Italy

Places in Italy

• Abbiategrasso

  Abbiategrasso is a historic Lombard town of about 30,000 residents, located within the Lombard Park of the Ticino Valley. Its main attractions include the Castello Visconteo from 1381 and the 15th-century Convento dell'Annunciata.

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• Aegadian Islands

  The Aegadian Islands offer a rare combination of Mediterranean tranquility, ancient history, and pristine marine life. Set just 10 km off Sicily's western coast near Trapani and Marsala, these three islands — Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo — reward slow travelers with prehistoric cave paintings, restored Norman fortresses, and the largest marine protected area in the Mediterranean.

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• Agrigento

  Agrigento rises on a ridge above the sea, its honey-hued buildings unfolding across the hills. Behind it, vineyards and almond groves; below, the ancient Valley of the Temples with Doric temples.

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• Aidone

  Aidone is a quiet medieval hilltop town in Enna province, Sicily, overlooking lush valleys and mountains. It serves as the modern gateway to Morgantina, one of Sicily's most important ancient Greek archaeological sites.

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• Albenga

  Albenga is an ancient town in Liguria with a well-preserved historical centre laid out in a Roman grid from the original castrum (fortified military camp). The town features many medieval towers rising above the rooftops and a modest but important 6th-century Baptistry.

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• Alberobello

  Alberobello is the world capital of the trullo, a unique conical-roofed stone dwelling built without mortar that dates back centuries. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site with approximately 1,500 trulli clustered in the Zona Monumentale, it offers one of Italy's most distinctive urban landscapes.

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• Alcamo

  Alcamo is a town in western Sicily's Trapani province, with a mild climate and central position on the Gulf of Castellammare offering views of Mount Bonifato and vineyard-covered hills. The combination of town, mountain, countryside, beach and sea provides a vacation full of contrasts.

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• Alcamo Marina

  Alcamo Marina is a seaside resort in the territory of Alcamo in western Sicily, characterized by thousands of holiday houses and attracted by its golden beaches stretching about 7 km along the Gulf of Castellammare. The resort offers visitors the possibility of visiting nearby tourist resorts while enjoying a more relaxed atmosphere than larger Sicilian destinations.

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• Alghero

  Alghero is a beautiful town on the north-western shore of Sardinia, Italy. It is best known for its stunning beaches, unique seafood cuisine, and Catalan heritage.

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• Amalfi

  Amalfi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the bigger towns on the Amalfi coast. It has squares connected by pedestrian streets full of restaurants, souvenir shops and tourists.

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• Ancona

  Ancona is the capital of Marche, a port city with a medieval center that survived wartime bombing. Its cathedral on Guasco hill offers sweeping views, and the ancient Roman Trajan Arch sits on the docks.

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• Andria

  Andria is a historic city of about 100,000 people in southern Italy's Apulia region, the fourth-largest town in the area. The city is famous for its wines, almonds, and olive oil production.

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• Aosta

  Aosta is a compact Alpine city where Roman history meets mountain recreation. Founded by Marcus Terentius Varro in 25 BC as Augusta Praetoria Salassorum for 3,000 retired veterans, the town preserves one of Italy's most complete Roman grids.

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• Arezzo

  Arezzo is a city in Tuscany, Italy that was an important Etruscan town. Its origins date back to the Stone Age, and it was one of 12 hill towns of the Etruscan League.

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• Ariano Irpino

  Ariano Irpino is a hill town of roughly 21,000 people in Campania, nicknamed "la Città del Tricolle" (City of the Three Knolls) because it rises on three rounded hills at 788 metres elevation. The town preserves Norman and medieval heritage under the Lombards, Normans, and Angevins—King Roger II held his famous Assizes here in the 12th century.

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• Ascoli Piceno

  Ascoli Piceno is one of the most beautiful but overlooked cities in central Italy. The entire historic center is built from local travertine limestone, giving it a warm honey-colored uniformity rare in Italian cities.

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• Assisi

  Assisi is a small medieval town perched on a hill in Umbria, Italy. Famous as the birthplace of St.

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• Avezzano

  Avezzano serves as the main gateway to the Marsica mountain region of Abruzzo. The city is rebuilt almost entirely after the catastrophic 1915 earthquake that destroyed the historic center, making it a living lesson in resilience and reconstruction.

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• Bagni San Filippo

  Bagni San Filippo is a tiny spa village nestled in the Val d'Orcia hills where thermal waters emerge at around 50°C, depositing brilliant white calcium carbonate formations along the creek. The main draw is bathing in the natural hot pools — completely free — set amid cypress-lined countryside.

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• Balestrate

  Balestrate is a compact seaside town suited to walking. A promenade and western beach are balanced by a long stretch of fine sand east of the center.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$108

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Bardonecchia

  Bardonecchia is a compact ski town in the upper Susa Valley, the last Italian settlement before the French border. It hosted snowboarding competitions for the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics and remains a serious winter sports destination with over 100 km of pistes across two ski areas.

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• Bari

  Bari is the largest and most important city of Apulia, on the Adriatic coast. It is a bustling commercial centre and port, with travellers leaving on ferries for neighbouring countries.

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• Bellagio

  Bellagio sits on a lush promontory dividing Lake Como into three distinct arms, making it one of the most photographed viewpoints in Italy. The town gained fame when celebrities and aristocracy began passing through in the 19th century; some stores still display photos of famous visitors.

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• Bergamo

  Bergamo is a scenic city in Lombardy, Italy, with a population of about 122,000. It is famous for its medieval upper town (Città Alta) and modern lower town (Città Bassa).

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• Bibione

  Bibione is a seaside town in Veneto, Italy, and the fourth seaside town in Italy by number of tourists. It offers a wide sandy beach and shallow water suitable for families.

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• Biella

  Biella is the largest town and capital of the province of Biella in Piedmont, Italy. It lies in the foothills of the Alps, an area rich in springs and lakes.

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• Bologna

  Bologna pairs a lively student atmosphere with terracotta roofs and covered porticos. Tagliatelle al ragù and tortellini give food a central place in a visit.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$114

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Bolzano

  Bolzano (Bozen) is the capital of South Tyrol, a bilingual city where Italian and German cultures blend. It is famous worldwide for the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, home of the alpine iceman Ötzi, and for its Christmas market.

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• Brescia

  Brescia is a rich industrial city in Lombardy, less known to tourists but rich in history and culture. It is the capital of the province and offers a mix of Roman ruins, medieval castles, and Renaissance art.

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• Brixen

  Brixen (Italian: Bressanone) is a historic South Tyrolean town that serves as both a cultural destination and an outdoor activity hub. The town is famous for its Christmas market held in the square in front of the cathedral, drawing visitors each December.

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• Busto Arsizio

  Busto Arsizio is a city of 83,000 people in Varese Province, Lombardy, at the northern limit of the Po Valley. While primarily an industrial center, it offers Renaissance churches, the Museum of Textiles documenting its textile manufacturing heritage, and serves as a transit hub connecting Milan with Varese and Gallarate.

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• Cagliari

  Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia, with about 155,000 inhabitants (2015) and a metropolitan area of over 431,000. It's a safe city with a historic old town, spectacular views of the Gulf of Cagliari, and easy day trips to the beach or archaeological sites.

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• Calatafimi Segesta

  Calatafimi Segesta's steep streets make walking a workout. Eufemio Castle and the Church of Santissimo Crocifisso help orient a visit.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$98

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Caltabellotta

  Caltabellotta is a striking hilltop town perched over 900 meters above sea level, offering dramatic panoramic views of olive groves, valleys, and the distant Mediterranean. With origins tracing back to the Sicans, Greeks, and Arabs, the town features Norman castle ruins, medieval alleys, and a remarkable concentration of churches—making it ideal for history buffs and cultural explorers seeking an authentic Sicilian experience away from tourist crowds.

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• Caltagirone

  Caltagirone is one of the eight UNESCO World Heritage-listed Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, famous for its ceramics tradition spanning centuries. The town is dominated by La Scala, a 142-step staircase with each riser decorated with different hand-painted ceramic tiles, offering panoramic views from the top.

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• Campione d'Italia

  Campione d'Italia is a 2km-long Italian exclave wedged inside Swiss Ticino, clinging to the shore of Lake Lugano. Its odd status means Swiss francs are the sole legal tender, Swiss phone/mail systems run here, and even firefighters and ambulances are Swiss — yet you're legally in Italy.

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• Canterano

  Canterano is a diminutive hilltop town in Lazio’s Appennine mountains, roughly 80 km inland from Rome’s coast. What sets it apart is its preservation: unspoiled nature, living local traditions, and a pace of life untouched by mass tourism.

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• Capri

  Capri, known in Greek mythology as the isle of the sirens, was a favored resort of the Roman emperors. The island is world-famous and very touristy, especially in July & August, but other times of year it is calmer and more relaxing.

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• Carini

  Carini draws visitors primarily for its shopping district, the Zona Industriale, which contains more than ten large shopping centres—one of the biggest retail areas in Sicily. History enthusiasts are attracted to the Castello di Carini, a Norman castle begun in 1075 and completed in 1090, with guided tours available in English.

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• Carpi

  Carpi is a large city of roughly 71,000 residents with a compact, walkable historic centre packed with Renaissance architecture. Founded in 752 AD and ruled by the Pio dynasty from 1319 to 1525, the city features Italy's third-largest piazza and numerous churches.

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• Caserta

  Caserta exists almost entirely because of the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace), a UNESCO-listed Bourbon palace that rivals Versailles in scale. During Italian summer holidays (August especially) it draws huge crowds, but the rest of the year the city is pleasantly sleepy with local markets and coffee bars.

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• Castel Goffredo

  Castel Goffredo is a small Lombard town of 13,000 people with a remarkably deep history, from Bronze Age settlements (1800-1200 BC) through Roman times to its role as capital of a small Gonzaga state in the 16th century. The town gained city status in 2002 and hosts a lively Carnival based on the characteristic mask of the Dumpling King (Re Gnocco).

