Top 10 Italy Explained Posts of 2015

Since Italy Explained was officially launched in late 2014, this past year marks the first in which I can look back over a calendar year and analyze information. I like analysis, but to be honest there’s not a lot I can actually figure out from numbers without a significant amount of help. What I can figure out, however, is which posts you guys read most.

Here’s a list of the top 10 most popular posts on Italy Explained in 2015. Some of it isn’t surprising – the Milan Expo was in 2015, and the Jubilee started this year, too, so it makes sense that people would be searching for information about both. But there are a few unexpected entries, I must say.

Are there any of these popular articles that you missed?

Most Popular Italy Explained Articles of 2015

1. Shopping in Italy: Official Winter & Summer Sales

Apparently you guys are not just shopaholics, you’re planners. The most popular post on the site over the past year is this one, about Italy’s two seasonal sales periods. January’s sales will start soon – are you planning a shopping spree in Italy?

2. Italy Itinerary: A Perfect Two Weeks

It doesn’t surprise me in the least that this post ranks so highly. A two-week trip is a pretty typical one for Americans, and I’ve covered the main places most people want to see on a first trip to Italy. I definitely encourage adjusting your own itinerary if this one doesn’t suit you 100%, but it’s also a great starting point.

3. Milan Expo 2015: What You Need to Know

The Expo was a big tourist draw for six months in Milan this year, so I’m glad to see that so many of you found this post… And, hopefully, you also found it useful. Pavilions at the Expo site are still being dismantled, and plans are still being discussed for what the site will become. I’ll keep this post updated as I hear news about the Expo site.

4. Jubilee Year 2016: What You Need to Know About the Holy Year of Mercy

Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on December 8th of this year, officially starting the Jubilee Year. This post has not only a rundown of the events taking place over the Holy Year of Mercy, I’m also updating it with relevant news and links as I see them.

5. Italy Itinerary: One Week in Italy

Okay, so sometimes you don’t have a full two weeks to spend on a vacation, or perhaps you have two weeks but you want to visit more than one country during your trip. That’s where a one-week itinerary comes in handy. And in this case, I’ve offered a few options for you to choose from.

6. Day Trips from Milan

I’m going to guess that this article ranks so highly because of the number of people headed to Milan for the Expo. As much as I might like Milan, I know it’s not everyone’s favorite – and even if you do like it, a long enough stay in Milan is a great excuse to get out of the city and explore the surrounding area a bit. I hope you guys took advantage of some of these day trip options.

7. The History of the Word “Ciao” & Why You Shouldn’t Say it in Italy

I love weird historic or cultural tidbits of information that tell stories about language, so I’m pleased that so many of you also seem to like those stories. The background of the word “ciao” is an interesting one, especially given how common the word is.

8. Italian Gelato Flavors: What You Need to Know

Evidently you guys like gelato, too! Or at least you like reading about gelato. For the sake of your taste buds, anyway, I hope that all this reading leads to sampling. Want to know more? Get my book Italy Explained: Gelato.

9. How to Deal with Italian Train Strikes

I love taking the train to get around Italy, and part of successful train travel is being prepared… For anything. In Italy, that means knowing how to find out about scheduled train strikes (you read that right) and what to do if you’re faced with one. Want to learn even more? Get my book Italy Explained: Italian Trains.

10. Traveling to Italy in January: What You Need to Know

The high tourist season in Italy is longer than just the summer months, but it sure doesn’t include January. I love that so many of you are planning off-season trips. Maybe you’re going to a Jubilee event?