Discover Italy’s Unsung Treasures: From Tempiettos to Truffles

Beyond the famous domes and galleries lies an Italy of almost secret wonders. Brisighella in Emilia-Romagna is one of them, a small town approached through rocky hills where towers and trees seem placed for dramatic effect. It feels more composed than constructed.
The town’s centre is full of medieval character. Narrow alleys twist up towards an elevated passage, offering fresh views with each turn. It’s an ideal starting point for walks and drives deeper into the surrounding countryside, which holds a similar mix of gentleness and drama.
Sicily’s Via dei Frati takes travellers into more rugged territory. The 54-mile path from Caltanissetta to Cefalù runs through the Madonie mountains. With virtually no other hikers on the trail, the experience feels deeply personal. Overnight stays in villages such as Gangi bring you into the rhythm of local life.
Basilicata’s Venosa presents the past on an intimate scale. Roman ruins and catacombs spill across the landscape, while the town’s castle stands watch. Nearby, the castles of Melfi and Lagopesole and the ducal palace at Pietragalla show just how dense this region is with unexplored history and architecture.
Add to the list an eco-hotel in the Apennines with rope-access river swimming, Cividale’s exquisite Lombard-era Tempietto Longobardo and its riverside Devil’s Bridge, Chioggia’s canals and zoology museum, Santo Stefano d’Aveto’s hikes and simple mountain dishes, Loazzolo’s sweet wines and truffle-rich hills, and Urbs Salvia’s atmospheric archaeological park. Together these stops create a journey through Italy that is rich in flavour and almost free of crowds.