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• Castelfranco Veneto

  Castelfranco Veneto is a small walled city between Treviso, Padova, and Vicenza that preserves one of Italy's best-maintained medieval fortifications. The city was founded in the 12th century when Treviso built a fortress here to defend against attacks from Padova, offering tax exemptions to entice residents, which gave the town its name (Castelfranco meaning 'free castle').

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• Castellammare del Golfo

  Castellammare del Golfo is a picturesque coastal town in Sicily, known for its historic harbour, charming old town, and scenic views over the Gulf of Castellammare. It serves as a gateway to the nearby Zingaro Nature Reserve and other attractions along Sicily’s northwestern coast.

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• Castellina

  Castellina in Chianti is a compact Tuscan hill town (2024 pop. 2,600) in the Siena province, roughly halfway between Florence and Siena.

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• Castiglion Fiorentino

  Castiglion Fiorentino is a charismatic medieval town of 13,000 residents in the Arezzo province, strategically positioned between Florence, Siena and Perugia. Founded as an Etruscan settlement and transformed during the medieval period, it offers visitors a well-preserved historic center with beautiful medieval walls, Renaissance structures and churches.

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• Catania

  Catania is a lively university city on Sicily's east coast. Mount Etna provides the backdrop to its coastal setting.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$89

  Best months

  Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

• Cefalù

  Cefalù is a charming fishing village turned beach resort on Sicily's north coast, offering a compact old town dominated by its massive Norman cathedral with Byzantine mosaics. The town combines UNESCO World Heritage history, a beautiful sandy beach, and easy access to both the Madonie mountains and the Aeolian Islands.

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• Cerveteri

  Cerveteri is a small Italian town famous for its remarkably well-preserved Etruscan Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site often called the 'city for the dead.' The necropolis showcases sophisticated town planning with carved tuff-rock tombs that visitors can explore. Located just an hour from Rome by bus, it offers a quiet, unhurried alternative to busy tourist sites, with trails behind the necropolis for hiking.

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• Cervia

  Cervia is a seasonal resort town on Italy's east coast where summer transforms a quiet village into a bustling beach destination. It attracts German tourists in large numbers and offers a mix of salt-production heritage and modern beach resort facilities.

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• Chianti

  Chianti is a premier wine destination offering world-class Sangiovese-based reds, traditional Tuscan cuisine, and stunning rolling countryside. Unlike crowded Florence or Siena, this region provides an authentic Italian experience with medieval hill towns, family-owned wineries, and agriturismi set amid olive groves and vineyards.

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• Chiaramonte Gulfi

  Chiaramonte Gulfi earns its nickname "Balcony of Sicily" with sweeping 360-degree vistas from its 668-meter hilltop perch—Mount Etna to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Erei Mountains to the west. The compact Baroque historic center offers quiet piazzas, historic churches, and artisan workshops without the tourist crowds of coastal destinations.

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• Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park

  The Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park is Italy's second largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site, spanning coastal cliffs, mountain trails, and ancient Greek settlements. The park maintains an unchanged harmony between nature and thousands of years of history, offering visitors pristine landscapes alongside archaeological treasures like Paestum's Greek temples and Velia's ruins.

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• Civita Castellana

  Civita Castellana preserves a remarkable artistic and archaeological heritage dating back 3,000 years to the Iron Age Falisci civilization. The city offers stunning Cosmatesque mosaics in its cathedral, an excellently preserved Renaissance fortress now housing Etruscan artifacts, and access to ancient Falerii Novi ruins just 6 km away.

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• Civitavecchia

  Civitavecchia serves as Rome's maritime gateway, handling hundreds of cruise ships and ferries annually to destinations across the Mediterranean including Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, Spain, and France. Beyond its port function, the city offers Roman archaeological sites, thermal baths, and a 16th-century Michelangelo-designed fortress.

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• Clusane

  Clusane is a 2,000-inhabitant village on the southern shore of Lake Iseo, part of the Franciacorta wine region. It is best known as "the village of the roasted tench" (paese della Tinca al Forno), serving this local fish specialty since the 18th century.

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• Colico

  Colico is Lake Como's fifth largest town with 7,700 inhabitants (2018), offering a quieter alternative to more tourist-heavy destinations on the lake. The town is famous for the Piona Abbey, a sublime first-Romanesque architectural complex with an 11th-century church and 14th-15th century frescoes.

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• Como

  Como combines a compact old town with a lakefront and access to lakeside villages. Its silk-making history adds a cultural thread to a stay by the water.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$126

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Coreca

  Coreca is a small coastal town in Calabria's Cosenza province, offering a quieter alternative to busier Italian beach destinations. The hamlet is notable for two Bronze Age karst caves, a partially ruined medieval watchtower with layers of Arab, Norman, and WWII history, and dramatic coastal rock formations.

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• Cortina d'Ampezzo

  Cortina d'Ampezzo is the most famous, fashionable and expensive Italian ski resort, nicknamed 'la Regina delle Dolomiti' — the Queen of the Dolomites. It lies in the Conca d'Ampezzo glacial trough in the high Boite Valley and attracts everyone from jet-setters to families, both in winter and summer.

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• Cortona

  Cortona is a hilltop town in Tuscany's Province of Arezzo, sitting at 600 metres elevation with magnificent panoramas in every direction. One of the twelve cities of the Etruscan League, it combines ancient history with Renaissance art, making it an appealing counterpoint to busier Tuscan destinations.

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• Cosenza

  Cosenza is the elegant hilltop capital of Calabria's namesake province, sitting where the Crati River valley opens toward the Sila mountains. Unlike the region's beach-focused resorts, Cosenza rewards visitors with a compact historic centre (Centro Storico) of steep lanes, Romanesque churches, and Baroque palazzi.

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• Courmayeur

  Courmayeur is a premier skiing and mountaineering resort at 1224m elevation in the head of Aosta Valley, northwest Italy, sitting at the foot of Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco). The resort is particularly strong for beginners and intermediates on blues and reds, with reliable snow due to its high altitude.

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• Cremona

  Cremona is a beautifully preserved medieval city in the Po valley of Lombardy, centered on the magnificent Piazza del Comune with its cathedral, baptistry, and the soaring Torrazzo bell tower. The city gained world fame in the 17th century for violin-making, particularly the instruments of Antonio Stradivari, whose legacy is celebrated at the Museo del Violino.

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• Custonaci

  Custonaci is a small village between Monte Erice and the Monte Cofano coastline, best known for its cream-coloured marble quarries and the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Custonaci — a 15th–16th century pilgrimage church at the heart of town. The surrounding landscape combines sea views, olive groves, and the Grotta Mangiapane prehistoric cave complex, making it a practical base for hikers, divers, and culture-seekers who want easy access to western Sicily's quieter corners.

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• Deruta

  Deruta is a small town in Umbria renowned for its ceramics production dating back to the 14th century. The town reached its zenith during the Renaissance, drawing inspiration from painters like Raphael from nearby Gubbio.

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• Enna

  Enna sits at 931m above sea level, making it the highest provincial capital in Italy and earning the nickname "Belvedere of Sicily" for its sweeping panoramic views across the island's heart. The city rewards visitors with a preserved medieval core of narrow winding streets, dramatic cliffs, and landmark fortresses like the Castello di Lombardia.

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• Eraclea

  Eraclea is a quiet Adriatic beach town in Veneto, Italy, located between the famous tourist destinations of Caorle and Jesolo. The town centers on Eraclea Mare, a beachside area with a pinewood that provides natural shade and a peaceful atmosphere distinct from the busier nearby resorts.

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• Erice

  Erice is a historic hilltop town on Monte Erice. Below it lies the coastal city of Trapani.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$105

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Esino Lario

  Esino Lario is a small mountain village perched at 910m in a sunny basin above Lake Como, often called the 'Pearl of Grigna' for its dramatic limestone peaks and nearly 500 caves of Moncodeno. The village combines charming historical streets of Upper and Lower Esino with Alpine meadows, gentle forest walks, and spectacular lake views from viewpoints like San Pietro in Ortanella and Sasso di Narele.

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• Fabrica di Roma

  Fabrica di Roma is a small medieval town 26 km from Viterbo, built largely from Viterbese peperino (grey volcanic tuff). The town grew around a castle documented in a Papal bull of 1177, and the area is notable for Etruscan and Faliscan necropoli.

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• Fasano

  Fasano sits at the border between Salento and the Land of Bari, forming an ideal triangle with Bari, Brindisi, and Taranto (each about 50 km away). It ranked sixth in Apulia for tourism in 2018 with roughly 667,000 visitors and 157,000 arrivals, yet remains less crowded than neighboring coastal resorts.

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• Favignana

  Favignana is the largest of the Aegadian Islands, a 30-minute hydrofoil hop from Trapani on Sicily's western coast. The island is flat and butterfly-shaped, edged with jagged limestone coves and ancient stone quarries — a landscape made for cycling and swimming.

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• Ferrara

  Ferrara is not on the typical foreign tourist's itinerary, making it perfect for those wanting authentic northern Italian culture. It features twisting medieval streets, a Gothic cathedral, and a castle with moat and drawbridges.

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• Fiesole

  Fiesole sits on a hilltop 8 km north of Florence, offering Etruscan walls, a Roman theatre, and cathedral ruins with panoramic views of the city below. It's a quieter counterpoint to Florence's crowds — a place for morning walks, slow food lunches, and early evening glasses of wine before returning to the city.

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• Fiumefreddo di Sicilia

  Fiumefreddo di Sicilia is a small coastal city in Catania province on the Ionian coast at the foot of Mount Etna. It serves as a convenient transit point between Catania and Messina, with easy access to the A18 highway and SS114.

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• Florence

  Florence is the capital of Tuscany. Its identity is closely tied to its role as the birthplace of the Renaissance.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$107

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Foggia

  Foggia is the capital of the province of Foggia in the Puglia region, with a population of about 150,000. The area is known for agriculture: olives, grains, grapes, and buffalo mozzarella.

