Famous Italian towns like Rome, Venice, and Florence help make the country a tourist attraction. To avoid the crowds and high prices, you may visit one of Italy’s numerous underappreciated towns.
Italy’s most well-known cities are indeed home to amazing museums and other historical sites, but these lesser-known places pack just as much of a punch. As such, you should visit as many of these lesser-known places as possible.
Wild Harbor: Off The Beaten Path In Puglia
Porto Selvaggio, or “Wild Harbor,” earns its charming moniker from the rugged rocks and weathered olive trees that frame the shore on all sides. Because of its setting in a protected natural area, the water in front of you is a glistening, pristine blue. Wild Harbor’s isolation has allowed it to avoid being overwhelmed with visitors, who often visit more well-known destinations like Lecce or Gallipoli.
The natural park is great for both a quiet day at the beach and an active vacation, thanks to the many trails and routes that wind their way through the beautiful scenery. If you can stand the heat and the sun, summer is the best time to get a tan. Otherwise, the best periods to visit are late spring and early fall.
Bergamo
Milan’s cutting-edge art and fashion sectors attract trendsetters and glitterati, but the ancient hill town of Bergamo provides a tranquil alternative around two hours journey to the east. Among the most beautiful streets in Italy is this one, and its central plaza could be the most photogenic in the whole of the nation.
The city has famous old-world landmarks, from the 12th-century Church of Santa Maria Maggiore to the elaborate marble Capella Corleone. See the higher part of Bergamo, Citta Alta (or High Bergamo), via the funicular, or stick to ground level with a stroll through the Venetian fortifications dating back to the 16th century.
Turin
Torino, or Turin as it is more well known in English, was the site of the 2006 Winter Olympics. This city in northern Italy is mostly unknown to tourists. Nonetheless, foodies will find Turin to be a paradise since it serves as host to the annual international Slow Food conference. Just an hour from France, it has a fantastic culinary scene heavily inspired by French methods.
Turin’s Baroque architecture earns the moniker “Little Paris,” which is a delight. The streets are not as small and winding as in other Italian towns. Instead, streets like the Via Roma are Parisian-style boulevards with wide sidewalks and many cafes to stop at for an espresso after perusing the day’s finds.
Capoliveri, Tuscany
Elba, a beach-ringed island 30 miles (50 kilometres) off the coast of Tuscany, was Napoleon’s exiled prison home for nine months and so attracted many Romans and Tuscans every summer. To put it simply, Elba’s most picturesque town is Capoliveri. Southeast of the island’s main town is a cluster of pastel-coloured houses linked by winding alleyways and adorned with flowers spilling over balcony planters.
Piazza Giacomo Matteotti is a pedestrian plaza with eateries and gelaterias. It also serves as an access point to Elba’s nicest beaches, including the 300-meter-long Innamorata beach, known for its golden sand and lush forest surroundings.
The village, perched 170 metres above the water, is a great place to hang out after a day at the beach. During the peak summer months of July and August, the streets are filled with public markets, taverns, and wine bars. Visit in the shoulder seasons (late spring and early autumn) or on pausa afternoons (hotter than the middle of the day) when everyone else is at the beach. Relax with a drink or some delicious gelato in the shade of the olive trees in this picturesque Italian hamlet. The residents of this once-bustling mining town take their name from the Italian term for “Free Cape,” Caput Liberum (Latin for “Cape of Liberty”). Although having a vehicle is strongly advised in Elba, finding a parking spot in Capoliveri after dark is next to impossible during the summer when the town’s nightlife is at its peak. One of the infrequent buses is what you should aim for.
Lecce
Lecce may be one of the most underappreciated cities in all of Italy. Sometimes referred to as “Southern Florence,” Lecce is renowned for its abundance of baroque architecture and cultural landmarks. Begin your exploration of the city with Piazza S. Oronzo, a mediaeval square and the city’s social and economic centre.
After that, you may go around the baroque church on your own. Pass through Porta Napoli, a famous arch built in the 16th century, then stop at one of Lecce’s numerous bakeries. The pasticcio to cake is a must if you only eat one item in Lecce. While it’s rather sweet and decadent, this cake is still manageable for on-the-go consumption.
With its historic cities, picturesque islands, year-round weather, and award-winning cuisine, Italy is a must-see. Italy is a fantastic destination for first-time visitors and seasoned tourists alike.
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