Millions of people flock to Italy’s major art towns each year, and with good reason. However, Italy’s vastly diversified country is brimming with beautiful, lesser-known sites, many of which are off the usual tourist path. This is our pick of the greatest little towns and villages, including peaceful, sun-drenched seaside villages, magnificent Baroque bastions, and ancient hilltop towns. Fantastic cuisine and wine, friendly hospitality, and a sense of having discovered something unique will all be rewarded for your efforts.
9 Beautiful Small Towns in Italy
- Dozza, Bologna
- Colletta di Castelbianco, Liguria
- Castelluccio, Umbria
- Gubbio, Umbria
- Acireale, Sicily
- Vogogna, Piedmont
- Cortina d’Ampezzo, Veneto
- Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abruzzo
- Civita di Bagnoregio, Lazio
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1. Dozza, Bologna
The town of Dozza is like an open-air art museum for lovers of the fine arts. Colorful murals are sprayed all across the town’s walls, streets, houses, and squares. Visit during the summer for the wine festival, or during the third week of September for the magnificent Biennial Exhibition of the Painted Wall. The Rocca di Dozza, or Dozza Fortress, is one of the city’s most well-known landmarks. The castle, which dates back to the 14th century, was a private property until 1960 when it was opened to the public and has since functioned as a museum.
2. Colletta di Castelbianco, Liguria
Colletta di Castelbianco, a stone-built hamlet in the Maritime Alps, was formerly an abandoned hamlet. The town, which dates back to the 13th century, has been meticulously repaired and modernised with contemporary amenities such as broadband Internet and satellite TV. The cobblestone lanes wind their way up a steep slope, revealing magnificent views of stone buildings and brightly painted fixtures. The remote town is excellent for a quiet holiday with a loved one who enjoys cycling, postcard-perfect walks through the hills, and rock climbing in the fresh air.
3. Castelluccio, Umbria
Castelluccio, the highest town in Umbria’s Apennines, is famous for the lentils grown in the surrounding fields. Every year, between May and July, an amazing tapestry of colour erupts across the monochrome plains in a phenomenon known locally as Fiorita or Fioritura, which means “the blossoming.” As the name implies, this is the time of year when millions of flowers bloom throughout the plateau, painting the landscape in vivid colours. Every year on the third and last Sunday in June, the Feast of the Fiorita is held to commemorate the blossoming.
4. Gubbio, Umbria
Umbria is known for being Tuscany without the visitors. Despite the fact that the area is densely packed with charming villages, Gubbio is excellent for a genuine Italian experience. Wander the cobblestone streets by foot, stopping to try truffles, shop for pottery, or delve into exquisite pastas as you want. Ensure that you’ve got your italian basics right.
5. Acireale, Sicily
The sad romance of the shepherd Acis and the lovely nymph Galatea is ingrained in mythology on Sicily’s eastern coast. According to one version of the myth, the Cyclops Polyphemus was envious of Galatea’s love for Acis and struck the shepherd down. When the gods heard Galatea’s sorrowful wails for her fallen love, they turned Acis’ ashes into a river that flowed from the foothills to the sea, allowing the lovers to be reunited. The city is now brimming with art and architecture, making it perfect for boutique shopping and gelato sampling. The town is also known for having one of the greatest Carnivale festivities in Sicily.
6. Vogogna, Piedmont
Vogogna is located in the heart of the Val d’Ossola and is still relatively unknown to tourists. The quiet main street is lined with colourful houses and interrupted by the noises of daily life as the people of the tiny town go about their business. Visconti Castle, which juts prominently above the village and dates back to the 1300s, is the town’s major attraction. The remnants of an old fortification from the 9th or 10th century may be found just outside the castle.
7. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Veneto
Cortina d’Ampezzo is a tiny yet prominent winter sports town with a thousand-year history. The alpine location has been drawing winter sports enthusiasts since the late 1800s and is well-known for its outstanding skiing. The town, which is located at the foot of the Dolomite Mountains, is beautiful all year and provides a range of enjoyable excursions anytime you come owing to its use of buses and cable cars that will transport you to stunning vistas and mountain eateries.
8. Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abruzzo
The magnificent beauty of Gran Sasso National Park surrounds Santo Stefano di Sessanio. The quiet town is a walled medieval hamlet with a population of approximately 100 people. Because of its small population, this location’s architectural history has been conserved during the previous century of modernization and is an exceptional example of a medieval Italian hill town. Explore the historic homes, tiny galleries, and quiet cafés along the stepped stone streets.
9. Civita di Bagnoregio, Lazio
If you wish to go to Civita di Bagnoregio, you should go as soon as possible. The city is perched high above a volcanic plateau that is progressively eroding. Both the settlement and the slope it stands on will eventually be gone. However, it is now stable and safe to visit. The small hamlet is about 2,500 years old and has only one major entrance via a stone arch. Make a day trip out of it to take in the beautiful vistas and cobblestone streets.
As you may have surmised by now, Europe has a broad variety of landscapes that may be explored at any time of year. Have you arrived at the most ideal moment to visit Europe? So, what’s stopping you from planning an incredible itinerary to tackle the Peninsula of Peninsulas? Make one as soon as possible! Check out Pickyourtrail’s numerous Italy packages to make your European Dream a reality!