Even a country as magnificent as Italy has overlooked corners – not unexplored corners: they are few and far between – but towns, villages and landscapes that are wonderfully interesting but for whatever reason fall outside the main tour.
Consider our overlooked five as a starting point. Mantua is not to be missed, but the same can be said for nearby Vicenza, Modena and Ferrara: see them too. If you already know about Noto and Iblei in Sicily, also check out the Madonie mountains, Enna or Erice. Add Trevi, Norcia, Bettona and Valnerina to your list in Umbria.
And of course, remember that five destinations barely scratch the surface of Italy’s overlooked gems. This includes large parts of southern Italy, such as the hill towns of Molise or the mountainous regions of Abruzzo east of Rome. All cities – especially Trieste – see very few visitors compared to Florence or Milan.
Even sidereal spins have unspoken immediate neighbors. In Tuscany, for example, Lucca or Siena are close to the little-known mountains of Orecchiella and the Etruscan heartlands of the Maremma: Lakes Iseo and Orta are a short drive from Garda and Maggiore. In Italy, once you start looking, overlooked things are never too far away.
Valle Maira, Piedmont
Southwest of Turin, heading high into the Alps, there are several hidden and half-forgotten valleys; Among them, Valle Maira (vallemaira.org) is the most attractive, not only for its magnificent views, but also for its food and beautiful wood. host villages – don’t miss Elva – and magnificent folk and other works of art.
Ancient Occitan culture – and parts of the language – still prevail, especially along the old trade routes over the mountains; Most of these are connected by the Percorsi Occitani (percorsioccitani.com), an excellent long-distance trail that can easily be tackled halfway through. – or full-day walks or bike rides.
As the nearest airport is Turin, independent travel is easily organized and there is plenty to keep you busy for a week or more. If you prefer a package, Inntravel (inntravel.co.uk) offers an eight-night, self-guided walking tour of the valley for £1,440 per person, excluding flights.
Where to stay
On the north side of the valley is Locanda del Silenzio ( locandadelsilenzio.com ; doubles from £115), which is perfectly situated for exploring. Ceaglio (ceaglio-vallemaira.it; from £84 per person half board) on the south side of the valley is equally attractive and well located.
To go
Late May to June is perfect for walking, but October, which often brings clear blue skies, is also appealing, especially for runners who can follow or join the MOT (mairaoccitantrail.it), widely regarded as the most beautiful trail in Europe. -The running thing.
Mantua
Mantua’s lack of visitors is a mystery; perhaps it’s the lack of an obvious airport, or the fact that its medieval heyday was followed by centuries of obscurity. Yet it is a gorgeous and romantic town (and a World Heritage Site), lined with canals, beautifully framed by lakes, and home to two of the greatest historic sites in Europe, let alone Italy: Palazzo Te (centropalazzote.it), Mannerist a masterpiece and even more spectacular is the 1,000-room Palazzo Ducale Mantova (mantovaducale.beniculturei.it), with frescoes by Mantegna and others, and the former home of Mantua’s rulers, Gonzaga.
The walled, medieval heart of the town is also a delight, full of shady arcades, cobblestone streets, lush gardens and plenty of excellent little restaurants.
Where to stay
For a feast in Mantua’s main square, head to Palazzo Castiglioni (palazzocastiglionimantova.com; doubles from £221) or Hotel Broletto (brolettohotel.com; double bed and breakfast from £85). The closest airport to Mantua is Verona; It is 40 minutes by road or an hour by train.
To go
Mantua (turismo.mantova.it) has a rich cultural life, especially in early summer, with many open-air concerts and other events, especially Mantova Live (mantova-live.it) in July.
Montefalco, Umbria
Umbria’s main towns, Perugia, Assisi, Spoleto and Orvieto, are well known. More important are their smaller centres, of which Montefalco on the high hill is a perfect example. Its centre, located in the majestic Piazza del Comune, has a jumble of small, art-filled churches, notably Sant’Agostino and the fresco-filled Santa Illuminata in the distance. Even better, it has an outstanding museum (museomontefalco.it), even by Italy’s high standards, thanks to Florentine artist Benozzo Gozzoli’s extraordinary cycle of frescoes on the Life of St Francis (1452).
The food is great – dine at the well-established Il Coccorone (coccorone.it) – and the wine is even better, as the town is home to a fine red, the incomparable Sagrantino, and an even better dessert wine, Sagrantino Passito. Two events dedicated to the town’s wine in June and September (consorziomontefalco.it/even) provide the perfect excuse to visit in 2024.
Where to stay
Palazzo Bontadosi Hotel & Spa (hotelbontadosi.it; doubles from £161) is a beautiful Renaissance palace perfectly located in Montefalco’s main square.
To go
September is the month for the wine festival and spring (late April to May) for sightseeing, given that Montefalco is an excellent base from which to explore Umbria’s other towns. In autumn, truffles, porcini and other seasonal dishes appear in restaurants.
Monti Iblei, Sicily
Monti Iblei (valdinoto.it) is a region of high, rugged country in the southeast corner of Sicily. As with much of Sicily, the view alone merits a visit – there’s plenty of walking and cycling – but this gorgeous little enclave also includes three beautiful historic hills called Ragusa (visitragusa.it), Noto (visitsicily.info/en) It also has a town. /noto/) and Modica (modica.it) stand out for their outstanding Baroque architecture and a growing reputation for exceptional food and wine.
A slow and scenic train (trenitalia.com) is a great way to wander between towns and visit Syracuse, already known for its Roman and Greek ruins. Don’t overlook smaller villages like Scicli and Vizzini, Neolithic sites like Pantalica (pantalica.org), and a few quiet seaside villages like Pozzallo and Sampieri with beautiful, unspoiled beaches.
Where to stay
Noto’s Q92 (q92notohotel.com; doubles from £259) and Locanda Don Serafino (locandadonserafino.it; doubles from £131) are in Ragusa. More reasonable is Novecento in Scicli (hotel900.it; doubles from £68); Palazzo Failla in Modica (palazzofailla.it; doubles from £96); and Masseria degli Ulivi (masseriadegliulivi.com; doubles from £89), outside Noto.
To go
Time your visit for one or more of the region’s many festivals and events (eventi.valdinoto.it), especially the July food festival (festivalcucinaiblea.it). Aim for spring for manageable touring temperatures, especially around Easter (Pasqua), when many towns hold spectacular traditional parades.
Sardinia
Italians have long favored Sardinia as an excellent beach holiday destination. It’s no wonder that many white sandy beaches and turquoise seas with shallow, warm waters are found in Polynesia or the Caribbean. But foreigners remain largely in the dark, perhaps because the island is so little documented that low-cost flights to Alghero, Cagliari and Olbia are becoming more common.
You’ve added another reason to visit in 2024 as two leading luxury hotel groups open properties on the island: Belmond, which will open the doors of its Romazzino property on the Costa Smeralda on May 30, and Rocco Forte Hotels, which will open Liscia di Vacca on May 30. 2024 (or early 2025) near Porto Cervo, the most exclusive spot on the island.
Where to stay
Romazzino is already taking reservations (belmond.com); For updates on Liscia di Vacca reservations, visit roccofortehotels.com.
To go
Temperatures continue to be suitable for beach holidays in Sardinia in June, July and September, and even into October. Whether you stay in one of the newer hotels or one of the many smaller beach resorts around the island, August is busy and prices are high.