Italy Travel Guides — Rome, Venice, Verona & Turin | Two for the Row'd
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Italy —Rome, Venice, Verona, Turin & the stories between

Italy is too big, too varied and far too good to squeeze into one generic guide. So we're building it city by city: the monumental scale of Rome, Venice on the water, Verona's old-world romance, a winter weekend in Turin — and Vatican City sitting inside Rome as a destination all of its own.

🏛️ Rome 🛶 Venice ❤️ Verona ☕ Turin 🇻🇦 Vatican City
4 city guidesRome, Venice, Verona & Turin
Vatican Citya separate country inside Rome
December 2023our Turin winter weekend
2005 memoryPope John Paul II's final Easter
Explore Italy

Start with a city

We've split Italy into proper destination guides rather than cramming everything onto one page. Pick the city you're planning and go straight into the detail.

A trip that surprised us

Turin — we went for the markets and stayed for the city

Italy's seriously underrated winter city break

“We went for the Christmas markets and stayed for the city.”

Our December 2023 weekend in Turin wasn't quite the Christmas-market trip we'd imagined — because the city itself stole the show. Piazza Castello, Palazzo Madama, miles of elegant arcades, brilliant shopping, Irish coffees and some of the best gluten-free pizza we've ever eaten.

🏨 Where we stayedLe Petit Hotel — we'd stay again.
🍕 Food highlightOutstanding gluten-free pizza.
🏛️ Start herePiazza Castello & Palazzo Madama.
✈️ Final viewSnow-covered Alps from the flight home.

Hotel link is an affiliate link. We stayed at Le Petit Hotel ourselves and recommend it based on our own stay.

Inside Rome — but a country of its own

Vatican City — art, history and one unforgettable Easter

Pope John Paul II's final Easter, 2005

“One of those moments you never forget.”

We've visited Vatican City more than once, but one visit stands apart. In 2005 we were in St Peter's Square for what became Pope John Paul II's final Easter. The scale of the crowd, the atmosphere and the sense of history made it a travel memory that has never left us.

Our Vatican guide also covers St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Gallery of Maps — plus practical planning for a Rome trip.

Our own photographs

Italy through our lens

A few frames from Turin and Vatican City already in the archive. As the city guides grow, this page can grow with them.

Palazzo Madama in Turin — Two for the Row'd Nicola with gluten-free pizza in Turin — Two for the Row'd The Alps from the flight home from Turin — Two for the Row'd St Peter's Square colonnade in Vatican City — Two for the Row'd Gallery of Maps ceiling in the Vatican Museums — Two for the Row'd
Tours, stays & experiences

Plan the next Italy trip

For a multi-city itinerary, an organised tour can take a lot of the transport and logistics out of the equation. For individual cities, use our city guides to choose what to book.

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TourRadar — Italy tours

Our current Italy tour pick covers more of the country if you want somebody else handling the route and logistics.

View the Italy tour →
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GetYourGuide

Use the individual Rome, Venice, Verona, Turin and Vatican guides for city-specific tours and activities.

Start with the Rome guide →
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Klook

For hotels and experiences, our Turin guide includes the hotel we actually stayed in, while our Klook page carries the latest live promo codes.

See current Klook codes →

Disclosure: TourRadar and Klook links may be affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Common questions

Italy guide FAQ

Which Italy guides are live?
The Italy hub currently links to Rome, Venice, Verona and Turin. Vatican City also has its own full guide because it is an independent state within Rome.
Is Turin worth visiting in winter?
Yes. We went in December 2023 expecting the Christmas markets to be the big draw, but the city itself was the highlight — grand piazzas, arcaded streets, excellent food and a brilliant winter atmosphere.
How did you find gluten-free food in Turin?
Extremely well. We found outstanding gluten-free pizza and had no difficulty finding options. For anyone with coeliac disease, we'd still recommend checking preparation and cross-contamination with each restaurant before ordering.
Is Vatican City part of a Rome trip?
Absolutely — geographically it sits inside Rome, but Vatican City is a separate independent state and warrants proper time of its own. Our dedicated Vatican guide covers the practicalities and our personal visits.
Can I explore Vatican City before I travel?
Yes. We've linked Drive From Home's Vatican City virtual experience and written guide above so you can have a look around before your real trip.

Which Italy are you in the mood for?

Ancient Rome, Venice on the water, romantic Verona or Turin with a coffee and a plate of very good food — pick a city and start planning.