Contact us
For questions or suggestions, contact us to discover more about Italy’s hidden attractions.
info@roadsideitaly.com
About us
We’re a bunch of proud Italians with one mission: to show you the real Italy – the one that hides just beyond the crowded piazzas and postcard-famous landmarks. Sure, the Colosseum and Venice are stunning, but there’s so much more to our country than the usual tourist checklist.
Our journey started with a simple thought: What if travelers could experience Italy the way locals do? That means wandering through forgotten ghost towns where time stands still, tasting recipes passed down for generations in tiny trattorias, joining quirky village festivals you’ll never find in a guidebook, and listening to stories only the locals tell – sometimes over a glass of homemade wine.
We believe that culture isn’t just in museums – it’s in the laughter at a food market, the clinking of coffee cups in a sleepy bar, and the smell of fresh bread from a bakery older than your grandparents. From the rugged mountains to sun-kissed coasts, from hidden chapels to eccentric roadside attractions, we’re here to bring you places and tales that feel like a secret you’ve just been let in on.
So whether you’re chasing history, flavors, or pure adventure, let us take you off the beaten path and into the heart of Italy. Pack your curiosity – and maybe some stretchy pants – because this is going to be one unforgettable trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Roadside Italy all about?
We’re here to show you the real Italy – not just the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower. We take you to ghost towns, tiny villages, quirky festivals, and hidden food spots you’d never find on your own.
2. Is everything really “off the beaten path”?
Most of it, yes! But sometimes we also include famous cities – with a twist. We’ll guide you to secret corners, underground legends, and local experiences even residents might not know about.
3. How do you find these places?
We dig deep – talking to locals, browsing old travel forums, exploring forgotten backroads, and sometimes just following a smell of fresh bread down an alley.
4. Can I visit these places all year round?
Some spots are open year-round, but many festivals, markets, and food events are seasonal. We’ll always mention the best time to visit in our guides so you can plan your trip right.
5. Do you offer travel planning or guided tours?
For now, we’re your online travel buddy – giving you free tips, maps, and insider info. In the future, who knows? Guided vintage-style road trips might be coming!
6. Is Roadside Italy for foodies?
Oh, absolutely. Food is half the story here – from street food stands in fishing towns to family-run trattorias hidden in the hills. Come hungry.
7. Will I need a car to explore these places?
A car gives you more freedom, especially for remote villages. But we also include public transport options when they exist.
8. Are these destinations safe?
Yes, though like anywhere, common sense is your best friend. Some abandoned places may have uneven ground or no lighting, so pack good shoes and a torch.
9. Why the 70s vintage vibe?
Because Italy’s golden travel era was pure magic – postcards, Fiat 500s, and carefree summer road trips. We’re bringing that spirit back.
10. Can I suggest a hidden gem?
Please do! If you know a festival, a crazy tradition, or a tiny trattoria we should feature, drop us a message. We love tips from fellow explorers.
If you want, I can also add a “Quick Tips for Travelers” box at the end of the FAQ to make the page more engaging and useful. That would blend perfectly with your retro road trip theme.
Privacy & Cookie Policy – Roadside Italy
1. Introduction
This document explains how Roadside Italy (“the Site”) collects, uses, and protects the personal data of its visitors. By using this Site, you agree to the practices described here, in compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and applicable Italian laws.
2. Data Controller
Data Controller: Roadside Italy
Contact email: ciao@roadsideitaly.com
Registered address: Nardò, Via Marsala 55, 73048, Lecce, Italy
3. Data We Collect
The Site may collect:
Browsing data: IP address, browser type, operating system, pages visited, time spent on the site.
Data provided voluntarily: name, email, and messages sent via contact forms or newsletter subscription.
Cookies and similar technologies: used for analytics, personalized advertising, and user experience improvement.
4. Purposes of Data Processing
We process personal data for
Improving the navigation and content of the Site.
Anonymous statistical analysis through Google Analytics and Hotjar.
Displaying ads via Google AdSense.
