Italy from the Inside

“100 best things to do in Italy” by Jen Miller

Valley of the temples- Italy from the Inside

Valley of the temples near Agrigento, Sicily (photo by Francesca Tosolini)

As you know, Italy from the Inside’s main focus is providing practical information for travelers to Italy. This website, as well as our guide, helps readers understand how things work in Italy, how Italians deal with specific situations and what are the difficulties travelers may encounter once they are immersed in the every day Italian life. However, it’s also important for us to highlight other useful online resources that may complement the information on our site. Jen Miller’s article “100 best things to do in Italy” is a list of some of the best places Italy has to offer. We think it is a good inspiration for those who are planning a trip to Italy this year (or next year) since it provides some good information. So, read on and enjoy!

The truth about Italy’s highway rest stops

Autogrill- Italy from the Inside

Autogrill restaurant sign

Rest areas (aree di servizio) are open 24/7 and are available about every 60 km (40 miles). Most often they have a gas station and a snack bar (with or without restaurant) also known as Autogrill.

Autogrill restaurant- Italy from the Inside

Autogrill restaurant

Despite what you may think about “gas station food”, Autogrills offer excellent food either at the restaurant or at the snack bar. If you decide to get something at the bar, remember to pay first and then show the receipt to the bar attendant at the service counter.

The Autogrill restrooms are taken care of by an attendant and can be used free of charge. Sometimes attendants place a small plate on the counter to show that tips are appreciated. Keep in mind that they are not supposed to do it. A few years ago an attendant lost her job because of that. Nevertheless, some of them take the risk.

Autogrills have a small store which sells a handful of items for the car trip (food, music, drinks, drug-store necessities, etc.).

In these parking lots you may find fake car-park attendants whose goal is getting a little tip to watch your car. Thefts often happen in Autogrill parking lots, so giving them some spare change might actually turn out to be a good investment. However, if possible, always try to park your car in a spot that you can supervise from the restaurant.

{This is an excerpt from chapter 2 “ Driving in Italy” of the eBook “Italy from the Inside. A native Italian reveals the secrets of traveling in Italy”. Buy our eBook on Amazon and leave us a review! If it’s good, you’ll make us happy, if it’s bad, you’ll make us improve. Thank you either way!}

How Italians end their meals

Caffè corretto con grappa- Italy from the Inside

Caffè corretto con Grappa

At the end of the meals and after the dessert (and not with it), Italians drink coffee, either a caffè espresso (or simply caffè), or a caffè corretto, which is an espresso with a shot of liquor. Italians don’t use half and half in their coffee. Some Italians take the digestivo (digestive liquor) or amaro to help their stomach deal with such a large amount of food it has to work on. The digestivo (served in small, two-inch-tall glasses) is a bitter liquor made of herbs. In many restaurants, especially in northern Italy, people also drink grappa, which is a very strong liquor made from grape skins (see above).

{This is an excerpt from chapter 3 “ Italian cuisine and food establishments” of the eBook “Italy from the Inside. A native Italian reveals the secrets of traveling in Italy”. Buy our eBook on Amazon and leave us a review! If it’s good, you’ll make us happy, if it’s bad, you’ll make us improve. Thank you either way!}