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• Foligno

  Foligno is one of the very few Umbrian cities not perched on a hill, sitting instead on a plain first drained during Roman times. It serves as an important rail centre and junction for trains to Perugia, making it a practical transit stop for travelers moving between Rome and the Adriatic coast.

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• Forlì

  Forlì is a prosperous agricultural and industrial centre in Emilia-Romagna, sitting on the Via Emilia and the Montone river. The city is notable as the birthplace of Renaissance painters Melozzo da Forlì and Marco Palmezzano, and hosts significant cultural landmarks including medieval churches, a fortress, and art museums.

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• Frascati

  Frascati is one of the historic Castelli Romani hill towns, offering a slower pace of life, cleaner air, and casual Italian atmosphere just 21 km from Rome. It is world-famous for its white wine, which has won numerous awards in DOC and DOCG Superior classifications.

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• Frigento

  Frigento is a historic hilltop village in Irpinia standing at 911m altitude, earning the name "Balcony of Irpinia" for its sweeping panorama encompassing five regions (Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Molise, and Abruzzo) and eleven provinces. As one of Italy's "most beautiful villages," it offers an authentic alternative to crowded tourist destinations, attracting visitors seeking health, tranquility, and connection with Southern Italian heritage.

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• Furore

  Furore is a tiny village of about 800 people perched dramatically on the Amalfi Coast cliffs. Its main claim to fame is the Fiord of Furore, a narrow fjord at the mouth of an overhanging valley that creates one of the coast's most striking natural spectacles.

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• Gallarate

  Gallarate is a working-class city in Varese Province, Lombardy, used by travelers as a budget-friendly overflow for Milan Malpensa Airport. It offers no major tourist attractions but provides functional rail connections to Milan and direct buses to Malpensa.

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• Gallipoli

  Gallipoli is a coastal town of 20,600 residents in the Salento Peninsula of Apulia, facing the Ionian Sea. It has emerged as one of Italy's premier summer destinations, combining sandy beach resorts with a captivating historic center set on a calcareous rock island.

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• Garda

  Garda is a small historic town on the southeastern shores of Lake Garda in Verona Province. While compact, it offers a pleasant lakefront promenade, several historic villas and churches, and serves as a quieter alternative to larger lakeside destinations like Desenzano or Riva del Garda.

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• Gardone Riviera

  Gardone Riviera is a sophisticated lakeside town on the western shores of Lake Garda in Brescia province. The town gained fame through Gabriele d'Annunzio, the poet and nationalist who created the monumental Vittoriale degli Italiani estate after his 1922 "defenestration." The town offers belle époque elegance, lush gardens, and dramatic lake views without the crowds of larger Italian lakeside destinations.

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• Gela

  Gela is one of Sicily's oldest continuously inhabited cities, founded around 688 BC by colonists from Rhodes and Crete. It offers Greek archaeological ruins, Byzantine churches, and a long promenade beach without the crowds of more touristed Sicilian destinations.

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• Genoa

  Genoa is Liguria's historic port capital. Its renovated old port and food traditions bring together waterfront wandering, pesto, focaccia and seafood.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$123

  Best months

  Apr–Sep

• Gibellina

  Gibellina stands out as one of Italy's most distinctive cultural destinations, rebuilt after a devastating 1968 earthquake by avant-garde architects, sculptors, and artists who transformed its streets, plazas, and structures into expressions of modern art. The town is named Capital of Contemporary Art 2026 and houses one of the world's largest land-art installations, Alberto Burri's Grande Cretto—a stark white concrete labyrinth covering the ruins of old Gibellina.

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• Gorizia

  Gorizia is a small Italian city straddling the border with Slovenia, offering a unique blend of Habsburg heritage, medieval architecture, and cross-border exploration. The city was historically the main town of the surrounding region but has been functionally reunited with Nova Gorica since Slovenia joined the Schengen zone in 2007.

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• Grado

  Grado is a compact seaside town on the Adriatic lagoon in northeastern Italy, offering a quieter alternative to more crowded beach destinations. The town combines Roman and early medieval history with thermal spa facilities and a car-free historic center.

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• Gravina di Puglia

  Gravina in Puglia is a compact hill town in the Murge plateau, dramatically carved by the Gravina river into a canyon lined with dozens of rock churches. The town offers a quieter alternative to nearby Matera, with fewer tourists, authentic local festivals like the Fiera di San Giorgio (Italy's oldest fair, documented since 1294), and the chance to explore underground karst cavities.

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• Herculaneum

  Herculaneum is a more intimate alternative to Pompeii, with remarkably preserved buildings including upper stories still intact. The six flows of boiling mud that buried the city created an airtight seal, preserving frescoes, mosaics, and even carbonized wood.

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• Imola

  Imola is a historic town in the Po Valley established by Sulla around 82 BC, with Roman origins along the Via Aemilia. It gained global fame for the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, home circuit of the Ferrari racing team since 1953.

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• Imperia

  Imperia is a city of 42,000 people on the Riviera dei Fiori in Liguria, known for its flower and olive cultivation. The city combines seaside tourism with a picturesque old town of caruggi (alleys) and creuze (narrow passages) in Porto Maurizio, plus the industrial heritage of Oneglia with its Piedmontese-style arcades.

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• Ischia

  Ischia is a volcanic island known for hot springs. At several beaches, warm spring water mingles with the sea.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$131

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Iseo

  Iseo is a small lakeside town at the southeastern shore of Lake Iseo, positioned between two UNESCO attractions: Franciacorta's sparkling wine region and Val Camonica's prehistoric rock drawings. The town itself has a medieval Oldofredi Castle, lakeside lidos for summer swimming, and is the launch point for ferries to Monte Isola, Europe's highest lake island.

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• Ivrea

  Ivrea is a compact Piedmontese town of 23,000 people that punches above its weight with UNESCO-listed modernist architecture and one of Italy's most unusual festivals. The Olivetti factory complex, designed by leading 20th-century Italian architects, makes it a pilgrimage site for design enthusiasts, while the February Carnival Orange Festival draws crowds with its theatrical citrus warfare.

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• Jesolo

  Jesolo is a bustling Adriatic beach resort in the Veneto region, popular with both foreign tourists and Italian locals. The town has an enormous concentration of hotels, restaurants, and shops clustered along a long stretch of sandy beach.

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• Kamarina

  Kamarina is one of southeastern Sicily's most fascinating archaeological parks, offering well-preserved Greek, Roman, and Islamic ruins without the crowds of larger sites. The Kamarina Regional Archaeological Museum, fully reopened in 2022 after restoration, displays artifacts including underwater archaeology finds and Archaic pottery that bring the ancient city to life.

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• Kastelruth

  Kastelruth sits at 1,000m above sea level in the Dolomites, making it an ideal base for exploring the nearby Seiser Alm alpine meadow and surrounding peaks. The town offers a slower pace than larger cities, with a dual German-Italian cultural identity that manifests in cuisine and daily life.

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• La Morra

  La Morra is a small hilltop town of 2,700 residents in the Langhe wine region of Piedmont, where wine production has been the main economic activity for centuries. The town sits atop rolling vineyards producing some of Italy's most prestigious wines, including Barolo and Langhe Nebbiolo, with about 70 local winemakers crafting vintages.

  Atlas entry

• La Spezia

  La Spezia offers a calmer coastal base than nearby Cinque Terre. The city also serves as a transport hub for trips along that coastline.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$118

  Best months

  Apr–Sep

• Lake Bracciano

  Lake Bracciano is a volcanic lake in Lazio, 32 km northwest of Rome, offering Romans a popular weekend escape especially during summer. The lake is one of the cleanest in Italy because it serves as a drinking water reservoir for Rome and motorboats are forbidden.

  Atlas entry

• Lampedusa

  Lampedusa is closer to Africa than mainland Europe, sitting just 113 km from the Tunisian coast. The island is famous for its turquoise waters, limestone cliffs, and the celebrated Spiaggia dei Conigli (Rabbit Beach), often ranked among the world's most beautiful beaches.

  Atlas entry

• Latera

  Latera is a tiny medieval hill town in Lazio with about 800 inhabitants, mostly senior citizens. Its strategic position puts it within easy reach of Lake Bolsena, Lake Mezzano, Mount Amiata, the Tuscan coast, and UNESCO sites like Val d'Orcia and Pienza.

  Atlas entry

• Lecce

  Lecce showcases Apulian baroque in honey-colored stone. Elaborate church facades carry carved supporting figures, leopards and saints.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$124

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Lecco

  Lecco sits at the southeastern tip of Lake Como where the Adda River exits the lake, offering the same dramatic Alpine-lake scenery as busier Como but with fewer crowds. The town serves as a perfect base for mountaineering expeditions on peaks like Resegone and Grigna, while Alessandro Manzoni's literary connection adds cultural depth—the novelist immortalized Lecco in The Betrothed.

  Atlas entry

• Legnano

  Legnano is unique as the only town besides Rome named in the Italian national anthem, thanks to the historic Battle of Legnano (1176). The city preserves its medieval identity through annual Palio di Legnano celebrations, offering visitors a taste of Lombard history and tradition without venturing far from Milan.

  Atlas entry

• Levanzo

  Levanzo is the Aegadian Islands' smallest and most tranquil island, reachable by a 25-50 minute ferry from Trapani. With only about 200 residents, no paved roads, and a harbour village unchanged for decades, it offers genuine escape from modern life.

  Atlas entry

• Lierna

  Lierna is a tiny, unspoiled lakeside village on the eastern shore of Lake Como, often called the "Portofino of Como" for its colorful harbor and dramatic mountain backdrop. It is environmentally conscious, not car-friendly, with a 30kph speed limit through the village.