Sending promotional communications (if the user subscribes to our newsletter).
Managing affiliate links and commercial partnerships.
5. Third-Party Services
5.1 Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics (Google LLC) to analyze website traffic and understand how users interact with our pages.
Data collected: anonymized IP address, device type, pages visited, session duration.
More info: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en
Opt-out: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en
5.2 Google AdSense
We display advertisements through Google AdSense. Google uses cookies to serve ads based on users’ previous visits to this or other websites.
More info: https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads?hl=en
Ad preferences: https://myadcenter.google.com/home?sasb=true&ref=ad-settings
5.3 Hotjar
We use Hotjar (Hotjar Ltd) to better understand users’ needs and improve website content. Hotjar collects data such as mouse movements, scrolling, and clicks, without personally identifying visitors.
More info: https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads?hl=en
Opt-out: https://www.hotjar.com/policies/do-not-track/
5.4 Affiliate Links
The Site participates in affiliate programs. By clicking on an affiliate link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate cookies are used to track sales generated through our Site.
6. Cookie Policy
Cookies are small text files stored on your device. This Site uses:
Technical cookies: necessary for the Site to function.
Analytics cookies: to gather browsing statistics (Google Analytics, Hotjar).
Advertising cookies: to display relevant ads (Google AdSense).
Affiliate cookies: to track sales generated by affiliate links.
You can manage or disable cookies from your browser settings.
7. Data Retention
Personal data is stored only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, and in compliance with legal requirements.
8. User Rights
You have the right to:
Access your personal data.
Request correction or deletion.
Object to or restrict processing.
Request data portability.
You can exercise your rights by contacting: ciao@roadsideitaly.com
9. Changes to This Policy
We reserve the right to update this Privacy & Cookie Policy at any time. Any changes will be published on this page.
Terms and Conditions
Welcome to Roadside Italy!
These terms and conditions outline the rules and regulations for the use of Roadside Italy's Website, located at https://roadsideitaly.com.
By accessing this website, we assume you accept these terms and conditions. Do not continue to use Roadside Italy if you do not agree to take all of the terms and conditions stated on this page.
Cookies:
The website uses cookies to help personalize your online experience. By accessing Roadside Italy, you agreed to use the required cookies.
A cookie is a text file that is placed on your hard disk by a web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you and can only be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you.
We may use cookies to collect, store, and track information for statistical or marketing purposes to operate our website. You have the ability to accept or decline optional Cookies. There are some required Cookies that are necessary for the operation of our website. These cookies do not require your consent as they always work. Please keep in mind that by accepting required Cookies, you also accept third-party Cookies, which might be used via third-party provided services if you use such services on our website, for example, a video display window provided by third parties and integrated into our website.
License:
Unless otherwise stated, Roadside Italy and/or its licensors own the intellectual property rights for all material on Roadside Italy. All intellectual property rights are reserved. You may access this from Roadside Italy for your own personal use subjected to restrictions set in these terms and conditions.
You must not:
Copy or republish material from Roadside Italy
Sell, rent, or sub-license material from Roadside Italy
Reproduce, duplicate or copy material from Roadside Italy
Redistribute content from Roadside Italy
This Agreement shall begin on the date hereof.
Parts of this website offer users an opportunity to post and exchange opinions and information in certain areas of the website. Roadside Italy does not filter, edit, publish or review Comments before their presence on the website. Comments do not reflect the views and opinions of Roadside Italy, its agents, and/or affiliates. Comments reflect the views and opinions of the person who posts their views and opinions. To the extent permitted by applicable laws, Roadside Italy shall not be liable for the Comments or any liability, damages, or expenses caused and/or suffered as a result of any use of and/or posting of and/or appearance of the Comments on this website.
Roadside Italy reserves the right to monitor all Comments and remove any Comments that can be considered inappropriate, offensive, or causes breach of these Terms and Conditions.
