Italy's Hidden Gems: 12 Places Beyond Rome, Florence and Venice

Rome, Florence and Venice deserve their fame – but they're also crowded and expensive. Italy is full of places just as beautiful that most visitors never see. These twelve hidden gems, from cave towns to island villages, show a quieter, more local side of the country.

Southern Italy

1. Matera, Basilicata

The Sassi of Matera – ancient cave dwellings carved into a ravine – were once a symbol of poverty and are now a UNESCO site with cave hotels and restaurants. At dusk, when the lights come on, it's unforgettable.

2. Polignano a Mare and the Itria Valley, Puglia

Polignano's whitewashed old town sits on cliffs above a tiny beach. Inland, the Itria Valley is dotted with cone-roofed trulli in Alberobello and white towns such as Ostuni and Locorotondo.

3. Procida

Smaller and less touristy than Capri, Procida in the Bay of Naples has pastel fishing houses at Marina Corricella. It's easily reached by ferry – see our Naples city break guide.

4. Cefalù and Ortigia, Sicily

Cefalù has a Norman cathedral and a beach beneath a dramatic rock; Ortigia, the island old town of Syracuse, has Baroque squares and Greek ruins. See our Palermo guide.

Central Italy

5. Civita di Bagnoregio, Lazio

Perched on an eroding hilltop and reached by a footbridge, Civita is often called "the dying town". Its handful of lanes are magical early in the morning.

6. Le Marche

Between the Apennines and the Adriatic, Le Marche has Renaissance Urbino, hill towns, the Conero coast and Tuscan-style landscapes without the crowds.

7. Orvieto and Umbria

Orvieto's cathedral façade is one of Italy's most spectacular, and Umbrian towns such as Spello, Assisi and Bevagna are quieter alternatives to Tuscany.

8. Bologna

The food capital of Italy has medieval towers, kilometres of porticoes and some of the best eating in the country – tagliatelle al ragù, mortadella and tortellini.

Northern Italy

9. Lake Orta, Piedmont

A small, romantic alternative to Lake Como, with the island of San Giulio and the village of Orta San Giulio. See also our Lake Como guide.

10. Trieste

A port city with Habsburg architecture, grand cafés and a Central European feel, Trieste sits right on the Adriatic near the Slovenian border.

11. The Dolomites

Jagged peaks, alpine pastures and lakes such as Lago di Braies make the Dolomites spectacular for hiking in summer and skiing in winter. Base yourself in Val Gardena or Cortina.

12. Cinque Terre's quieter neighbours

Instead of the crowded Cinque Terre villages, try Portovenere, Tellaro or Camogli on the Ligurian coast.

Tips

• Use trains for cities; rent a car for Puglia, Le Marche and the Dolomites.
• Travel in shoulder season for better prices.
• Eat local: each region has its own pasta, wine and specialities.