Before we traveled to Turin we knew very little about the city other than that it was known for its car production.

Little did we know that Turin is also a foodie’s heaven, something that we discovered during our time there. Not many people seem to know about this great gastronomical treasure of northern Italy – it’s almost as though it as been forgotten of.

The locals claim that the reason is because they don’t brag and tell everyone about how great their food is, they just know it’s the best…

Europe’s Largest Open-Air Market

In Turin you will find the largest open-air fruit and vegetable market in Europe.

Full of life, the bustling market starts in the morning (around 8am) and goes on until 2pm. This is where the locals go to buy their weekly food shopping, and a great place to soak up the Italian atmosphere.

Selling seasonal fruits and vegetables by the kilo, you can easily buy a whole week of greens for €6, and it’s the perfect place to put together a cheap pic nic lunch before heading over to one of the parks nearby.

Giandujotto

If you’re a chocolate fan, prepare to be in for a real treat! What was originally an attempt to “thin out” chocolate to make it more affordable turned into one of the most delicious chocolate treats ever: the Gianduja.

A mixture of chocolate and hazelnuts, the Gianduja comes in bite sized treats called Giandujotto, and can be bought pretty much anywhere in Turin. They’re seriously some of the most amazing chocolate treats I’ve ever had, and I’ve eaten a lot of chocolate in my life..!

To give you an idea of the flavor, Gianduja was the inspiration to the more famous (and cheaper) Nutella spread we all love so much – which in Turin they throw into almost everything, from coffee to snacks.

Bicerin

We’ve written before about Turin’s obsession for chocolate, and the Bicerin is one of its proudest inventions. A hot chocolate/coffee drink, Bicerin is a unique drink of Turin, and a must-try for cool evenings.

Zabaglione

Another warm drink typical for Turin is Zabaglione, an alcoholic type of egg-nod, where the egg is whipped into a foam, and you basically eat the drink with a spoon.
It’s sweet, a little sticky, and has a strong alcoholic liqueur flavor.

Biscotti & Bagnati

To go with their hot chocolate coffee drinks, the Savoy family that ruled Piedmont invented bite sized biscuits to dip in their hot drinks.

These delights made especially to be dunked come in many different flavors and varieties, some of the most famous are Baci di Dama, Canestrelli and Savoiardi – better known as ladies fingers.

Our favorite were Torcetti (in the lower left corner), but there is really an infinite variety of specialities waiting to seduce you and be enjoyed in Turin’s small, traditional patisseries.

At Caffé al Bicerin (famous for their Bicerin) you can order a plate of assorted traditional biscuits for €6 to go with your drink – they’re definitely worth it!

Ferrero Rocher

As if the fact that Turin invented eating chocolate wasn’t enough, one of the most famous gourmet chocolates in the world – Ferrero Rocher, was also invented in Turin.

Wine

The Piedmont region of Turin is famous for their wine, especially of the red sort.

One of the perks of Italy, and especially Piedmont, is that wine can be bought everywhere, and surprisingly cheap.

In some of the cheaper restaurants such as “Brek” you just grab a jug of the size you want and pour wine from a tap lie it was water!

Two glasses can cost as little as €1,70, not to mention the prices of bottles from a wine shop of supermarket.

If you like wine that is a little tangy, you’ll love Italian wine.

Aperitivo

Turin claims to be the inventor of so many things it’s almost a bit of a joke; one cafe even claims the fame for “bite sized sandwiches”, and prize them accordingly…

The city is apparently also where “aperitivo” was invented, a sort of “happy hour” thing when you buy a drink and get a buffet or snacks for free.

Unlike “happy hour”, drinks aren’t usually cheaper, but you get free food included. For a proper buffet expect to pay €9, but if you just want to enjoy a refreshing Aperol Spritz with some peanuts and chips you can get a drink for as little as €4 (at least from our favorite local hangout, Roger Bar at Via Torquato Tasso 9).

Slow Food Movement

The invasion of fast food joints popping up like a plague across Italy in the 80’s gave birth to a new food revolution – the Slow Food Movement.

This new movement began in the Piedmont region (in a town called Bra close to Turin) and was aimed to reclaim the meaning of eating in Italy, and offer the public good food carefully made with love, rather than pre-made reheated burger patties.

