Mid-summer used to be a very busy time in rural households: First one had to tend the crops, and then bring them in, and then put them away for the winter. How?
Making tomato sauce by the vat, to begin with. Or drying tomatoes.
Pickling all the other vegetables from the garden.
Making jams and fruit preserves (If you try nothing else, do make the peach-and-raspberry jam).
And, finally, making a special bottle to keep the winter chill at bay. I especially like ciliegiolo, a cherry liqueur that is a perfect holiday gift.

• Traditional restaurants, best selected with the help of some sort of guide, for example my restaurant reviews, or Arthur Shwartz's (he concentrates on the South).
• Pizza, which can be very good or very bad, depending upon where you go. Tips for selecting a pizzeria, and popular Italian pizzas.
• Go to a sagra, the Italian equivalent of a country fair, and enjoy the local specialties. You'll likely need a car to get there, but it's more than worth the rental fee to get out of town and enjoy a relaxed, informal, and very tasty meal.