Here’s Your Full Italy Itinerary Ala My Italy With Margarita
Exploring everything that Southern Italy has to offer—from tourist destinations to gastronomic finds
Chef Margarita Fores indeed made the most out of her Italy trip for My Italy with Margarita! From picturesque tourist destinations to the best eats of Southern Italy, it’s your full Italian experience airing on Metro Channel every Monday, 8PM, on Metro.Style YouTube, or streaming on demand via iWant.
If you want to retrace Chef Margarita’s steps in this gastronomic wonderland, here is her full itinerary for your next Italian adventure.
Tenuta
Regaliali
One of the five wine-producing estates of the Tasca d'Almerita family,
the Tenuta Regaliali is 400 hectares of vineyard with a high-tech winery, along with guided tours and wine tasting. The view is absolutely breathtaking and the wine, of course, draws in the crowds. Tours must be booked ahead.
Location: Contrada Regaleali, 90020 Sclafani Bagni PA
Anna Tasca
Cooking School
Established by renowned chef and cookbook author, Anna Tasca Lanza, the
Anna Tasca Cooking School is now a destination to learn
authentic Sicilian cooking, join food workshops, and spend a couple of days to
experience Sicilian cuisine.
Location: Contrada Regaleali, località Case Vecchie, 93010 Vallelunga Pratameno CL
Corona
Trattoria
Tunisian eggplant or melanzane is a special breed of eggplant that’s the
star of the caponata, Sicily’s most famous appetizer. Caponata has a variety of
recipes all over Sicily, but for the most traditional caponata, head to Corona
Trattoria. Apart from their caponata, try their pasta con le sarde (sardine
pasta), as well. Corona Trattoria is also one of the top tier seafood
restaurants in the city so you know you get the best ingredients.
Location: Guglielmo Marconi, 9, 90141 Palermo PA
Palermo
Street Markets
These ancient markets are an authentic passageway to the history and
flavors of Sicily. There are four streets that comprise the whole market:
Ballarò, Capo, Vucciria, and Borgo Vecchio. Go here for all your fresh produce,
meats, and spice needs.
Palermo also has a rich street food tradition. To try authentic Palermitano street food, check out some popular spots near the Ballarò, Capo, and Vucciria markets.
Location: Vicolo Del Carmelo, 90134, Palermo, Sicily
Eurostars
Centrale Palace Palermo
For lovers of history and culture, this hotel is a perfect choice since
it was once the noble 18th century Palazzo Tarallo, an aristocratic residence
that was restored and transformed into a hotel in 2003. Lavish frescos,
precious antique furniture, and artistic décor makes every stay a luxurious and
magical stay.
Location: Vittorio Emanuele 327, Palermo
Quattro Canti
Also known as Piazza Vigliena, this grand square is famous for its towering Baroque buildings and symmetrical fountains that rise to the height of the second floor. Above each fountain is a figure that symbolizes the four seasons, and above the four seasons are the four Spanish sovereigns Charles V, Philip II of Spain, Phillip III of Spain, and Phillip IV of Spain. Above them again are Palermo’s four holy patron saints Saint Agatha, Saint Ninfa, Saint Oliva, and Saint Cristina.
The plaza is also known to form “the heart of Palermo” since it is where the four ancient districts of Albergheria, Capo, Kalso and Vucciria all converged.
Location: Vittorio Emanuele, 80146 Palermo PA
Teatro Massimo
This opera house is the largest theater in Italy, inspired by
Greek temples and classic art.
Location: Piazza Verdi, 90138 Palermo PA
Chiesa di
Santa Caterina d'Alessandria
The Cassata Siciliana is dubbed the “Queen of Sicilian pastries” and is
the most iconic of Sicilian cakes. The recipe has Arab origins that dates back
to 300 years ago. One of the most traditional and authentic recipes of the
Cassata Siciliana is kept at Santa Caterina by the nuns in the monastery.
Location: Piazza Bellini, 2, 90133 Palermo PA
La Notizia
This pizzeria is the first in Naples
to be recommended by the Michelin guide and
is home to maestro pizzaiolo Enzo Coccia, Naples’ most celebrated pizzaiolo and teacher.
Here, he trains chefs from all over the world and offers the most authentic Pizza
Napoletana
Location: Michelangelo da Caravaggio, 53, 80126 Naples
Passalacqua Coffee
Passalacqua is a homegrown Napoli brand of coffee developed back in 1948 that’s famous all over the city. A lot of cafes around Naples carry this brand because it’s known for the quality of their beans and blend.
Location: Via Taverna Rossa, 131/133, 80020 Casavatore, Napoli
Gran Caffe Gambrinus
Gran Caffe Gambrinus is a historic coffeehouse in Central Naples and is one of the most important landmarks in the city. Their signature drink, Café Gambrinus, is a must-try.
Location: Chiaia, 1/2, 80132 Napoli NA
Ristorante Pizzeria Da Gaetano
Home to another master pizzaiolo, Gaetano Fazio, this pizzeria has built a reputation not only in Ischia, but in Japan, as well. The price of the pizza here is quite cheap, too, despite the excellent quality.
Location: delle Ginestre, 27-28, 80077, Ischia
Dani Maison
This gem is originally the house of resident Chef Nino di Costanza’s grandfather that he turned into a 2 Michelin-star restaurant. It aims to celebrate the produce of Campagna.
Location: Montetignuso, 4, 80077 Ischia NA
Panetteria
Petronella
Visit this bakery to experience authentic Italian breads such as the Pane
di Altamura, a PDO-status bread that’s naturally leavened and made with
re-milled durum wheat semola that comes from the Altamura area of the Provincia
di Bari. This is where Chef Margarita learned to make this special kind of
bread and focaccia pizza, straight from the town experts.
Location: Niccolò Piccinni, 83, 70022 Altamura BA
Caseificio
Dicecca
Home of what is called by many “the best burrata cheese,” Caseificio
Dicecca is home to the cheese brothers Vito, Paolo, and Angelo Dicecca, who
traveled the world to learn about their craft.
Location: Bari 26, 70022 Altamura
Sextantio
Le Grotte Della Civita
This hotel was once decaying, abandoned ancient caves in the village of
Matera, restored and transformed by Swedish-Italian entrepreneur Daniele
Kihlgren. It sits on a labyrinth of UNESCO-listed caves, meticulously carved
and designed rooms that preserved the existing architecture and the local
aesthetics.
Location: Civita, 28 Matera 75100
The Trulli
of Alberobello
The trulli are limestone dwellings made by drywall construction, a
prehistoric technique that has survived the years. These dwellings are iconic
for their conical roofs built up of corbelled limestone slabs. The trulli of
Alberobello is considered a world heritage site by UNESCO.
Location: Province of Bari, Puglia Region
Catch My Italy with Margarita every Monday, 8PM., on Metro Channel, channel 52 on Sky Cable and channel 174 on HD, or Metro.Style YouTube, or on demand via iWant.