While the Supermarket/Restaurant Eataly is the most famous, there are many great slow food restaurants all over Turin.

Truffles

The Piedmont area is not only one of the best wine growing areas in Italy, but also the best for growing the exotic (and expensive) Truffels.

Every year Turin holds a truffle festival where the best chefs from around the world travel to the city to seek out the best truffles for their restaurants.

If you’re interested in visiting Turin and sample their amazing food, Co-op Travel offers some great holiday packages to Italy, where you can easily make Turin part of a day-trip.

Next time you travel through northern Italy make sure you stop over in Turin for a day or two to sample their great food!

Some say that Turin is Italy’s most overlooked city, and until the Winter Olympics in 2006 few people thought of it as anything else than an industrial car city – they couldn’t be more wrong!

Although Turin justifiably is known for its cars, there is so much more to the city than Fiat or Ferrari.

And since we’re not very interested in cars – we will give you a car-free guide to Turin and show what we think are the city’s real treasures …

Eat, Drink & Eat Some More

While you can find good food all over Italy, Turin specializes in the food that we love most; wine, cheese, chocolate and truffles.

Turin is said to have invented the solid form of chocolate, but is more famous for its hot chocolate drink called Bicerin.

Turin has a love story with chocolate like few other cities, and a must-try when you’re there is the Giandujotto, a hazelnut chocolate praline that was the inspiration to the worldwide favorite Nutella chocolate.

If you’re not a chocolate fan there are still plenty of other foods to taste, such as the world famous truffles – every year during the truffle festival the world’s best chefs visit Turin to seek out the best truffles.

Also make sure you spend an evening at a bar and order an aperitivo (a drink with snacks or a small buffet included), a popular tradition in Turin.

For a more detailed guide on what to eat in Turin, stay tuned for our “food guide to Turin” next week.

The (Fake) Medieval Castle

Located by the river front, Turin has a stunning medieval castle – only it dates back to the 19th century…

That’s right, it’s not actually a medieval castle, but a mash-up of inspiration from all the surrounding medieval buildings in the Piedmont area, built in 1884 for an international exhibition.

The replica of the 15th Century Piedmontese Castle and Village gives you a great idea of what life was like in Piedmont during the medieval times.

Each room is furnished and built as a replica of a room in the various castles in the area, so in a way you could say that you get “the best of all the castles in one” – the Valentino Park which the Village is located in is really lovely to spend some time in as well, with a botanical Garden and food stalls.

Visit: The village is free to enter, a castle tour costs 6.00 € – FREE with Turin Piedmont Card.

Reggia di Venaria

Reggia di Venaria is one of the latest additions to Turin’s attractions, as it opened to the public only a few years ago – the beautiful palace where the Savoy family once lived is quite spectacular, and after years of neglect and decline it has been restored to its former glory.

Built in mid 1600′s to celebrate beauty, hunting and leisure pursuits, it was a true show-off palace for the Savoy family that once built it.

We spent several hours in the palace, gardens and cute medieval town and still didn’t see everything there was to see, so it’s definitely a half-day trip in itself..!

Visit: Shuttle bus return ticket €5. An all-inclusive ticket of Reggia di Venaria, gardens and exhibitions costs €20 – All of this is free with the Turin Piedmont Card.

National Museum of Cinema

To tell you the truth, neither of us are big fans of museums so we don’t usually make an effort to visit many of them when traveling – the Cinema Museum, however, is actually really cool, and even Nathan was glad he went to check it out.

Located in Turin’s most iconic building Mole Antonelliana, it’s an interactive museum where you can walk through different rooms, each dedicated to its own film genre; from romance, comedy and Loney Toones to horror and sci-fi, all very creatively designed.

At the top of Mole Antonelliana you can get one of the best views overlooking Turin, and the lift taking you up to the viewing point is a pretty neat experience alone!

 Visit: Museum and lift €12 – FREE with Turin Piedmont Card.

Sassi-Superga

One of our favorite things to do in Turin was to take the old 1930′s cogwheel train from Sassi (a suburb across the river in Turin) up the Superga mountain to the Basilica of Superga.

The cute train is well preserved in its 1930’s condition and slowly climbs the mountain through green forests until it finally stops at an altitude of 672 meters.

