Italy’s most magical corners are often the ones that attract the fewest visitors. In Emilia-Romagna, Brisighella seems to rise straight from a Renaissance painting, with rocky hills, lone towers and crooked trees forming a dramatic natural backdrop.
Inside the town, centuries-old alleys lead from one quiet courtyard to another. A unique elevated walkway winds above the streets, offering tucked-away viewpoints and glimpses of the surrounding hills. Brisighella invites you to slow down and explore with intention.
On Sicily’s Via dei Frati, travellers discover a different sort of tranquillity. This 54-mile trail between Caltanissetta and Cefalù crosses the Madonie mountains, where hikers may go days without seeing another tourist. Villages like Gangi welcome them with warm smiles and simple meals.
Basilicata’s Venosa adds layers of ancient history. Roman ruins lie scattered across the town, while Jewish catacombs and a fortress-like castle stand as reminders of its rich past. Nearby, Melfi, Lagopesole and Pietragalla offer equally striking and under-visited landmarks.
Elsewhere in Italy, travellers find an off-grid eco-hotel in the Apennines, Cividale’s medieval beauty, Chioggia’s canal networks, the rugged mountains around Santo Stefano d’Aveto and the vast Roman remains of Urbs Salvia. These are the destinations that reveal Italy at its purest and most authentic.