You warrant and represent that:
You are entitled to post the Comments on our website and have all necessary licenses and consents to do so;
The Comments do not invade any intellectual property right, including without limitation copyright, patent, or trademark of any third party;
The Comments do not contain any defamatory, libelous, offensive, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material, which is an invasion of privacy.
The Comments will not be used to solicit or promote business or custom or present commercial activities or unlawful activity.
You hereby grant Roadside Italy a non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, edit and authorize others to use, reproduce and edit any of your Comments in any and all forms, formats, or media.
Hyperlinking to our Content:
The following organizations may link to our Website without prior written approval:
Government agencies;
Search engines;
News organizations;
Online directory distributors may link to our Website in the same manner as they hyperlink to the Websites of other listed businesses; and
System-wide Accredited Businesses except soliciting non-profit organizations, charity shopping malls, and charity fundraising groups which may not hyperlink to our Web site.
These organizations may link to our home page, to publications, or to other Website information so long as the link: (a) is not in any way deceptive; (b) does not falsely imply sponsorship, endorsement, or approval of the linking party and its products and/or services; and (c) fits within the context of the linking party's site.
We may consider and approve other link requests from the following types of organizations:
Commonly-known consumer and/or business information sources;
Dot.com community sites;
Associations or other groups representing charities;
Online directory distributors;
Internet portals;
Accounting, law, and consulting firms; and
Educational institutions and trade associations.
We will approve link requests from these organizations if we decide that: (a) the link would not make us look unfavorably to ourselves or to our accredited businesses; (b) the organization does not have any negative records with us; (c) the benefit to us from the visibility of the hyperlink compensates the absence of Roadside Italy; and (d) the link is in the context of general resource information.
These organizations may link to our home page so long as the link: (a) is not in any way deceptive; (b) does not falsely imply sponsorship, endorsement, or approval of the linking party and its products or services; and (c) fits within the context of the linking party's site.
If you are one of the organizations listed in paragraph 2 above and are interested in linking to our website, you must inform us by sending an e-mail to Roadside Italy. Please include your name, your organization name, contact information as well as the URL of your site, a list of any URLs from which you intend to link to our Website, and a list of the URLs on our site to which you would like to link. Wait 2-3 weeks for a response.
Approved organizations may hyperlink to our Website as follows:
By use of our corporate name; or
By use of the uniform resource locator being linked to; or
Using any other description of our Website being linked to that makes sense within the context and format of content on the linking party's site.
No use of Roadside Italy's logo or other artwork will be allowed for linking absent a trademark license agreement.
Content Liability:
We shall not be held responsible for any content that appears on your Website. You agree to protect and defend us against all claims that are raised on your Website. No link(s) should appear on any Website that may be interpreted as libelous, obscene, or criminal, or which infringes, otherwise violates, or advocates the infringement or other violation of, any third party rights.
Reservation of Rights:
We reserve the right to request that you remove all links or any particular link to our Website. You approve to immediately remove all links to our Website upon request. We also reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions and its linking policy at any time. By continuously linking to our Website, you agree to be bound to and follow these linking terms and conditions.
Removal of links from our website:
If you find any link on our Website that is offensive for any reason, you are free to contact and inform us at any moment. We will consider requests to remove links, but we are not obligated to or so or to respond to you directly.
We do not ensure that the information on this website is correct. We do not warrant its completeness or accuracy, nor do we promise to ensure that the website remains available or that the material on the website is kept up to date.
Disclaimer:
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, we exclude all representations, warranties, and conditions relating to our website and the use of this website. Nothing in this disclaimer will:
Limit or exclude our or your liability for death or personal injury;
Limit or exclude our or your liability for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
Limit any of our or your liabilities in any way that is not permitted under applicable law; or
Exclude any of our or your liabilities that may not be excluded under applicable law.
The limitations and prohibitions of liability set in this Section and elsewhere in this disclaimer: (a) are subject to the preceding paragraph; and (b) govern all liabilities arising under the disclaimer, including liabilities arising in contract, in tort, and for breach of statutory duty.
As long as the website and the information and services on the website are provided free of charge, we will not be liable for any loss or damage of any nature.