The Italy Travel Podcast - An Only A Bag Podcast

Darcy Melton | Nathaniel Mellor
  • 4.6 (34)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

New episodes every Wednesday and Friday! Your guide to Italy travel! Hosts Darcy and Nathaniel—two tourists-turned-locals—offer advice like how to get off the beaten path (like going south), how order coffee like a local (at the bar), and most importantly, where to find authentic Italian food and gelato. Visit Italy with us every week from home or in the car. Whether you’re planning an Italy vacation or looking to move here, Darcy and Nathaniel guide you along the way. Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts and check out our website onlyabag.com for articles! Thanks for listening!

  1. 1d ago

    Headlines: Strikes, Venice Fee, EES Changes, and Summer Happenings

    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. Autolinee Toscane AMTS Catania* AMAT Palermo* ⁠Italo⁠ TrenItalia Trenord * 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

    39 min

  2. 3d ago

    Headlines: European Heatwave

    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

    1h 2m

  3. Jun 26

    Vietri Sul Mare: How To Get There and What To Do

    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

    38 min

  4. Jun 24

    Vietri Sul Mare: Ceramic Capital of the South

    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

    33 min

  5. Jun 19

    Ischia: Getting There, Getting Around, What To Do, and Spas

    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: ⁠Caremar⁠ ⁠Alilauro⁠ ⁠Medmar⁠ To Ischia from Sorrento: ⁠Alilauro⁠ Getting Around Ischia If you're looking to take a public bus around the island, you can see bus timetables for Ischia here: eavsrl.it/orari-autobus 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

    35 min

  6. Jun 17

    Ischia: A Surprising Sense of Peace in the Gulf of Naples

    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 Caremar Alilauro Medmar To Ischia from Sorrento Alilauro 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

    41 min

  7. Jun 12

    Capri: The Blue Grotto and Boat Tours, Overnight vs. Daytrip, and Knowing Where to Spend

    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

    1h 1m

  8. Jun 10

    Capri: Getting There, Getting Around, and the Vibes

    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

    38 min
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4.6
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

New episodes every Wednesday and Friday! Your guide to Italy travel! Hosts Darcy and Nathaniel—two tourists-turned-locals—offer advice like how to get off the beaten path (like going south), how order coffee like a local (at the bar), and most importantly, where to find authentic Italian food and gelato. Visit Italy with us every week from home or in the car. Whether you’re planning an Italy vacation or looking to move here, Darcy and Nathaniel guide you along the way. Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts and check out our website onlyabag.com for articles! Thanks for listening!

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