Italy

There is something about Italy that keeps pulling us back, year after year, camper keys in hand. Narrow lanes, roadside espresso, a Renaissance square appearing around every bend. Driving Italy from north to south is our idea of a perfect trip, so we have gathered all our city guides right here, each one written with the van parked just outside.

What to see in Italy, city by city

Start with the icons, they earn their reputation. Rome and Florence for the art and the history, Naples for the noise, the pizza and the raw energy of the south. Each guide tells you where to actually park a camper, what to skip and what is worth the detour. The classics never disappoint, and they are easier to reach by van than most people expect.

The north and the lakes, our favourite corner

If we had to keep just one region, this would be it. Sirmione on the shore of Lake Garda, Bergamo with its walled upper town, Milan for contrast, Turin quietly regal, Verona where we were caught out with a gelato in hand, and Treviso, a little Venice without the crowds. The Italian lakes by camper deserve a trip of their own.

Sleeping, parking and driving in Italy

The question we hear most is where to sleep. Italy is well covered with aree di sosta, the local camper stopovers, often superbly placed, and the agriturismo network is a gem for a quiet night among the vines. Wild camping stays a grey area, tolerated in some places and frowned upon in others, so we keep it discreet and favour official stops. Motorways are tolled and add up quickly with a van, and a little common sense in the bigger cities is all it takes.

Pick the city that catches your eye and the rest will follow. Italy is best enjoyed slowly, and a camper is still the finest way to do it.