In partnership with
Explore Peru with purpose
See Peru through the eyes of the women who call it home on Intrepid’s brand-new Women’s Expedition.
With an expert local leader out front and a small group of like-minded women by your side, this trip connects you with the local communities you visit ,giving you a unique insight into Peru’s culture and traditions.
With an expert local leader out front and a small group of like-minded travellers by your side, this trip gives you a unique insight into Peru’s culture and traditions.
Part of Intrepid’s Women’s expedition range, this eight-day adventure has been thoughtfully designed to support local women in tourism while delivering immersive experiences specifically for women travellers.
You’ll traverse the lesser-known Chinchero to Urquillos trail in the Peruvian Andes alongside an all-female crew, spend time in an Andean village learning about daily life, take part in a traditional textile workshop led by local women and experience a spiritual cleansing ritual guided by a female shaman.
Follow us on Instagram: @italydreamlife
Weekly roundup
Ever wonder why a global pop star might choose to trade stadium noise for a village only accessible on foot? Civita di Bagnoregio sits atop a crumbling cliff in Lazio, connected by a long pedestrian bridge, with just a few permanent residents and stone streets that seem to hover above the valley.
Take a moment to see why this place feels so spellbinding and so fragile at the same time.
Hidden Italy
Why Did the Famous Harry Styles Pick Italy's Fading Village?
Rumors have circulated for years that Harry Styles quietly traded stadium lights for stone walls in one of Italy's most hauntingly beautiful and endangered villages. Civita di Bagnoregio, a 2,500-year-old Etruscan hill town perched in Lazio with just 11 permanent residents, is literally crumbling into the valley below it, surrendering ground to wind, rain, and centuries of slow decay.
The village earns its sobering nickname, "the dying city," by losing an estimated seven centimeters of land each year to erosion and seismic activity.
It is accessible only by a long pedestrian footbridge, which cuts it off completely from the modern town of Bagnoregio below.
Styles is not the only attraction. Oscar-winning director Giuseppe Tornatore and psychiatrist-writer Paolo Crepet have both been associated with properties here.
Civita has served as a backdrop for works by Federico Fellini and is officially recognized by Italy as a notable cinematic location.
Beyond the hotspots
The Underdog Beach Town Everyone Is Suddenly Booking
A 1,007% increase in searches makes Montesilvano the top trending destination in Italy for summer 2026.
Well-connected by rail and road, it also serves as a base for exploring the wider Abruzzo coast and nearby inland towns.
Busto Arsizio, Portici, and Caltanissetta are also experiencing growth, showing a broader trend toward authentic, less-crowded Italy.
Montesilvano, a relaxed Adriatic beach town in Abruzzo, has just experienced an incredible 1,007 percent increase in online travel searches, making it Italy's fastest-growing summer destination for 2026. Its sandy beaches, authentic local vibe, and lack of the crowds typical of the well-known coasts.
City spotlight
Bologna: Italy's Hidden Culinary Treasure
Florence gets the headlines, Venice gets the selfies, but Bologna is where Italians quietly agree the real eating happens. Nicknamed "La Grassa" (The Fat One) for good reason, this medieval city in Emilia-Romagna is the birthplace of ragù, tortellini, mortadella, and more, all still crafted with the unhurried care that tourist-heavy cities have long since lost. Better yet, it sits right at the center of Italy's high-speed rail network, making it the smartest base on the peninsula.
Wander through the Quadrilatero, Bologna's historic market district, where cured meats, fresh pasta, and aged cheeses spill out of shops that have been trading for centuries.
The porticos are more than just attractive—they stretch for 53 kilometers of covered walkways connecting the city, making Bologna one of the most walkable places in Italy.
High-speed trains make Florence accessible in 35 minutes, Venice in 90 minutes, and Milan in about an hour, making Bologna a city worth visiting on its own while also serving as a gateway to explore the rest of the country.
