Italy is beautiful everywhere: grandiose Rome, Renaissance Florence, romantic Verona, fashionable Milan – each city is special, vibrant, and alluring, interesting for gourmets, architectural enthusiasts, and adventure seekers. But the true “dolce vita,” without noise, pomp, and tourist trinkets, awaits far beyond popular locations. And while sanctuaries like Cinque Terre and Positano have already been discovered and fill with guests, there are still places where blessed silence rings, disturbed only by rustling leaves, whispering waves, and the voices of signoras calling for lunch.
Orta San Giulio
San Giulio is an idyllic piece of land in the middle of Lake Orta in Piedmont, a 20-minute ferry ride from coastal Orta San Giulio. Both the town and the island are very compact, with almost no cars, no one hurries anywhere, so relaxation here equals an escape from civilization. It’s no wonder that the greats fled here – Nietzsche, Balzac, and Browning enjoyed the peace and caught inspiration.
Lake Orta’s landscapes are no less spectacular than Lake Como’s, but with far fewer tourists.
Orta San Giulio is a maze of narrow streets with unremarkable houses, among which you suddenly encounter luxurious Moorish mansions, villas with towers and frescoes. Most of San Giulio Island is occupied by a UNESCO-protected Benedictine monastery. You can stay at Hotel San Rocco, which was once another holy dwelling.
Burano
While Venice needs no introduction, its picturesque surroundings haven’t yet gained worldwide popularity. And this coincidence is clearly fortunate: tourists don’t expect miracles and are amazed when they see Burano. Neat, toy-like houses in all rainbow colors line up along winding canals. The island has long been famous for lace, with even a whole museum dedicated to it, but colorful shops also sell glass from neighboring, more famous Murano – no need to run for souvenirs in the expensive center.
In Burano, you must try “risotto de go” with freshly caught goby fish and “buranelli” shortbread cookies, bent into rings or S-shapes.
Alberobello
When arriving in Alberobello, the most amazing town in Apulia, you don’t immediately understand if the surroundings are real or sets for a hobbit movie. But this is no film: there are actually 1,500 snow-white conical limestone houses called “trulli” packed together here. Some have survived since the 14th century – no wonder the ensemble is protected by UNESCO.
Italians and their neighbors are well aware of Alberobello, so it’s better to visit off-season – from October to April it’s cooler but much quieter.
The Rione Aia Piccola district is less commercial than Rione Monti, where cafes, hotels, and souvenir shops occupy every corner. After thoroughly examining the endless trulli, you can visit the Sovrano Museum (naturally dedicated to trulli life), the Church of St. Anthony (located, of course, in a trullo) and stay overnight at Trulli Holiday Resort (no comments needed).
Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa
Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa are nestled in the province of Potenza, surrounded by the imposing Dolomite Alps. The beauty is breathtaking: white stone houses with rusty roofs crowd among forests, valleys, and jagged cliffs. But the most interesting feature is the zipline connecting both villages, one of the highest and longest in the world. The 3-minute flight over the abyss is unforgettable; thrill-seekers will be delighted.
The main architectural monuments include the Church of Santa Maria dell’Olmo, legendarily founded by the Templars, the San Giacomo Maggiore temple with masterful frescoes, the Monastery of St. Francis of Assisi, and ruins of a medieval castle. Both Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa offer guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, and apartments, but it’s better to stay in the surrounding area – in charming farmhouses like Grotta-Eremita: complete immersion in Italian mountain life guaranteed.
Bergamo
Bergamo is certainly well-known: Truffaldino from Carlo Goldoni’s comedy made it famous for centuries. But few have visited the birthplace of the trickster, which is a shame, as there’s plenty to admire. One of Lombardy’s coziest cities lies between the majestic Alps and the Po River valley and consists of two completely different parts in architecture and mood, connected by a cable car.
Città Alta is the upper city, built on a hill and surrounded by 16th-century fortress walls, while Città Bassa is the lower, modern and dynamic part.
After exploring Bergamo thoroughly, it’s worth visiting Italy’s highest waterfall, Serio, which was featured in the Oscar-winning film “Call Me by Your Name.” For recovery after sightseeing, we recommend the luxurious Relais San Lorenzo – the only five-star hotel in the city.
Lucca
Lucca – a fortress city frozen in Renaissance times – is just an hour’s train ride from Florence. But don’t plan a day trip, as you’ll definitely want to stay longer. After its rich history – this is where the First Triumvirate, the alliance of Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus, was formed. For incredible landscapes reminiscent of Impressionist paintings. For delicious food – Tuscany is a magnet for gourmets in general.
The numerous villas, palaces, and temples are best explored by bicycle.
For the full experience, you can stay at Fabbrica di San Martino – a solid 18th-century mansion with antique furniture, a swimming pool, and a garden. And most importantly, with a rich wine cellar – local organic and biodynamic wines are excellent.
Budelli
The protected island of Budelli north of Sardinia gained popularity thanks to Michelangelo Antonioni – the classic filmmaker shot “Red Desert” here, which won the Golden Lion. The pink beach, covered with shell fragments the color of dawn sun, served as the backdrop. However, sunbathing here is no longer possible: tourists were so eager to take the amazing sand as souvenirs that the beach was closed to visitors.
You can admire the pink coastline from ferries and boats, and it’s better to go in the evening when the sea is most transparent.
But swimming on the island is still possible: Cala del Cavaliere, Cala Piatta, and other beaches that miraculously fit into the 1.6 square kilometers area are also beautiful and clean. However, you’ll have to stay on other islands of the La Maddalena archipelago or on Sardinia, as Budelli is uninhabited.
