Italy Road Trip Food & Travel Guide

Italy is on everyone's travel list. But, most people go to Rome, Florence, and Venice before calling it a day.While those places are certainly worthy of your time, there's so much more to Italy than "The Big Three".

That's why I created the "Italy Roadtrip Foodie Travel Guide". I've put together eleven stops (with a coupleextra side trips) starting in Italy's foodie capital Bologna and going south along the Adriatic Sea to Abruzzo,Puglia, and the tip of Italy's heel, Lecce.

In each city and town I lay out the best dishes to try and where to get them. From the famous Ragù allaBolognese in Bologna to the humble Taralli crackers of Puglia, it's all here. Of course, there's plenty to drinkfrom the decadent coffee drink Caffè Speciale in Polignano a Mare to a dismissed but delicious sparklingwine from Emilia-Romagna. And don't forget the sweets! It seems every town and village has their own uniquetreat like the "Bear Bread" of Abruzzo or colorful Confetti.

There's plenty to see and do along the way. Beautiful Blue Flag beaches, Medieval churches decorated withfrescoes top to bottom, and statues by a teenage Michelangelo, plus lots more hidden gems!

This entire roadtrip could conceivably be completed in a week, but that would be a crazy busy journey thatwould surely leave you frazzled and frustrated. Don't feel obligated to do the whole thing, but if you do, I'drecommend setting aside at least three weeks, a month would be better.