This Is Italy
That was a downer for many, that a foreign May holiday (read: a Italiaanse May holiday) was not in it for a while. Because we would have loved to go to Italy again!
Fortunately, most people stick to the urgent advice not to make tourist trips abroad for the time being, which hopefully ensures that we will see some relaxation towards summer. The signs are good, Italy has indicated that it will be able to receive tourists again from mid-May, let's hope that it is also possible from the Netherlands and Belgium!
What can we, as good citizens, do to get ready for a spring with an Italian twist? In this blog article we would like to give you some ideas for an Italian-inspired spring.
Table of contents
Italian delicacies – finger licking good
Delicious food has softened a lot of small suffering during the corona period and nobody can stop you from spoiling yourself a little extra. Do it the Italian way and head to the market to pick out some fresh vegetables, nuts and cheeses.
Or visit a delicatessen and treat yourself to real Italian delicacies, such as olives, a fine bottle of balsamic vinegar or those crunchy Italian cookies. It may cost a bit, after all you save on a holiday, don't you?
Turn your garden into an Italian garden
Do you have green fingers? Then this May holiday is the time to turn your garden or balcony into an Italian paradise. It is unbelievable what you can do with some well-chosen greenery and a sleek layout or just a frivolous fountain. Not entirely coincidentally, we recently posted an article with a lot of garden inspiration.
The time for an Italian course
Have you always wanted to learn Italian? If you start now, you will already have a nice mouth on the road this summer. Did you know that we have been offering our own course at A1 level since the end of last year? With this Italian course for beginners from This is Italy you can personalize your course and learn in an interactive way based on your own interests. Try the free mini course if you want to see if it's for you.
Bring Italy home
Now that we're forced to stay at home, that doesn't mean you can't get some Italy into your home. There are several ways to do this, including listening to Italian music, ordering some nice posters for the wall or traveling virtually behind your computer. In this article we have no less than 18 tips listed for you.
The Italian kitchen
If you have a few days off during the May holiday, you can experiment a bit with Italian cuisine. Your roommates will thank you for it. If you want to know which cookbooks of Italian cuisine you really should have, we can give you these top 5 to recommend wholeheartedly.
Are you more into sweets? We also have a nice list of the best Italian cakes and how to make them.
Italian coffee
You don't have to put whole Italian meals on the table to get that real Italy feeling. A freshly brewed espresso from a real mocha pot and a spot in the sun on your balcony or in your garden works wonders. That is how we know from experience. Not sure which Italian coffee pot to buy? Check out these copies bestu for example.
Italian movies on your TV
In the unlikely event of bad weather in the Netherlands or Belgium, you can also enjoy Italian films via various streaming services. Good Italian films are being made all the time and many of them eventually appear on Netflix or one of its competitors. Even if you like more series we have some tips for you.
Discover Italy in your own country
Even if you stay in the Netherlands or Belgium, you can do something to make your stay a bit more Italian. Museums and restaurants are still closed for the time being (but the terraces can open again), but there is more Italy here than you think!
For example, dive into the oldest cities in the Netherlands, Nijmegen and Maastricht, to discover the remains of Roman civilization. Visit the Leaning Tower of Bedum in Friesland and the replica of St. Peter's in Oudenbosch.
And did you actually know that the border of the Roman Empire ran right through the current Netherlands? At the beginning of July this limit might become official World Heritage from UNESCO!
Italian ice cream, pizza and other delicacies
Eating out is not yet possible, but you don't have to pass up an Italian ice cream or a real Italian pizza. This spring, the ice cream parlors and pizzerias will be open for takeaway. Because yes, such an Italian snack is just as essential for us Italophiles!
Making new plans
Well, we realize that the best thing is to make new plans. Planning for your next trip to Italy. Do that too. On this website and all those other websites about Italy you will find tons of inspiration about regions, areas, cities and towns just waiting to be discovered.
For example, we recently had a unique Rome city guide with 99 places of interest in the Eternal City in 12 city itineraries put together for you, available for the price of just one cappuccino in Piazza Navona.
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