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The Show Me Italy journal

A local’s eye.
Your kind of Italy.

The little details that make a great trip. Explore our guides to Italy’s cities, culture, food, and unforgettable experiences.

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From the journal
Travel notes8 min read

Is Italy Easy to Visit If You Only Speak English?

Do you need to speak Italian to travel in Italy? Find out how easy it is to enjoy tours, restaurants, and attractions in Rome and Italy with English.

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Ideas for your next adventure

More from the journal

12 stories · Page 1 of 1

Travel notes7 min read

Which Colosseum Ticket Gets You Where in 2026

Standard, Full Experience Arena or Underground? How Colosseum tickets work in 2026: release dates, time limits, what each ticket includes, and when a guided tour is the smarter buy.

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Travel notes7 min read

How to Get Into the Colosseum Underground in 2026

How to see the Colosseum underground in 2026: the Full Experience Underground and Arena ticket, when slots open, why they sell out in hours, and what the hypogeum tour actually includes.

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How to Visit the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's in One Day
Travel notes8 min read

How to Visit the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's in One Day

A first-timer's plan for the Vatican: how Vatican Museums tickets work, when the Sistine Chapel is quietest, why St. Peter's is a separate entrance, the dress code, and how to see it all in one day.

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Travel notes6 min read

Attending the Papal Audience on a Wednesday at the Vatican

How the Wednesday papal audience works: tickets are always free, how to request them, when to arrive, how long it lasts, and how to combine it with the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's the same day.

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Travel notes8 min read

The Catacombs of Rome and How to Choose the Right One to Visit

Which Rome catacombs to visit and how: opening hours and closed days for St. Callixtus, St. Sebastian, Domitilla and Priscilla, why every visit is guided, how to get to the Appian Way, and what you see underground.

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Travel notes7 min read

A 3-Day Rome Itinerary Built Around the Tickets That Sell Out

A realistic 3-day Rome itinerary built around the tickets that sell out: Colosseum and Forum on day one, Vatican on day two, catacombs, Trastevere and a food tour on day three, with hours, transport and booking windows.

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Travel notes7 min read

Rome to Pompeii by Train, Guided Tour or Private Driver

How to do Pompeii as a day trip from Rome: distance and travel time, the high-speed train plus Circumvesuviana route, how named tickets and time slots work, and when a guided tour with entry included is the better call.

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Travel notes6 min read

Herculaneum or Pompeii, and Why Not Both

Pompeii is bigger and busier, Herculaneum smaller and better preserved. How the two sites differ, 2026 hours and ticket rules for each, how long each takes, and how to see both in one day from Rome or Naples.

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Travel notes7 min read

Climbing Mount Vesuvius in 2026 with Crater Tickets, Hours and the Trail

Everything you need to climb Vesuvius in 2026: online-only crater tickets released 30 days ahead, the Gran Cono trail from the 1,000 m car park, monthly opening hours, how to get there from Naples and Pompeii, and how to combine it with the ruins.

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Travel notes7 min read

Getting from Rome to Positano and the Amalfi Coast Without a Train

There is no train to Positano. How to get from Rome to the Amalfi Coast in 2026 via Naples, Sorrento or Salerno, how long each route takes, when a private transfer pays off, and whether an Amalfi day trip from Rome is worth it.

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What to Do in Naples, Italy on a First Visit to the City and the Bay
Travel notes8 min read

What to Do in Naples, Italy on a First Visit to the City and the Bay

What to do in Naples in 2026: the historic center and Spaccanapoli, the underground city, the archaeological museum, pizza where it was invented, Castel Sant'Elmo, and the day trips to Pompeii, Vesuvius, the islands and the Amalfi Coast.

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