When it comes to Italy, there are dozens of items you could throw into your bucket list, but we've drilled it down to bring you our top ten things to do in Italy in this life.
Ski in the Italian Alps
Climb to the top of St. Mark's Basilica
Visiting Venice as a whole is on many people's bucket lists, but once you're within the lagoon city, there is a plethora of other unforgettable experiences to be had.
There's no missing the impressive St. Mark's Basilica that dominates the picture-perfect St. Mark's Square. But rather than marvel at it from below, head inside and up the stairs to its museum for more than just its interior views and its history.
Once at the top, you can walk out onto the balcony among the famous four bronze horses and gaze out at Venice from an entirely new perspective. St. Mark's square and all its outdoor tables are laid out in front of you, to one side you see the Torre dell'Orolgio - a Renaissance clock tower - in much closer detail. To the other, you get a different glimpse of the Palazzo Ducale - a gothic palace - with the blue of the Grand Canal beyond.
READ ALSO: 16 surprising facts about Venice to mark 16 centuries of the lagoon city
You'll also pass the 'real' four horses, known as the 'Triumphal Quadriga', when you enter through the museum. Some scholars date the originals as far back as the 4th century, while the ones you see outside are copies to preserve the original works.
Hike the Cinque Terre
Photo by The Bored Apeventurer on Unsplash Without wanting to add to the over-tourism that can sometimes blight this wondrous corner of Italy, the Cinque Terre really are spectacular and something to see at least once in your life.
The path known as the Sentiero Azzurro (the blue path) has to be one of the most beautiful in the world - and it's one of the area's easiest too. Stretching 12km, the trail hugs the coast and connects the Cinque Terre (five lands) of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
As you make your way through the journey, you're gifted with steep, lush green hills on one side and that turquoise and emerald sea on the other. Multicoloured houses perched in the cliffs dazzle the senses and stun you into silent awe as you crest each hill into another town. There has been talk of charging to access the route in order to better control the amount of tourists and to preserve the area. Perhaps visiting in low-season is one way to sustainably visit this remarkable area.
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Once you do make it to one of those quaint towns on your hike (and try to count all the colours), a must-try is the local Ligurian pasta speciality of trofie al pesto.
(Don't) touch Juliette's boob for luck in Verona
Fair Verona, the stage of star-crossed lovers and the setting of William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'.
One of the city's standout attractions is the 14th century building that is claimed to be Juliette's house. Regardless of how true this is, the Gothic-style home attracts lovers and heartbroken souls from all over the world, who seek luck and love from Juliette.
Leaving notes on the walls for this member of the Capulet family has since been banned as the city officials attempt to keep the place clean and free of vandalism. But one custom they can't seem to prevent is the touching of Juliette's right breast for luck.
TRAVEL: Why Verona should be the next Italian city you visit
In the courtyard stands a bronze statue of the young protagonist, which is looking decidedly shiny thanks to millions of tourists having rubbed her boob while grinning for a photo.
Although there is a sign asking people not to do this, old habits die hard. One saving grace is that this is at least a replica - the original statue is inside the house and cordoned off from the public.
Go wine tasting in Valdobbiadene
Photo by Marika Sartori on Unsplash Wine tasting in Italy? Not groundbreaking, you may think. But where to go when there are so many vineyards and internationally renowned varieties is the tricky part.
Valdobbiadene is known as the home of prosecco. Beware sparkling wines peddling themselves under this name - it can only be called as such if it comes from the prosecco region - and the hills of Valdobbiadene to the north-east of Venice is where you'll find it (as well as nearby Conegliano).
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While the region spans over 500 towns in total, only 15 make the top quality version known as Prosecco Superiore DOCG. This is produced around Valdobbiadene and Conegliano, where complex geology is claimed to produce a more diverse, flavourful taste.
Eat pizza in Naples
Go diving off the island of Elba
Photo by Paul Cuad on Unsplash It's impossible to pick just one out of Italy's many stunning islands - island hopping through Italy is a bucket list entry in itself.
However, for an experience you'll treasure always, diving off the coast of Elba is right up there. The Mediterranean isn't generally known for world-class diving spots, but just off Elba island is a marine park reserve called Pianosa, which is home to an array of sealife thanks to its protected status.
Fishing boats can't enter this zone and the number of divers per day is restricted with marine park fees applied.
Splash into a zone of tranquility and excitement where the underwater visibility is generally good to excellent and in the right season, you might just spot a whole school of eagle rays elegantly gliding to you in the blue, giving you an awesome display of barrel rolls and play.
Cycle around Lake Garda and Parco Sigurtà
Photo by Elisabetta Falco on Unsplash Lake Garda does grab the headlines a lot when in reality, we admit there are many stunning lakes in Italy to visit that also maybe carry a lower price tag too.
Still, cycling around Lake Garda and its surrounding areas is an experience Italy lovers should do at least once. You can hire mountain bikes or electric bikes depending on where or how far you want to go.
One striking trail is the route that leads from Peschiera del Garda all the way to the quaint and enchanting little town of Valeggio Sul Mincio. Peace and quiet greet you amid vivacious green landscapes and a pale green river that runs through - and envelops - its buildings.
Relax your legs after the scenic cycle with lunch and a glass of wine on one of the restaurants' raised platforms while the water flows around you.
And while you're on your bike, pedal on over to Parco Sigurtà, definitely a green space large enough to be enjoyed on two wheels. Its flower-lined immaculate gardens and stunning water features make for a truly idyllic day out in nature.
Drink espresso at the counter
Lingering over a long coffee is not something Italians do. If you really want to live like the locals - even if it's just while you're visiting - order your coffee and drink it propped up at the bar.
Mornings in towns and cities are usually a vibrant affair with locals stopping by for a quick shot of espresso before work, which is then repeated after lunch when workers need a pick-me-up to push them through the afternoon's tasks.
READ ALSO: Where, when and how to drink coffee like an Italian
There are more than a few rules when it comes to drinking coffee in Italy. Milk coffees like a cappuccino or caffè latte, for example, are strictly breakfast drinks to go along with your cornetto or brioche pastry. Order one of these drinks after about 10 or 11am and you might get a very strange look, but you have more of a chance of getting away with it as a foreigner.
Stay in a trullo in Puglia
Photo by Kirsten Velghe on UnsplashAnd for a stay that's definitely going to stand out, spend a night or two in a trullo in the southern region of Puglia.
If chain hotels aren't your thing and you usually search for places with unique charm, look no further. These almost fairytale houses are traditional stone buildings characteristic of Puglia, characterised by their unusual conical limestone-tiled roof.
Wandering through the streets of these magical buildings alone is a moment to remember.
The Trulli of Alberobello are one of Puglia’s two UNESCO World Heritage sites and many have been converted into properties fit for tourists, some even furnished with pools to help you cool down from that southern sun.
How many of these have you ticked off from your Italian bucket list? Or which ones would you add? Let us know in the comments below!
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