An Inebriate's Pointless Guide to Italy

Ok, ok, so we're not much of a travel reviewer but we thought we’d give you guys a few tips if you're heading to Italy. This is by no means an extensive list of places to go, far from it and in some cases you only get one bloody bar recommendation (once we were in the fierce grip of grappa, our notebook became obsolete)! But during our time over there we discovered a few things, learnt a few things and met some amazing individuals. And whilst we waltzed our way through Italy in an alcoholic haze of the Negroni, we thought we’d share a few tip bits from our travels with you. So, here goes…..

Milan

Well, what can we say? Beware of this place, it's lethal. We left feeling like we’d gone ten rounds with Mayweather! Its beauty is outstanding but boy, these lads know how to drink. If you do anything make sure you head down to the canals and snake your way into any one of the bars on the canal side, you’ll end up drinking with the locals and if you're lucky, they might even show you the real Milan (they definitely showed us, for sure)! Just make sure you don't drink so much that you wake up the next morning in a field 10 minutes from the city centre! Not only will you be highly confused but you'll also lose precious time trying to find your way back!

But if there are three things we recommend you do whilst you're in Milan then make sure you visit the Duomo, Castello Sforzesco and La Scala Theatre. Take a bike tour to binge on this city's sights and drift through the endless streets whilst popping a few wheelies, it's mega fun! Although this place has some fantastic architecture and Da Vinci historics, it really is a place for shopping. But you'll be made alcoholically happy when you head to the beautifully imposing and gothic Duomo and find the Campari Bar next door, which is a must if you're a Negroni lover. Stay around this area and grab a pizza in Pizza Spontini down on Via Gaspare Spontini, they'll cook you up some heavenly grub and make you leave feeling like you'll never eat a better pizza again! Also, down on Via Lecco is B:Free cocktail bar. These cool bunch will smoke you up some awesome cocktails and entertain you some, especially if you're a solo traveller. It's a must do!

Venice

This is one sleepy place at night but it’s obligatory that you visit

Harry's Bar. It may cost you more than your flight home for one drink, but it's an awesome place to soak up some history in just simply picturesque surroundings. Grab breakfast on Piazza San Marco whilst taking in the architecture of the stunning Basilica San Marco. But spend most of your time in Venice eating your way through the myriad of gelatorias, stuffing your face with enough Venetian pasta as you can physically manage, quaffing more sublime Negronis than the barman can produce and getting lost in the labyrinth of streets, bridges and winding alleyways. Venice’s beauty is overwhelming but take this tip from us, don't think it's a good idea to swim the canals and make sure you don't wake up in anyone's front garden, they won't be happy!

Florence

A bloody sight for sore eyes, this place. It’s beyond words. So much so we’re thinking of bloody moving there! If there is one bar we recommend from this medieval-esque town, then it's Gecko Bar & Grill. Cross the magnificent bridge and take a left onto Via dei Renai and cocktail

maestro Rami will knock you up something special in surroundings that include old ItaliaTrain racks and a 300 year old mahogany bar! This place is pretty special and owned by one cool English/Frenchman who runs this bar like a bloody pro! It's a must if you're in Florence.

The ever imposing beauty of the Duomo with knock you off your feet and you can gaze at its wonder with a Negroni in hand in any of the bars, cafes and restaurants that surround it. Make sure you head down to Piazza San Spirito, an awesomely lively square where you’ll find some cool bars including one called Volume. This spirited bar will deliver you some damn fine drinks and you'll end up meeting some fantastically quirky individuals who'll dance the night away with you till the sun comes up. Other places to check out include Rex Caffe on Via Fiesolana and Restaurant Il David on Piazza della Signoria, but you’ll have the most fun just meandering around these dreamy streets in the shadows of stunning buildings that will simply take your breath away.

Rome

Ah Rome. A city containing more beauty than the entire line up of Girls Aloud and more romance than a Parisian can shake a stick at. But in all honesty, we didn't actually make it to any bars! Instead, we befriended three hilariously crazy Germans who made our trip to Rome so amazingly memorable and we ended up doing what they do best; drink beer - and by the bucket load, these lads could bloody out drink Gazza! So with a plethora of beers to hand, we created our own street party and drank the night away in the cool shade of some of the world's most historic architecture, surrounded by awesome people.

We did, however, get whisked around the sights of Rome on a scooter by a cool Italian restauranteur who owns La Prosciuttia Trevi, down on Via della Panetteri. And boy, this place does some outstandingly tasty pork! Indulge yourself in their insanely delicious platter and sample the fantastic selection of wines they have to offer. The restaurant itself is pretty damn awesome and is nestled within the cobbled streets not far from the river and Vatican City. But the food that comes out of this place is simply something else! It really is a magical place.

So, to round of this shamefull attempt of travel writing, by far our favourite place we went was Florence but Rome gave us the most laughs, the most fun and the most memories thanks to our new German BFFs. Rom war sehrgut, ya! And if you're strapped for cash then the Italian's do an 'aperativo' bewteen 7pm-9pm everyday. Buy a drink and you can help yourself to the complimentary buffet on offer, so you don't have to worry about forking out loads for dinner! Nice one! Oh, and one final tip; if you're a redhead you'll go a long way in Italy!

#Italy #Florence #Milan #Negroni #Rome #Venice #Edits