EUROPE
Discover Destination Dupes in Greece and Italy with Kensington
By The Kensington Content Team
EUROPE
By The Kensington Content Team
But beyond the bustling piazzas and famous ruins lie lesser-known treasures—quiet coastal towns, secluded islands, and ancient paths. These hidden gems offer a more intimate connection to these legendary destinations, far from the crowds.
At Kensington, we go beyond the guidebook. Our custom, private-guided experiences are designed to immerse you in the heart of a destination, uncovering local secrets and savoring unique experiences. Whether it's exploring ancient Greek monuments, discovering an Italian vineyard free from tourists, or enjoying a quiet seaside meal, we craft itineraries that turn every moment into an unforgettable experience.
Let our experts introduce you to the destinations in Greece and Italy that are often overlooked. Experience turquoise waters of hidden coves, the timeless charm of mountain villages, and meals with local families. We’ll show you the magic of these iconic countries—tailored entirely to your interests.
These parts of the world are bucket list locations for a reason, but it's still possible to get a unique, and intimate experience of these Mediterranean hotbeds. Ready to start your adventure? Here are some of our guests favorite ways to visit these iconic countries.
For Lynda Petruccelli, Kensington's Destination Lead for Italy, curating unforgettable Italian trips is more than a job—it’s a part of her life. "Italy is where my family’s from, and I always say it’s the first place I ever loved," she explains.
Petruccelli grew up visiting Italy often and spending summers immersed in its culture. "The benefit of traveling with Kensington is that all of our guides are locals who truly know the area," she says. Whether planning bespoke itineraries or liaising with local teams, Lynda ensures that every traveler experiences the magic and authenticity of Italy.
As Kensington's Destination Lead for Greece, Alyssa Page brings a wealth of experience and passion for Mediterranean travel. With a background that includes years working on cruise ships, Alyssa’s love for Greece has been a constant in her career. "Greece has always spoken to me, it is my favorite place," she shares.
Alyssa’s firsthand knowledge of Greece’s coastal treasures and cultural wonders ensures travelers experience the best the region has to offer.
If you’re planning your trip with the hope of checking off bucket list locations, know when to go, says Petruccelli, “Later parts of the evening and early morning, that's when you really experience a place.” Our guides are always sure to bring you to these locations when you can have the most intimate experience possible.
Many places are frequently visited by day travelers and cruise ship passengers who will come in the afternoon. Beat the crowds in these most highly trafficked areas by picking the right times. “I don't care if you're a morning person or a night owl, pick one.”
Our guides work to keep you away from the crowds, even in the areas and neighborhoods around the bucket list locations, “Make sure you go for a walk either late at night or super early in the morning because it's like a completely different city,” says Petruccelli.
If you are set on seeing Michaelangelo’s masterpiece, David, but wary of crowds, consider other statutes around Italy, “Florence has David, but there's a giant Michelangelo statue of Moses in Rome that very few people visit,” says Petruccelli.
The statue, originally commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1505, a year after Michaelangelo completed David, wasn’t completed until 1545, and includes a set of horns amongst his wavy hair.
Our guides will bring you to the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli to see a Michaelangelo masterpiece, with lesser crowds.
To find a good meal, be sure to avoid restaurants displaying multiple flags and languages, says Petruccelli.
Since Italy has so much good food, she recommends exploring restaurants and bars and stopping in for a small bite, or ‘cicchetti,’ “You're going to eat incredibly well everywhere in Italy,” says Petruccelli, “Both in a hole-in-the-wall and at a really high end restaurant.”
Exploring restaurants with small plates can help you try multiple places and find spots you want to revisit for larger meals on your trip. And for a sure bet, our Destination Experts can recommend and make reservations for you at their favorite restaurants during your Kensington trip.
While many people will flock to Tuscany, consider heading to Piedmont to avoid larger crowds. “For real wine connoisseurs, I direct them to Piedmont. It's the home of Barolo and Barbaresco wines,” says Petruccelli.
