5 Italian Cities To Fall In Love With This November

Fall in love with an Italian city this November. It’s hard to choose, but here’s a list of five of the best. Take your pick…

Rome – the ancient heart of Italy

Why Rome? Narrow streets of artisan shops. The waspish sound of Vespas. Art, fountains, architecture, archaeology – all of it breathtaking. For many reasons, November is the best time to come. To stand awestruck in front of Guido Reni’s gorgeous painting of St Michael in the church of Our Lady of the Conception.

Vatican City is a much better experience in the less crowded shoulder season. Walk  the ruins of temples to ancient gods knowing that you’re treading the same ground as Emperors once did. Without the intense heat or the hordes of visitors, you can truly appreciate the antiquity of this unique city.

There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in Rome. And this time of year, the locals have more time for you.

Venice – the bohemian heart of Italy

Awaken to gondoliers calling from the canal. In November, Venice, a city of marble palaces built in a lagoon, glows in the warm light.  Peaceful after the summer rush, bring a jacket or umbrella for the occasional rainy day.

Visit the gathering place of Venetians -- the Piazza San Marco. After a coffee and lunch, perhaps a dish of Sarde in Saor, wander over to the Palazzo Ducale, a museum and gallery in the Gothic style.

At this time of year, unhurried by crowds, you can really enjoy a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia. Every moment here gives you pause for reflection as art, opulence, faith, and style blend to create an unforgettable experience.

Bologna – the culinary heart of Italy

If you love food, choose Bologna. Capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, it’s full of historical surprises. Medieval and renaissance buildings, fountains, basilicas, and towers… many towers. Towers you can climb.

But that’s not all. If you go in early November, why not take part in the Trekking col Treno?  This wonderful hiking festival into the mountains around the city will work up an appetite for the delights of eating out in this culinary jewel.

But if that seems too much, unwind at one of the thermal spas on the Via Emilia. Many of them serve delicious local food and are surrounded by ornate botanical gardens. After dinner, a musical evening courtesy of the Bologna Jazz festival might be just the thing to round off your day in this delicious city.

Florence – the creative heart of Italy

Capital of Tuscany, and the old capital of the Kingdom of Italy in the late nineteenth century, this is where (according to many historians) the Renaissance was born. A fabulously wealthy area, ruled for centuries by the powerful Medici family, their legacy is everywhere.

A slow breakfast settles you into the Florentine mood. It’s the most important meal of the day here. Plenty of cafes dedicated to this meal offer coffee, mignons, fragrant croissants, or the irresistible “bomboloncini” pastries filled with Chantilly cream.

After that, stroll along the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest stone bridge in Europe. From there, saunter round the Palazzo Vecchio and the San Lorenzo market, a popular place for those who love Italian leather crafts.

Take a whole day to visit the Uffizi gallery. Relish the beauty of Botticelli’s birth of Venus, rooms of work by Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Titian... Then there’s the ornamental gardens and so much more. But before you go --  eat gelato. Ice cream was invented here by an alchemist working for the Medicis. You’ll need it after all that art…

Palermo – Italy with a North-African atmosphere

If you want to go somewhere upbeat this November, Palermo is your city of choice. The capital of Sicily, it’s often known as the Italian capital of culture. This is where Europe ends and Africa begins, and the influences of many cultures create an eclectic, vibrant atmosphere. Byzantine mosaics jostling baroque churches, next to Gothic palaces and cloisters lined with orange trees.

As if that wasn’t enough, the cuisine celebrates fresh, locally sourced ingredients, cooked with extraordinary Italian flair. Visit the spectacular Capella Palatina, a chapel glittering with gold and precious stones. On the way home, eat melt-in-the-mouth arancine, the creamy, baked or fried savory rice balls. Don’t forget to try cannoli – a pastry filled with sweet ricotta, decorated with cocoa, blood orange, or pistachio.

With temperatures of up to 20 degrees Celsius, pack layers and be prepared to go with the flow in this wonderous jumble of street markets, cafes, palaces, and the largest neo-classical opera house in Italy. And take a swimsuit. There are beaches nearby, and it’s warm enough to swim.