Italy: The Top Bites and Sights
- ellenday2002
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
This summer just gone my family and I ate our way through Italy—cappuccino in hand, pastry never far behind, and an unreasonable number of gelatos along the way. We explored plenty, consumed even more, and came away with favourites across the beautiful places of Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples and Positano. Consider this blog the holiday awards show: celebrating standout views, top-tier bakeries, and the trip’s unsung food hero.
Best Bakery- Allegra (Bologna)
An artsy café with great coffee and a beautiful array of pastries that greet you as you enter. My dad and I enjoyed a vanilla cream filled variant along with the classic plain croissant. We had a lot of delicious pastries on this trip, but the award goes to this place due to the fact the plain croissant is the best I’ve ever had. I don’t usually go for plain croissants- I tend to think that they’re a little bit boring. But this one blew my mind- the inside was fluffy and buttery, and the exterior was crunchy and had a sweetness that meant you kept going back for more.
Best Coffee- Grani Farine e Caffe (Rome)
We stayed a little bit outside of central Rome in Trastevere and that’s where this coffee shop was. I knew I was onto a winner when the barista was sporting a cap that said ‘No milky coffees after 11’, but the ‘no’ was crossed out. As much as I enjoy an espresso, that’s one part of Italian culture I just can’t get behind- let me have a cappuccino at 3pm! The coffee not only looked beautiful, but it tasted incredible. Smooth and chocolaty and nutty notes. It was pretty warm in Rome so I went for an iced latte but it was amazing. It became the benchmark for coffee for the rest of the trip, and nothing managed to surpass it.
Best Bar- Bar Senza Nome (Bologna)
We went to some amazing bars in Italy, lots with beautiful rooftop views, but this one was the winner for me because of it’s uniqueness. Bar Senza Nome translates to ‘Bar without a name’ and is run by hearing-impaired staff. To order your drink, you go to the wall full of small paper tickets that have different drinks illustrated on them, along with the sign language translation. You can simply give the bartender the tickets or give the sign language a go. The staff are super friendly and I loved the concept. Importantly for a bar, the drinks were also great, with a lovely selection of bottled and draft beers, wine, and soft drinks.
Best Pizza- Sorbillo (Naples)
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that the best pizza of the trip was eaten in Naples, widely recognised as the birthplace of pizza. We went to one of the many Sorbillo pizza restaurants dotted around the city, named after the Sorbillo family who are renowned for their pizza making. A classic Margherita may have been the best choice to judge the pizza, but once I saw the option with mortadella and pistachio pesto, my mind was made up. The dough was the best I’ve tried, the fluffy crusts are the best bit! Salty mortadella combined with the creamy, slightly acidic mozzarella and the nutty pistachio pesto is why it’s number one in my awards!
Best Gelato- Grom (various locations)
We discovered Grom in the first location of Venice, after it being one of the only gelatarias we saw that stored the gelato in closed steel cylinder containers (if you know, you know). We then popped into the stores in other locations in Italy, including Rome. Their flavour selection was vast but not overwhelming, with classics like pistachio and fruity flavours like peach going down a treat.
Best Views- Positano
Granted you have to climb quite a lot (Positano is very hilly) to reach the beautiful views, but it’s worth it. The array of colourful houses stacked up on the hill, overlooking the sparkly ocean is a sight that you won’t get tired of. Even at night, the lights illuminate the sea and houses too. Treat yourself to a gelato or a spritz while standing outside at a café on the hill and soak up the views (I say one because even that will be pricey!).
The Prettiest- Florence
The Duomo in itself is enough to give Florence the win, without even needed to go inside. The design and architecture is exquisite. The Uffizi gallery is also very impressive inside, with vast displays of art and sculptures, but also views of the city and river in particular that, when the sun is shining, is a pretty lovely thing to enjoy when having a break from the exhibitions. Enjoy a drink in the Piazza della Signoria and then venture over to the nearby Mercato Centrale for a bite to eat. If you’re wanting to get aesthetic pictures from your trip, Florence is the place to go.
Best Landmarks- Rome
Rome has to win this one, boasting famous and historic places to visit including the colosseum, the Trevi fountain and the Pantheon. Marvel at the grandeur of these buildings, although be aware that they will be very busy. The Vatican City is it’s own country, I know, but as it’s essential to visit when you travel to Rome, it’s also included in this award, with the Vatican City Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica only adding to the wonder.
My Favourite Food- Figs and Prosciutto in Positano
I don’t think any description will do this justice- I’ve since had figs back in England and honestly it just depressed me because they no where near as sweet and floral as the ones here. Paired with savoury, salty prosciutto- a dreamy combination. This was ordered every single day at lunchtime.
Unsung Food Hero:
In a place where pastries/filled croissants are always on the menu (rightly so- they are delicious), I wanted to try something different. I saw a maritozzo in a coffee shop in Bologna and I knew I had to get one. The dough is light, flavoured with vanilla and citrus and then filled with a sweet, fresh whipped cream. It is one of the few foods I have actually really missed since being back home so if anyone knows any good spots to find one in London, I’m all ears!
My Favourite City- Bologna
Bologna, or La Rossa, wins the favourite city award for me. I loved visiting all the different places, all unique and charming in their own ways, but Bologna felt like a place I could live in the future and, considering I was only there for two days and it left that impression on me, I think that’s pretty impressive. I think the reason I loved it so much was because it reminded me a bit of Leeds, a city I adore and has similarities like it’s student population, who attend the University of Bologna, the oldest in Europe. Trying authentic bolognaise at an Osteria and tortellini en brodo were key highlights of the trip. There was a strong sense of pride for their food culture which is always lovely to experience.
I think I had that exact peach gelato and I haven’t stopped thinking about it