The region edges the snow covered Swiss Alps, along the French border, and south to the Apennine Mountains, which stand between Piedmont and the Mediterranean. In addition to wine, you’ll find truffle hunting and plenty of other food and wine experiences.
While Italy is packed with historic ruins and famous cities, our guides often bring guests to Matera for a particularly unique experience. “Matera was a European capital of culture, and is the third oldest city in the world” says Petruccelli. The city has been consistently inhabited since the 10th millennium BC, about 12,000 years!
Petruccelli recommends visiting the ancient cave houses, featured on the UNESCO World Heritage List, where you’ll see vibrant culture, restaurants, and bars for an authentic, and less traveled, Italian historical experience.
If you’re looking for a beach vacation, but not ready for Amalfi Coast crowds, Petruccelli directs guests to the island of Ischia. “It's very close by, has quite a few luxurious properties and thermal spas, but it is less frequented.”
Alongside the strikingly clear green water and golden sand, you can explore narrow streets of historic urban centers, shops, fishing villages, and even trail systems with vantage points of the beautiful coast, including the Piano Liguori Walk, a three-mile trail dotted with views of islands, oceans, and coast.
As with the most popular Italian bucket list locations, timing is everything says Page, “For the iconics, like the Acropolis, we go early in the morning. Cruise ships are docking usually at 9:00 and get to the city around 11:30.
Going in the morning not only allows us to give our guests views of these locations without being crammed shoulder to shoulder, it allows you to view them comfortably, “If you start at 8:00am you can beat the ships, and the heat,” says Page.
For an experience both grandparents and grandchildren will enjoy, consider the Delphi, Olympia tour of the gods, “If you know the Percy Jackson series, he visits the whole area,” says Page.
Together, our tours bring family members across generations to sacred spots across the mainland with both historical significance, and features in the Percy Jackson series. While getting there is only a three hour drive from Athens, the full experience will take an entire day.
Rather than joining the crowds in Mykonos, Kensington Destination Leads direct our guests to Paros. “It's the sister island to Mykonos, so it has the beaches, the vegetation, and the look,” says Page. But importantly, “There’s no cruise port, so you’re not getting those crowds.”
There will be plenty to explore, though, as the island has more than 74 miles of coast. Whether you’re hanging out on the remarkable beaches, or looking down at the ocean from cliff-top villages, you will get a Greek experience, without waves of cruise passengers pushing into the island.
Paros is also an incredible place to get an Instagram worthy meal, without the Mykonos partiers. Here you’ll find white tables, blue tablecloths and seaside views, all open late into the night. “Sit down, eat, drink all night,” says Page.
On Paros, you won’t have to fear that the table next to you will have sparklers in their wine bottles.
Off of Paros, Chania, on Crete, is one of our favorite locations to make our guests reservations. The restaurants are close to the farms where the food they serve is grown, “It's very close to the mountains in Crete,” says Page, “It has its own sort of culture and is a really good area for agriculture.”
When our guests go to Santorini, we create a plan that includes the village of Imerovigli, “Four-star pricing, romantic, and they still accept children,” says Page. On top of that, you are only a 20-minute walk from the popular Instagram photo spots, and just far enough to get incredible views.
The village sits atop an oceanside cliff and is full of the whitewashed homes you’ll want for your photos, and, of course, breathtaking Mediterranean sunsets.
Our local guides bring unmatched expertise and craft tailored itineraries to fit your unique travel style. Whether it’s navigating the hidden alleys of Venice, uncovering ancient ruins in Greece, or finding the perfect seaside taverna, we take care of every detail. From securing hard-to-get reservations to organizing exclusive experiences, we handle the planning so you can focus on savoring every moment of your journey.
Our experts, like Alyssa and Lynda, ensure your trip is seamlessly designed and meticulously executed, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the beauty and culture of the Mediterranean.
Ready to uncover the hidden gems of Greece, Italy, and beyond? Contact Kensington today and start planning your unforgettable Mediterranean adventure.
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