The bright yellow Basilica proudly sits on top of the mountain overlooking Turin, river Po and the snowy alps, and there is a cute little cafe just below the Basilica terrace that makes a great Spritze to be enjoyed under the cherry blossom trees on the terrace.

Many football fans make pilgrimages to the top of this hill to pay respect for the city’s historic football team Il Grande Torino, who were on the plane that tragically crashed into the Superga mountain in 1949 – the team used to go under the nickname “the invincible”.

Visit: During weekdays a return-ticket is €6, weekends €9 – FREE with Turin Piedmont card. The Basilica is free to visit unless you want to go up to the dome (also free with the card) for a 360 view.

A big thanks to the Turin tourism board for providing us with Turin Piedmont Cards to help explore the city.

Cinque Terre is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque areas in Italy, and it’s impossible not to be charmed by the colorful quaint villages clinging on to the rugged cliffs along the coast and its warm hospitable locals.

Walking around the villages you can easily picture what it must have been like a hundred years ago when the area was so secluded that the only way to get there was by sea or mule paths.

These mule paths have been maintained and used over the centuries and are now popular hiking paths with the most amazing views of the sea-swept Cinque Terre …

How To Get Around

Monterosso

You can buy 1, 2, 3 or 7 day passes that are valid on all local trains on the Cinque Terre route – that way you can travel back and forth between all the towns as much as you like for the time period the pass is valid.

A 1 day pass costs €10 per person and lasts all day.

There is also a one-direction pass for €8 where you can travel in one direction, but by the end of the day you’ll still need to return to your city and pay a single ticket, so it kind of evens out anyway.

Single tickets cost between €1.80 and €2 between the villages when bought from the stations.

The 5 Villages

Cinque Terre literally translates to “5 lands”, and includes the five villages Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. While they have many similarities, each village stands out with its own unique attributes and charm.

Vernazza

With a picturesque harbor and stunning views overlooking the village from the walking paths nearby, Vernazza is surrounded by hilly vineyards on one side, and the great ocean on the other.

The cafés are cute and cheap, perfect for a lunch stop.

Vernazza

Manarola

The waves that clash against the dark rugged rocks that the little colorful houses in Manarola cling to really makes the view over the town one of the most dramatic in Cinque Terre.

Completely surrounded by vineyards, Manarola is a good stop to sit down in a Trattoria and taste the local wine – if you’re feeling for something more refreshing, Manarola has the best Gelateria in Cinque Terre called Gelateria Cinque Terre.

Manarola

Monterosso

The largest village and also the flattest, Monterosso has two sandy beaches, a rare commodity in the area, it also offers more budget friendly hotels than the other villages and is often the place travelers base themselves in.

Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore was the village we stayed in, so we naturally spent more time there and loved the cafes and take-away restaurants that lined the steep main street of the village.

We never tired of the view of the houses tightly tucked next to each other on the steep hill.

Riomaggiore

Corniglia

Set high above the ocean on a hilltop, Corniglia is very different from the other villages that are located by the shores – the narrow, winding alleys in Corniglia charm visitors with its tiny Trattorias, Pizzerias and handicraft shops.

The views overlooking the other villages below and a small village even further into the secluded hills are stunning.

The village is so secluded that locals buy their daily necessities from vans that drive up to the village to sell food, cooking utensils and what not from the back of their vans.

Our Favorite

Each town has its own charm and special touch, but if we had to choose our favorite, it would be Vernazza – it’s incredibly picturesque, offers beautiful views, and has a great vibe.

What To Eat & Drink

The locals are very friendly and open, and the cafes and eateries serve fantastic food for good prices – we were expecting over-priced meals since the villages in Cinque Terre are rather secluded and small, offering few options.

But instead we found that the meals were normal compared to other places in Italy, and we didn’t have one boring meal during our stay (coffee was a bit more, around €2.50).

Pesto

Cinque Terre is a pesto paradise, and local diners serve all sorts of food smothered in the green deliciousness. We became huge fans of the “Gnocchi al Pesto” at Te La Do Io La Merenda in Riomaggiore (€6).

Limoncino

Cinque Terre grows a lot of lemons, which is why their dessert wine Limoncino is a local specialty.

Wine

Also make sure you try their local wine, which are grown from the unique vineyards you see all over the area clinging to the ocean cliffs and hills.

