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. 4d ago

    Ravello: What To See/Do and Day Trips

    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

  2. 6d ago

    Ravello: Mountaintop Tranquility and How to Get There

    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

  3. Jul 10

    Need To Know Before You Go: Restaurant Reservations, ATMs, Itineraries, Passport

    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 ⁠Spotify Link⁠ Tips for Traveling With Someone Else: Part 1 ⁠Spotify Link⁠ Tips for Traveling With Someone Else: Part 2 ⁠Spotify Link⁠ The Hidden Stresses of Traveling: Part 1 ⁠Spotify Link⁠ The Hidden Stresses of Traveling: Part 2 ⁠Spotify Link⁠ 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

  4. Jul 8

    Need To Know Before You Go: Flight, Accommodation, and Luggage

    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 Spotify Link Tips for Traveling With Someone Else: Part 1 Spotify Link Tips for Traveling With Someone Else: Part 2 Spotify Link The Hidden Stresses of Traveling: Part 1 Spotify Link The Hidden Stresses of Traveling: Part 2 Spotify Link 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

  5. Jul 3

    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

  6. Jul 1

    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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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4.6
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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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