Beyond Rome and Venice: Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations in Italy

Italy is a country with considerable appeal to tourists. Major cities like Rome and Venice, along with iconic stretches of coastline like Amalfi, tend to dominate the conversation – but to focus on these must-see locations is often to overlook some of Italy’s hidden gems.

So, what lesser-known parts of the country might you consider for your Italy trips? Let’s take a closer look.

Matera: The Ancient Cave City

Matera is one of the oldest cities anywhere in the world, and it’s perhaps best known for its ‘Sassi’ districts – which were carved directly from pre-existing limestone caves. As such, it draws comparisons with other, perhaps better-known ancient cities, like Petra in Jordan.

In 1993, the city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, thanks to its unique cultural significance. Pay a visit and you’ll quickly realise that there’s nowhere else in the country quite like it!

Alberobello: The Trulli Town

This obscure commune can be found in the middle of Apulia, toward the south. It’s distinctive, thanks to its cone-roofed ‘Trulli’ houses, which make up much of the town. These buildings exemplify corbelled dry-stone building techniques, which date to prehistoric times. Take a stroll through the town, and you might feel that you’ve walked into a fairytale setting – because these buildings seem to belong to an entirely different world!

Lecce: The Baroque Jewel of Puglia

Lecce has earned the nickname ‘Florence of the South.’ The comparison is apt, thanks to the abundance of amazing Baroque architecture in the middle of the city. Among the best attractions are the Roman amphitheater and the Basilica di Santa Croce – which even shares its name with a similar cathedral in Florence. The city has a distinct visual character: all of the buildings are made from gold-hued stone, which was mined from the ground that they stand on. In the city center, you’ll find buildings that have stood since Roman times – and even for centuries before that!

Isola d’Elba: Tuscany’s Hidden Island Gem

A trip through the rolling hills and sleepy medieval villages of Tuscany might be the stuff from which a dream holiday to Italy is made. But you won’t want to overlook the appeal of a small island off the region’s coast, called Isola d’Elba. It’s here that Napoleon spent much of his exile – but today, it’s better known for fantastic wine, and an array of wonderful seafood-based delicacies.