Richie Howe

How long have you been an Italy Expert and what do you specialise in? 

I’ve been with Citalia for 18 years, I’m part of the furniture. I absolutely love Sicily and Florence, so I really enjoy planning holidays around there. Also multi-centre holidays in general.

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Richie Howe

Call us on: 01293 765055

"No holiday is the same, everything is unique to the customer and I enjoy being part of that journey."

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My Expert Areas

 

Hidden Gems

I can highly recommend taking some time to explore Erice in Sicily. It’s a small town about 700 metres above sea level. It’s a really interesting place to go explore and the views are spectacular. Also, if you’re planning to go up Mount Etna, which is an absolute must, remember to pack something warm. I learned the hard way going up in shorts and a T-shirt. The weather can be quite different that high up and the wind has a chill, so definitely pack something warm.
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Q & A

1. What was your most memorable holiday meal?

The food at Hotel Santa Caterina. The hotel grows its own herbs and vegetables, so everything is just so fresh.  

2. What is the best thing about being in Italy?

The food, people, weather, and history. Exploring the historic areas is fantastic and getting to know the locals is an absolute must. Italians are always so open to sharing their experiences and top tips, so you get to experience the lesser-known areas.


3. Where would you love to go next, and why?  

Puglia, I’ve been once with work many years ago and would love the chance to explore more here. Also Sorrento, my last trip was 17 years ago and it would be great to see how the area has changed over the years.


4. Do you prefer visiting cities, coast or countryside, and why?  

This is such a difficult one to answer for Italy because all of them are so great. If I had to choose, it would be the coast, simply because it’s the easiest for exploring more of Italy. You can have the best of both worlds really. Relaxing on the coast then onto a city for exploring on foot. I personally prefer holidays where I have the time to relax and enjoy some downtime, while also getting out to explore the history and culture, and the coast is ideal for both. 

My favourites

 
Landscape with aerial view of Aci Trezza, Sicily island, Italy
Sicily and the Aeolian Islands Holidays
Sicily, it’s just incredible. The architecture, and the different take on food compared to the mainland, make it an absolute gem. Plus, there is Etna, I’ve got a fascination with volcanoes, so it ticks all the boxes for me.
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Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi Coast
Hotel Santa Caterina on the Amalfi Coast. It’s on the cliffside and the views are absolutely beautiful. There is nothing else around it, it’s just the hotel, so very secluded and tranquil. The food was also sensational, just an absolutely stunning hotel.

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What our customers think

We have been helping our customers discover the real Italy for 95 years now. Our experience and expertise, together with our attention to detail and personal touch, really does make us the leading Italian holiday specialist.

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