Product spotlight
Introducing Italy Dream Guide — Your Italy Trip, Already Planned
Italy Dream Guide gives you a done-for-you Italy travel map that clearly shows where to go and how to connect the stops, so you can plan faster and travel smarter.
Do This, Not That
Friuli 🍷
Friuli is close to the Slovenian border and makes some of Italy’s most interesting white wines, often with fewer tourists.
Do this: Stay near Cormòns or Cividale del Friuli and visit a few family-run wineries where the owners still pour your glass. Combine tastings with vineyard walks and simple meals of local cheese and cured meats.
Not that: Don't assume all Italian wine comes from Tuscany or Piedmont, and ignore the northeast completely. If you enjoy subtle, structured whites, this is your playground.
Itinerary of the week
Three Days in Cagliari 🏖️
Day 1: Start in Castello, Cagliari’s hilltop old town, then head to the Bastione di Saint Remy for stunning views. Explore the Cathedral area for a glimpse of the city’s history. For a local vibe, join the early-evening passeggiata on Via Garibaldi and relax with an aperitivo paired with something salty and Sardinian.
Day 2: Spend a few hours at Poetto Beach for a relaxed, iconic Cagliari morning, keeping it simple with a swim and a long seaside walk. In the afternoon, go to the Molentargius area to spot flamingos and enjoy a slow sunset stroll, bringing water and visiting during golden hour.
Day 3: Start at the Roman Amphitheatre and nearby museums for a deeper look at the city’s layers, then stroll down to Marina for a leisurely lunch and harbor-side wandering. Make reservations in advance for a special dinner, and finish with gelato and people-watching in a small piazza as the city winds down.
What to expect: Cagliari combines historic hilltop streets with beach visits and nature, so your days can feel diverse without long travel. The pace is relaxed, but the Castello lanes have many slopes and stairs, so comfortable shoes are helpful. If you visit during warmer months, plan your heavier sightseeing earlier and save breezy waterfront time for late afternoon.
Italian Dish of the Week
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina (Campania)
What It Is: Gnocchi alla sorrentina is a traditional dish from the Sorrento region near Naples. Soft potato gnocchi are baked in a simple tomato sauce with basil, mozzarella, and a little Parmigiano until the top is lightly browned and the cheese underneath becomes stretchy and melty. It arrives at the table bubbling hot in a small terracotta dish.
Why You Should Try It: If you love comfort food, this is authentic Italian comfort at its best. The gnocchi are soft and fluffy, the tomato sauce is sweet and vibrant, and each forkful offers a delightful blend of sauce, basil, and melted cheese. It’s the kind of dish that feels homemade even in a restaurant, and it’s especially perfect after a long day of walking in the sun along the Amalfi Coast.
What Makes It Special: The beauty of gnocchi alla sorrentina lies in its balance: the gnocchi should be light, not heavy; the sauce should taste of real tomatoes, not sugar; the mozzarella should melt but still have a little stretch when you lift it. When a place makes its gnocchi by hand and uses good fior di latte from the region, you can truly taste the difference. It’s simple, but when you get all those parts right, it becomes something you remember.
Get involved
📊 Take this edition’s poll
This-or-that: if you could book one Italy base right now, which wins your weeklong trip?
Why it matters
Whether the celebrity rumors are true or not, Civita’s story highlights a larger truth: some of the most beautiful places are literally fading away. It reminds travelers that “quiet, authentic” destinations can be both a refuge and a responsibility, especially when erosion and limited access influence daily life.
Sometimes a detour is not just a trip; it is a small vote for what gets preserved.
Alla prossima,
Francesca Vitali
Editor-in-Chief
Italy Dream Life
PS: Love Italy as much as we do? Follow us on Instagram @ItalyDreamLife for daily inspiration, hidden spots, and real moments from il bel paese. Because Italy isn’t just a destination—it’s a lifestyle. 🇮🇹✨
How did this edition feel?
Rate this newsletter
