These places aren’t undiscovered, they’re cherished by locals
Italy’s famous trio—Rome, Florence, Venice—captivates millions annually, but the country’s soul lives in places where tourists rarely venture. Here’s where locals escape and what travelers miss.
The Forgotten North
Matera, Basilicata – Before it became a UNESCO site and hosted James Bond, Matera was Italy’s shame—ancient cave dwellings where poverty persisted into the 1950s. Today, the Sassi districts offer haunting beauty: limestone caves converted into boutique hotels, restaurants carved into rock, and churches with Byzantine frescoes hidden in grottoes. Arrive at dawn when mist fills the ravine, and you’ll understand why this place feels prehistoric.
Civita di Bagnoregio, Lazio – “The Dying City” perches atop eroding volcanic tuff, accessible only by a narrow pedestrian bridge. With fewer than a dozen permanent residents, this medieval village feels suspended in time. The entrance fee keeps day-trippers manageable. Stay for sunset when the cliffs glow amber and the valley below fills with shadow.
Procida, Campania – While crowds crush Capri and Positano, this fishing island near Naples remains authentically chaotic. Pastel houses cascade toward Marina Corricella, where fishermen still mend nets and grandmothers hang laundry across alleyways. The lemons are bigger, the seafood fresher, and you can actually find a quiet beach in August.
The Secret Coast
Tropea, Calabria – Perched on cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea, Tropea offers the drama of the Amalfi Coast without the tour buses. The medieval center’s narrow lanes open onto viewpoints of turquoise water and white sand beaches. The local red onions are so sweet they’re eaten like apples, and the ‘nduja (spicy spreadable salami) may ruin you for all other charcuterie.
Polignano a Mare, Puglia – Caves carved by millennia of waves create natural dining rooms where restaurants serve sea urchin pasta as waves crash below your feet. The town square sits atop a cliff, and cliff-diving competitions draw international athletes. Visit in September when summer crowds thin but the sea remains warm.
Alberobello, Puglia – Nowhere else will you find a town of trulli—whitewashed stone huts with conical roofs that look like something from a fairy tale. Over 1,500 of these structures cluster in the historic districts. Many now house shops and restaurants, but wander the backstreets to find families still living in them, laundry drying on lines strung between the cones.
Mountain Escapes
Orvieto, Umbria – This fortress city crowns a volcanic plateau, its cathedral facade a Gothic masterpiece that locals claim surpasses Siena’s. Underground, a labyrinth of Etruscan tunnels and medieval wells honeycomb the tuff—2,500 years of excavation that you can explore with a guide. The white wine here, Orvieto Classico, has been famous since Etruscan times.
Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa, Basilicata – Two villages cling to the Dolomiti Lucane, jagged peaks in southern Italy’s interior. Stone houses seem to grow from the rock face. The adventurous can fly between villages on “Il Volo dell’Angelo”—a cable zip line that sends you soaring across the valley at 120 km/h. For the less bold, hiking trails wind through formations that rival the Alps.
Bergamo Alta, Lombardy – Just an hour from Milan, the upper city sits behind Venetian walls, largely ignored by tourists rushing to Lake Como. Funicular railways climb to medieval squares where locals drink aperitivos in Renaissance loggias. The Accademia Carrara holds masterpieces by Botticelli and Bellini in intimate galleries where you might be the only visitor.
Insider Tips
Timing Matters: Visit hilltop towns in shoulder season (April-May, September-October). Summer heat makes climbing cobblestones miserable, and August brings Italian holiday crowds.
Stay Overnight: Day-trippers miss the magic. When tour buses depart, these towns return to their inhabitants. Evening passeggiata (the ritual stroll) reveals local life invisible during daytime visits.
Learn the Regional Cuisine: Each area has dishes tourists never encounter. In Basilicata, try crapiata (a hearty legume stew). In Puglia, order bombette (meat rolls) and burrata. In Calabria, everything gets ‘nduja.printer
Rent a Car: Public transport exists but trains don’t reach the most interesting places. Having wheels means you can chase that castle glimpsed from the highway or stop at a roadside agriturismo advertising homemade cheese.
Talk to Locals: Italians in small towns are genuinely curious about visitors. Even broken Italian and hand gestures unlock recommendations—the family vineyard, the beach without crowds, the restaurant where their grandmother still makes pasta.
The Italy of hidden gems rewards the unhurried traveler. These places aren’t undiscovered—locals have cherished them for centuries—but they’ve escaped the industrial tourism that has transformed more famous destinations. Visit them before the secret spreads.