  Atlas entry

• Lignano

  Lignano Sabbiadoro is a major Adriatic beach resort in northeastern Italy, drawing crowds of Austrians, Germans, Swiss, and Italians each summer. The town sprawls across a peninsula with three distinct zones: the quiet residential Riviera to the west, the nightlife-heavy Pineta in the center, and the historic Sabbiadoro to the east with the best beaches and promenade.

  Atlas entry

• Linosa

  Linosa is one of Italy's most remote islands—a tiny volcanic speck in the Pelagie archipelago between Sicily and Tunisia. With only ~430 residents and no airport, it sees far fewer tourists than nearby Lampedusa.

  Atlas entry

• Lipari

  Lipari is the main transportation hub and largest island of the Aeolian archipelago off Sicily's north coast. Its historic acropolis dominates the skyline, and the Museo Archeologico Regionale Eoliano houses one of the best archaeological collections in southern Italy.

  Atlas entry

• Livigno

  Livigno is a pleasant tourist centre frequented both in winter and in summer, offering wonderful holidays in contact with nature and alpine tradition. With more than one hundred welcoming hotels, it is one of the most important and well-equipped tourist resorts in the Alps.

  Atlas entry

• Livorno

  Livorno serves as Tuscany's primary port and a convenient jumping-off point for the Tuscan islands, particularly Elba. The city itself offers a blend of Renaissance architecture, canal-lined Venice Quarter, and historic fortifications worth exploring between connections.

  Atlas entry

• Locorotondo

  Locorotondo is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy"), awarded the Orange Flag by the Touring Club of Italy for the harmony of its shapes and the accessibility of its old town. The town features an intricate network of little streets lined with old buildings and is famous for its typical houses called "Le Cummerse," which have regular geometric shapes and sloping roofs made of two different layers of limestone slabs.

  Atlas entry

• Lucca

  Lucca's city walls double as a route for walking and cycling. From the top, you can take in the layout of the city.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$102

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Lucignano

  Lucignano is a well-preserved medieval hill town in southern Tuscany characterized by its distinctive oval or elliptical shape. With a population of around 3,500, it stands at 400 meters above sea level in the middle of an agricultural area producing olives, grapes, cereals and sunflowers.

  Atlas entry

• Maddalena archipelago

  The Maddalena archipelago offers some of the Mediterranean\'s most stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters, accessible primarily by boat. It is a popular destination for sailors, divers, and beach lovers seeking pristine nature away from crowded resort areas.

  Atlas entry

• Madonna di Campiglio

  Madonna di Campiglio is a premier winter sports destination in Trentino, offering access to over 150 km of ski slopes connected to Marilleva, Folgarida, and Pinzolo. The resort sits near Campo Carlo Magno alpine pass within Adamello-Brenta Natural Park, providing both world-class skiing and summer trekking on 450 km of trails.

  Atlas entry

• Maiori

  Maiori is a quieter Amalfi Coast town offering a long beach and promenade without the crowds of Positano or Amalfi town. The L-shaped layout places the seafront promenade and Corso Reginna pedestrian street at the center of town life, lined with shops, bars, and restaurants.

  Atlas entry

• Malcesine

  Malcesine is a picturesque medieval town on the north coast of Lake Garda, 60 kilometers northwest of Verona. The town features winding lanes, a well-preserved 14th-century castle, and pleasant lakeside shops.

  Atlas entry

• Mantua

  Mantua is a UNESCO World Heritage city whose Renaissance heyday under the Gonzaga dynasty left a remarkable concentration of frescoed palaces, jewel-box churches, and intimate piazzas. The city is compact enough to explore on foot in two days, yet rich enough that first-time visitors regularly discover something unexpected — whether it is the illusionistic Camera degli Sposi in the Ducal Palace or the mythological Sala dei Giganti at Palazzo Te.

  Atlas entry

• Maranello

  Maranello is the beating heart of Ferrari — home to the factory, the Fiorano test track, and the Museo Ferrari where you can see Formula 1 cars and Enzo Ferrari's birth house. The town itself is small and industrial, but it's a pilgrimage site for 'tifosi' (Ferrari fans) and petrolheads.

  Atlas entry

• Marausa

  Marausa is a small coastal settlement in Trapani Province, Sicily, situated about 9 km south of Trapani. Historically inhabited since ancient times by Carthaginians and Romans, the area features a 16th-century watchtower and access to 2.5 km of sandy beaches at Marausa Lido.

  Atlas entry

• Marettimo

  Marettimo is the wildest and most remote of the Aegadian Islands, rising as a rugged limestone outcrop some 40 km west of Trapani. As part of the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area, it offers crystalline waters, dramatic hiking trails, and a blissfully car-free village where time seems to stand still.

  Atlas entry

• Marostica

  Marostica is a small walled town in the province of Vicenza that draws international attention for its unique living chess game, held in the main piazza every other year. The town is enclosed by medieval walls with both an Upper Castle (Castello Superiore) and a Lower Castle (Castello Inferiore), and the Scaligeri nobles from Verona left a significant historical mark on the architecture.

  Atlas entry

• Marsala

  Marsala is western Sicily's principal wine town, offering historic baglio wineries where you can sample the DOC Marsala wine that made the town famous since the late 18th century. The town sits atop ancient Carthaginian ruins of Lilybaeum and served as Giuseppe Garibaldi's landing point in 1860, marking the start of Italian unification.

  Atlas entry

• Martina Franca

  Martina Franca is the main center of Itria Valley, a karst depression area straddling the provinces of Bari, Brindisi, and Taranto in southern Apulia. The town is known for its elegant Baroque architecture and serves as the main venue for the Valle d'Itria Festival, a major classical music event held in July-August.

  Atlas entry

• Matera

  Matera is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with cave dwellings in the Sassi dating back to the Paleolithic era. The city was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993 and served as European Capital of Culture in 2019 alongside Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

  Atlas entry

• Mattinata

  Mattinata is a small Puglian town on the Gargano Peninsula where the Adriatic meets ancient Daunian culture. The town is famous for its exceptional olive oil (part of the Città dell'Olio association) and the dramatic Faraglioni rocks rising from Zagare Bay.

  Atlas entry

• Mazara del Vallo

  Mazara del Vallo is a medium-sized city in South-Western Sicily, most famous as one of Italy's leading fishing harbours and the home of the Dancing Satyr, a stunning bronze statue. The city blends Arab-Norman heritage with Sicilian coastal culture, offering historic architecture, fresh seafood, and access to nearby archaeological sites.

  Atlas entry

• Merano

  Merano (Meran) is a spa town in South Tyrol with a uniquely mild microclimate protected by surrounding peaks. The town has about 41,000 residents (2025), with a slight Italian-speaking majority (51.4%) and a German-speaking minority.

  Atlas entry

• Messina

  Messina is Sicily's northeastern gateway, a working port city where most travelers stop only to catch the ferry across to mainland Italy. Though rebuilt after the devastating 1908 earthquake and WWII bombing, the city preserves a handsome cathedral, Italy's largest astronomical clock, and sweeping views over the Strait of Messina.

  Atlas entry

• Milan

  Milan is a centre of finance and fashion. Its fashion weeks draw supermodels and paparazzi.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$140

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Milazzo

  Milazzo sits on a narrow peninsula on Sicily's north coast, 20 km west of Messina. Its main appeal is as the primary ferry port for the seven Aeolian Islands, making it an essential transit stop.

  Atlas entry

• Militello in Val di Catania

  Militello in Val di Catania is one of Sicily's eight UNESCO World Heritage Baroque towns, making it a standout destination for architecture and history enthusiasts. The town preserves an extraordinary concentration of 17th-18th century churches, monasteries, and noble palaces within a compact historic center.

  Atlas entry

• Modena

  Modena is a wealthy, socially advanced Emilian city in northern Italy, sitting at the crossroads between the Brenner motorway and Autostrada del Sole, 40 km from Bologna. Visitors come for UNESCO-listed Romanesque architecture centered on the 12th-century cathedral, Piazza Grande, and the 86-m Ghirlandina tower, plus world-class gastronomy including tortellini, Parmigiano Reggiano, and traditional balsamic vinegar.

  Atlas entry

• Modica

  Modica is one of the eight "Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto" UNESCO world heritage sites. The town is in two parts: Modica Alta, perched on the southern Ibeli hill, and Modica Bassa, built lower in the valley.

  Atlas entry

• Molfetta

  Molfetta is a working-class port town of nearly 60,000 that has retained its maritime identity while offering architectural treasures rarely seen by foreign visitors. The town is famous for the Pulo, a dramatic karst sinkhole that ranks among Italy's most impressive geological features, and for two Romanesque-Apulian cathedrals built centuries apart.

  Atlas entry

• Moncalieri

  Moncalieri is a small Piedmontese town perched on a hill southeast of Turin, best known for its imposing 12th-century castle enlarged in the 15th century. The castle forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy.

  Atlas entry

• Monopoli

  Monopoli is a coastal town of 48,000 people in the Bari province of Apulia, Italy. It is an old fishing village with several very picturesque beaches, retaining its Italian old-town feel and relatively untouched by international tourism.

  Atlas entry

• Monte Cofano Nature Reserve

  Monte Cofano Nature Reserve offers a rare combination of coastal and mountain scenery in northwestern Sicily. The 537-hectare reserve centers on a striking limestone peak rising from the Tyrrhenian Sea, with karst formations, sea caves, and Mediterranean scrub creating diverse landscapes.

  Atlas entry

• Montecatini Terme

  Montecatini Terme combines Art Nouveau thermal baths with public parks. Its relaxed pace makes it an inviting base for exploring Tuscany.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$125

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Montefalco

  Montefalco is a closely guarded wine secret turned popular destination for Italian wine lovers. The town produces distinctive reds using the tannin-rich Sagrantino grape, along with lighter Rosso di Montefalco and crisp Grechetto whites.

  Atlas entry

• Montepulciano

  Montepulciano is a Medieval hill town in the Val d'Orcia region where the main attraction is tasting world-class Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wine directly in the cantinas that line the streets around Piazza Grande. The town of 14,000 people has retained its Renaissance atmosphere—you'll climb steep pathways past stone palazzos, stop for a €3-6 glass of local Sangiovese, and eat pici pasta with wild boar ragu in family-run osterie.

