Experience Italy With Friends

EP35 Cycling Through Italy

Cycling is deeply woven into Italian culture, from legendary races like the Giro d’Italia to the quiet countryside roads that wind through vineyards, olive groves, and historic villages.
After watching the iconic Strade Bianche race near Siena, Davide was inspired to explore how cycling became such an important part of life in Italy and why experiencing the country by bike can be so special.
In this episode, we talk about the history of cycling in Italy, the legendary riders and races, the incredible landscapes that make Italy a cyclist’s dream, and how travelers can incorporate biking into their own Italian adventures.
Whether it’s a leisurely e-bike ride through Tuscany or a multi-day cycling tour, exploring Italy on two wheels offers a unique way to see the country up close.
Resources:
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If you’re looking for expert advice or assistance in creating your own immersive and authentic experience in Italy, visit us at www.amicivacations.com or send us an email at info@amicivacations.com.
If you're interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast, contact us at info@amicivacations.com.
Published and produced by Avalanche Sound Productions.

EP34 Italy's Liquid Gold: Olive Oil

Today we’re diving into something found on every table, in every kitchen, and deeply woven into Italian culture.
Italy’s liquid gold: olive oil.
After touring a frantoio in the Chianti region and learning firsthand how olive oil is made, we discovered it’s far more complex, and far more similar to wine, than we ever imagined.
In this episode, we’re joined by Katy Lapini from Frantoio Pruneti to explore the culture of olive oil in Italy: how it’s grown, harvested, produced, tasted, and why it means so much more here than most people realize.
Resources:
Pruneti Italy | Pruneti U.S. | Get Inspired | Discover our Trip Planning Services | Follow: Instagram • Facebook
Use promo code: AMICIVACATIONS when ordering on Pruneti.
Join our FB Group “Experience Italy with Friends,” where you can ask questions and share experiences of your own!
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Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and please rate and leave a review to support our adventure!
If you’re looking for expert advice or assistance in creating your own immersive and authentic experience in Italy, visit us at www.amicivacations.com or send us an email at info@amicivacations.com.
If you're interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast, contact us at info@amicivacations.com.
Published and produced by Avalanche Sound Productions.

EP33 Venice City of Wonder

We’re kicking off Season 3 with a destination that almost everyone dreams about but one that also raises a lot of questions: Venice.
It’s a city built on water, filled with history, elegance, and mystery… and it’s also one of the most visited places in the world. So, is it worth it? And if you go, how do you experience the best of it?
We recently returned from a winter weekend in Venice during the early days of Carnevale, and it felt like the perfect time to share a fresh, real-life perspective.
In this episode, we talk about the magic of Venice, how to decide if it fits your itinerary, where to stay, what to see and do, and how to experience the city in a more meaningful and balanced way.
Resources:
Get Inspired | Discover our Trip Planning Services | Follow: Instagram • Facebook
Join our FB Group “Experience Italy with Friends,” where you can ask questions and share experiences of your own!
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Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and please rate and leave a review to support our adventure!
If you’re looking for expert advice or assistance in creating your own immersive and authentic experience in Italy, visit us at www.amicivacations.com or send us an email at info@amicivacations.com.
If you're interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast, contact us at info@amicivacations.com.
Published and produced by Avalanche Sound Productions.
 

EP32 Inside Italian Food Culture

Today, as our season finale, we’re talking about our favorite topic, FOOD! But not just what’s on the plate.
Italian cuisine is deeply tied to history, family, and daily life. It’s a way of connecting, expressing love, and passing traditions from one generation to the next. So much so that Italian cuisine was recently recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In this episode, we go inside Italian food culture: why it’s so different, why it tastes better, and why it matters so much here.
We’re joined by American chef Matthew Cook, who moved to Italy over a decade ago and now teaches Italian cuisine and wine in Florence, while hosting hands-on cooking experiences in Lucca. He shares a thoughtful, grounded perspective on what truly makes Italian food Italian.
If you love Italy, travel, and understanding a place through its food, this episode is for you.
Resources:
Chef Matthew Cook | Get Inspired | Discover our Trip Planning Services | Follow: Instagram • Facebook
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Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and please rate and leave a review to support our adventure!
If you’re looking for expert advice or assistance in creating your own immersive and authentic experience in Italy, visit us at www.amicivacations.com or send us an email at info@amicivacations.com.
If you're interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast, contact us at info@amicivacations.com.
Published and produced by Avalanche Sound Productions.
 

EP31 Italy's Olympic Spotlight

Today we’re diving into something exciting happening here in Italy — the 2026 Winter Olympics. And this is not your typical Olympics.
Milano and Cortina are sharing hosting duties. The events will take place across the Alps and the Dolomites, and the Olympic torch will travel through all 20 Italian regions.
It’s a huge moment for Italy!
Resources:
Olympic Torch Relay | Olympic Tickets | Get Inspired | Discover our Trip Planning Services | Follow: Instagram • Facebook
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Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and please rate and leave a review to support our adventure!
If you’re looking for expert advice or assistance in creating your own immersive and authentic experience in Italy, visit us at www.amicivacations.com or send us an email at info@amicivacations.com.
If you're interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast, contact us at info@amicivacations.com.
Published and produced by Avalanche Sound Productions.

