Alex Polizzi is usually busy barking at hotel owners about dusty skirting boards or lukewarm breakfast buffets. We know her as the no-nonsense "Hotel Inspector," the woman who can spot a subpar thread count from fifty paces. But back in 2014, she flipped the script. She stepped away from the failing B&Bs of Blackpool and headed home.
Alex Polizzi's Secret Italy wasn't just another travelogue. It was a homecoming.
You see, Polizzi isn't just "British posh." She's part of the Forte dynasty. Her grandfather was Lord Forte, the man who basically built the modern hospitality industry. All four of her grandparents were Italian. She grew up speaking the language before English. When she filmed this series, she hadn't been back for five years—ever since her last grandmother passed away.
That grief and connection change the tone of the show entirely. It’s less "look at this pretty fountain" and more "this is the soul of my family."
The Places You Won't Find in a Brochure
Most travel shows hit the "Big Three": Rome, Florence, Venice. Alex does those, sure, but she does them like an insider. She stays away from the selfie-stick crowds. In Venice, she bypasses the Rialto and goes into the backstreets where real Venetians actually live (all five of them left).
Honestly, the real magic happens in the south.
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Naples and the Shadow of Vesuvius
Naples is polarizing. People either love the grit or hate the chaos. Alex leans into the grit. She explores the city’s weird, borderline-obsessive relationship with death and superstition. There’s a scene where she visits the Fontanelle cemetery—a literal cave of skulls—and talks about how locals "adopt" the remains. It’s haunting.
She also heads to the Amalfi Coast, which sounds cliché until you realize it’s where she spent her honeymoon. She visits Mamma Agata in Ravello. This legendary cook has fed everyone from Humphrey Bogart to Fred Astaire. It’s not about the Michelin stars here; it’s about the "hidden" recipe for lemon cake that tastes like pure sunshine.
The Deep South: Puglia and Matera
Puglia is the "heel" of Italy’s boot. It’s famous for those beehive-shaped stone huts called trulli. Alex explores the Monte Pollino national park and eventually ends up in Matera.
If you haven't seen Matera, Google it. It’s a city carved into the rock. It used to be a place of extreme poverty—the "shame of Italy"—where people lived in caves with their livestock until the 1950s. Now, it’s a UNESCO site. Alex captures the Festa della Madonna Bruna, a festival that ends with a literal riot of people tearing apart a ceremonial float. It’s primal. It’s beautiful.
Reconnecting with the Forte Roots
The most emotional part of the series is Sardinia. This is where her grandmother, Nonna Polizzi, was from. Alex goes into the archives to track down her family’s origin story.
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You can see the "Hotel Inspector" armor cracking.
She describes herself as an "Italian mongrel"—Venetian, Sardinian, Neapolitan. She lived there in her twenties. She dreams in Italian. This isn't a presenter reading a script; it's a woman remembering who she is. She even visits the village in the hills near Rome where her other grandfather grew up.
It’s about family businesses. She visits small glove-makers in Naples and traditional sandal-makers in Capri. She’s obsessed with the idea of skills being handed down through generations. In a world of fast fashion and Amazon, watching a guy hand-stitch a pair of leather gloves for hours is kinda hypnotic.
The Secret Islands: Beyond the Mainstream
In the second season, Alex goes even further off the map. Everyone knows Capri, but have you heard of Filicudi? It’s part of the Aeolian Islands. It’s volcanic, rugged, and feels like the end of the world.
- Ischia: Often overshadowed by Capri, but Alex shows the thermal springs and the "real" island life.
- Salina: Known for its capers and sweet Malvasia wine.
- Filicudi: Where she jokingly says "there be dragons."
She also spends a lot of time in Sicily. She goes to Palermo and eats street food with Salvatore Agusta. We’re talking panelle (chickpea fritters) and arancine. She even tries pani ca meusa—a spleen sandwich. She doesn't hold back.
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Why This Series Still Matters in 2026
Travel has changed. We’re all tired of the "Instagrammable" spots that are actually miserable in real life. Alex Polizzi's Secret Italy feels like the antidote. It’s about the slow parts of Italy. The parts where old ladies put their chairs out on the sidewalk to gossip. The parts where the train is late and nobody cares.
She admits she's "five-star only" these days (she is a Forte, after all), but her appreciation for a simple bowl of pasta or a handmade glove is genuine.
Planning Your Own "Secret" Trip
If you want to follow in her footsteps, don't just book a tour.
- Go South: Everyone goes to Milan. Go to Puglia or Sicily instead.
- Talk to the Locals: Alex gets the best info because she speaks the language. Even if you don't, learn five phrases. It opens doors.
- Follow the Food: Avoid any restaurant with a "tourist menu" or pictures of the food on a board outside.
- Visit Matera: Seriously. Just go. It’s one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Italy isn't a museum. It's a living, breathing, slightly chaotic family dinner. Alex Polizzi reminds us that the "secrets" aren't actually hidden—they're just waiting for us to stop rushing and look.
To really experience Italy the way Alex does, start by looking at the smaller, family-run boutique hotels in the Cilento Coast or the heart of the Aeolian Islands. Skip the big chains and find the places where the owner is likely the one making your coffee in the morning. That is where the real secret Italy lives.
Next Steps:
If you're planning a trip based on the show, start by mapping out the "Heel" of Italy. Focus on the triangle between Bari, Matera, and Lecce. This area offers the most authentic "secret" experience Alex highlights, specifically regarding the trulli of Alberobello and the cave dwellings of Matera.
Check for local festivals (Sagre) during your travel dates; these are the village-wide food parties Alex loves, and they are almost never advertised to international tourists.