Immersion Travel Italy

About Immersion Travel Italy

Step off the beaten path and dive into the heart of authentic Italy with the Immersion Travel Podcast. Hosted by travel expert and author Katerina Ferrera, this show takes you beyond the guidebooks to uncover vibrant festivals, rich traditions, hidden gems, and must-see destinations across Italy. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or dreaming of your first trip, you’ll discover insider tips, cultural deep dives, and expert advice to make your journey unforgettable. Join us for festival spotlights, local stories, food experiences, and travel itineraries.

Publisher

Katerina Ferrara

Category

leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Feb 2025

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

79 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Padua: The City of Saints, Scholars, and Giotto | Italy’s Masterpiece Series

   Visit Padua, Italy, one of the great art, pilgrimage, and university cities of northern Italy, in this episode of the Italian Masterpiece Series. Often overshadowed by nearby Venice, Padua is home to one of the most important painted interiors in Western art: Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel. We step beneath its extraordinary blue ceiling and explore the frescoes that helped transform European painting. But Giotto is only the beginning. We visit the Church of the Eremitani, where the young Andrea Mantegna created his remarkable frescoes before much of the chapel was destroyed during World War II. Then we walk through medieval Padua to the Palazzo della Ragione, Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza della Frutta, and the spectacular frescoed Baptistery of Padua Cathedral. We also explore another side of Padua at the University of Padua, founded in 1222. Inside historic Palazzo Bo, we discover its famous anatomical theater, the years Galileo Galilei spent teaching here, and the story of Elena Cornaro Piscopia, the first woman known to receive a university degree. And we stop at one of my favorite places in Padua, historic Caffè Pedrocchi, before continuing to the spiritual heart of the city. At the magnificent Basilica of Saint Anthony, we visit the tomb of the saint Padua simply calls Il Santo, see works by Donatello, explore the peaceful cloisters, and talk about why this remains such a powerful pilgrimage destination even today. Finally, we walk through Prato della Valle, visit the area around Santa Giustina, and look at Padua’s most important celebration, the Festa di Sant’Antonio on June 13. If you are planning a trip to Padua, Venice, or the Veneto, this episode will help you discover why Padua deserves much more than a quick day trip. Explore More of Padua Padua has an entire chapter devoted to its history, sights, walking tours, restaurants, travel planning, and festivals in my Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Venice and the Veneto. https://amzn.to/48OhHfT Chapter 11, FestaFusion Padua, also includes Padua’s major festivals and information for planning your visit. My Italy travel guides are available on Amazon by searching Katerina Ferrara, or through my website at katerinaferrara.com. See the Companion Blog Visit katerinaferrara.com for the companion blog to this episode, with photographs of the Scrovegni Chapel, Basilica of Saint Anthony, Prato della Valle, Padua Baptistery, Caffè Pedrocchi, and the other places discussed in the episode. And while you’re there, sign up for my monthly newsletter for new podcast episodes, Italian festivals, travel ideas, and updates from my Travel Italy guidebook series. My Italy Travel Guides Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Sicily https://amzn.to/3KARdo8 Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Puglia https://amzn.to/42WEnH1 Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Rome and Beyond https://amzn.to/4gRlvz0 Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Venice and the Veneto https://amzn.to/48OhHfT Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Milan and Lombardy https://a.co/d/0h0JFBhi Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Umbria https://amzn.to/4bRpcTj Sicilia in Festa https://amzn.to/4pUxBuP Guida Chttps://amzn.to/44AIYQ1ompleta a Feste e Viaggi: Sicilia In this episode: Padua Italy • Padova Italy • Scrovegni Chapel • Giotto • Saint Anthony of Padua • Basilica di Sant’Antonio • University of Padua • Palazzo Bo • Galileo Galilei • Andrea Mantegna • Donatello • Palazzo della Ragione • Padua Baptistery • Caffè Pedrocchi • Prato della Valle • Veneto travel • Italy travel

2. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Siena, Italy: The Palio, Medieval Masterpieces & Local Secrets with Stella Soldani | Italy’s Masterpiece Series