  Atlas entry

• Monteriggioni

  Monteriggioni is one of Italy's best-preserved medieval walled towns, built between 1213-1219 by the overlords of Siena to command the Cassia Road. The nearly circular walls span about 570 metres with 14 towers on square bases and two gates (Porta Fiorentina toward Florence, Porta Romana toward Rome).

  Atlas entry

• Monterosso Almo

  Monterosso Almo is one of Sicily's highest hill towns at over 700 meters elevation, offering sweeping views of the Hyblaean Mountains and authentic rural Sicilian life far from tourist crowds. As a member of the "I Borghi più belli d'Italia" (Most Beautiful Villages of Italy) association, it showcases well-preserved Baroque architecture, cobblestone alleys, and centuries of history.

  Atlas entry

• Montevarchi

  Montevarchi is an ancient market town on the River Arno in Tuscany's Arezzo province, long a crossroads for regional trade in silk, wool, textiles, and ceramics. The oval-shaped medieval centro storico survives largely intact from the Middle Ages, with Via Roma as its main axis.

  Atlas entry

• Monza

  Monza is a historic city in Lombardy, 15 km north-east of Milan, best known for the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza - one of the most iconic Formula 1 circuits in the world, hosting the Italian Grand Prix annually. Beyond the racetrack, Monza offers the UNESCO-listed Duomo housing the Iron Crown of Lombardy, the 18th-century Villa Reale palace similar to Vienna's Schoenbrunn, and Parco di Monza, the fourth largest enclosed park in Europe.

  Atlas entry

• Mount Etna

  Atlas entry

• Mozia

  Mozia is a small island in the Stagnone Lagoon that preserves one of the most evocative Phoenician archaeological landscapes in the western Mediterranean. Stone roads, city walls, temples, and homes are spread across its quiet terrain, and the Whitaker Museum houses the celebrated Motya Charioteer—a rare 5th-century BC marble statue of Greek origin found on the island.

  Atlas entry

• Naples

  Naples carries layers of Greek, Roman, Norman and Spanish history. Its UNESCO-listed historic centre offers a place to explore that layered past.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$98

  Best months

  Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Neive

  Neive is one of Piedmont's most enchanting medieval villages, perched atop a hill in the Langhe wine region. With only 3,300 residents, the town preserves an atmosphere of ancient cobbled streets arranged in concentric rings around the 13th-century Clock Tower.

  Atlas entry

• Noale

  Noale is a quiet countryside town situated between Venice, Treviso, Padua, and Castelfranco Veneto. The town center features churches, buildings, and palaces that testify to Noale's important past during the Middle Ages and under the Republic of Venice.

  Atlas entry

• Noto

  Noto is billed as the most attractive of the Baroque towns in southeast Sicily and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage "Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto." The city was destroyed by a catastrophic earthquake in 1693 and rebuilt in Baroque style, giving it a unified, elegant character. Most significant buildings align along a single street—Corso Vittorio Emanuele—making it ideal for walking.

  Atlas entry

• Novara

  Novara is the capital of its province in northwest Italy's Piedmont region, with 104,000 residents as of 2019. While not a major tourist destination, it preserves remarkable artistic and architectural treasures including Alessandro Antonelli's bold neoclassical dome on the Basilica of San Gaudenzio—the city's symbol—and one of the oldest religious buildings in Piedmont, the early Christian baptistery.

  Atlas entry

• Novara di Sicilia

  Novara di Sicilia is one of Italy's Most Beautiful Towns (I Borghi più Belli d'Italia), perched dramatically on a mountainside overlooking the ancient sites of Tyndaris and Abacaenum. The town offers an authentic medieval experience with its cobblestone streets, friendly locals who speak a distinctive dialect, and spectacular views of the Aeolian Islands on clear days.

  Atlas entry

• Olbia

  Olbia is the 4th largest settlement in Sardinia and serves as the primary gateway for visitors arriving by plane or ferry to explore the island's northeast. The city itself offers modest attractions including Romanesque churches and archaeological sites, but its real value is as a transport hub connecting travelers to the famous Costa Smeralda beaches and the mountainous Gallura interior.

  Atlas entry

• Orvieto

  Orvieto sits atop a steep tuff hill, an impregnable Etruscan foundation that grew into a papal stronghold. The black-and-white striped Duomo is one of Italy's finest Gothic cathedrals, while the underground city of tunnels, wells, and caverns cut into volcanic rock offers a unique experience.

  Atlas entry

• Ostia

  Ostia combines ancient Roman archaeology with a lively beach district, offering a full day of ruins followed by seaside relaxation. Ostia Antica receives far fewer visitors than Pompeii yet preserves remarkably intact streets, baths, temples, and a Roman theater dating to the 1st century BC.

  Atlas entry

• Ostuni

  Ostuni is known as "the White Town" (La Città Bianca) because its houses and medieval walls are painted brilliant white, creating a striking contrast against the green olive groves and blue Adriatic Sea. The old town rises on three hills covered with hundreds of white houses, Gothic and Baroque churches, and white defensive walls encircled by panoramic streets.

  Atlas entry

• Otranto

  Otranto is the easternmost town in Italy, where the Adriatic meets ancient Messapic ruins and Byzantine mosaics. This small Salento town has transformed into Apulia's premier coastal destination, offering medieval walls, a mosaic-floored cathedral consecrated in 1088, and the striking red-hued waters of an abandoned bauxite quarry—all without the crowds of nearby Lecce.

  Atlas entry

• Pacentro

  Pacentro is a member of "I Borghi più Belli d'Italia" (the most beautiful villages in Italy), perched on a hill in the Peligna Valley with views across to the Maiella massif. With just 1,000 residents, the village offers an authentic, unhurried Italian mountain experience far from tourist crowds.

  Atlas entry

• Padua

  Padua is a historic university city in the Veneto region, located between Venice and Verona. It is home to the world's oldest operating botanical garden (UNESCO listed since 1997) and Giotto's stunningly preserved Scrovegni Chapel frescoes.

  Atlas entry

• Paestum

  Paestum (Archaeological Park of Paestum) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998 containing the best-preserved ancient Greek Doric temples in the world. Founded around the seventh century BC as part of Magna Graecia (Greek colonization of Southern Italy), Paestum offers an extraordinary glimpse into ancient Greek architecture and urbanism that rivals sites in Greece itself.

  Atlas entry

• Palazzolo

  Palazzolo Acreide is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of 8,000 people in Sicily's Hyblean Mountains. The compact historic center rewards wandering with stepped alleys, baroque churches, and panoramic views toward the castle.

  Atlas entry

• Palermo

  Palermo is Sicily's capital, where Arab-Norman churches share the streets with Baroque palaces. Byzantine mosaics add another layer to its architectural mix.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$108

  Best months

  Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

• Pantalica

  Pantalica is one of the largest prehistoric necropolises in the Mediterranean, with over 3,000 tombs carved into the limestone cliffs of a deep river valley. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside Syracuse, it offers a unique window into Greek, Byzantine, and earlier cultures spanning the 13th to 7th centuries BCE.

  Atlas entry

• Pantelleria

  Pantelleria sits between Sicily and Tunisia—a volcanic island with dramatic black-rock swimming, free thermal pools, and hiking trails through diverse micro-landscapes. It's culturally Sicilian but feels distinctly isolated, with white Dammuso houses dotting the hillsides.

  Atlas entry

• Parma

  Parma is a compact, walkable city in Emilia-Romagna famous for two of Italy's most celebrated foods: Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and Prosciutto di Parma. Beyond its gastronomic reputation, the city offers a Roman cathedral with Renaissance frescoes by Correggio, a medieval baptistery in pink marble, and a rich operatic heritage tied to Giuseppe Verdi.

  Atlas entry

• Pavia

  Pavia is a historic university city in Lombardy that offers a quieter, more intimate alternative to nearby Milan. Founded in 1361, the University of Pavia is one of the oldest in Europe, lending the city a youthful atmosphere and vibrant café culture.

  Atlas entry

• Pelagie Islands

  The Pelagie Islands are a remote Mediterranean archipelago far closer to Africa than mainland Europe, offering a unique blend of Sicilian charm, North African climate, and unspoiled natural beauty. Famous for Rabbit Beach—consistently ranked among the world's most beautiful beaches—Lampedusa draws visitors with its crystal-clear waters, dramatic cliffs, and marine reserve.

  Atlas entry

• Pennabilli

  Pennabilli is a medieval hill town that rewards visitors with unique artistic installations by poet Tonino Guerra, who created 'I luoghi dell'anima' (places of the soul) throughout the town starting in 1989. The town also has an unexpected connection to Tibet through 18th-century missionary Orazio Olivieri, who created the first Italian-to-Tibetan dictionary; the Dalai Lama visited in 1994 and 2005.

  Atlas entry

• Perugia

  Perugia is a captivating medieval hill town in Umbria, famous for its stunning centro storico filled with Gothic architecture, Renaissance art, and Etruscan ruins. The city draws international students to its University for Foreigners and hosts the renowned Umbria Jazz Festival every July, plus the Eurochocolate festival in October.

  Atlas entry

• Pescara

  Pescara is the most populous city in Abruzzo and serves as the region's main beach destination on the Adriatic coast. It is the birthplace of poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, giving the city cultural weight beyond its beach-party reputation.

  Atlas entry

• Piacenza

  Piacenza is a provincial capital in Emilia-Romagna that often gets overlooked by travelers rushing between Milan and Parma. The city rewards visitors with impressive Renaissance palaces, Gothic civic architecture centered on Piazza dei Cavalli, and access to some of Italy's finest cold cuts including Coppa Piacentina and Salume Piacentini.

