Italy’s lesser-known towns offer travellers a refreshing escape from the crowds. In Emilia-Romagna, Brisighella rises among dramatic cliffs and towers that seem pulled from an old painting.
Its medieval streets and elevated walkway create intimate, picturesque views. The whole town feels crafted for thoughtful exploration.
On Sicily’s Via dei Frati, hikers discover solitude across a 54-mile mountain trail. Each day ends in a charming village such as Gangi, where everyday life unfolds naturally around visitors.
Basilicata’s Venosa showcases centuries of history with Roman ruins, catacombs and a castle. Melfi, Lagopesole and Pietragalla expand the region’s rich but quiet historical landscape.
Scattered throughout Italy are more forgotten treasures: a remote eco-hotel with river swimming, Cividale’s medieval beauty, Chioggia’s mini-Venice ambience, the Ligurian mountains of Santo Stefano d’Aveto, the vineyards of Loazzolo and the Roman city of Urbs Salvia. Together, they form a map of unexplored wonders.