The UN Best Tourism Villages initiative puts Italy in the frame for 2025 with three villages. Each is recognised for distinct traditions, a strong sense of place, and a clear commitment to responsible tourism.
What is the UN Best Tourism Villages initiative?
The UN project sets out to recognise villages that put their cultural and natural identity front and centre, with rural economies that truly benefit local people and keep heritage in everyday life. More than an award, it’s a nod to places where people care about local identity, eco-friendly ways of working, and genuine, small-scale hospitality.
For 2025, the award goes to communities judged by an independent panel across nine areas. Places are judged on things like how heritage is protected, how environmental and social sustainability play out, how well tourism supports local industries and crafts, and whether public services and infrastructure support both visitors and residents. It also rates how a village manages growth and stays resilient, emphasising access, safety, and community voice in decision-making.
UN Best Tourism Villages in Italy 2025
Arquà Petrarca, Veneto
Arquà Petrarca brings the olde worlde feel of the Euganean Hills alive. With winding lanes, medieval stone and a landscape enlivened by olive groves, it feels like time moves more slowly here. The spirit of the poet Petrarch is very much in the air, and the village preserves both his house and the festivals that honour him.
Local winemakers and olive growers support the economy, pairing tradition with careful land management. The locals are keen to balance gentle tourism with the daily rhythms of rural life, keeping things community-first even as day-trippers roll in.
Things to do in Arquà Petrarca
A wander through leafy lanes brings you to Petrarch’s home and museum, where you get a feel for Italy’s literary past without the crowds. Tasting local olive oil or a glass of Colli Euganei wine at one of the old arcaded osterie, you’ll see how food and landscape are tied together here. Folklore festivals pull in visitors from the region, giving you a flavour of time-honoured traditions that define village life.
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Asolo, Veneto
Asolo lifts the gaze from the surrounding plains to the rolling foothills of the Alps, with ramparts, cobbled porticoes and time-worn villas scattered across the slopes. Known as the “city of a hundred horizons,” its legacy is all about openness. Artists and writers have flocked here for centuries, drawn by the layered architecture, hidden gardens and a certain poetic flair.
Care for the environment is reflected in how the community restores buildings, supports organic food producers and gives local crafts a prominent place in markets and events.
Things to do in Asolo
Climbing up to the Rocca fortress rewards you with panoramic views, especially at sunset when the hills turn golden. Local cafés spill out onto the arcades—an easy spot for a spritz or an artisanal ice cream. Hop between independent boutiques or join a pottery workshop with lifelong residents, and you’ll get a taste of Asolo’s enduring, low-key creativity.
Bellano, Lombardy
Bellano sits on the wind-swept northern shore of Lake Como, backed by steep green hills and crossed by the dramatic Orrido gorge. History here is entwined with water, weaving, and a certain literary streak that still lingers in the air.
The village has channelled investment into protecting its lakeside and promoting slow tourism—boat rides, lakeside walks, and a passion for craft traditions rather than cliché postcard moments. Sustainability isn’t a buzzword but part of the day-to-day, from supporting small farms to looking after trail networks and holding events that loop in both locals and visitors.
Things to do in Bellano
Step into the Orrido di Bellano and lose yourself in the thundering soundscape of waterfalls and twisted rock. After a lakeside passeggiata, visit one of the co-op workshops where you can see textiles and pottery made the old way. Find a table by the water for a quiet aperitivo as dusk settles on the lake.
Exploring rural Italy
Weekends in rural Italy tend to be simple and satisfying: slow train rides into hill country, trattorie that still cook to the season, and long rambles between vineyards and chestnut woods.
Living or moving to rural Italy is rewarding if you go in with your eyes open. Services can be limited and commutes longer, so it helps to understand the reality of rural life in Italian villages. A good idea is to compare the best places to live in the Italian countryside before choosing a base.
Some regions are actively encouraging newcomers, including in Trentino, where they are offering grants to revitalise abandoned villages. And if you're planning to make the move to the Italian countryside on a shoestring, check out the cheapest Italian villages to live in 2025 to keep costs lean.
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