13 Places to Explore Beyond Italy’s Major Cities
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These thirteen Italian destinations offer coastal lanes, lake scenery, historic centres and mountain landscapes. Some are quieter alternatives to major cities; others already attract many visitors. Season, transport and local access rules will shape the experience.
Camogli, Liguria
Camogli faces the Golfo Paradiso on the Ligurian coast. Its tall, colourful houses, harbour and maritime traditions give it a distinctive character. The familiar explanation of its name as “houses of the wives” is a local tradition rather than an established etymology.
Walk along the waterfront or explore marked routes towards San Rocco and Punta Chiappa. Summer weekends can be busy.
Official visitor or access information
Lake Iseo, Lombardy
Lake Iseo lies between the provinces of Brescia and Bergamo. Monte Isola is a substantial inhabited island in the lake, reached by passenger boat, with villages and paths rising towards the Madonna della Ceriola sanctuary.
Check ferry schedules and walking distances. The 2016 Floating Piers installation was temporary and is no longer a bridge to the island.
Official visitor or access information
Pontine Islands, Lazio
The Pontine archipelago lies off the Lazio coast. Ponza has a curved harbour and colourful houses; Ventotene combines Roman remains with a history of exile and twentieth-century political thought. Palmarola offers dramatic rocky scenery.
Zannone belongs to Circeo National Park, while Santo Stefano is known for its former Bourbon prison, which requires arranged, guided access. Check boat services and protected-area rules; the smaller islands are not interchangeable beach resorts.
Official visitor or access information
Bergamo, Lombardy
Bergamo’s Città Alta rises above the lower city, with Piazza Vecchia and historic buildings within Venetian defensive walls. Those walls are part of a UNESCO-listed network of Venetian works of defence. The Città Bassa contains buildings from several periods, not just the eighteenth century.
Allow time for both parts of the city and check the funicular service. Bergamo is an established destination, so quieter streets depend on where and when you visit.
Aeolian Islands, Sicily
The seven main Aeolian islands are Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Panarea, Filicudi and Alicudi. Their volcanic landscape is UNESCO-listed. Lipari has the principal museum and town; Vulcano is the island associated with the well-known geothermal mud area.
Stromboli and Vulcano are active volcanoes. Before arranging an excursion, check the Civil Protection information and current local restrictions, and use an authorized guide where required. Do not assume a crater route or mud-bathing area is open simply because an older guide recommends it.
Official visitor or access information
Comacchio, Emilia-Romagna
Comacchio is a canal town near the Po Delta, known for its bridges, eel-fishing heritage and surrounding wetlands. The Trepponti bridge is a prominent landmark, and the delta offers birdwatching opportunities.
Look up the current eel-festival programme rather than relying on a fixed annual date. Wildlife sightings, including flamingos, depend on conditions and location.
Marzamemi, Sicily
Marzamemi is a fishing settlement near Pachino and Vendicari in south-eastern Sicily. Its history centres on the tonnara, the former tuna fishery, and the square of Piazza Regina Margherita. Much of the village’s present layout developed in the eighteenth century.
Enjoy the square and coast, but expect a lively atmosphere in popular periods. If planning around a film festival or other event, check the current organizer’s programme before booking.
Official visitor or access information
Vipiteno/Sterzing, South Tyrol
Vipiteno is in the autonomous province of Bolzano, in the region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. Its German name is Sterzing. The region comprises the provinces of Trento and Bolzano; Alpine scenery here extends beyond the Dolomites.
Explore the historic streets and Torre delle Dodici. For a Christmas-market visit, check the current dates and transport arrangements rather than assuming a whole month of daily opening.
Official visitor or access information
Castelmezzano, Basilicata
Castelmezzano is set among the rocky Dolomiti Lucane near Pietrapertosa. Its medieval settlement and Norman castle remains are central to its history; accounts of an earlier Greek settlement refer to the area’s more distant origins.
The Volo dell’Angelo zip line links the two villages. It has specific age, height, weight and other participation requirements, and involves walking to the departure points. Read the operator’s current rules and opening calendar before booking.
Official visitor or access information
Tellaro, Liguria
Tellaro is a small coastal village in the municipality of Lerici, with lanes, colourful houses and the church of San Giorgio by the sea. The surrounding Gulf of Poets has literary associations; nearby Fiascherino is associated with D. H. Lawrence.
Walk through the village and use designated paths for coastal views. Its popularity means that “small” does not necessarily mean empty, particularly in summer.
Marina di Pisciotta, Campania
Marina di Pisciotta is the coastal settlement below the hill town of Pisciotta in Cilento. Its waterfront and fishing traditions make it a different experience from the historic centre above.
The uphill route to Pisciotta can take substantially longer than a quick ten-minute stroll. Check the route and local transport. Any fishing excursion depends on an operator’s authorized activities and conditions; an overnight trip or a catch is not guaranteed.
Atrani, Campania
Atrani is a compact coastal town beside Amalfi, with a central square, narrow passages and a small beach. It lies within the UNESCO-listed Amalfi Coast cultural landscape, rather than having a separate individual UNESCO inscription.
Combine a walk through its streets with the surrounding coast, allowing for steep steps, limited parking and seasonal traffic.
Malcesine, Veneto
Malcesine stands on Lake Garda’s eastern shore. Its Scaliger castle, harbour and historic lanes sit below Monte Baldo, reached by a cable car whose cabins provide wide views.
It is a well-known resort. Check cable-car opening and weather conditions, and plan walks on Monte Baldo to suit the terrain and your experience.
Italian to use while exploring
Il sentiero è aperto? — “Is the path open?”
Dove si prende il traghetto? — “Where do you catch the ferry?”
Quanto dura la visita? — “How long does the visit take?”
Which destination would you choose for your next trip?
