If your idea of Italy is endless crowds, these destinations will change your mind. In Emilia-Romagna, Brisighella rises out of the landscape with dramatic rocky hills and solitary towers that evoke an earlier age. The setting feels theatrical, yet remains remarkably peaceful.
The town’s old quarter is made for slow exploration. Cobbled alleyways wind between houses, and an elevated walkway offers glimpses into courtyards and across valley views. There’s no rush here – just the gentle rhythm of local life.
Down in Sicily, the Via dei Frati offers hikers an immersive 54-mile journey from Caltanissetta to Cefalù. Crossing the Madonie mountains, it delivers silence, big skies and a sense that the landscape belongs entirely to you for the day. Villages such as Gangi mark the end of each stage with hearty food and genuine curiosity about visiting walkers.
Basilicata’s Venosa, though remote, is rich in history. Roman ruins, ancient catacombs and a striking castle are all within close reach. The region’s lesser-known fortresses and palaces – like those at Melfi, Lagopesole and Pietragalla – offer even more to explore, supported by excellent local cuisine and wine.
Scattered elsewhere are an eco-hotel in the Apennines reached by a dirt track, complete with river swimming and starlit dinners; Cividale with its Lombard chapel and emerald river; Chioggia’s canals and Adriatic beaches; Santo Stefano d’Aveto’s network of mountain trails; Loazzolo’s sweet wines and autumn colours; and Urbs Salvia’s archaeological park, where Roman ruins stand in near solitude. Together, they reveal an Italy where time stretches and space is still abundant.