Lonely Planet Travel Guide reveals 'Treasured Secret' for 2025
An Italian city has been described as a 'treasured secret' and one of the world's best cities to visit in 2025 by the Lonely Planet Travel Guide.
Genoa, on the Northwest coast, is described as one of Italy's best 'hidden gems' with a beautiful coastline and an old medieval town centre, boasting wonderful restaurants and bars, and 'hidden within its depths, tourists will discover a labyrinth of 'caruggi' (alleyways) packed with historic monuments'.
Genoa is a port city but is much less hectic with far fewer tourists than the likes of Venice and Rome. Old town of Genoa. Genoa, Liguria, Italy,
The Lonely Planet goes on to say 'With a new high-speed-train connection in the works, now is the time to seek out this stately city with superlative culinary shops, a stunning seaside and a well-earned reputation as one of Italy's most historically and culturally vibrant cities.'
Cathedral San Lorenzo which was built in 1098, is said to hold the ashes of Genoa's patron saint, St John the Baptist.
The city's laneways and streets are also packed with independent shops, some of which date as far back as the 1600s. In fact, Italy's oldest sweet shop, 'Romanengo', has stood in the city since 1780 and some of their colourful candies are still made by hand in the shop. Skyline of Genoa, Italy, on a sunny spring day.
If it's the seaside you crave, you don't have to go too far, because 'Boccadasse' is easily accessed by local bus, and is said to be one of Genoa's prettiest places, with a gorgeous pebble beach and the best 'gelato' for miles around.
When it comes to eating, Genoa is the home of 'Pesto' a very flavourful sauce traditionally served on pasta or local breads and the city's indoor food court, the Mercato Orientale is said to be 'THE PLACE' to go to sample local foods.
If you enjoy the warm weather, then July and August will suit you fine in Genoa. Temperatures can reach as high as 28 to 30 degrees, but unlike southern cities like Naples, the city doesn't usually suffer from severe heat waves in the peak summer months.
If you'd like to travel around a bit, there are good rail connections into France, and you can get to Nice in around three hours, while the leaning tower of Pisa and the fashion capital of Italy, Milan, are less than two hours away by rail.
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Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Extra.ie
Lonely Planet Travel Guide reveals 'Treasured Secret' for 2025
An Italian city has been described as a 'treasured secret' and one of the world's best cities to visit in 2025 by the Lonely Planet Travel Guide. Genoa, on the Northwest coast, is described as one of Italy's best 'hidden gems' with a beautiful coastline and an old medieval town centre, boasting wonderful restaurants and bars, and 'hidden within its depths, tourists will discover a labyrinth of 'caruggi' (alleyways) packed with historic monuments'. Genoa is a port city but is much less hectic with far fewer tourists than the likes of Venice and Rome. Old town of Genoa. Genoa, Liguria, Italy, The Lonely Planet goes on to say 'With a new high-speed-train connection in the works, now is the time to seek out this stately city with superlative culinary shops, a stunning seaside and a well-earned reputation as one of Italy's most historically and culturally vibrant cities.' Cathedral San Lorenzo which was built in 1098, is said to hold the ashes of Genoa's patron saint, St John the Baptist. The city's laneways and streets are also packed with independent shops, some of which date as far back as the 1600s. In fact, Italy's oldest sweet shop, 'Romanengo', has stood in the city since 1780 and some of their colourful candies are still made by hand in the shop. Skyline of Genoa, Italy, on a sunny spring day. If it's the seaside you crave, you don't have to go too far, because 'Boccadasse' is easily accessed by local bus, and is said to be one of Genoa's prettiest places, with a gorgeous pebble beach and the best 'gelato' for miles around. When it comes to eating, Genoa is the home of 'Pesto' a very flavourful sauce traditionally served on pasta or local breads and the city's indoor food court, the Mercato Orientale is said to be 'THE PLACE' to go to sample local foods. If you enjoy the warm weather, then July and August will suit you fine in Genoa. Temperatures can reach as high as 28 to 30 degrees, but unlike southern cities like Naples, the city doesn't usually suffer from severe heat waves in the peak summer months. If you'd like to travel around a bit, there are good rail connections into France, and you can get to Nice in around three hours, while the leaning tower of Pisa and the fashion capital of Italy, Milan, are less than two hours away by rail.
