capri.na.it/biglietteria/ If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Renting and Driving a Car in Italy: Fines, Alcohol, Manual vs. Automatic, and more! | 14 août 2026 | 00:38:51 | |
Picking up where we left off, this episodes delves a little more into the particulars: how much can you drink before you're over the legal limit, do you even have to pay a fine (speeding, driving, etc.) if you're never coming back to Italy, if you can rent an automatic, the relative sizes of vehicles, and damages. Basically, it's a kitchen sink of need-to-know. Italian road signs: https://italyexplained.com/driving-road-signs-italy/ If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Renting a Car and Driving in Italy: Documents, Speed Limits, the ZTL, and more! | 12 août 2026 | 00:39:29 | |
If you're thinking about renting a car and tooling around Italy without a care in the world, you should do so! And better than that, this episode will help you to do so! In it, we talk about what documents you'll need, the speed limits (which aren't often posted), the infamous ZTL, and how it is to drive in some cities. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Off The Beaten Path: Florence's Santa Maria Novella pharmacy, La Specola, and Palazzo Davanzati | 07 août 2026 | 00:44:38 | |
Picking up where we left off on Wednesday, Darcy explains the allure of the Dominican Friar's pharmacy near Santa Maria Novella—including perfumes made from ancient recipes that can still be purchased—as Nathaniel offers two museums that might not have made it to the top of your "must see" list: the zoological "La Specola" and the suspended-in-time Palazzo Davanzati. Keep an eye on the weather and stay cool this week! Below are links to the places we talk about in this episode: Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy: called the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella is the oldest continuous pharmacy in Italy - free to visit La Specola: Science Museum of taxidermy animals, wax figures, and skeletons €10 per person* Palazzo Davanzati: Restored 14th century home stuck in time €8-€12 per person* *Prices as of August 2026 If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Off The Beaten Path: Florence's Last Suppers and Hospital of the Innocents | 05 août 2026 | 00:41:41 | |
It's been a few weeks since we've gone off the beaten path, so we thought—given the heat threatening Florence and the ever present crowds—that this would be the perfect week for another. Darcy takes us on a journey through three of Florence's most famous "Last Supper"s and ends with the orphanage-turned-museum at the Hospital of the Innocents. Below are links to the "Last Supper"s we talk about in this episode as well as the to the Hospital of the Innocents. - Oldest Last Supper Fresco in Florence at the Sant Croce Museum - €11 per person* - upcoming free dates in 2026: August 15th, September 14th, 26th, 27th, October 4th, November 8th, December 20th and 26th - Last Supper by Domenico Ghirlandaio at the National Museum of San Marco €11 per person* - Last Supper by Plautilla Nelli at the Opera per Santa Maria Novella €7.50 per person* - If you're looking to see one for less expensive, the following cost €5 per person* - Hospital of the Innocents (Museo degli Innocenti) €9 per person* *Prices as of August 2026 If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Italy Headlines for August Part 2: Demonstrations, Rome Sites Open Late, and Changes to Horse Carriages | 31 juil. 2026 | 00:52:52 | |
In our headlines episodes we typically try to talk about news that will affect your upcoming trip, like in this episode: the Pantheon and Colosseum will be open late to beat the heat, the Lepanto metro stop in Rome will be closed, and some horse-drawn carriages for tourists are being phased out. However this week, we're also taking about three big demonstrations that happened across Italy in July. We want to tell you about them to explain what's happening in Italy lately and some things people are thinking about. TRIGGER WARNING: The first story in this episode talks about police violence and death. If you'd like to skip this story, jump to minute 12:20 in the episode. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Italy Headlines for August: Wildfires, Rail Closures, Ferragosto | 29 juil. 2026 | 00:33:43 | |
Today, we're back with headlines! Some are for Europe in general (a new survey is out letting anyone vote on the designs for the new Euro bills, and what Europe's new €3 tax on everything purchased outside of the EU might mean for you), a handful of rail closures—but no major strikes!—and information are where wildfires are in Italy. Links Mentioned: New Euro Survey: https://surveys.ecb.europa.eu/10b/neweuro/ Wildfire Map in Europe: https://jasperbernaers.com/europe-wildfire-map/ The Bakery Darcy Mentioned (which is closed all of August): https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187791-d2328022-Reviews-Biscottificio_Innocenti-Rome_Lazio.html If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Pompeii: Getting There, Tickets, and Fun facts | 24 juil. 2026 | 00:44:09 | |
