Only A Bag - An Italy Travel Podcast

Darcy Melton | Nathaniel Mellor
  • 4.6 (30)
  • 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. 5D AGO

    Headlines: Hep A in Naples, Unrelated Explosions in Rome, and new Ownership for Teatro Sannazaro

    Today's episode is a sort of kitchen sink of news. We're talking about some things happening in Italy that may seem worrying from the Hepatitis A outbreak in Naples to two unrelated explosions in Rome. We also have an update on the Teatro Sannazaro after the fire and we'll take a look at rising gas prices. In happy news, Only a Bag is having a glow-up! We'll be changing our name to "The Italy Travel Podcast" as well as our podcast cover art in about 4 weeks. Plus we started a Patreon! To learn more about these changes you can listen to our "Fireside Chat episode" and you can check out our Patreon here, patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast! If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down scattered across the website, a listener suggested (thank you!) putting them all in one place, so we have! 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).  If you'd like to support the podcast in other ways, you can donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠ Thanks for listening!  xDarcy and Nathaniel

    28 min

  2. MAR 25

    Headlines: Upcoming Strikes and the Constitutional Referendum Explained

    In this episode we're talking about upcoming strikes at the end of March through April 2026. Listed below are links for more information on strikes from official websites. We're also talking abut the recent Constitutional Referendum that has been the talk-of-the-town (and country) in the last week. We'll give you a brief explainer on what it was and how it has affected Italy. In other headline news, we will be changing our name to "The Italy Travel Podcast"! We're doing our best to give you all a heads up so the name and Podcast cover (the little tile that you click find our show) will change in about four weeks. We also now have a Patreaon! You can join for free or with one of our paid tiers. Check it out at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast To learn more about it and why we've decided to have this glow-up you can listen to our Fireside Chat episode that came out just before this one. If you'd like more information about strikes at the end of March and in April of 2026, you can click the links below for each striking transport company's official website. Milan ATM.it Naples EAVSRL.it Turin torino.arriva.it Puglia FSEonline.it If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down scattered across the website, a listener suggested (thank you!) putting them all in one place, so we have! 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). If you'd like to support the podcast in other ways, you can donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠ Thanks for listening!  xDarcy and Nathaniel

    39 min

  3. MAR 25

    Fireside Chat: Name Change, New Patreon, and the Future of the Podcast

    How else to better announce a name change (and minor updates) than an episode dedicated to it? That's right, a name change! In 4~ weeks, on April 22nd (Earth day, woohoo!) we will officially change our name to "The Italy Travel Podcast". But before we did so, we wanted everyone to have a chance to familiarize themselves with the new name, check out this episode, and even offer their feedback if there's something we missed! You can check out our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast You also might notice it has the new "Podcast Art"! While this is nearly finalized—there are a few little details we wanted to add—we were too excited not to share it with you all! As always, thank you all so much for listening and being part of this exciting community! xDarcy and Nathaniel PS. And fret not! This is not the episode for today. Today, we're talking about Headlines, so go check out the Headlines episode that published just after this!

    33 min

  4. MAR 20

    Cilento: The Medieval City of Teggiano

    This week we're in the Cilento, on Wednesday we talked about the Certosa di San Lorenzo di Padula, today we're talking about the medieval town of Teggiano. In this episode, we're talking about everything from Teggiano's origins in the 11th century and the drama filled Conspiracy of the Barons in the 15th century to the city's modern day charm. We'll also tell you about the practicalities of getting there. We're in southern Italy where public transportation is limited, but that means unique experiences are in abundance! Get off the beaten path with us this week as we explore Teggiano. If you're looking for a guided tour of the city of Teggiano, you can check out our friend Viviana's website ⁠Guida Turistica's where she offers guided tours of Teggiano and places all over the Cilento and Campania! The Princess of Costanza Festival is every year around August. You can check out the website here principessacostanza.com. If you're looking to book a hotel in Teggiano, we recommend the hotels below Antichi Feudi Dimora D'Epoca Expedia | Booking Hotel La Congiura dei Baroni Booking Casa Rurale Faraone in the valley of Teggiano Booking These hotel links are affiliate links, and while we don't represent any of the companies listed, we do receive a small commission, which goes towards supporting Only A Bag. We appreciate your support!  If you'd like to support us, but you don't have the time to hunt down all of the affiliate links scattered across the website, a listener suggested (thank you!) putting them all in one place, so we have! 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). If you'd like to support the podcast in other ways, you can donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠ Thanks for listening!  xDarcy and Nathaniel

    45 min

  5. MAR 18

    Cilento: Certosa di San Lorenzo di Padula

    NOTE: Our original upload had Nathaniel talking over himself—a cut audio part that never got cut, apparently! As of 13:20GMT we've updated the episode. If around the 9~minute mark you hear Nathaniel talking over himself, you might need to re-download the episode. Sorry for the confusion, everyone! This week we're headed back to the Cilento to talk about two fairly "hidden" locations that should be on anyone's southern Italian tour: the Certosa di Padula and the town of Teggiano. The Certosa—or Charterhouse—is a Carthusian monastery boasting beautiful gardens, frescoed ceilings and walls, and some of the most ornate and painstaking cut-marble floors we've ever seen. Plus, it has this absolutely wonderful spiral staircase resembling a conch, and another much more grand sweeping staircase outside. I know what you're thinking, going all the way there for some staircases and gardens? Not at all! The Certosa di Padula is also home to the world's largest cloisters. But if we're being honest, it's so much more than that. If I had to described it, I'd say it stands as a sort of temple to "what once was". A place of silence, a place of incredible wealth and power, and a place of community. And if you're in the area, it's well worth the visit. For more information about the Certosa, you can check out their website: https://certosadipadula.org/ And if you're looking for a guided tour, you can check out Guida Turistica's website where she offers guided tours all over the Cilento and Campania—including the Certosa! If you're looking to book a hotel near the Certosa di San Lorenzo di Padula, we recommend the hotels below Villa Cosilinum in the medieval town of Padula Expedia | Booking Grand Hotel Certosa just steps from the Certosa itself Expedia | Booking Ca' del Conte - Maison de Charme in the valley of Padula Expedia | Booking These hotel links are affiliate links, and while we don't represent any of the companies listed, we do receive a small commission, which goes towards supporting Only A Bag. We appreciate your support!  If you'd like to support us, but you don't have the time to hunt down all of the affiliate links scattered across the website, a listener suggested (thank you!) putting them all in one place, so we have! 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). If you'd like to support the podcast in other ways, you can donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel

    42 min

  6. MAR 13

    Off the Beaten Path: Where Escher Meets Dalí in Castle Form

    We're continuing the theme of "Architectural Madness" in this episode as part of our second installment of our Off the Beaten Path series. Today we're talking about La Scarzuola, a castle-like sculpture garden and architectural complex in Umbria. If you'd like to visit La Scarzuola, you can make reservations and read more about it at lascarzuola.com. If you're looking to stay in a small town near La Scarzuola, we recommend these hotels: Hotel Vannucci in Città della Pieve Expedia | Booking Ca' de' Principi in Piegaro Expedia | Booking If you're looking to book a hotel in Orvieto, we recommend these hotels which are all located in the city center: Hotel Virgilio - Expedia | Booking Palazzo Piccolomini - Expedia | Booking Hotel Corso - Expedia | Booking If you're looking to book a hotel in Perugia, we recommend the hotels below: Locanda della Posta Boutique Hotel - on the main street of the historic center - Expedia | Booking Hotel Fortuna - just off the main street in the historic center - Expedia | Booking Hotel Priori Secret Garden - in the historic center near shops and a local pastry shop -  Expedia | Booking These hotel links are affiliate links, and while we don't represent any of the companies listed, we do receive a small commission, which goes towards supporting Only A Bag. We appreciate your support!  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going!  You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening. x Darcy and Nathaniel  Only A Bag

    31 min

  7. MAR 11

    Off the Beaten Path: A Blend of Styles in Emilia-Romagna

    It's our second installment of our Off the Beaten Path series and in this episode we're talking about Architectural Madness. In particular, the Rocchetta Mattei. A fever dream mash-up of Moorish, Italian Art Nouveau, and Medieval styles in a 19th century mountaintop castle between Bologna and Florence. What started out as a dream and a sanatorium became a life-long project, and then a second life-long project. As mentioned in the episode, Rocchetta Mattei is reachable from Florence and Bologna, perfect for a day-trip if you've already knocked a lot off the rest of your list. If you’re looking to book a hotel in Florence, we recommend the three below: FH55 Hotel Calzaiuoli: -well-situated, traditional and luxuriously cozy- Expedia | Booking Albergo Firenze: -incredible location, 24hr front desk- Expedia | Booking Hotel La Scaletta Al Ponte Vecchio: -other side of the river, bright, open, with a terrace overlooking the city of Florence-  Expedia | Booking If you're looking to book a hotel in Bologna, we recommend the hotels below: Hotel Metropolitan -upscale, in the city center - Expedia | Booking Hotel Panorama - budget option in the city center - Expedia | Booking Starhotels Excelsior - near the train station - Expedia | Booking These hotel links are affiliate links, and while we don’t represent any of the companies listed, we do receive a small commission if you book a hotel through any of the links. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going!  You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening. x Darcy and Nathaniel  Only A Bag

    41 min

  8. MAR 6

    Paestum: Getting Around and What to See

    Today we're continuing our discussion about Paestum. We're talking about all of the cool things you can visit including three greek temples, a museum, an ancient neighborhood, sacred sites, and a Roman forum. Plus we'll get into the practicalities of getting there and getting tickets. You can find more information on the park and buy tickets on the official Paestum and Velia website. If you're looking to book a hotel in or around Paestum, we recommend the hotels below. There are several different areas to stay in when you visit Paestum, near the archeological park, in the modern city, or near the beach. Next to each hotel we have listed the general area it is in.  Tenuta Duca Marigliano Boutique Hotel - near the archeological park of Paestum -  ⁠Expedia⁠ | ⁠Booking*⁠ Hotel Villa Rita - near the archeological park of Paestum - ⁠Expedia⁠ | ⁠Booking*⁠ Savoy Hotel & Spa - near the beach of Paestum - ⁠Expedia⁠ | ⁠Booking*⁠ Mec Paestum Hotel - in the modern city of Paestum - ⁠Expedia⁠ | ⁠Booking*⁠ Hotel Royal Paestum - best budget hotel near the beach of Paestum - ⁠Expedia⁠ | ⁠Booking*⁠ Hotel Dei Templi - best budget hotel near the archeological park of Paestum - ⁠Booking*⁠ If you're interested in taking a tour of Paestum, we recommend our friend Viviana! You can see her website and tours ⁠here⁠. Or check out these tours on Viator: Small group tour of Paestum with an archeologist ⁠Viator*⁠ Private tour of Paestum with an archaeologist ⁠Viator*⁠ *These hotel and tour links are affiliate links, and while we don't represent any of the companies listed, we do receive a small commission which goes towards supporting Only A Bag. We appreciate your support!  If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going!  You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening. x Darcy and Nathaniel  Only A Bag

    42 min
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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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