Italy’s biggest surprises aren’t in the guidebooks—they’re found down sunlit backstreets, over long lunches, and in cities you might never have heard of. If you’re craving something a bit more real and a lot less crowded, it’s time to look past the obvious stops. From tucked-away northern towns to brilliant coastal hideouts, some of the most beautiful and genuine places to live, eat, and explore in Italy are off the beaten path.
Curiosity about non-touristy towns, secret food haunts, and "hidden gems" often leads to discovering Italy's most authentic places. Discover spots that quietly celebrate daily life and all those small, beautiful moments away from the usual crowds.
Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna
Ferrara is one of those places in northern Italy where life rolls by at a gentle pace. Locals whizz around on bikes beneath Renaissance walls, pausing at laid-back bakeries or for a much-needed coffee in a sunny piazza. Its UNESCO-listed old town features wide boulevards, fairy-tale castles, and markets bursting with seasonal produce. The real secret? Ferrara’s nearby riverscapes along the river Po, where the Po Delta opens up to quiet beaches and lush wetlands that few outsiders ever see.
Stick around long enough and you’ll start to feel part of the rhythm. Community food events, neighbourhood bookshops, and a cycle ride down to the river at sunset are highlights no city-break crowd could ever rush. For those seeking an off-the-beaten-path home, Ferrara’s relaxed streets put you right in the heart of real Italy.
Lecce, Puglia
Lecce, in the heel of Italy, offers a sun-drenched alternative to the country’s bigger hotspots. Often referred to as the 'Florence of the South', this baroque masterpiece is all graceful churches and honey-coloured palaces. There's a lively food scene that celebrates regional wine, fresh seafood, and local cheeses. Despite its beauty, it’s still considered by many to be the most underrated part of Italy—here, you’ll see more local families than package tours.
Venture off the main squares and you’ll find contemporary art spaces tucked into ancient convents, and quiet piazzas where locals gather for late-night gelato. Just outside town, seek out Porto Cesareo and San Cataldo—the sort of beautiful, sandy beaches where Italians relax, minus the crowds.
Matera, Basilicata
Matera is a showstopper. Its ancient cave dwellings, or “Sassi,” are unlike anywhere else in the world, so much so that Matera is often tipped as one of the most unique places in Italy. The town has transformed itself from forgotten poverty to a cultural hotspot, its gritty history giving way to art studios, underground restaurants, and boutique hotels with jaw-dropping views.
You’ll discover rock churches with Byzantine frescoes and tiny bakeries turning out frisella breads and local cheeses. Evening strolls along the cliff’s edge reveal Matera’s stone cityscape glowing golden—in those moments, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re looking out over the most picturesque town in Italy. It’s a true hidden gem where very few tourists linger after dusk, leaving the ancient stones and candle-lit terraces to locals and adventurous travellers.
Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Udine is off the beaten path even by Italian standards—a northern city with a quiet edge, known for its stylish piazzas, buzzing osterias, and hearty Friulian food. You’ll find locals sipping orange spritz in the shade of medieval arcades, and the mountains are a short drive away, making it a haven for hikers and cyclists.
While most skip Udine for bigger neighbours, this city rewards slow exploration. Learn about the city's turbulent Jewish past or stumble into tiny, independent bookshops and bakeries. Visit during the annual Friuli DOC food festival to experience one of northern Italy’s top cultural events, yet blissfully non-touristy. On weekends, locals slip away to Grado for beautiful, under-the-radar beaches where the pace is gloriously slow.
Cagliari, Sardinia
Perched above the turquoise sweep of the Mediterranean, Sardinia's capital tends to fly under the radar compared to mainland destinations like Florence, Rome, or Venice. Its colourful Castello neighbourhood, with its labyrinthine alleys, is perfect for discovering wine bars and seafood restaurants where locals outnumber visitors even in peak season. The city blends old-world charm and contemporary cool—don’t be surprised if you stumble upon live jazz on a medieval street corner.
For an off-the-beaten-track experience, catch the bus to Poetto Beach, beloved by Cagliaritani for early morning swims and sunset aperitifs. Tucked-away trattorias dish up fregola with local clams, while secret coves just outside the city offer some of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige
Nestled where the Alps meet northern Italy, Trento is an outdoor lover’s paradise. This city shines for its mountain air, Austro-Italian cuisine, and quality of life that’s hard to top. Weekends mean hiking pine-scented trails or enjoying hearty local dishes—think canederli dumplings and apple strudel—in sunlit restaurants surrounded by snow-capped peaks.
What many miss is Trento’s quirky side. Riverside cycle paths double as wine routes, and summer brings open-air cinema in medieval squares. It's the sort of beautiful place where you can finish a city stroll with a morning on a mountain or a dip in pristine Lake Caldonazzo. Far from the crowds, Trento is the definition of a hidden gem and a model for sustainable Italian living.
Arezzo, Tuscany
Arezzo is Tuscany without the tourist throng. Here, mornings start with rich espresso at the corner bar, and afternoons wander through art-filled churches and antiques fairs that spill into cobbled streets. Food is at the heart of Arezzo life—try local pici pasta or grilled Chianina steaks straight from the countryside.