In our last episode, we waxed poetically (or rambled) about the magic of Pompeii and how indescribable it feels. In this episode, we're talking about the practicalities of the Archeological Park of Pompeii. We'll explain how to get there, with an insider tip for leaving from Naples*, break down the different types of tickets, and talk about some fun facts and interesting sites within the park. *If you're taking the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii from Naples, our tip is to board the train at the Porta Nolana Station, which is about a 10 minute walk from the central train station, Garibaldi. This station is much more calm, has an elevator (Garibaldi does not for the Circumvesuviana), and you're more likely to get a seat as the Circumvesuviana originates at Porta Nolana. Pompeii Archeological Park Official Site Links PDF Guide to Excavations - Explanations of the different sites in the park Pompeii For All - Accessibility in the park It's unclear if tours are available in ASL, but the Naples chapter of the National Agency for the Deaf, the organization who trains Pompeii guides who natively speak Italian Sign Language (LIS), can be contacted via their email at napoli@ens.it if you have any questions. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Pompeii: What It's Like and Why You Should Go | 22 juil. 2026 | 00:41:37 | |
Pompeii, the city covered in ash that's still being discovered. We spend most of this episode's 40-odd minutes trying to put into words why someone should go. Sure, it's old, but so is a lot of Italy. And while it's well-preserved, again, so is a lot of Italy (and the other remnants of the Roman Empire). It's also hard to imagine how much you might enjoy it until you're there. That's when the film between "now" and "then" gets pulled back and you might realize how special a place it is. And thanks to the comment of a listener, we actually start this episode talking about one of the weirder mysteries surrounding the actual event—the day of eruption. Pompeii Archeological Park Official Site Links PDF Guide to Excavations - Explanations of the different sites in the park Pompeii For All - Accessibility in the park It's unclear if tours are available in ASL, but the Naples chapter of the National Agency for the Deaf, the organization who trains Pompeii guides who natively speak Italian Sign Language (LIS), can be contacted via their email at napoli@ens.it if you have any questions. In this episode, we mention a free Yale course. Darcy mistakenly says "Pompeii Archaeology" instead of "Pompeii Architecture." More specifically the course is on architecture in Pompeii and Roman architecture. Here is the link on Course Site. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Ravello: What To See/Do and Day Trips | 17 juil. 2026 | 00:29:32 | |
One of the best things to do in Ravello is to just leisurely walk around and explore or to sit outside at a cafe and people-watch. It's a calm and relaxed little town with great views around the edge and a pretty piazza near the duomo. You can also visit two famous sculpted gardens: Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone. Villa Rufolo is in the center of town and costs €8 per person, while Villa Cimbrone is about an 11 minute walk from the center of town and costs €11 per person. *Edit: In this episode, while talking about how you can stay at the Hotel Cimbrone, Nathaniel asked if there was a pool and I said I didn't think so, but there is in fact a pool! If you're a fan of opera, symphonic music, baroque music or jazz, check out the Ravello Music Festival, which happens every year! This year's dates are July 4 through September 5, 2026. If you're staying in Ravello, there are nearby towns for day trips to the beach like Atrani, Minori, and Maiori, all within a 20 to 30 minute drive with good traffic. Atrani can be reached by car, bus, or steep footpath. You can take the Sita Sud bus or hire a car to get to any towns on the Amalfi Coast for a day trip. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Ravello: Mountaintop Tranquility and How to Get There | 15 juil. 2026 | 00:34:05 | |
This week we're talking about the best-known mountaintop town on the Amalfi Coast, Ravello. Situated above the sea with no beach access, this town offers stunning views over the sea, cooler breezes in summertime heat, and a bit of an escape from the crowds in Amalfi and Positano. The only ways to get to Ravello are by bus, car, or footpath from Atrani, the town below on the sea. Sita Sud is the public bus operator on the Amalfi Coast. In this episode we mentioned the restaurant we ate at and really enjoyed, it's called Ristorante Vittoria. The pizza restaurant that looked good, but where we weren't able to get a reservation is called Da Nonno Alfonso. If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Need To Know Before You Go: Restaurant Reservations, ATMs, Itineraries, Passport | 10 juil. 2026 | 00:45:15 | |
