Cologne, Germany: What to See, Eat and Drink (And Why It's Worth More Than a Day)

Cologne, Germany: What to See, Eat and Drink (And Why It's Worth More Than a Day)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/fan_mail/new] We have been to Cologne twice now and somehow the cathedral still surprises us every time. In this episode we cover everything you need to know about one of Germany's most underrated cities: the Kölner Dom and the remarkable story of how it survived World War II, the Kölsch beer culture that only exists here and the very specific way you have to order it, Old Town, the Rhine Promenade, the chocolate museum on its own little island and the ancient city gate with three-euro spritzes outside it. We also get into the origin of cologne the fragrance (an Italian perfumer in the 1700s, not what you would expect) and the Carnival season that officially begins every year at exactly 11:11 AM on November 11. Plus a quick detour to Phantasialand, the amusement park twenty minutes away that Dylan insists is the best in Europe. He is not wrong. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/support]

Matera, Italy: Cave Hotels, Killer Pasta and 9,000 Years of History

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we go to one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth and one of our favorite spots in all of Italy. Matera is built into limestone caves that people have lived in for at least 9,000 years, it's been called the second Jerusalem and it went from being the shame of Italy to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We talk about the history of the forced evacuation in 1952, the cave churches with medieval frescoes, walking on top of someone else's roof without realizing it, the Salvador Dali exhibition that made Dylan fall in love with surrealism and the James Bond story that involved thousands of gallons of Coca-Cola on the streets. We also get into the food, including the bread stamps families used at communal ovens, cheese aged in caves, white truffles that nobody knows about and the spaghetti all'assassina that nearly killed us at a cave restaurant. We've been twice, stayed in cave Airbnbs both times and brought Cash the first trip and Rex the second. Matera is not easy to get to but it is absolutely worth it, especially if you're already in Puglia. We share how to plan it, when to go and why you need tennis shoes. For more, visit www.thegetawayz.com [http://www.thegetawayz.com] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/support]

Turin, Italy: The Most Underrated City in Italy and Why We Still Call It Home

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we go back to the city we called home for over five years, Turin. We make the case for why we think it's the most underrated city in Italy and walk you through everything from the French inspired piazzas to the second largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the world outside of Cairo. We talk about the Shroud of Turin, the Egyptian Museum, the Mole Antonelliana with its incredible cinema museum and the Willy Wonka style elevator that takes you to one of the best views of the city, Palazzo Reale, Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo. Then we get into the food and drink that makes Piemonte so special, including Bicerin (the layered chocolate, espresso and cream coffee you can really only get in Torino), the Martini & Rossi factory tour, Caffè Al Bicerin, Baratti & Milano, the Nutella origin story, gianduja, agnolotti, bagna càuda and a proper aperitivo at Piazza Vittorio Veneto. We also share our favorite day trips out of Turin, including the Langhe wine region with Barolo and Alba, Sacra di San Michele, Superga, Sestriere for skiing and the easy drives over to Chamonix, Zermatt and Courmayeur. Plus we get into the porticos, the graffiti culture, why we think Torino is one of the best home bases in Europe and one of our all time favorite restaurants, La Medusa. If you're planning a trip to northern Italy or looking for a livable Italian city without the tourist crush, this is the episode for you. For more, visit www.thegetawayz.com [http://www.thegetawayz.com] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/support]

Tuscany Travel Guide Part 2: Pisa, Lucca and Tuscany's Best Beaches and Hot Springs

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we continue our two-part Tuscany series by heading beyond the famous hill towns. We talk about Lucca, Pistoia, Pisa, Viareggio, Greve in Chianti and Pienza, along with the beaches, festivals and food that made us keep going back while we lived in Italy. From Lucca Comics and the giant Carnevale floats in Viareggio to the eight course meat feast at Dario Cecchini and the natural hot springs of Saturnia, this episode is full of the side of Tuscany most people miss on the way to Florence and Siena. We also get into the terme, the natural hot springs Tuscans visit for everything from a weekend soak to a real health ritual, plus where to find the best wine tastings and beach towns in the region. If you're planning a Tuscany road trip or trying to figure out where to go beyond Florence, Siena and the classic hill towns, this is the episode for you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/support]

Tuscany Travel Guide Part 1: Siena, Montepulciano and Tuscany’s Best Hill Towns

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we start our two-part Tuscany series by exploring some of the region’s most unforgettable hill towns and wine villages. We talk about Cortona, Montepulciano, Montalcino, San Gimignano, Volterra and Siena, along with the festivals, food and moments that made each place stand out to us. From Christmas markets inside castles to medieval festivals, underground wine caves and pici pasta in Siena, this episode is packed with the kinds of experiences that make Tuscany feel completely different from the big cities. We also share practical tips about driving in Tuscany, where you actually need a car, what towns are best for day trips and which places are worth slowing down for. If you’re planning a Tuscany road trip or dreaming about spending time in the Italian countryside, this is the episode for you.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/support]