Cinque Terre was one of the most colorful areas we’ve ever been and we absolutely loved it! What are some of your best tips for travelers visiting Cinque Terre?

Florence is more than just a beautiful Italian city; over the years it has been the birthplace of many very important people in history, from Donatello to Catherine de Medici.

Although there are probably as many notable people who have hailed from this city as there are places to stay in Florence, let’s take a look at five you will certainly recognise…

Donatello & Michelangelo  - The “David” Sculptures

Florence is known as the birthplace of Renaissance, and was the home of many famous Renaissance artists such as Donatello and Michelangelo.

Both were incredibly skilled artists, and both are famous for their “David” statues.

Donatello revolutionized the 15th century art scene. One of his most famous works is “David,” a bronze statue commissioned for the court of the Palazzo Medici.

It was the very first free-standing nude sculpture made since ancient times and it was like no other work at the time.

Michelangelo is another important Renaissance artist associated with Florence. He too created a “David” statue, which is perhaps even more famous than that of Donatello.

The statue is meant to be a representation in marble of the perfect male form – so why did his creator not make him – how would one say – a little better endowed?

The mystery is said to have been solved, apparently his “male organ” is supposed to have shrunk by the fear of Goliath..!

Where: Although the real statues of David are in Museo Nazionale del Bargello and Galleria dell’Accademia, you can see a replica of Michelangelo’s David at Piazza della Signoria.

Roberto Cavalli – The Fashion Designer

Born in Florence in 1940, Roberto Cavalli is a fashion designer who is known for created the “sand-blasted” style of lighter-coloured denim jeans, which is now a standard style for many denim makers.

He began his career in 1965 when he was only in his 20s, creating hand-painted T-shirts. He went on to become one of the most well-known Italian fashion designers.

Elton John is a huge fan and is said to spend hours in the store picking out clothes. Cavalli’s designs are synonymous with rock-and-roll and they utilize a lot of leather, colour, silk, feathers and much more.

Where: Next to his shop is Caffe Giacosa, a great cafe which Cavalli actually owns (and designed of course!). It has a great atmosphere and delicious food and coffee!

Catherine de Medici – The Ruthless Queen

Daughter to Lorenzo ll de Medici, Catherine was a French/Italian noble woman born in Florence in 1519. She would eventually take the throne as the Queen of France after marrying King Henry II when she was only 14.

Henry’s death thrust her into the political arena. In 1560 her frail 15-year-old son, King Francis II died, leaving her as regent on behalf of her 10-year-old son, King Charles IX. She also played a key role in the reign of her third son, Henry III.

Although she is thought to be unforgivably ruthless, she is considered by many historians to be the most powerful woman in 16th century Europe.

Where: The Uffizi museum (one of the most famous in the world) was once a palace of the Medici family full of art treasures. Today visitors can view the art collected by the family and others at the museum.

Sandro Botticelli – The Painter

Botticelli was born in Florence circa 1445 and went on to become an Italian painter during the Early Renaissance. He studied at the Florentine school under the esteemed patronage of the famous Lorenzo de Medici during what would later be considered the “Golden Age.”

His best known works are “The Birth of Venus” and “Primavera” (also known as the “Allegory of Spring”). The latter is said to be one of the most written about and most controversial paintings in the world.

Where: Both paintings mentioned above hang at the Uffizi museum in Florence.

These are just five examples of famous people who have hailed from Florence, Italy, but of course there have been many more over the years. This city just seems to have something special and inspiring and when you visit you will see it for yourself.

About the Author: Sarah Sherman is a freelance writer who has spent the last two months making her way slowly across Italy and writing about what she discovers. She has fallen in love with this city.

As soon as we arrived in Florence, we knew there was something unique about this city. Everything clicked – it was love at first sight.

Florence had everything we had dreamed of Italy, from its gorgeous alleys and squares to the best gelato we had tasted in all of the country and very friendly people.

It was the perfect Italian city.

I know that’s a big claim, but what else can you say when there’s really nothing you wish was different?

There was so much to love about Florence that it was hard to take it all in for just two days…

The Views

From cathedrals and palaces to squares and statues, the city is overflowing with masterpieces in the styles of the Renaissance, Gothic, and Neo-Classical periods – be prepared to have a sore neck after a day out from your head constantly twisting from side to side!