   Travel to Siena, Tuscany, one of Italy’s greatest medieval cities, in this episode of Immersion Travel Italy and the Italy’s Masterpiece Series. I’m joined by Stella Soldani, a licensed Siena tour guide who was born and raised in the city and is a member of the Contrada della Torre. Stella takes us beyond the usual Siena day trip to understand what it really means to grow up Sienese and belong to one of the city’s seventeen historic Contrade. We explore the traditions surrounding the Palio di Siena, held each year on July 2 and August 16, and discover why the famous horse race is only a small part of a much larger celebration involving Contrada dinners, trial races, historic processions, flag throwers, religious traditions and centuries of neighborhood identity. Then we travel through Siena’s extraordinary history and masterpieces, including Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, Torre del Mangia, Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s Allegory of Good and Bad Government, the Via Francigena, Santa Maria della Scala and Siena Cathedral. Inside the Duomo, we explore its remarkable marble floor, Piccolomini Library, Museo dell’Opera, crypt, Baptistery and Facciatone, along with works connected to Michelangelo, Donatello, Bernini, Pinturicchio and other masters. We also discuss Saint Catherine of Siena, the Basilica di San Domenico and her continuing importance to the city. Stella shares some of her own local Siena recommendations, including favorite cafés and restaurants, traditional foods such as ricciarelli, panforte and wild boar ragù, Tuscan wines, hidden viewpoints and places many visitors overlook. If you are planning a trip to Siena, Florence, Tuscany, Chianti, San Gimignano, Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano or the Val d’Orcia, this episode is packed with Siena travel tips, history and local insight. TOUR SIENA WITH STELLA SOLDANI Stella has been a licensed guide in Siena and the surrounding region for more than twenty five years, with tours in Siena, Chianti, Montalcino, Pienza, San Gimignano and beyond. Website: https://www.stellasoldani.com Email: info@stellasoldani.com READ THE COMPANION BLOG Every episode in the Italy’s Masterpiece Series has a companion blog with photographs of the places, people, art and architecture discussed in the episode. Blog: https://www.katerinaferrara.com/blog JOIN MY FREE NEWSLETTER Get Italian travel inspiration, festivals, traditions, new podcast episodes, travel planning ideas and updates from the Travel Italy Book Series. Sign up: https://www.katerinaferrara.com TRAVEL ITALY BOOK SERIES Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Puglia https://amzn.to/42WEnH1 Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Sicily https://amzn.to/3KARdo8 Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Rome and Beyond https://amzn.to/4gRlvz0 Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Venice and the Veneto https://amzn.to/48OhHfT Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Milan and Lombardy https://amzn.to/46VzmQs Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide: Umbria https://katerinaferrara.com/uncover-the-charm-of-umbria/ Sicilia in Festa: Sicily in Celebration | English and Italian Dual Language Edition https://amzn.to/4jPVEHK Coming Next: Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Tuscany Visit https://www.katerinaferrara.com for the Immersion Travel Italy podcast, companion blogs, books and more Italy travel inspiration.

3. 

   25 Sept 2026

   Urbino: The Ideal City of the Renaissance | Italy’s Masterpiece Series Episode 6

   High in the hills of the Marche lies Urbino, one of Italy’s most extraordinary Renaissance cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Small in size but enormous in influence, Urbino became one of the great artistic and intellectual courts of fifteenth century Europe. In Episode 6 of Italy’s Masterpiece Series, we step inside the world of Federico da Montefeltro, the soldier, duke, humanist, and patron who transformed Urbino into a center of Renaissance art, architecture, scholarship, and culture. We explore the magnificent Palazzo Ducale, Federico’s remarkable Studiolo, and the treasures of the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, including Piero della Francesca’s mysterious Flagellation of Christ and luminous Madonna di Senigallia. We also discover Urbino’s connection to Raphael, who was born here in 1483. We visit his birthplace, Casa Natale di Raffaello, and explore how the artistic and intellectual environment of Urbino helped shape the world into which one of the greatest painters of the High Renaissance was born. But Urbino’s story is also about the people behind the art. We meet Battista Sforza, Federico’s highly educated wife who helped govern the duchy in his absence, and look at the famous double portrait of Federico and Battista painted by Piero della Francesca. Along the way, we visit Urbino Cathedral, the fresco filled Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista, the unusual sculptural Nativity at the Oratorio di San Giuseppe, and San Bernardino, the final resting place of Federico da Montefeltro. Then we wander Urbino’s steep Renaissance streets, discover its historic university, take in the view from Fortezza Albornoz, and taste local specialties including crescia sfogliata di Urbino, Casciotta d’Urbino DOP, truffles, and passatelli. We’ll also look at the Festa del Duca, when Urbino returns to the world of Federico da Montefeltro with Renaissance costumes, processions, music, and performances. If you love Italian Renaissance art, Raphael, Piero della Francesca, historic palaces, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Marche, or discovering lesser known Italian cities, Urbino deserves a place on your Italy itinerary. Every episode in Italy’s Masterpiece Series also has an accompanying blog with photographs and images of the palaces, paintings, artists, rulers, and places discussed in the episode. Read the blog: KaterinaFerrara.com/blog Listen and watch Immersion Travel Italy: KaterinaFerrara.com/video-podcast/ Sign up for my free monthly Travel Italy Newsletter: KaterinaFerrara.com Next in Italy’s Masterpiece Series: Siena, Tuscany. Explore My Italy Travel Guides If you’re planning a trip to Italy and want deeper cultural insight, festival traditions, and immersive travel experiences, explore my Travel Italy guides. Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Sicily https://amzn.to/3KARdo8 Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Puglia https://amzn.to/42WEnH1 Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Rome and Beyond https://amzn.to/4gRlvz0 Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Venice and the Veneto https://amzn.to/48OhHfT Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Milan and Lombardy https://a.co/d/0h0JFBhi Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Umbria https://amzn.to/4bRpcTj Sicilia in Festa: Experience the Magic of Sicily’s History, Art and Timeless Cultural Celebrations — English Italian Dual Language Edition https://amzn.to/4pUxBuP Guida Completa a Feste e Viaggi Sicilia — Italian Language Edition https://amzn.to/44AIYQ1 Rome 2025 Jubilee Travel Guide https://amzn.to/4pA40qa Follow Immersion Travel Italy for more Italian history, art, festivals, food, hidden destinations, and immersive travel planning.

Who has been a guest on Immersion Travel Italy

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Eveline Baseggio
• Danielle Oteri
• Kasia Chojecki
• WELLS JONES
• Giuseppe Provenzano

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

49

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

Contact Immersion Travel Italy

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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