Italy
Destinations Travel
Italy
Italy is known for its rich history, cultural heritage and ironic landmarks. Renowned for its cuisine, art and scenic landscape, Italy remains a top destination for travellers with their pets. Dogs are not just allowed to the restaurants and shops, they are invited. Bowls are set outside almost every single restaurant or cafe and in the summer, it's very common that dogs are offered water before their humans.
Destinations Travel

Italy

With a rich history, and delicious food, the rolling landscapes that will take your breath away, your trip to Italy will be nothing short of unforgettable. All waiting to be discovered and explored. Italy holds many splendid tourist interests. In addition to its huge artistic and cultural heritage, the country preserves extraordinary nature reserves. Beautiful attractions, dream views and perfect locations for holidays, nature trails and outdoor activities. You never know maybe you will find your one euro castle in the middle of a forgotten village in Tuscany…

But what an adventure to start with. From Marseille via Monte Carlo to reach my first stop near Genoa, I drove over the course of 6 hours through numerous tunnels – it’s amazing and to be honest I have stopped counting after 20 tunnels but there is a lot of them! However more disappointing than the landscape is that you miss seeing it all on the way but the quiet, off the beaten track route would have taken me much longer. I spent a week in a small village of Acquasanta, a little thermal spot near Genoa and then drove another few hours to meet Matt in Florence. We had planned a pretty hectic weekend ahead celebrating his B-day. But were not prepared for the weather forecast! What a scorcher but also what a way to start the birthday weekend for Matt! We had a blast watching the start of 111th Tour de France in Florence, it was a real shame the second day from Rimini to Bologne would’t finish till late and we had a long drive ahead to get to our next destination.

Acquasanta

Be warned. As careful as you can be, nothing prepares you – the Italians are a crazy bunch once in a car! The roads are not suitable for large vehicles but myself and dogs have somehow made it to the top of the mountains with a roof box and bike racks. If you are spending few days here, you can visit Paper Museum – along the road that leads to the village you come across several factories, some of which are still in operation: almost all are or were paper mills. Terme di Acquasanta/Thermal Spa – popular with locals and visitors, is a stone’s throw from the city, nestled between ancient paper mills and the beautiful village church Acquasanta sanctuary. There you can bathe your body and spirit in sulphurous waters.

The Genova Acquasanta Station is located along the Genova-Acqui Terme railway, served by regional trains operated by Trenitalia within the Liguria Region. Do not expect trains on time, but it will directly take you to Genova Brignole station within 45 mins. The local 101 bus will take you directly to Genova Voltri station within 25 mins. You can explore this little seaside town – free parking and walk with the dogs along the pebble beach. Local supermarkets were my favourite. Pam or Lidl. The Acquasanta area is dominated by Punta Martin 1001 m high, and by the Baiarda rocks to the east, where there are many suitable spots for walking dogs and climbing.

Genoa

Nestled between the Ligurian mountains and the azure blue sea, not everyone knows that Genoa boasts the largest historic centre in Europe. You can easily get lost among its maze of alleyways, and get quite the workout with the hills. Then there are the monumental streets built by noble families of times gone by and the bustling long promenade. Genoa sits in a prime location which encompasses the waterfront, centre and port. This city has always been a place of exchange, gatherings, trade and invention, and it is among the most musical Italian cities in terms of the number of musicians and singer-songwriters born and bred there.

Adventure Through the Historic City Center

The iconic Genoa lighthouse Lanterna is the tallest lighthouse in the Mediterranean and the second tallest in Europe, built back in 1128 but the current structure dates back to the 16th century. The lighthouse is a symbol of the city – Standing tall on a 40-meter-high rock in the harbor area of Genoa. The lighthouse is still fully operational and illuminates the sea acting as a light beacon to mark the harbor every 20 seconds. Tourists can visit it by climbing its 172 steps to first viewing platform but reaching the top of the lighthouse, you’ll have to tackle 365 steps for you to admire the full view of the harbor and the old city. Open every day except Mondays from 10am – 6pm – visits suspended if there is bad weather alert or thunderstorms forecast.