One of my favorites was Ponte Vecchio, a bridge unlike anything I’ve ever seen before; shops are built along both sides of the medieval stone bridge, many with an extension so that the shops hang over the river.

These types of bridges were once quite common, but today very few are left.

While the bridge is pretty to look at, don’t buy anything from the jewelry shops as they’re quite over-priced.

For the best view overlooking Florence and the Tuscan hills, head up to Piazzale Michelangelo. You can easily walk up the hill and steps leading up to the viewpoint.

The Atmosphere

Florence is a captivating city, with narrow winding medieval alleys that somehow always seem to lead to the Duomo, the most iconic building in Florence.

In fact the streets are so narrow that the citizens have adapted to the size by driving tiny cars in order to get around. Even the trucks are miniature sized!

And of course there are also more vespas and scooters than you could possibly count (we actually tried counting the parked scooters on a street but gave up!).

Our favorite thing to do in Florence was sitting down on the outside seating of a cafe on one of the many beautiful little Piazzas (squares), order a cappuccino and take in the atmosphere.

The Food

Italians pride themselves on their fresh, delicious food, and Florence is no exception. Every meal we had was pure perfection, from the Italian ice cream to the vegetarian lasagna.

Best of all – unlike some other cities in Italy, you don’t have to seek out the good places to get good food.

The local coffee shop around the corner would serve cheap Focaccias that in any other country would be labeled “gourmet”, and the tiny Trattorias on the side streets served cappuccinos good enough for even the pickiest of coffee fanatics – which we were well on our way to become..!

Simply put, Italians know food, and in Florence you get real Italian food for honest prices, and you won’t find any frozen veggies on your pizza or other tourist tricks!

We’ll post an article in a few weeks on how to find the perfect Italian Gelato, but for those visiting Florence, I’ll give you a hint: Le Parigine (Via Dei Servi 41).

We happened to stumble upon this gem and haven’t had a better Gelato since!

Have you been to Florence? What were your favorite things about the city?

Rome was once the centre of a vast empire that spread thousands of kilometres. While many of the empire’s cities have fallen and artifacts from the era have been destroyed, some are still intact in Rome.

This makes Rome a perfect destination for those interested in the history of the Roman Empire, and a trip there lets you experience the ancient architecture and understand the Roman way of life 2,000 years ago…

Preparing for Your Arrival

Before you can explore the rich history of Rome, you must first plan your trip. Consider how you will arrive, where you would like to stay and what you would like to do during your visit. Even if you are not quite ready to make your purchase, start reviewing the price of tickets and accommodations now. Book your airfare and a place to stay in Rome as far in advance as possible.

Generally speaking, the sooner you make your reservations, the cheaper it will be. This is especially true if you will be going during the high season, which is June through August.

During these months, airfare and accommodations will be more expensive. Easter is also a very busy time of the year in Rome, and although you might find somewhere to stay, I would still suggest that you go outside of this holiday to really be able to enjoy your time there.

Essential Historical Sites to Experience

There is an overwhelming number of places to visit in Rome, but to break it down for you, here are some unique and captivating historical sites I recommend:

The Colosseum:

Easily the most recognizable and famous historical monument in Rome, this was once the world’s largest amphitheater. Gladiators, lions and criminals were pitted against each other for the entertainment of the emperor and citizens.

It has been well-maintained and offers regular tours, allowing you to see the arena that once hosted life-or-death battles.

Palatine Hill:

As the birthplace of this ancient city, Palatine Hill is home to dozens of historical sites. From ancient buildings to sacrificial alters, you will be able to absorb the earliest history of Rome in this single location.

The foundation myth of Rome states that the city was founded in 753 B.C. by the twins Romulus and Remus, and they are enshrined throughout this landmark.

As the oldest historical site in the city, simply setting foot on the grounds imparts a sense of awe.

Ostia Antica:

One of Rome’s lesser-known historical sites, it is also one of its best preserved. Ostia Antica was the port of ancient Rome, and this gateway traces its roots to the 4th century B.C.

Ancient military camps, temples and the Baths of Neptune are all located in this well-preserved area.

Musei Capitolini:

This museum is home to hundreds of artifacts of  Rome’s extensive history — from the Renaissance, medieval and ancient periods.