Wrapping up our Need to Know week, we're sort of talking about the kitchen sink in this episode. We're talking about [the importance of] making reservations at a restaurant, using "aperitivo time" as a way to adventurously explore the food scene, the fact that some stores might have different items to what you're expecting or even lacking them (such as pharmacies, for example), using grocery stores as a first-stop for food souvenirs, how to use ATMs, the importance of rest time and making sure that someone else's itinerary is also your own, and finally, the need to bring your passport everywhere. Like I said, it's a packed episode! If you want further tips in traveling in Italy check out the episodes below. Travel Tips You Didn't Know You Needed Tips for Traveling With Someone Else: Part 1 Tips for Traveling With Someone Else: Part 2 The Hidden Stresses of Traveling: Part 1 The Hidden Stresses of Traveling: Part 2 If you have any questions about your trip, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com. Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Need To Know Before You Go: Flight, Accommodation, and Luggage | 08 juil. 2026 | 00:33:37 | |
As the travel months are ramping up, we thought we'd take the time to quickly run through the "things we wish we knew before we went", or, perhaps more accurately, "the things we wish we had remembered to tell people before they came here". To kick things off, we're talking about some flight pitfalls to be aware of, accommodation tips and scams to be aware of, and choosing the right kind of luggage (even down to the type of plastic used!). EDIT: A big thank-you to one of our listeners, Karen, for an additional piece of information around the check-in bag! On a recent trip of hers, she (and a number of other people on her flight) were made to gate-check their roller carry-on luggage, leaving them with just the personal bag. So Karen recommends that you also bring a change of clothes in your personal bag, just in case your gate-checked luggage is left behind. In this episode we wanted to tell you about some quick essentials, so if you want further tips in traveling in Italy check out the episodes below. Of course, in every episode we give specific tips on the destination we're talking about that week. Travel Tips You Didn't Know You Needed Tips for Traveling With Someone Else: Part 1 Tips for Traveling With Someone Else: Part 2 The Hidden Stresses of Traveling: Part 1 The Hidden Stresses of Traveling: Part 2 Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Headlines: Strikes, Venice Fee, EES Changes, and Summer Happenings | 03 juil. 2026 | 00:38:54 | |
Today, we're back talking about the smaller headlines, some you may have already seen, such as Venice potentially raising the entry fee to €50 and the possibility that Rome's airports might suspend their EES (Entry-Exit System). We're filling you in on what that might mean for your trip, as well as upcoming strikes, the Pantheon price increase, and a handful of upcoming concerts and events that you might want to plan your trip around if you didn't already know about them! For information on guaranteed service during a strike, check the link with your train provider. TrenItalia and Italo have a list of guaranteed trains while local services will have guaranteed windows of time that service will run. * These two sites, for AMTS Catania and AMAT Palermo, are a little harder to understand in terms of guaranteed service times. These links are to news notice boards on their respective websites where information on upcoming service changes should appear within a few days of the change/strike. If you're looking for a cup of coffee that's FairTrade, roasted by a Certified B Corporation, and organic, then we'd say you're looking for Larry's Coffee. A small, family-run coffee roasters in Raleigh, North Carolina dedicated to sustainability and a better planet. If you'd like to check them out, you can use our link: https://larryscoffee.com/onlyabag Purchases through our link to receive two free handcrafted grass-woven coasters from FairTrade artisans in Guatemala! Want to support us? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Headlines: European Heatwave | 01 juil. 2026 | 01:02:07 | |
Even though the heatwave that's been sweeping through Europe for the past week and a half is actually on its way out of Italy, we thought it would still make sense to talk about it. After all, it's more than likely we'll see another heatwave this year, even if not one quite as severe. Mostly, it's designed to answer some big questions that have popped up (why isn't there AC, what is Europe as a whole and Italy as a small part doing about the heatwave, how will it affect my trip, etc.), as well as try and offer some advice on how to mitigate any hot days on your trip. If you're having a medical emergency call 112 or go to a "pronto soccorso" (emergency room). These, like most other emergency rooms, are found at hospitals. They can be found by typing in "hospital," "emergency room," or "pronto soccorso" in a maps app. Or when taking a taxi or asking for directions in-person, you can say "pronto soccorso."
