2 days ago
7 classic Italian journeys, from Vespa rides to vintage trams
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
Italy hasn't stopped moving since the Romans began building their extensive road network, and the country has a penchant for speed and drama — despite its reputation for a slow, savoured approach to life. Whether you choose to board a plucky Vespa or a zippy vaporino, ride a poker-red Ferrari or a sky-scraping cableway, this way of exploring brings a fresh perspective and up-close interaction with some masterful examples of Italian craftsmanship. Lake Como by vaporina
Dark varnished wood, buffed to a bar-top lustre; curvaceous metallic detailing, glinting under sunlight; cushy leather banquettes, for kicking back with an icy glass — Lake Como's vintage vaporinas are part-artwork, part-motorboat. The sightseeing mode of choice since the late 1800s, these vessels ferry visitors between opulent hotels, waterside towns and tucked-away villas in high style. Operators like Como Classic Boats offer driver-guides who'll zoom you across the peak-ringed expanse of blue, pointing out landmarks such as palatial Villa del Balbianello, featured in the James Bond film Casino Royale. One-hour tour from €370 (£314). Tuscany by Vespa
Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck's 1953 film Roman Holiday made the Italian scooter world famous, and the vehicle retains plenty of star power today. Its 1940s-era design has barely changed over the decades, and the region that manufactures them has a similarly timeless appeal. Get behind the handlebars on a day-long guided trip with Tuscany Vespa Tours. Its 20-mile route zooms past Chianti vineyards and cypress trees, and it includes a stop for lunch and an olive oil tasting. From €95 (£82) per person. Whether you choose to board a plucky Vespa or a sky-scraping cableway, get an up-close interaction with some masterful examples of Italian craftsmanship. Photograph by Lee Frost, AWL Images Turin by vintage tram
Board Turin's number seven tram line and you might think you've entered a time machine. Its beautifully preserved cars — built variously between 1910 and the 1950s — take passengers past handsome baroque buildings, the gleaming windows of 19th-century Porta Nuova station and the Renaissance-era Duomo. Settle in for the full loop, around an hour, or hop on and off for gallery visits and pit stops at art nouveau cafes — its circular route is perfect for laid-back sightseeing and a bargain, too, priced the same as a standard Turin transport ticket. Tickets from €1.90 (£1.60). Matera by luxury train
In April, Orient Express launched its La Dolce Vita service, putting Italy at the forefront of a new age in luxury rail travel. Effectively a high-end boutique hotel on tracks, its seven passenger carriages are replete with nods to mid-century Italian design, from polished metallics to exquisite fabrics in juicy hues. Kick back in the dining car — order a negroni or a dish from a menu designed by lauded chef Heinz Beck — while watching the scenery slip by on the way to the mountaintop, UNESCO-listed city of Matera, home to ancient cave dwellings cut from tufa stone. Two-night Rome-Matera trip from €5,780 (£4,990) per person. Emilia-Romagna by Ferrari
This region is famously the home of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Parma ham and balsamic vinegar — unless you're a petrolhead, in which case you'll know it as the birthplace of the Ferrari. Supercar fans flock to the city of Maranello to visit the official Ferrari Museum (€27/£23), while 12 miles north is the Autodromo di Modena (two laps from €704/£607) circuit, where you can get behind the wheel yourself. Even better is the chance to test drive a Ferrari in the Modena Apennines, feeling the guttural roar of the engine as you tackle hair-raising hairpins and pass forested hamlets in a blur. 10km (just over six miles) test drive from €190 (£163). Capri by yacht
Beloved by a 1960s jet set that included Grace Kelly and Sophia Loren, the sunny island of Capri — off the southerly Amalfi and Sorrento Coasts — has long been a byword for glamour. Its rugged coastline and hidden caves, framed by glittering waters in variegated blues and greens, are best explored by yacht — but you needn't be in possession of an A-list budget. Capri Island Tour has slickly styled traditional gozzo boats, available for private hire by the hour or day. Two-hour private tour from €190 (£163). Aosta Valley by cable car
Floating above the plunging valleys, Alpine meadows and ashen peaks of the Aosta Valley, Skyway Monte Bianco sets out from Courmayeur to ferry visitors to Italy's highest accessible point — Punta Helbronner, an eye-watering 11,370ft above sea level — and views to the snow-capped summit of Mont Blanc, just over the French border. On your way back, stop at the halfway Pavilion station to visit boundary-pushing Cave Mont Blanc, home to some of Europe's highest vineyards and an experimental high-altitude winery. Round trip Courmayeur-Punta Helbronner from €58 (£50). Published in the September 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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