With so much history in the multi-building complex, this is a must-see for those looking to relive the history of Rome.

Circus Maximus:

Perhaps the second most popular historical landmark in the city, Circus Maximus was once the largest primary sports stadium. This arena hosted the famous chariot races and was capable of holding 150,000 spectators.

Explore Unrivaled History

The Roman Empire was the world’s first civilization of its size. It spread all the way from Europe to the Middle East. It originated technology and ideas that we still use today, such as roads and some schools of mathematics. Rome was a centre of commerce and knowledge for centuries.

Fortunately, due to pristinely preserved monuments and historical artifacts, you can still experience the rich history of this once-great Empire.

About the Author: Mike Henderson is a contributing writer and historian. He considers Rome one of the best locations in the world to explore ancient history.

(photo credit: 1 - 2 - 3)

When landing at Bergamo airport the message was clear: take the next bus to Milan and leave this place ASAP.

The push to get people to Milan started already in the air, where you could pre-purchase your bus tickets straight to Milan.

When stepping out of the airport – which for the record is called “Milan” by Ryan Air, there were so many buses waiting to bring everyone to Milan that the old little local bus (discretely named Linea 1) going to Bergamo was left unnoticed.

Only a handful of us went against the stream and got on the bus to explore what seemed to be a forgotten place: Bergamo.

The Forgotten City

We had been to this little city once before as a simple stop-over before flying out of Italy, and fell so much in love with it that we said we would be back one day to see more.

So when Bergamo showed up as a great deal on the “Everywhere feature” we used with Skyscanner (it scans the web for all flights leaving your departure city to anywhere in the world), we knew it was meant to be.

I was surprised to see that the city didn’t seem to have become more popular since last time we were there.

But while walking along the streets of the old town, I felt a sense of relief – there were no crowds of tourists, no tour groups, just a relaxed vibe and quiet streets.

I couldn’t help but to wonder if perhaps the people of Bergamo don’t want everyone to know about their lovely town, to keep it the way it is and let the jam-packed buses with travelers continue to Milan instead.

Well if that was the case, I’m happy with that – more space, no queues, no stress and beautiful surroundings – perfect.

The town is divided in two parts, Lower Town and Upper Town – the Upper Town is the medieval part of Bergamo, and the small size makes it perfect for a day’s of exploring, giving you plenty of time to relax – be it in a garden cafe with a spritzer at midday, or in the botanical garden with a gelato.

Healthy Fat Food

We never thought it was possible to feel fat and starved at the same time, but Portugal showed us otherwise.

Being a vegetarian in that country is hard, but being a healthy vegetarian is impossible.

Italy, on the other hand, soon showed us how you could eat all the fat foods you wanted, and still feel healthy about it.

All the foods you would normally associate with grease and fat – tasted so god damn good that you could pretend you were being healthy.

Indulging in pizzas with that thin, crispy crust, impossibly creamy gelato, spritzers and wine at noon – I couldn’t help but to understand exactly how this woman must have felt….!!

After having traveled all over the world since last time we visited Bergamo, we were happy to find that it was still very much the way we remembered it, a cozy town that gives you the ultimate Italian experience, but without the fuss.

What is your favorite place in Italy?

Special thanks to Skyscanner for supporting our flights and accommodation in Bergamo!

After Portugal, we continued for a 4 day weekend getaway with Skyscanner to Bergamo, before continuing to our “final destination” Innsbruck, Austria.

Flying “Everywhere”

We often find it very time-consuming looking for good flight deals, especially when it doesn’t really matter where you go, only where you travel from.

We experienced this problem again earlier this summer when looking for a flight from Asia to Europe – it didn’t matter where in Europe we ended up, as long as we got there.

Back then we didn’t know that Skyscanner had this “Everywhere” feature where all you had to do was to enter the destination you flew from, and they would find the best deals to destinations all over the world from your airport.

We spent days searching airport to airport to compare the prices, something which would have easily been done in a few minutes with this feature.

This time around, we tried the feature for the first time, and found a great deal to Bergamo, and from there continuing to Innsbruck. Perfect!

Bergamo – Going Full Circle With As We Travel

It was kind of funny that Skyscanner would be taking us to Bergamo, because this was the first city we traveled to when we first started As We Travel over 2.5 years ago.