The Italy heatwave hotline is 1500. This is not an emergency line! It provides information on how to stay safe during the heatwave and forecasts from the Ministry of Health's heat wave surveillance system, information on the alert system and more. If you're looking for a cup of coffee that's FairTrade, roasted by a Certified B Corporation, and organic, then we'd say you're looking for Larry's Coffee. A small, family-run coffee roasters in Raleigh, North Carolina dedicated to sustainability and a better planet. If you'd like to check them out, you can use our link: https://larryscoffee.com/onlyabag Purchases through our link to receive two free handcrafted grass-woven coasters from FairTrade artisans in Guatemala! Want to support us? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Vietri Sul Mare: How To Get There and What To Do | 26 juin 2026 | 00:38:16 | |
From wandering the colorfully tiled streets to shopping for ceramics and going to the beach, in this episode we'll tell you all there is to do in Vietri Sul Mare and how to get there, plus getting around! Vietri Sul Mare is easily reachable by bus and ferry. There is also a train station which is being repaired and not functional as of June 2026, however a bus route is running in its place. Below are links to bus and ferry providers to and from Salerno and the Amalfi Coast. From Salerno by bus: - Vietri Sul Mare is reachable by city bus from Salerno, the city bus is run by Bus Italia you can get tickets in a Tabacchi (tobacco shop) in Salerno. - You can also take Sita Sud bus (which will get you to towns on the Amalfi Coast as well) but this bus tends to be more crowded than the city bus. From the Amalfi Coast by bus: Sita Sud operates the buses from Positano, Amalfi, and other towns along the Amalfi Coast to Vietri Sul Mare. From the Amalfi Coast and Salerno by ferry: To get to Vietri Sul Mare, Travel Mar operates the ferries from Salerno as well as towns on the Amalfi Coast like Positano and Amalfi. For day trips to Raito, Dragonea, and other nearby towns, check out Bus Italia, you can get tickets for this city bus at a local Tabacchi as well. In general, the city buses (run by Bus Italia) that you might use are bus number 1 (written as 001 on Google Maps), 4 (written as 004 on Google Maps), and 9 (likewise written as 009 on Google Maps). These are the main buses that go from Salerno to Vietri, and vice versa. Each of them terminate in a different town, so if you're wanting a bit of adventure, simply stay on board! If you're looking for a cup of coffee that's FairTrade, roasted by a Certified B Corporation, and organic, then we'd say you're looking for Larry's Coffee. A small, family-run coffee roasters in Raleigh, North Carolina dedicated to sustainability and a better planet. If you'd like to check them out, you can use our link: https://larryscoffee.com/onlyabag Purchases through our link to receive two free handcrafted grass-woven coasters from FairTrade artisans in Guatemala! Want to support us? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Vietri Sul Mare: Ceramic Capital of the South | 24 juin 2026 | 00:32:37 | |
There was once a time where you could tell someone going to Italy that they'd have to go to Venice (Murano) for the glass, Florence for the leather, and Vietri sul Mare for the ceramics. Over the years, glass workshops have closed around Venice, quality leather production has shifted away from Florence as it follows cheaper rents, and yet, Vietri sul Mare is still a powerhouse of ceramics factories and workshops. While this episode mainly discusses the feel of the town—one that feels vibrant, but ever so slightly like its heyday is over—we also offer our thoughts as to who might enjoy it the most, and who should stick it into their itinerary if possible. If you're looking for a cup of coffee that's FairTrade, roasted by a Certified B Corporation, and organic, then we'd say you're looking for Larry's Coffee. A small, family-run coffee roasters in Raleigh, North Carolina dedicated to sustainability and a better planet. If you'd like to check them out, you can use our link: https://larryscoffee.com/onlyabag Purchases through our link to receive two free handcrafted grass-woven coasters from FairTrade artisans in Guatemala! Want to support us? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Ischia: Getting There, Getting Around, What To Do, and Spas | 19 juin 2026 | 00:34:35 | |