The city is home to the Giostra del Saracino, a thrilling medieval jousting event that has the whole town talking for weeks in advance—one of Italy’s most exciting hidden gems for tradition and pageantry. Surrounded by rolling hills but rarely mentioned in guidebooks, Arezzo might just be the least touristy part of Italy’s most famous region.
Orvieto, Umbria
Orvieto’s skyline is instantly memorable thanks to its fairy-tale duomo, or church, perched atop sheer cliffs. A town that’s managed to keep its secret status, Orvieto’s underground tunnels and Etruscan caves pique the interest of explorers, while wine lovers will rejoice at the local white.
What many overlook is the Pozzo di San Patrizio, an ingenious historic well carved deep into volcanic rock. Orvieto’s surrounding countryside is dotted with hidden farm stays and olive groves, offering some of Italy’s best off-the-beaten-path food experiences and endless slow sunrise walks.
Sulmona, Abruzzo
Sulmona may be more of a town than a city, but it packs in plenty of charm and history for its size. The place is as beautiful as any Italian postcard, set against the Apennine mountains and famous for confetti—brightly coloured sugar almonds you’ll see everywhere. But there’s more under the surface: a lively local market, spring water fountains, and a close-knit community that welcomes newcomers with open arms.
One insider secret? The wild Gorge of Sagittarius, just outside town, is a hiker’s paradise and almost unknown to foreign visitors. In spring, pink cherry blossoms line Sulmona’s medieval streets, making it one of Italy’s most picturesque towns without the crowds—a true non-touristy marvel.
Parma, Emilia-Romagna
Home to some of Italy’s best-known food, including Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma ham, the city tends to slip past the attention of most international visitors. Locals balance tradition with creativity: opera at the Teatro Regio, open-air jazz, and art nouveau cafés where conversations last for hours.
Stroll into the Oltretorrente neighbourhood, a lively, authentic enclave filled with trattorias and university students. Parma’s leafy parks, like the regal Parco Ducale, and rich architecture make it one of northern Italy’s most beautiful, underrated places to live or just unwind for the weekend.
A taste of Piedmont: best sights, food, and wine
Piedmont is a fascinating corner of Italy, a place where grand, elegant cities sit against a backdrop of snow-dusted alpine peaks. But deciding what to see in Piedmont is about more than just ticking off the sights. What’s on your plate is just as important as the historic palaces and vineyard views. Spend the morning exploring a royal residence and the afternoon tasting some of the world's most revered wines for a well-rounded and blissful day in the northern region of Piedmont.
Discover the charming Tuscan village where Leonardo da Vinci was born
Just 50 kilometres from Florence and close to Empoli, Vinci is a charming Tuscan village famous for being the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. Surrounded by rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards, it’s the perfect destination for a cultural day trip or a relaxing escape in the heart of Tuscany.
Living in Piedmont: where Alpine views meet vineyard valleys
Piedmont sits in Italy's northwest corner, sharing a border with France and Switzerland under the watchful gaze of the Alps. Its Italian name, Piemonte, translates to 'foot of the mountain', a fitting description for a region of grand landscapes and sophisticated cities. The mix of urban elegance and deep-rooted rural traditions makes living in Piedmont an experience rich with culture, world-class gastronomy and magical natural beauty.
Things to do in Turin: palaces, chocolate & Alpine views
Sat in the northwest of Italy with the Alps providing a magnificent backdrop, Turin is a city of elegant architecture and grand squares. As the first-ever capital of a unified Italy, its royal past is evident in the palaces and wide, arcaded streets. The city is also a focal point for Piedmont's food culture, especially its chocolate and the cherished evening aperitivo.
Living in Turin: life between the Alps and the arcades
The capital of the Piedmont region is a place of understated elegance, a city of royal palaces and grand arcades that also served as the engine room of Italy's industrial heyday. As Italy’s fourth-largest city, with a population of just under 900,000, Turin, or Torino, has all the amenities of a major urban centre but without the chaotic energy of Rome or Milan.
Things to do on Lake Orta: swapping crowds for Piedmont's quiet spot
When it comes to visiting Italy's lakes, most people head straight for Como or Garda. But there's a quieter and arguably even more magical spot: Lake Orta. Tucked away in Piedmont, it's a pre-alpine lake with a serene atmosphere and a collection of sleepy, olde-worlde villages. Lake Orta is brimming with things to do and surely tops the list for the least touristy lakes in Italy.
The tallest building in Italy & other modern skyscrapers
For centuries, the Italian skyline was defined by terracotta rooftops and cathedral domes rather than modern skyscrapers. This historic character is so protected that high-rises are a rare sight, mostly concentrated in the business districts of cities like Milan and Naples. Before the age of glass and steel, the title for the tallest building in Italy belonged to the Mole Antonelliana in Turin. Completed in 1889, its 167.5-metre spire was an architectural wonder of its time.