  Atlas entry

• Piazza Armerina

  Piazza Armerina is a modest hill town in Sicily's Enna province that draws travelers almost exclusively for the nearby Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site housing the most extensive and best-preserved Roman mosaic collection in the world. While the town itself (population around 20,000) has a pleasant Baroque cathedral and winding medieval streets, it serves primarily as a base for visiting the villa's extraordinary frescoed floors depicting Roman daily life, hunting scenes, and famously the 'Bikini Girls' mosaic.

  Atlas entry

• Pienza

  Pienza is a pocket-sized masterpiece of Renaissance urbanism, entirely redesigned in the 1450s by Pope Pius II as an idealized humanist city. Its centro storico is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a harmonious piazza flanked by the Duomo, Palazzo Comunale, and Piccolomini palaces—all walkable in minutes.

  Atlas entry

• Pisa

  Pisa is known for its leaning tower. The city offers more to explore beyond that famous landmark.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$104

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Pistoia

  Pistoia is a compact medieval city in Tuscany that most tourists skip in favor of Florence or Lucca, which makes it a rare find for those who want authentic Italian atmosphere without the crowds. The historic center is closed to motorized traffic, making it ideal for wandering ancient streets, squares, and churches on foot.

  Atlas entry

• Pitigliano

  Pitigliano is a striking hill town perched dramatically on a tuff rock spur in southern Tuscany, included in Italy's Most Beautiful Villages list. The town is nicknamed La Piccola Gerusalemme (Little Jerusalem) for its historic Jewish community, one of the oldest in Italy, which maintains a functioning synagogue and distinct culinary traditions.

  Atlas entry

• Policoro

  Policoro is a beach resort on the Ionian coast in Basilicata that has earned the Blue Flag for 7 consecutive years. The city combines sea access with archaeological heritage from the ancient Greek colonies of Siris and Herakleia.

  Atlas entry

• Polignano a Mare

  Polignano a Mare is a dramatic coastal town perched on limestone cliffs above the Adriatic Sea in Apulia. Known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic," it charms visitors with its whitewashed old town, sea caves (there are over 40), and the spectacular Lama Monachile cove.

  Atlas entry

• Pompeii

  Pompeii preserves the streets and objects of an ancient city buried by Vesuvius. Wall paintings and household items make daily life in antiquity tangible.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$112

  Best months

  Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Porto Empedocle

  Porto Empedocle is a port town of about 17,000 inhabitants in the province of Agrigento, forming a conurbation with the regional capital. It functions both as a working port and a tourist resort, offering over 3 km of sandy beach with fine golden sand and crystal-clear sea.

  Atlas entry

• Portofino

  Portofino is a small, picturesque fishing village on the Ligurian Sea in the Italy's Liguria region. It has become internationally famous as a glamorous yachting destination, attracting wealthy visitors and celebrities to its colourful harbour.

  Atlas entry

• Positano

  Positano's colorful buildings cascade down a hillside on the Amalfi Coast. Coastal views and a steep townscape shape a visit here.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$174

  Best months

  Apr–Jul, Sep–Oct

• Potenza

  Potenza is the capital of Basilicata (sometimes called Lucania), a provincial city with a rebellious history that was once reduced by ancient Rome to a military colony. The city has endured pillages in the Middle Ages and devastating earthquakes, yet emerged as an important railway corridor and regional hub.

  Atlas entry

• Pozzallo

  Pozzallo is Sicily's main ferry port for Malta, with fast-cat crossings to Valletta taking just 1 hr 30 min. The city has earned two Blue Flag awards (as of Apr 2023) for water quality and beach management, making it a legitimate beach destination rather than just a transit point.

  Atlas entry

• Praiano

  Praiano offers a quieter, more authentic alternative to the busier Amalfi Coast towns of Positano and Amalfi. The village sits on steep cliffs overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea with dozens of hotels built into the terrain.

  Atlas entry

• Prato

  Prato is the low-profile cousin of Florence and Pisa in Tuscany, not mobbed with tourists and without typical tourist ripoffs. It has a history and artistic heritage dating back to the Etruscan civilization, great food including the famous cantucci biscuits, and serves as an excellent budget base for day trips to Florence or Pisa.

  Atlas entry

• Procida

  Procida is the smallest island in the Gulf of Naples, offering a quieter alternative to busy Capri and Ischia. The island features medieval villages like Terra Murata, the romantic fishing settlement of Corricella with its colorful houses, and six beaches with crystal-clear waters.

  Atlas entry

• Ragusa

  Ragusa is a Baroque city built on hilltops separated by a deep ravine. Its UNESCO-listed townscape gives visits a dramatic setting.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$93

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Randazzo

  Randazzo is a medieval town built of black lava stone from Mount Etna eruptions, earning it the nickname 'the grey town.' Its eight towers, three medieval gates, and Catalan-Gothic churches make it one of Sicily's best-preserved hill towns. As the closest settlement to Mount Etna's summit, it serves as an ideal base for hikers and nature enthusiasts seeking access to three regional parks: Parco dell'Etna, Parco fluviale dell'Alcantara, and Parco dei Nebrodi.

  Atlas entry

• Rapallo

  Rapallo is a coastal city in Liguria situated south of Genoa and roughly an hour north of the Cinque Terre. The city offers a quieter alternative to busier Riviera destinations, with a scenic seafront promenade lined with cafes and restaurants.

  Atlas entry

• Ravello

  Ravello sits high above the Amalfi Coast with wide Mediterranean views. Its long association with artists, writers and composers gives the town a cultural focus.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$154

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Ravenna

  Ravenna packs eight UNESCO World Heritage early Christian monuments into a compact, mostly pedestrian old city. Unlike Rome's crowded basilicas, you can often have mosaics like those in the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia almost to yourself.

  Atlas entry

• Reggello

  Reggello is a municipality in the Province of Florence in Tuscany, about 25 km southeast of Florence, divided between the famous hills of Chianti and the mountains of Pratomagno. The city is famous for extra virgin olive oil production and offers a wide natural conformation with forests, hiking trails, and historic sites.

  Atlas entry

• Reggio Calabria

  Reggio Calabria sits at the very toe of Italy's boot, serving as the main ferry port for the short crossing to Messina in Sicily. The city draws travelers primarily for two reasons: the world-famous Riace Bronzes housed in the National Archaeological Museum, and its dramatic position overlooking the Strait of Messina where the rare Fata Morgana mirage can make the Sicilian coast appear tantalizingly close.

  Atlas entry

• Reggio Emilia

  Reggio Emilia sits on the ancient Via Emilia between Parma and Modena, offering a more relaxed alternative to its famous neighbors. The city is renowned worldwide for the Reggio Emilia Approach to early childhood education, drawing educators internationally to the Loris Malaguzzi Centre.

  Atlas entry

• Rieti

  Rieti is a small city of about 50,000 residents in Lazio, central Italy, often called the 'Umbilicus Italiae' (navel of Italy) since Roman times. Unlike tourist-heavy destinations, Rieti remains largely undiscovered by mass tourism, offering a genuine Italian experience with medieval walls, Renaissance architecture, and easy access to the Apennines.

  Atlas entry

• Rimini

  Rimini is a busy resort on Italy's Adriatic coast. Its extensive hotel scene makes seaside holidays a defining part of town life.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$116

  Best months

  Apr–Sep

• Riomaggiore

  Riomaggiore is the southernmost of the five Cinque Terre villages, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Italy's Ligurian coast. The village is famous for its steep lanes lined with pastel-colored houses stacked up the hillside above a tiny marina.

  Atlas entry

• Riva del Garda

  Riva del Garda is an elegant historic resort town at the northern tip of Lake Garda in Trentino, popular with European royalty and American billionaires since the second half of the 19th century. The town features lavish buildings surrounded by evergreen parks, with the majority of visitors still being of German and Russian nationality.

  Atlas entry

• Rocca Priora

  Rocca Priora is one of the quieter towns in Castelli Romani, a wine region southeast of Rome. Rather than major attractions, it offers a pleasant small-town atmosphere for strolls around the main piazza, with a summer-only gelateria and Thursday morning markets.

  Atlas entry

• Rome

  Rome layers ancient ruins with grand monuments in a UNESCO-listed historic centre. Its long history of power, culture and religion shapes a cosmopolitan city.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$130

  Best months

  Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Ruvo di Puglia

  Ruvo di Puglia is one of the major cities of art in Apulia, sitting on the Murge plateau and part of Alta Murgia National Park. The city offers Romanesque cathedrals comparable to Trani, a world-class archaeological museum with Greek vases including the famous Vase of Talos, and access to forest excursions in Scoparella, Cavallerizza, and Polvino.

  Atlas entry

• Sabbioneta

  Sabbioneta is a perfectly preserved miniature Renaissance town, one of the rare "ideal cities" built according to humanist principles in the late 16th century. Its compact historic centre packs the Teatro all'Antica, Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo del Giardino, and a synagogue into a few blocks.

  Atlas entry

• Salemi

  Salemi is a historic hill town in Trapani province with a well-preserved medieval core of winding streets and layered history dating back to the Elymians and Romans. The town gained wider attention as the setting for the BBC series "Amanda & Alan's Italian Job", where hosts renovated a €1 house in the historic centre in 2023.

  Atlas entry

• Salerno

  Salerno is a lively port city in Campania, Italy, offering a more affordable alternative to the nearby Amalfi Coast destinations. The historic old town features narrow passageways, hidden corners, and well-preserved medieval architecture that rewards exploration.

  Atlas entry

• Salt Pans of Trapani and Paceco

  The Salt Pans of Trapani and Paceco offer a rare combination of living industrial heritage and thriving wetland ecology. Unlike polished museum pieces, this 987-hectare reserve remains an active salt-working landscape where traditional methods persist alongside one of Sicily's most important bird habitats.

  Atlas entry

• Salve

  Salve is a small town in the Salento peninsula of Apulia, Italy, with 4,500 inhabitants and 7 km of sandy coastline. It offers a quieter alternative to more crowded coastal resorts, with a historic old town featuring baroque architecture, ancient dry-stone pajare structures similar to trulli, and a 16th-century cathedral with Italy's oldest functional pipe organ.