Arriving in this gorgeous city brought back a lot of memories from that time, when we had barely enough money to get by, and when As We Travel was nothing but three blog posts and a hope for a better future.

Our journey from where it all began has been long and crazy, and we have treasured every moment, so it was really incredible to be back where we started.

But walking along the streets we both had that strange feeling when a period of your life is about to end, and a new one about to begin.

Everything in our lives have worked in threes – every 3 years, our lives have changed and started going in a new direction.

We have the feeling that things are about to change once again, that we’re about to take a different turn, and our blog will change with us.

Kind of scary, but very exciting at the same time!

Travelers Settling Down.

After our weekend in Bergamo, we continued with Skyscanner to Innsbruck, a stunning city which everyone who visits instantly falls in love with.

With dramatic mountain peaks surrounding you in every direction, a beautiful old town, outgoing people and the most delicious pastries, it’s hard not to love this place.

In fact, we liked it so much we decided to try and settle down to live there for the next six months.

If there is one change we know will happen with As We Travel, it’s the way we travel.

We need to slow things down, stay in places for longer, or simply settle down and take smaller trips from there.

Traveling full time is an incredible experience, but it certainly has its downsides.

The question is – where do you settle down? Having traveled so much for the past few years and being used to always changing your surroundings, 6 months feels like a huge commitment, like a freaking eternity! Will it drive us crazy?

Note: Special thanks to the team at Skyscanner  for arranging our trip and accommodation!

After leaving Switzerland, it was time to jump back on the train and head to Venice, Italy.

Venice is often referred to as “the sinking city” – a statement which is true, but there is also no major rush to visit before it’s too late, Venice has been sinking for the last 1,000 years.

We enjoyed our time in Venice, even though it was pretty expensive & busy – you could also get away and find a quiet corner to relax and also find cheap(er) pizza.

To read more about our time in Venice, make sure you check out:

• How To Visit Venice On A Budget

We hope you enjoy our Venice video, and stay tuned for at least 1 new video every week – Next stop Slovenia!

(Our Venice Episode was Sponsored by InterRail)

Venice is often referred to as “the sinking city” – a statement which is true, but there is also no major rush to visit before it’s too late, Venice has been sinking for the last 1,000 years.

However, at the time they built the city, there was no such thing as global warming or tourists, so they never prepared for raising water levels and the 20 million visitors that would crowd the small islands some 1,000 years later …

But they are working on it, since Venice needs to be saved – it’s beautiful, unique – and also a money-making gem.

Venice has in a way become a victim of its own popularity, it’s such a beautiful and unique place, but it comes at a price – a high one…

Before I went there I had heard about the exorbitant prices, the crazy amount of tourists and the feeling that nobody lives there anymore – like a ghost town …

Well – you know us, we stopped blindly believing in what we read online a long time ago.

You realize that people online love to exaggerate, and even if they were right about some things, there is always a way to get around those things and still have a great time …

Here is a list of things we did to save money while at the same time making the most out of our visit to Venice:

• We avoided the expensive hotels by staying at a cheaper one in Padova, a town 20 minutes away from Venice, using our InterRail passes to take a free train to Venice for the day.
• We avoided the big tourist crowds by starting early in the morning – at this time the streets were close to empty, and you could enjoy the melancholic alleys and quietness of the town – alone.
• We came here before the big tourist season, and the locals hadn’t fled the town, the kids were still playing football in the squares – the town was vibrant and alive with Italian flare.
• We avoided the expensive Gondolas and Vaporettos by simply walking – it’s about compromising, and the Gondolas didn’t seem to be worth 79 Euro for ONLY an hour…
• We avoided the expensive food by eating away from the touristy areas – a full-sized pizza for only 3 Euro was what we had for lunch.
• A cappuccino at St Marco’s square costs a whopping 9 Euro, while a few blocks away it costs 2.5 Euro.
• An ice cream went from 2.20 Euro to 1.10 closer to the train station 5 minutes away.

You get the idea – it’s only expensive if you can’t be bothered to look around – so take that time, do a bit of research since Venice really can be enjoyed by anyone on any budget – as long as you make a bit of an effort!

Share your thoughts - have you been to Venice? What did you think of the prices?