EP30 Rediscovering Piemonte

Today, we’re excited to take you somewhere elegant, delicious, a little mysterious… a region that’s been part of our story since the very beginning of our relationship.
We’re calling this episode ‘Rediscovering Piemonte’ because even though our recent trip to Torino inspired it, our history with this region goes way back. And every time we return, we find something new to fall in love with.
From the grand boulevards of Torino to the foggy Barolo hills and the peaceful northern lakes, Piemonte is one of Italy’s most underrated gems and we’re excited to share why it deserves a spot on your itinerary.
Resources:
Get Inspired | Discover our Trip Planning Services | Follow: Instagram • Facebook
Join our FB Group “Experience Italy with Friends,” where you can ask questions and share experiences of your own!
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Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and please rate and leave a review to support our adventure!
If you’re looking for expert advice or assistance in creating your own immersive and authentic experience in Italy, visit us at www.amicivacations.com or send us an email at info@amicivacations.com.
If you're interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast, contact us at info@amicivacations.com.
Published and produced by Avalanche Sound Productions.

EP29 Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

Living abroad means constantly discovering things that make you pause, smile, and sometimes scratch your head — those little cultural quirks that make Italy so wonderfully different.
In this episode, we’re talking about ‘Things That Make You Go Hmmm’ — the funny, surprising, and occasionally confusing things Americans notice in Italy.
From bidets and emergency cords in showers to grocery etiquette, fashion rules, and everything in between, we’ll share what still catches us off guard, what we’ve learned to love, and a few that still make us go... really?!
Whether you’ve visited Italy before or are planning your first trip, this is a fun look at everyday life; the charming, the curious, and the “only in Italy” moments that make living here unforgettable.
Resources:
Get Inspired | Discover our Trip Planning Services | Follow: Instagram • Facebook
Join our FB Group “Experience Italy with Friends,” where you can ask questions and share experiences of your own!
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Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and please rate and leave a review to support our adventure!
If you’re looking for expert advice or assistance in creating your own immersive and authentic experience in Italy, visit us at www.amicivacations.com or send us an email at info@amicivacations.com.
If you're interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast, contact us at info@amicivacations.com.
Published and produced by Avalanche Sound Productions.

EP28 When in Rome...

Today, we’re heading to one of the most iconic cities in the world, Rome - The Eternal City.
It’s a must-see for most travelers to Italy, but it can also feel overwhelming if you don’t plan it right.
So, in this episode, we’ll help you think through some of the big questions: Should you go? Where should you base yourself? How long should you stay?
And we’ll talk about how to get beyond the crowds and clichés to experience the real city.
Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, Rome always has something new to discover.
Resources:
Get Inspired | Discover our Trip Planning Services | Follow: Instagram • Facebook
Join our FB Group “Experience Italy with Friends,” where you can ask questions and share experiences of your own!
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Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and please rate and leave a review to support our adventure!
If you’re looking for expert advice or assistance in creating your own immersive and authentic experience in Italy, visit us at www.amicivacations.com or send us an email at info@amicivacations.com.
If you're interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast, contact us at info@amicivacations.com.
Published and produced by Avalanche Sound Productions.

EP27 FALL(ing) for ITALY

Fall has officially arrived in Italy, and with it comes a whole new kind of magic. The crowds thin out, the air turns crisp, and the food… well, it somehow gets even better.
In today’s episode, we’re diving into the many, many reasons that autumn is such an incredible time to visit Italy, from the harvest festivals and cozy comfort foods to the golden landscapes and peaceful piazzas.
So, grab an espresso, or maybe a glass of vino. and join us as we celebrate la dolce vita in its most colorful season.
Resources:
Get Inspired | Discover our Trip Planning Services | Follow: Instagram • Facebook
Join our FB Group “Experience Italy with Friends,” where you can ask questions and share experiences of your own!
Subscribe, Review, and Partner:
Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and please rate and leave a review to support our adventure!
If you’re looking for expert advice or assistance in creating your own immersive and authentic experience in Italy, visit us at www.amicivacations.com or send us an email at info@amicivacations.com.
If you're interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast, contact us at info@amicivacations.com.
Published and produced by Avalanche Sound Productions.

EP26 Bar Time, Italian Style!

Today, we’re talking about something that’s at the heart of daily life here in Italy: the bar. And no, not the kind of bar you might be thinking of!
In Italy, the bar is where life happens. It’s where you start your day with a quick espresso or cappuccino, and where you wind down with friends over a spritz before dinner.
We’ll take you from the history of coffee in Venice to the invention of the aperitivo in Turin and Milan… and along the way, we’ll share how these rituals have become the heartbeat of daily life in Italy.
It’s one of the many little things in Italy that create la dolce vita!
Resources:
Get Inspired | Discover our Trip Planning Services | Follow: Instagram • Facebook
Join our FB Group “Experience Italy with Friends,” where you can ask questions and share experiences of your own!
Subscribe, Review, and Partner:
Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and please rate and leave a review to support our adventure!
If you’re looking for expert advice or assistance in creating your own immersive and authentic experience in Italy, visit us at www.amicivacations.com or send us an email at info@amicivacations.com.
If you're interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast, contact us at info@amicivacations.com.
Published and produced by Avalanche Sound Productions.