  Atlas entry

• Sambuca di Sicilia

  Sambuca di Sicilia is a hill town in Agrigento province officially recognized among "The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy" (I Borghi più belli d'Italia). Its Arab-Norman heritage shows in narrow winding alleys, the Saracen Quarter (li Setti Vaneddi), and panoramic views over the Belice Valley.

  Atlas entry

• San Fili

  San Fili is a hilltop village in the Cosenza province of Calabria with approximately 2,500 residents. The village has been recognized for its cultural heritage, included in the guide "I borghi più belli del Mediterraneo" (The Most Beautiful Villages of the Mediterranean) alongside five other Calabrian municipalities.

  Atlas entry

• San Gimignano

  San Gimignano is known as the "Town of Fine Towers" for its 14 surviving medieval tower houses that create an unforgettable skyline. The well-preserved centro storico with Romanesque and Gothic architecture sits on a hilltop with views of the Tuscan countryside.

  Atlas entry

• San Giovanni Rotondo

  San Giovanni Rotondo is one of Italy's most significant Catholic pilgrimage sites, receiving up to seven million pilgrims annually. The town is synonymous with Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, a stigmatist friar who lived and died here.

  Atlas entry

• San Vito lo Capo

  San Vito lo Capo is a sun-drenched coastal town in northwestern Sicily, nested between Monte Monaco and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its spectacular beach is often ranked among Italy's finest, with soft white sand, shallow turquoise water, and dramatic mountain backdrop.

  Atlas entry

• Sankt Ulrich

  Sankt Ulrich (Ortisei) is the main town of Val Gardena, the largest of three municipalities in this Dolomite valley. The town combines Alpine village charm with world-class skiing access, including connections to the Sella Ronda and Dolomiti Superski circuits.

  Atlas entry

• Sanremo

  Sanremo sits on the Italian Riviera's flower-strewn coast, just 30 km from the French border. The city blends Belle Époque grandeur with a famous February music festival, a century-old casino, and a car-free old town of cobbled lanes.

  Atlas entry

• Santa Maria di Leuca

  Santa Maria di Leuca marks the southernmost tip of Italy's boot, where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet. This small Mediterranean village in the municipality of Castrignano del Capo offers sea caves, a 48m lighthouse, and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae built where Saint Peter landed on his way to Rome.

  Atlas entry

• Santa Teresa Gallura

  Santa Teresa Gallura sits at Sardinia's northernmost point, a compact town of about 5,000 permanent residents that swells dramatically each summer with Italian and international tourists. The town serves as one of only three Sardinian ports with ferry connections to Corsica, making it a key transit hub for island-hopping.

  Atlas entry

• Sardinia

  Sardinia is an autonomous region of Italy offering quintessential Mediterranean beauty with swimming, windsurfing, hiking, and boating opportunities. The La Maddalena Archipelago National Park features protected beaches like Spiaggia Rosa (Pink Beach), accessible only by sea.

  Atlas entry

• Sassari

  Sassari is the second-largest city in Sardinia with over 130,000 inhabitants and one of the island's oldest cities. It serves as the capital of the homonymous province in the northwest corner of the island.

  Atlas entry

• Scala

  Scala is a quiet hilltop town and commune in Salerno province, one of the oldest settlements on the Amalfi Coast. With a small population and peaceful atmosphere, it offers stunning views of the Mediterranean and serves as a tranquil base for exploring the dramatic coastal landscape.

  Atlas entry

• Sciacca

  Sciacca is a small Sicilian port town that combines historic character with practical tourist infrastructure. The old city preserves 16th-century ramparts with three nearly intact gates and the highest concentration of historic buildings in the Agrigento province.

  Atlas entry

• Scicli

  Scicli is a small Baroque town in the Iblei hills of southeast Sicily, one of the UNESCO-listed Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto. It offers ornate churches, historic palaces, and cave dwellings, with coastal villages like Plaja Grande and Donnalucata within 10 km.

  Atlas entry

• Scopello

  Scopello is a base for exploring the Zingaro nature reserve. Trails, hidden coves and beaches make the surrounding coast the focus of a stay.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$110

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Selinunte

  Selinunte (Marinella di Selinunte) is a district of Castelvetrano on Sicily's south coast, most famous for its neighboring Greek archaeological park. Founded around 700 BC by colonists from Megara, Selinunte was once a powerful Greek city-state that vied with neighboring Segesta.

  Atlas entry

• Sestri Levante

  Atlas entry

• Siena

  Siena's UNESCO-listed historic centre is a medieval landscape of towers and Gothic palaces. The fan-shaped Piazza del Campo anchors walks through the city.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$129

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Sirmione

  Sirmione sits on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Garda, offering dramatic lake views from both its medieval castle and Roman villa ruins. The town is famous as the site of Catullus's family villa—the poet wrote affectionate verses about this place—and the dramatic Grotte di Catullo ruins remain the main attraction.

  Atlas entry

• Soave

  Soave is a compact medieval town enclosed by intact 14th-century walls that slope down from the imposing Castello Scaligero. The town is famous for producing Soave, one of Italy's most widely exported white wines, from vineyards on the romantic volcanic hills surrounding the historic center.

  Atlas entry

• Sondrio

  Sondrio is the quiet capital of the Valtellina wine valley, producing Sassella and Grumello reds from terraced vineyards that climb toward Alpine passes. The town itself holds a handful of Grisons-era buildings, but its real value is as a transport hub for Valmalenco mountain trails and ski areas above the tree line.

  Atlas entry

• Sorrento

  Sorrento sits on limestone cliffs above the Bay of Naples. It makes a manageable base for archaeological visits and island ferries.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$121

  Best months

  Apr–Oct

• Spello

  Spello is one of Umbria's most beautifully preserved medieval hill towns, with Roman city walls dating back over three millennia, three large Roman gates (Porta Consulare, Porta Urbica, and Torre di Properzio), and Renaissance frescoes by masters Pinturicchio and Perugino in Santa Maria Maggiore and Sant'Andrea churches. The town of 8,500 inhabitants offers an authentic alternative to busier destinations, with sweeping views of Assisi and Perugia from the belvedere lookout, plus the world-famous Infiorata flower festival drawing tens of thousands of visitors each June.

  Atlas entry

• Sperlonga

  Sperlonga is a strikingly beautiful coastal town midway between Rome and Naples, with white-painted houses cascading down a hillside that evokes Greek island architecture. Its twin beaches—one stretching 18 km to Terracina—rank among the best in Lazio, while the medieval old town atop a former fortress offers narrow stepped streets and panoramic bay views.

  Atlas entry

• Stagnone Lagoon and Islands Nature Reserve

  The Stagnone Lagoon and Islands Nature Reserve is Sicily's largest lagoon ecosystem, offering a rare combination of archaeological wonders, traditional salt harvesting, and world-class kitesurfing conditions. The shallow, wind-protected waters make it ideal for beginners and experts alike, while the salt pans and windmills create a striking landscape that shifts from white crystalline flats to golden hour reflections across the water.

  Atlas entry

• Sterzing

  Sterzing (Italian: Vipiteno) is a historic Alpine city that serves as the gateway to South Tyrol. The town was first settled in prehistoric times and received city rights under Count Meinhard II in 1280.

  Atlas entry

• Stresa

  Stresa is a small but elegant resort town of 5,000 residents on the south shore of Borromean Bay, an arm of Lake Maggiore in Piedmont, northern Italy. The town serves as the gateway to the celebrated Borromean Islands—three islands topped with ornate Baroque palaces and lush Italianate gardens.

  Atlas entry

• Stromboli

  Stromboli is one of the few places on Earth where you can witness an active volcano erupting in relative safety. The island gives its name to 'Strombolian eruptions' — spectacular fire fountains of lava visible at night.

  Atlas entry

• Sulmona

  Sulmona is a secluded and somewhat overlooked small city in Abruzzo, surrounded by imposing mountains at about 400 metres above sea level, yet it doesn't feel like it has 25,000 inhabitants. One of the oldest towns in Abruzzo, it features many buildings from the Middle Ages or earlier and is famous as the native town of the Roman poet Ovid.

  Atlas entry

• Sutri

  Sutri is a small hilltop town in Lazio, about 50 km north of Rome, that rewards visitors with remarkably preserved Etruscan and Roman antiquities. The town sits on a narrow hill of tufo (tuff) rock on the northern side of the Via Cassia, while the main archaeological sights lie south of this ancient road.

  Atlas entry

• Syracuse

  Syracuse (Siracusa) is a city of 122,000 people on Sicily's eastern coast, once described by Roman writer Cicero as "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all." The city combines Greek and Roman archaeological wonders with Baroque architecture on the island of Ortigia, making it one of Sicily's most compelling destinations. "Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica" are UNESCO World Heritage listed, and the city serves as an excellent base for exploring southeast Sicily including the Baroque towns of Ragusa and Noto.

  Atlas entry

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$58

• Taormina

  Taormina is one of Sicily's most popular tourist resorts, famous for its ancient Greek theatre with Mount Etna as a backdrop. The charming hillside town offers medieval streets, grand palazzos, and beautiful bay views.

  Atlas entry

• Taranto

  Taranto is a gritty, working port city in southeastern Italy with a thousand-year history and one of the most important naval bases in the country. The old town (Città Vecchia) sits on a peninsula with Greek and Norman heritage, while the modern city sprawls northward.

  Atlas entry

• Tempio Pausania

  Tempio Pausania is a historic market town of about 14,000 inhabitants in the mountainous heart of Gallura, northern Sardinia. Once a provincial co-capital alongside Olbia, it preserves a remarkable ensemble of granite-fronted buildings along Corso Matteotti and Via Roma.

