We have some incredible news, folks: Italy, yes the motherland of pizza, pasta, and all things espresso, is back in business. Vaccinated residents of the E.U., the U.S., Canada, the Schengen area, Japan, and Israel provided they fill in the necessary documents (which truly doesn’t seem like that big of a deal). Yeah, that’s right. No quarantines, no tests, just fascinating ancient ruins, breathtaking canal cities, and the cool European breeze. What more could a person ask for without sounding too greedy?

Trento

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Алексей Облов / Moment

Every hour, a train departs from the Northern city of Verona northwards, where it travels one hour deep into the mountainous landscape of Northern Italy. The destination is Trento, a hidden gem of the Trentino-Alto region. It is a fascinating town filled to the brim with history. There are plenty of museums, mountain hikes, and skiing opportunities to seize. Some even say that the Trento is home to the best pizza in the whole of Italy, if not the world.

Dolomites

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The Italian Dolomites are one of the most breathtaking mountain locations in the entire world. The sharp, rocky peaks fuse seamlessly with the lush green hills, and this beautiful scenery is dotted with serene emerald lakes and picturesque pastoral towns. Breathtaking hikes, incredible food, what else do you really need?

locorotondo

Gettyimages / Francesco Vaninetti Photo / Moment

One of Italy’s most safely guarded secrets, Locorotondo has become a local fan-favorite due to its, well, quality. They say that in Locorotondo the gelato is sweeter, the coffee more potent. It is a heavenly, white-washed town dotted with pink and purple flowers. A true hidden gem at one of the most southern points of Italy’s mainland. We cannot recommend this town enough.