Italy’s best-kept secrets lie off the main tourist routes. Brisighella in Emilia-Romagna, surrounded by rocky hills and solitary towers, feels like a scene from an ancient legend.
Inside the town, medieval alleys and a unique elevated walkway create a maze of quiet corners. Brisighella is ideal for meandering strolls or longer hikes into the hills.
On Sicily’s Via dei Frati, the 54-mile trail reveals mountain vistas untouched by tourism. The warmth of village life in places like Gangi makes each stop memorable.
Basilicata’s Venosa offers Roman ruins, ancient catacombs and its iconic castle. Around it stand the fortresses of Melfi and Lagopesole — monumental, majestic and remarkably uncrowded.
Italy’s hidden places include Cividale’s medieval treasures, Chioggia’s canals, Santo Stefano d’Aveto’s rugged trails, Loazzolo’s truffle-rich hills and the expansive Roman remains at Urbs Salvia. This is Italy far from the noise — and all the more beautiful for it.