Even in a glorious country like Italy, there are areas that are overlooked. This is not undiscovered territory. There are very few of them. However, there are towns, villages and landscapes that, for one reason or another, fall outside the tourist mainstream, despite being wonderfully charming.
Treat this often overlooked quintet as a starting point. Mantua is a must-see, but so are nearby Vicenza, Modena and Ferrara. Please take a look at these as well. If you are already familiar with Sicily’s Noto or Iblei, then the Madonier Mountains, Mount Enna or Mount Erice are no different. Add Trevi, Norcia, Bettona and Valnerina to your Umbrian list.
And of course, keep in mind that these five destinations don’t just scratch the surface of Italy’s overlooked gems. This includes large swaths of southern Italy, including the hill town of Molise and the mountain enclaves of Abruzzo east of Rome. The city as a whole, especially Trieste, receives only a fraction of the tourists compared to Florence or Milan.
Even in the tourist star turn there are unknown neighbors. The Tuscan cities of Lucca and Siena, for example, are located near the little-known Orecchiella Mountains and the Etruscan capital of Maremma. The lakes Iseo and Orta are a short drive from Garda and Maggiore. In Italy, once you start looking, what’s overlooked is never far away.
Valle Maira, Piedmont
South-west of Turin, high above the Alps, there are some hidden and half-forgotten valleys. The most attractive of these is Valle Maira (vallemaira.org). Not only its magnificent scenery, but also the beautiful wooden food is attractive. Don’t miss Elba – a village with houses – wonderful folk art and other art.
Fragments of the ancient Occitan culture and language are still prevalent, especially on the old trade routes that crossed the mountains, many of which are connected by the great long-distance footpaths of the Percorsi Occitani (percorsioccitani.com), half of which You can easily walk there. – Or you can just walk or ride your bike all day long.