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Tourist posing for a photo trips and tears 17th-century painting in Uffizi
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I explored the tiny European country with underground cities and little-known islands
REACHING for my umpteenth honey and date fritter, I joked that I would have to use the hotel gym after our incredible meal. But my host clutched her pearls and gasped: 'No, no. You have to forget about the gym in Malta, my love.' 4 The colourful, quaint cafes in Valetta's old town in Malta Credit: Getty 4 The Azure Window on the Maltese island of Gozo Credit: Getty Malta derives its name from the Greek word meaning 'place of honey' — fitting, for somewhere I was quickly realising might be Europe's most underrated culinary utopia. And with underground cities, little-known islands and mysterious temples, I would soon discover this wasn't the only surprise Malta had in store. As the sun set over Ta' Cicivetta farm, we were prepared a feast of traditional dishes, all using ingredients sourced from the garden we stood in. This tiny Read More on Travel In one dinner, we could taste the different cultures that have called Malta home over the centuries — Italian in the ricotta parcels and focaccia, Arabian in the date-based sweets and bigilla (a hummus-like dip made from beans), Spanish in the bread rubbed with tomato and drizzled in olive oil. Equally intriguing, however, was how easy it is to come across a full English on this faraway archipelago. The British stopped ruling Malta in 1964, but they left behind a love for this breakfast along with other cultural footprints such as UK plugs, driving on the left and speaking English (an official language here alongside Maltese). I got used to the unexpected sight of red telephone boxes on the streets of cities like Mdina, an ancient fortress which otherwise looked like something out of Game Of Thrones. Most read in City breaks Mdina's winding lanes and picturesque plazas were actually used as King's Landing in the HBO series, and our guide, Audrey, would occasionally hold up a scene on her phone to prove it. But Malta has seen real battles that make Starks vs Lannisters look like a tea party. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival The country was heavily bombed during the Second World War, forcing people to seek refuge in tunnels under the capital, We had already been given an introduction to Malta's fascinating past at Odyssey — an immersive history experience complete with special effects and rides — now, prepped with head-torches and hard hats, we explored this amazing subterranean network on a tour with Heritage Malta. Visitors walking Valletta's grand streets and enjoying €4 Aperol spritzes in its squares seemed to have no idea what lay beneath their feet — understandable, as the city's ground-level attractions are impressive enough. These include the 16th-century cathedral (home to one of Caravaggio's most famous paintings, The Beheading of St John the Baptist), the Upper Barrakka Gardens with sweeping views over the harbour, and the stunning Grandmaster's Palace, all within walking distance of each other. In fact, pretty much all distances on this island are extremely manageable, especially from where we stayed in St. Julian's. It's a great base for exploring Malta by car, and a stay at the Hyatt Regency there makes coming back after a day of activities almost as appealing as heading out. 4 Tuck into a feast of traditional dishes at the Hyatt Credit: Hyatt 4 The Sun's Nuria Cremer-Vazquez loved the island Credit: Nuria The luxury hotel has pristine sea-view rooms with balconies, as well as a heated rooftop pool, spa facilities and a gym (for anyone who does wish to burn off those honey and date fritters). Its rooms are also triple-glazed so, despite St. Julian's being Malta's nightlife capital, we didn't have to worry about our five-star sleep being disturbed by revellers. Awe-inspiring A short drive from the hotel is the port of Cirkewwa, the jumping-off point for visiting Malta's sister islands, Gozo and Comino, and we were lucky enough to have Audrey — a proud Gozitan — showing us around her home isle. Gozo is an unassuming patch of land with a smaller population than Dover, yet it is home to the awe-inspiring Ggantija temples — megalithic structures that are older than the pyramids. Its vibrant capital, Victoria, is another must-visit, and on a clear day you can even see There is plenty to do beyond sightseeing. At Il-Wileg restaurant, you can try your hand at making the authentic Gozitan cheese, which is served all over Malta, under the watchful eye of a local chef — or you can take an idyllic tuk-tuk ride around the island. We rounded off our day trip with a memorable dinner at L-Istorja, set inside the lavish Kempinski Hotel. It serves the rich tapestry of Maltese cuisine with a gourmet twist but without the fine-dining cost — so you might as well order the gold-leaf-coated gnocchi and knock back a few Gozitan wines. Gozo has much of what makes Malta so special — stunning citadels, mind-blowing food, budget-friendly prices, and glittering turquoise sea — though it has noticeably fewer tourists, giving it a more relaxed, off-the-beaten-track feel. The ferry takes 25 minutes and costs less than €5, and you only pay on the return journey. Technically, if you chose to stay, the journey would be free — and you could certainly be forgiven for never wanting to leave. GO: MALTA & GOZO GETTING THERE: easyJet has a new flight route from Southend to Malta and prices start at £27 one way. See STAYING THERE: King bedrooms at the 5H Hyatt Regency Malta cost £180 per night. See OUT AND ABOUT: Heritage Malta offers tours of Underground Valletta from £13 for adults and £8 for kids. See Ta' Cicivetta farm is available for visits. See @ta_cicivetta_farm. Odyssey tour from £21 for adults and £11 for children. See Il-Wileg restaurant offers traditional cooking experiences. See L-Istorja is an upscale restaurant celebrating the cuisine of Malta and Gozo. See