Palazzo Reale (The Royal Palace Museum) is one of the most important historical buildings in Genova, another marvel under UNESCO World Heritage Site. the noble celebration of Baroque art in all its magnificence, this architectural complex in the Baroque style, it is home to a huge collection of paintings, frescoes, stucco-work, sculptures and royal furnishings. The many rooms and their decorations in the Palace are all different and a truly high celebration of art and magnificence. The Gallery of Mirrors, is the most representative symbol today of this site where painting, sculpture and architecture come together to give life to a unique and timeless space. In addition to the royal halls, the Palace also includes the Apartment of the Hereditary Princes, the Falcone Theatre today dedicated to temporary exhibitions and the Hanging Garden with its extraordinary paving. If you visit the Royal Palace Museum, don’t miss the National Galleries of Palazzo Spinola, now a UNESCO world heritage site. Via Garibaldi is lined with grand palaces that feel like castles. Cattedrale di San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence Cathedral) – Genoa’s main cathedral has a black-and-white striped facade and a mysterious story. Legend has it that it once housed a bomb that didn’t explode.

  • Genoa has small buses that go up steep streets to hillside neighborhoods. The funicular and elevators are fun and give great views!
  • Genoa is famous for its focaccia! Look for the focaccia col formaggio (with cheese) and focaccia al pesto.
  • Guilty pleasure? Gelato! You can finish each day with a different flavour—there are many gelaterias around the city center and Old Port. Just be aware most of them close before 7pm.

Florence/Firenze

Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. Florence is extremely dog-friendly, especially after a law was passed in 2008 allowing dogs to enter many public places (restaurants/art galleries etc).

A must dos in Florence

The Duomo is a landmark with which everyone associates Florence. The massive Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is a must! This beautiful cathedral is a terracotta-tiled dome designed by Brunelleschi. The bell tower is about 85 meters and offers one of the best panoramic views over Florence, the Duomo, and the surrounding Tuscan landscape. The Galleria dell’ Accademia has on display one of the most popular exhibits in the world – Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture; Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation”. It’s a great open-air museum for anyone who loves history and culture. Imagine standing beneath the red-tiled dome, looking way up at its famous green, white, and pink marble façade. While you are not allowed to visit with a dog, the Piazza itself is fun to explore, with lots of open space, ice cream shops, and places to sit. The Uffizi is often sold out for a long time. To save yourself the heartbreak, buy tickets ahead of your stay in Florence.

You’d probably love the Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge with shops built right into it! This bridge is like stepping into a storybook, with old, colorful buildings that hang over the river. You and your dog could walk across it and see the beautiful view of the Arno River below, and maybe even spot a couple of boaters paddling by. The bridge is best known for its shops, which are located on the bridge. Blacksmiths, tanners and butchers used to live here, but nowadays you will mainly encounter jewelers here. In the middle of the bridge you will find a bust of Cellini, who became famous as a metal smith. Around the statue you will find a fence, where couples in love hang a padlock to eternalise their love.

After the Ponte Vecchio bridge, visit Boboli Gardens. These gardens are so big, with secret pathways, fountains, and sculptures hidden around every corner. Imagine playing hide-and-seek among the statues or just running with your dog along the grassy lawns. The gardens also have beautiful views over Florence, so find yourself a nice spot to relax and look out over the city.

As the sun starts to set, you’d climb up to Piazzale Michelangelo. From up there, you can see all of Florence spread out below—red rooftops, church towers, and the Duomo’s huge dome. It’s one of the best views in the whole city! You could sit with your dog as the sky turns pink and orange and take a few pictures to remember the trip.

Forte Belvedere, the second and largest fortress was built to protect the city from attack. The fort never suffered a siege and not a single shot was ever fired from its ramparts. In the decades after World War II, restoration and maintenance works alternated with periods of neglect. It is open during the summer months ( June to October), until late September at the moment, from 10am – 8pm.

For a perfect view of the city, visit Piazzale Michelangelo. Located on a hill, you have a 360 degree view of the Tuscan capital and the surrounding area. At the Piazzale you will also find a copy of Michelangelo’s David and other replicas of the renowned sculptor.

Enjoy a relaxing holiday, discover some of the most incredible history in the world, and taste delicious food and wine for which Italy is famous worldwide. We are definitely coming back for some more pizza or Firenze steak and of course Gelato!