  Atlas entry

• Teramo

  Teramo sits at the junction of Abruzzo's highest peaks and the Adriatic coast, giving visitors Roman ruins, Lombard-Romanesque churches, and mountain trails in one compact city. The University of Teramo keeps a youthful energy, while local festivals like Magna Teramo in September celebrate regional dishes—scrippelle 'mbuse, spaghetti alla chitarra, and timballo—that rarely appear on tourist menus outside the province.

  Atlas entry

• Terni

  Terni is an industrial city in the Umbria region that was heavily bombed during World War II, earning it a reputation more for post-war architecture than historic preservation. In the 19th century, it was known as the "Manchester of Italy" due to its textile and steel industries.

  Atlas entry

• Todi

  Todi is a compact medieval hilltown in Umbria, dramatically perched above the east bank of the Tiber. The town impresses both from a distance — with its silhouette against the valley — and from within, where Piazza del Popolo sits atop ancient Roman cisterns that remained in use until the 1920s.

  Atlas entry

• Torre Annunziata

  Torre Annunziata is a small commune in Metropolitan Naples, Campania, famous for its UNESCO-listed Archaeological Area that shares World Heritage status with Pompeii and Herculaneum. The town offers a quieter alternative to the crowded ruins of its famous neighbors, with the ancient Roman Villa Poppaea as its centerpiece.

  Atlas entry

• Torre Salsa Nature Reserve

  Torre Salsa is one of Sicily's last unspoiled coastal stretches, a 760-hectare reserve of windswept dunes, chalky cliffs, and crystal-clear waters between Siculiana and Montallegro. Managed by WWF Italia and part of the Natura 2000 network, it offers hiking, birdwatching, and swimming without the crowds of more developed beaches.

  Atlas entry

• Torre Vado

  Torre Vado is a tiny Ionian Sea hamlet in the Salento region of Apulia, southern Italy, centered on a 16th-century cylindrical watchtower built to defend against Barbary pirates. With fewer than 90 permanent residents but a summer influx exceeding 10,000 visitors—primarily Neapolitan and Swiss tourists—this village transforms into a bustling coastal resort from June to September.

  Atlas entry

• Tradate

  Tradate is a modest industrial city in Varese Province, best known for holding the Guinness World Record for the largest gas station museum on the planet. The Fisogni Museum alone draws enthusiasts from across Europe, making it a curious niche destination.

  Atlas entry

• Trapani

  Trapani's historic centre stretches along a narrow peninsula. Fishing boats, ferries, waterfront markets and evening walks shape its working-port atmosphere.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$114

  Best months

  Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

• Tremiti Islands

  The Tremiti Islands are the only Italian archipelago in the Adriatic Sea, 22 km off the Gargano Peninsula. With crystal-clear waters, colorful seabeds, and unspoiled Mediterranean nature, the islands have been a marine reserve of Gargano National Park since 1989.

  Atlas entry

• Trento

  Trento is the third-largest city in the Alps with over 120,000 inhabitants, offering a rare blend of Italian and Austrian cultural influences shaped by the Council of Trent (16th century Counter-Reformation). The pedestrianized historic center features outdoor frescoes on historic buildings, while the surrounding Alpine valley provides easy access to lakes, ski slopes, and wine country.

  Atlas entry

• Treviso

  Treviso offers a slower, more authentic Veneto experience than nearby Venice—medieval porticoed streets, Renaissance frescoes, and the birthplace of tiramisù without the selfie queues. The city serves as a practical base for budget travelers seeking Prosecco wine roads and Venetian lagoon day trips without paying lagoon prices.

  Atlas entry

• Trieste

  Trieste has a lively cafe culture. Historic Viennese-style establishments give its coffee stops a distinctive setting.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$117

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Tropea

  Tropea is a dramatic clifftop town on Calabria's Tyrrhenian coast, famous for its red onions and long sandy beaches below sheer sea cliffs. The compact old city centers on a Norman cathedral and a 17th-century sanctuary built into a sea rock, with cafes and restaurants lining the historic lanes.

  Atlas entry

• Turin

  Turin is a base for exploring the Savoy dynasty's UNESCO-listed royal residences. Palazzo Reale and nearby La Venaria Reale are key stops for palace visits.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$126

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Udine

  Udine is the quiet, stately capital of Friuli, offering a less crowded alternative to Venice with Venetian-influenced architecture, excellent local wines, prosciutto di San Daniele, and Montasio cheese. The city serves as an ideal base for exploring the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, with easy access to Alpine ski resorts, Adriatic sea resorts, and UNESCO heritage sites like Cividale del Friuli.

  Atlas entry

• Urbino

  Urbino is a small but mighty Renaissance jewel perched atop a steep hill in the Marche region. The city is famous for its UNESCO-listed Palazzo Ducale, once home to the powerful Duke of Montefeltro, and as the birthplace of Raphael.

  Atlas entry

• Valley of the Temples

  The Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi) is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Mediterranean, preserving the ruins of ancient Akragas, once one of the leading cities of Magna Graecia. The site features remarkably well-preserved Doric temples built during the 5th century BC golden era, with the Temple of Concordia being one of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples in the world.

  Atlas entry

• Varenna

  Varenna is a small, traditionally fishing village on the eastern shore of Lake Como, characterized by colorful houses and villas built tightly on a hillside below a mountain. The village offers a quieter alternative to busier lakeside towns, with a charming historical centre of staircases and steep paths leading to lakeside bars with terraces.

  Atlas entry

• Varese

  Varese has a pedestrian-friendly historic center. Views of its namesake lake and the Alps frame a visit.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$115

  Best months

  Apr–Sep

• Velletri

  Velletri is a sizeable town of over 50,000 inhabitants in the Alban Hills region southeast of Rome. While WWII bombing destroyed most historic monuments, it retains a modest authenticity and serves as an inexpensive alternative base for visiting Rome or exploring Lazio's wine country.

  Atlas entry

• Venice

  Venice is a city to explore on foot, with car-free streets and waterside journeys. Vaporetti and water taxis complement walks through the city.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$154

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Ventimiglia

  Ventimiglia sits right on the Italy-France border, making it a practical stop for travelers moving between the Riviera destinations of Nice, Monaco, and Genoa. The town offers an authentic Italian alternative to tourist-heavy French coastal towns, with a genuine medieval old town where locals actually live, and one of the region's largest weekly markets drawing shoppers from both countries.

  Atlas entry

• Verbania

  Verbania sits on a promontory at the northern entrance to Borromean Bay on Lake Maggiore, formed from the historic merger of several towns including Pallanza, Suna, and Intra. The city is best known for the Giardini Botanici Villa Taranto, a 16-hectare botanical garden established between 1931 and 1940 by Scotsman Neil McEacharn, showcasing 20,000 plant varieties across 3,000 species.

  Atlas entry

• Vernazza

  Vernazza is the next-to-northernmost and perhaps most picturesque of the five Cinque Terre villages. Colorful antique homes cling to impossible cliffs above a lovely small harbor, with an ancient castle and dramatic seaside church creating postcard-perfect views.

  Atlas entry

• Verona

  Verona is a historic city in Italy's Veneto region. Its urban heritage is recognized on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$122

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Viareggio

  Viareggio is a smaller coastal city in Tuscany's Versilia region, positioned on the Tyrrhenian Sea. While most beaches are private members-only clubs, the town offers a more affordable alternative to surrounding beach towns like Forte dei Marmi.

  Atlas entry

• Vicenza

  Vicenza is a UNESCO-listed city in northeastern Italy, famous as the birthplace of Andrea Palladio whose villas and palaces dot both the city center and surrounding countryside. Unlike nearby Venice or Verona, Vicenza offers a more relaxed atmosphere with fewer tourists, excellent local cuisine rooted in cucina povera traditions, and easy access to the Colli Berici wine region with its excellent wineries and hidden restaurants.

  Atlas entry

• Vigevano

  Vigevano is a compact Renaissance city in Lombardy's Lomellina plain, famous worldwide as the “shoe capital” since the first industrial shoe factory opened in 1866. Beyond footwear, the city offers one of Italy’s most beautiful Renaissance squares, a fortified castle housing three museums, and a tower that inspired the Filarete tower in Milan’s Castello Sforzesco.

  Atlas entry

• Villafranca Tirrena

  Villafranca Tirrena offers a quieter cultural stop near Messina. A baronial castle, Renaissance church art and a medical museum give the small town its focus.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$88

  Best months

  Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

• Viterbo

  Viterbo is a medieval city of 68,000 people in Lazio, central Italy, with one of Italy's best-preserved historic centres surrounded by walls. It was once a Papal seat and controls 50 castles in the 13th century; now it preserves Etruscan necropolises, thermal springs at 55°C, and Italy's gold reserves.

  Atlas entry

• Völs am Schlern

  Völs am Schlern (Fiè allo Sciliar) is a historic farm village in South Tyrol perched at 900m in the Dolomites, serving as a tranquil base for exploring the emblematic Sciliar mountain (2,563m) and the vast Seiser Alm alpine meadow. With 300 sunny days per year and mild winters, it attracts hikers, bikers, and culture seekers looking to avoid the busier alpine resorts.

  Atlas entry

• Volterra

  Volterra is a beautiful walled city in Tuscany built on the top of a hill, over one of the Twelve Cities of the ancient Etruscan civilization. The town has some of the original gates from that era still standing along with a dedicated museum packed with Etruscan and Roman relics.

  Atlas entry

• Vulcano

  Vulcano is one of the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago north of Sicily. The island is famous for its therapeutic mud baths at Laghetto di Fanghi, where visitors slather themselves in mineral-rich volcanic mud before rinsing off in warm offshore springs.

  Atlas entry

• Zingaro Nature Reserve

  Zingaro is Sicily's first nature reserve, protecting a pristine 7-kilometre stretch of Tyrrhenian coastline that remains completely free of roads or modern development. The reserve covers 1,620 hectares of limestone cliffs, Mediterranean vegetation, and secluded coves with over 650 plant species and 40 nesting bird species, including Bonelli's eagle.

  Atlas entry