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On 27 April, National Geographic Traveller (UK) hosted Travel Geeks online: cities, culture and cuisine of Italy, an event sponsored by Citalia to help the audience discover lesser-known sides to the much-loved country. National Geographic Traveller鈥檚 commissioning editor, Connor McGovern, moderated a discussion with the magazine鈥檚 associate editor, Sarah Barrell, travel blogger Federica Rustico, chef Joe Hurd and Heather Green, of Citalia.

Here are seven of the event鈥檚 key takeaways:

1. First choose the destination, then dive into local food 
Italy is such a varied country that, no matter where you travel, you鈥檙e going to find regional cuisine, including traditional dishes that often have centuries-old heritage. 鈥淲hat I recommend is deciding where you want to go based on whether you prefer the seaside, the countryside or the mountains and then, based on what you choose, diving into the regional cuisine, rather than the other way around,鈥� said Federica.

听2. Discover the region of Umbria
A region that鈥檚 been living in the shadow of neighbouring Tuscany, Umbria is a great destination: think green expanses, hilltop towns and truffle dishes. If you鈥檙e heading there, Federica recommended discovering the听borghi听(small hamlets). 鈥淪tay in a town like Assisi, which is fantastic for the basilicas and cathedrals, and from there visit the nearby places like Montefalco, Spello or Spoleto,鈥� she said.

听3. Join a local festival
鈥淲hen I think of a festival in Italy, I think of food, spectacle, colour, people,鈥� said Joe. Throughout the year and during the summer months, in particular, you鈥檒l find local feasts everywhere you go 鈥� from saint days and听pali听(contests) to听sagre听(food festivals). 鈥淎nother thing you can do is go to a football match,鈥� he added. 鈥淚n Italy, a football game is a real festival, a little microcosm. There are stalls selling food, you can have a drink and get involved with the people.鈥�

4. Get in on the wine action
Federica recommended searching for cantine aperte, wineries that open their barns and invite visitors to get involved and pick grapes. 鈥淥therwise, you can contact the ones you鈥檙e interested in directly and they鈥檒l surely allow to you to help out,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you want to get involved later on, in October they often host dinners where you can meet the producers and understand the whole production process, which is really interesting.鈥�

5. Stay in a traditional accommodation鈥�
Stay in an agriturismo, a tenuta or a masseria听鈥� farmhouses and estates that are popular in regions including Tuscany and Puglia. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e usually family-run estates, and generally you鈥檒l get very involved with the families, you鈥檒l get to know them,鈥� said Heather. 鈥淭hey grow their own vegetables, their own olive oil and wine. To stay in one of these properties is always a very good starting point.鈥�

6. 鈥� or in an abandoned hilltop village
Alberghi diffusi is a hospitality concept that involves giving small, historic hamlets a new lease of life as scattered hotels, spread out across various buildings rather than centred around a main building. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e quite an interesting concept that saved some of these villages and hamlets, which would have otherwise been abandoned,鈥� said Sarah, 鈥渟o I鈥檓 a real fan of them.鈥�

7. Learn Italian 听
Doing some online classes to get a better understanding of the language is a good starting point, said Heather. 鈥淚f somebody wanted to progress with that, I鈥檇 suggest looking at two options,鈥� she continued. 鈥淔lorence, being the heart of the Italian language, would be a great place to go and study. Alternatively, go to some of the smaller cities, like Verona or Bologna, because you鈥檙e going to have greater opportunities to interact with the locals.鈥�

Watch the full discussion on the National Geographic Traveller (UK) .

Click to see a list of upcoming events.

If your destination or company is interested in partnering on a future online event, we鈥檇 love to discuss any ideas you might have, or help you come up with the best way we can work together. Contact [email protected] or call 020 7253 9909.