Now that you know the general vibe of Ischia, it's time to talk about how to get there, and how to get around once you're there. We also talk about things you can do once you get to Ischia (taking a hike to the top of a volcano, for instance) as well as the absolute plethora of thermal baths and pools. So if you're looking for a relaxing way to spend some of your time in Italy, consider visiting one of Ischia's hundreds of thermal baths and soaking in the relaxed atmosphere of the island. Getting to Ischia The only way to get to Ischia is by sea via ferry or hydrofoil. The companies listed below are the operators of transport from mainland Italy to Ischia. To Ischia from Naples: To Ischia from Sorrento: Getting Around Ischia If you're looking to take a public bus around the island, you can see bus timetables for Ischia here: Shopping There are tons of great local shops in the town of Ischia. Here are a few recommendations: Mariarosaria Ferrara - sandal shop where Darcy bought her custom sandals Project Lab Vintage - tiny and cool vintage clothing store Myosotis 1955 - ceramics La Ceramica Di Meglio Dei F.Lli Di Meglio & C. Sas - ceramics There are lots of great jewelry stores along via Roma which turns into Corso Vittoria Colonna, particularly between via delle Terme and the Santa Maria delle Grazie church. Things to do and See Here are links to some of the major sites and tourist destinations we mentioned in this episode. Castello Aragonese (Aragonese Castle) - castelloaragoneseischia.com Giardini La Mortella (Mortella Botanical Garden) - lamortella.org Giardini Poseidon Terme (Poseidon Garden Thermal Baths) - giardiniposeidonterme.com Monte Epomeo is panoramic hike that we mention in this episode. It is free to visit. You can join our Patreon for free! Want to support us and get a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Ischia: A Surprising Sense of Peace in the Gulf of Naples | 17 juin 2026 | 00:41:25 | |
In this episode we're hopping over to the lesser-known island of Ischia. Ischia is an island renown in Italy for its thermal springs and spas, though "renown" might be a bit strong, seeing as outside of Italy it isn't very well known at all. We'll tell you about the town of Ischia proper and Ischia Porto and a little about our experience visiting for the first time. We found it useful—and fun!—to talk about the "vibe" of Capri and Sorrento as a way of framing the town, so in this episode we're doing a vibe check for Ischia. We'll get into how to get to Ischia and what there is to do on the island in the next episode. However, if you're looking for a ferry to get there, you have a few options. Below are links to ferry companies that can take you to Ischia. To Ischia from Naples To Ischia from Sorrento You can join our Patreon for free! Want to support us and get a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Capri: The Blue Grotto and Boat Tours, Overnight vs. Daytrip, and Knowing Where to Spend | 12 juin 2026 | 01:01:14 | |
We're back and we're still talking about Capri! In this episode, we wanted to discuss the Blue Grotto—one of southern Italy's most famous natural wonders—and whether or not it's worth it. We also wanted to try and answer the classic question of "Should I go to Capri just for the day or spend the night?" Lastly, while Capri can be (and very much is) expensive, we wanted to offer some of our thoughts on where to splurge on Capri and where to watch your wallet. You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Capri: Getting There, Getting Around, and the Vibes | 10 juin 2026 | 00:38:06 | |
Having recently returned from a trip to Capri, we were once again reminded why it's so popular. Yes, it's touristy, and yes, finding authenticity in Capri can feel like a Herculean effort. But at the end of the day, it's one of the most beautiful places in Italy, not only for its views, but also for its nature and (believe it or not!) tranquility. In this episode we discuss getting there, getting around the island (including getting to Anacapri), and the general vibe of the island. You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Headlines: Strikes in June, Rome Scooter Rules, and JFK->Sardinia | 05 juin 2026 | 00:27:46 | |
Today we're discussing upcoming strikes in Italy for the month of June (of which there are thankfully few, so your June trip shouldn't see too many hiccups!). We're also talking about new rules and restrictions around electric scooters in Rome, the expansion of the STVR ban in Florence, and the first ever USA to Sardinia direct flight courtesy of Delta. You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Headlines: EES in European Airports and Your Right to Tap Water in Italy | 03 juin 2026 | 00:38:40 | |
