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The Italy Travel Podcast - An Only A Bag Podcast

The Italy Travel Podcast - An Only A Bag Podcast

By: Darcy Melton | Nathaniel Mellor
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New episodes every Wednesday and Friday! Your guide to Italy travel! Hosts Darcy and Nathaniel—two tourists-turned-locals—offer advice like how to get off the beaten path (like going south), how order coffee like a local (at the bar), and most importantly, where to find authentic Italian food and gelato. Visit Italy with us every week from home or in the car. Whether you’re planning an Italy vacation or looking to move here, Darcy and Nathaniel guide you along the way. Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts and check out our website onlyabag.com for articles! Thanks for listening!Darcy Melton | Nathaniel Mellor Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Vietri Sul Mare: How To Get There and What To Do
    Jun 26 2026

    From wandering the colorfully tiled streets to shopping for ceramics and going to the beach, in this episode we'll tell you all there is to do in Vietri Sul Mare and how to get there, plus getting around!


    Vietri Sul Mare is easily reachable by bus and ferry. There is also a train station which is being repaired and not functional as of June 2026, however a bus route is running in its place. Below are links to bus and ferry providers to and from Salerno and the Amalfi Coast.

    From Salerno by bus:

    - Vietri Sul Mare is reachable by city bus from Salerno, the city bus is run by Bus Italia you can get tickets in a Tabacchi (tobacco shop) in Salerno.

    - You can also take Sita Sud bus (which will get you to towns on the Amalfi Coast as well) but this bus tends to be more crowded than the city bus.


    From the Amalfi Coast by bus:

    Sita Sud operates the buses from Positano, Amalfi, and other towns along the Amalfi Coast to Vietri Sul Mare.


    From the Amalfi Coast and Salerno by ferry:

    To get to Vietri Sul Mare, Travel Mar operates the ferries from Salerno as well as towns on the Amalfi Coast like Positano and Amalfi.


    For day trips to Raito, Dragonea, and other nearby towns, check out Bus Italia, you can get tickets for this city bus at a local Tabacchi as well.

    In general, the city buses (run by Bus Italia) that you might use are bus number 1 (written as 001 on Google Maps), 4 (written as 004 on Google Maps), and 9 (likewise written as 009 on Google Maps). These are the main buses that go from Salerno to Vietri, and vice versa. Each of them terminate in a different town, so if you're wanting a bit of adventure, simply stay on board!


    If you're looking for a cup of coffee that's FairTrade, roasted by a Certified B Corporation, and organic, then we'd say you're looking for Larry's Coffee. A small, family-run coffee roasters in Raleigh, North Carolina dedicated to sustainability and a better planet.

    If you'd like to check them out, you can use our link: ⁠https://larryscoffee.com/onlyabag⁠

    Purchases through our link to receive two free handcrafted grass-woven coasters from FairTrade artisans in Guatemala!


    Want to support us? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate).


    Thanks for listening!

    xDarcy and Nathaniel

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    38 mins
  • Vietri Sul Mare: Ceramic Capital of the South
    Jun 24 2026

    There was once a time where you could tell someone going to Italy that they'd have to go to Venice (Murano) for the glass, Florence for the leather, and Vietri sul Mare for the ceramics. Over the years, glass workshops have closed around Venice, quality leather production has shifted away from Florence as it follows cheaper rents, and yet, Vietri sul Mare is still a powerhouse of ceramics factories and workshops.

    While this episode mainly discusses the feel of the town—one that feels vibrant, but ever so slightly like its heyday is over—we also offer our thoughts as to who might enjoy it the most, and who should stick it into their itinerary if possible.


    If you're looking for a cup of coffee that's FairTrade, roasted by a Certified B Corporation, and organic, then we'd say you're looking for Larry's Coffee. A small, family-run coffee roasters in Raleigh, North Carolina dedicated to sustainability and a better planet.

    If you'd like to check them out, you can use our link: https://larryscoffee.com/onlyabag

    Purchases through our link to receive two free handcrafted grass-woven coasters from FairTrade artisans in Guatemala!


    Want to support us? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate).


    Thanks for listening!

    xDarcy and Nathaniel

    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Ischia: Getting There, Getting Around, What To Do, and Spas
    Jun 19 2026
    Now that you know the general vibe of Ischia, it's time to talk about how to get there, and how to get around once you're there. We also talk about things you can do once you get to Ischia (taking a hike to the top of a volcano, for instance) as well as the absolute plethora of thermal baths and pools. So if you're looking for a relaxing way to spend some of your time in Italy, consider visiting one of Ischia's hundreds of thermal baths and soaking in the relaxed atmosphere of the island.Getting to IschiaThe only way to get to Ischia is by sea via ferry or hydrofoil. The companies listed below are the operators of transport from mainland Italy to Ischia. To Ischia from Naples: ⁠Caremar⁠⁠Alilauro⁠⁠Medmar⁠To Ischia from Sorrento:⁠Alilauro⁠Getting Around IschiaIf you're looking to take a public bus around the island, you can see bus timetables for Ischia here:eavsrl.it/orari-autobusShoppingThere are tons of great local shops in the town of Ischia. Here are a few recommendations:Mariarosaria Ferrara - sandal shop where Darcy bought her custom sandalsProject Lab Vintage - tiny and cool vintage clothing storeMyosotis 1955 - ceramics La Ceramica Di Meglio Dei F.Lli Di Meglio & C. Sas - ceramicsThere are lots of great jewelry stores along via Roma which turns into Corso Vittoria Colonna, particularly between via delle Terme and the Santa Maria delle Grazie church.Things to do and SeeHere are links to some of the major sites and tourist destinations we mentioned in this episode.Castello Aragonese (Aragonese Castle) - castelloaragoneseischia.comGiardini La Mortella (Mortella Botanical Garden) - lamortella.orgGiardini Poseidon Terme (Poseidon Garden Thermal Baths) - giardiniposeidonterme.comMonte Epomeo is panoramic hike that we mention in this episode. It is free to visit. You can join our Patreon for free! Want to support us and get a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). Thanks for listening! xDarcy and Nathaniel
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
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