Most visitors to Europe head straight for the famous capitals, but we search for Italy’s most idyllic retreats in its little towns. They provide authentic Italian charm without the crowds because there aren’t many natives and frequently fewer tourists there. Plan your upcoming trip around the nine most stunning little villages in Italy.
1. Porto Ercole, Tuscany
In this historic fishing village on Tuscany’s Argentario peninsula (which is actually an island connected to the mainland by three isthmuses), you can still see sailors mending their nets near the harbour. Here, in 1610, a particular Caravaggio passed away.
2. Bassano in Teverina, Lazio
There are towns that are historically significant, and then there are places like this modest border village between Umbria and Lazio. Since the time of the Etruscans, the region has been inhabited, and Bassano in Teverina alone is filled to the brim with several ancient landmarks, including an amphitheatre, a clock tower, and — because this is Italy — an astounding six churches.
3. Brisighella, Emilia-Romagna
This medieval village, which is renowned for its top-notch olive oil, is tucked away among the lush, undulating vineyards of the nearby Emilia-Romagna area. La Rocca Manfrediana, a fortress from the thirteenth century, serves as the centrepiece.
4. Bard, Valle d’Aosta
Bard may be the closest thing you’ll find to a fantasy vacation in Italy, wedged between two mountains in the narrowest area of the Aosta Valley. Although the fortress of the same name, built in the eleventh century, dominates the area, the majority of visitors come to see the quaint old-world village below, with its winding lanes, exquisite mullioned windows, and carved stone balconies.
5. Pacentro, Abruzzo
The beautifully preserved medieval village of Pacentro is located on a plateau in the heart of the majestic Apennine mountains and is a part of the Maiella National Park, which is well-known for its natural springs and the resulting abundance of fresh mountain water. You may anticipate seeing a lot of terracotta and crochet work displayed in the windows since this region of Abruzzo has a strong craft heritage.
6. Tropea, Calabria
For a variety of reasons, the Italian coastline that borders the Tyrrhenian Sea is referred to as the Costa degli Dei (‘Coast of the Gods’). The most notable of them are all the numerous, exquisite resort communities that seem to teeter precariously on their breathtaking cliff faces.
Due to its expansive beaches and breathtaking views of the Santa Maria dell’Isola monastery, which rises momentously on a rocky outcrop, Tropea, in particular, has become a popular destination for tourists from all over the continent.
7. Borghetto, Veneto
Since the Lombard invasion in the sixth century, a fortified hamlet has existed here in the middle of the River Mincio. Today, Borghetto is a picture-postcard community with bridges crisscrossing it and lots of old windmills. The majestic remains of the Ponte Visconteo, a defensive dam constructed during the fourteenth century, tower over everything.
8. Monte Sant’Angelo, Puglia
Monte Sant’Angelo stands out among the thousands of other picturesque towns in Italy thanks to two sights. The characteristic, orderly-aligned, whitewashed houses of the Junno area come first; they make for excellent Instagram subjects. The second is the ancient church of Sant’Angelo, which has a castle’s ruins and the magnificent Torre dei Giganti, an octagonal tower that stands 59 feet tall. It is a sacred location for a reason.
9. Cefalù historic centre, Sicily
Cefalù isn’t exactly off the beaten path for tourists, but there’s a reason for that: it’s breathtakingly beautiful. This small city’s ancient quarter is located in the shadow of a massive rockface that rises as high as 270 meters, around 70 kilometres from Palermo, the capital of Sicily. Charming piazzas and palazzos may be found throughout the rest of the city. Oh, and let’s not even talk about the cuisine.