Today we're discussing the new EES (Entry/Exit System) that you will most likely encounter on your trip to Europe this year. Likewise, we're also looking at the court case that recently made it big in the headlines, establishing the fact that Italians (and people in Italy) have no "right" to tap water at a restaurant. Thankfully, we're both no longer as sick as we were, so hopefully this episode is more cohesive sounding! You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Sorrento: Where to Stay In and Around Sorrento | 29 mai 2026 | 00:29:08 | |
While it can be amazing to stay right smack-dab in the middle of Sorrento, it can also come with unforeseen challenges. Likewise, staying just outside of Sorrento might be a quiet retreat from the hubbub, but it can also mean you don't get the experience you were hoping for. In this episode, we break down the various small towns around Sorrento and neighborhoods in Sorrento to help you figure out the best place to stay. As mentioned in the episode, our "comments" on Spotify have been a little strange. We've been getting notifications for comments, but they don't always appear. So if you've left a comment and we haven't responded, please feel free to leave the comment again or reach out to us directly! You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| Sorrento: Public Transportation and Restaurant Tips | 27 mai 2026 | 00:54:19 | |
We're back! Today we're talking about Sorrento, which we had briefly started talking about two weeks ago. This episode focuses on how to catch the bus, things to keep in mind surrounding using the bus, our experience with using taxis, and, of course, food. While in the past we've normally tried not to give specific recommendations (mainly as we know that food can be highly subjective, and what we might love y'all might not), we do end this episode with a few recommendations for where to eat. As mentioned in the episode, our "comments" on Spotify have been a little strange. We've been getting notifications for comments, but they don't always appear. So if you've left a comment and we haven't responded, please feel free to leave the comment again or reach out to us directly! You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| (RERUN) Naples Pastries: Baked, Fried, Filled With Ricotta | 22 mai 2026 | 00:38:54 | |
We are still out of town, but we'll be back next week! Until then, please enjoy one our episodes from the end of last year. "How could we talk about Naples and not about the pastries? After all, this is why you listen to Only A Bag! After a few thousand years of outside rule, one of the few good things (which is a weird way of saying, "Thanks for leaving behind some of your food when you ruled over us with an iron fist.") that came from it is the introduction of pastries. Graffa from the Austrian krapfen, baba from the French (and earlier Polish) baba, and sfogliatella from the nuns of Conci die Marini and then through a pastry chef who purchased the recipe and the rights to sell it (which is far more wholesome!). And, of course, like any other sweet thing over the course of history, someone looked at it and asked the age-old question, "Yes, but can it also be fried?". With that, we introduce you to the wonderful world of Neapolitan pastries!" You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| (RERUN) Naples: Dinnertime, Street Food, and Pizza | 20 mai 2026 | 00:36:19 | |
As mentioned in last week's episodes, we are out of town this week! Instead of leaving you all without an episode, we're going back into the past to bring you an episode from the fall of last year. We hope you enjoy! "Continuing the Naples theme, we delve into dinner time, street food (like the famous pizza portafoglio, or pizza folded into a triangle) and the most famous dish to ever come out of such a storied city: pizza not folded into a triangle. We mentioned a list of the best pizzerias in Italy which can be found here: https://www.50toppizza.it/50-top-pizza-italia-2025/ " You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||
| AI Trip Planning — Part 2: How AI Trip Planning Works (and Doesn't Work) | 15 mai 2026 | 00:49:24 | |
Following up from Wednesday's episode, today we're talking about the actual trip planning portion. How is AI used to plan a trip, where does it succeed, and where does it fail. We also offer some alternatives for those of you who are planning a trip and prefer to not rely on AI. You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! 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). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel | |||