Don't underestimate the towns in the Italian countryside. There are a lot of beautiful gems beyond the great cities of Italy. There's Alberobello in Puglia, for example. As well as Castelluccio in Umbria. Not to mention Positano on the Amalfi Coast too! More often than not, these idyllic towns tend to get overlooked by the likes of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan. And while these famous metropolises are pretty stunning, the smaller and often more peaceful towns in the Italian countryside are just as enchanting. You might even end up loving them more than the well-known cities!
Alberobello
Without a doubt, Alberobello is the most unique-looking town on this list. Located in the Puglia region in southern Italy, it draws people in with its whitewashed huts topped with conical stone roofs. You probably never expect to see such a place in the Mediterranean, let alone in the Italian countryside. And since it's so far from what the other destinations in Italy look like, the
huts of Alberobello have become a pretty renowned World Heritage Site. That alone is reason enough to check it out!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Castelluccio
“Picturesque” doesn't even begin to describe Castelluccio in Umbria, Italy. Perched atop a steep hill, it's a fairly small town surrounded by lush fields and majestic mountains. The sweeping landscapes alone will take your breath away. What more when you catch a glimpse of the colorful blossoms that surrounded the town? Bursting in bright pops of crimson, marigold, and violet, the area captures the true natural beauty of the Italian countryside. Unfortunately, Castelluccio has been deemed uninhabitable following a 2016 earthquake. You can still visit it, though, even if just to see the flowers nearby.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Castelmezzano
Renowned as one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, the charming commune of Castelmezzano in the Basilicata region is definitely worth a peek. The entire village is perched along the pretty steep slopes of the mountain range, forcing visitors to go through one heck of a commute just to get here. Rest assured, however, that all your efforts won't be in vain. Even from the distance, the town will already captivate you in more ways than one. And when you get to the actual commune, the views from here are also rather extraordinary!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Lorenzo Palazzo
Civita di Bagnoregio
As far as beautiful towns in the Italian countryside are concerned, Civita di Bagnoregio is definitely up there. This is one of those other-worldly destinations where you're not sure which is more amazing: the view of the town or the views from the town. Perched atop a rather steep hill, the entire place almost looks like one big castle. Perhaps the kind you've seen in
Disney films and the like. And when you get there, its Medieval appeal will further convince you that it's a storybook setting.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Dozza
What's great about Dozza in the Bologna province is that it offers one surprise after another. At first glance, it looks like a typical small town in the Italian countryside. Perhaps even in the
French countryside. With its Medieval structure intact, you can already tell what you expect. But then you actually get there and everything isn't quite as you thought it'd be. There are still the cobbled streets and narrow pathways that provincial European towns are known for. But for one thing, the painted murals add a totally different spirit.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ WALTER FERRETTI
Neive
There's no doubt that Neive, a small village in the Piedmont region, is one of the loveliest Italian countryside towns. Surrounded by lush fields and scenic
Italian vineyards, it doesn't get any more provincial than this. It's an idyllic commune that's perfect for escaping the rest of the world. This isn't to say that Neive doesn't have the modern-day conveniences that big cities offer. At the very least, there are a few wifi hotspots here. But the town is just close to nature that it's easy to forget everything else.
Source: Flickr.com/ Paul Arps
Polignano a Mare
Let's go back to Puglia for this next one. Polignano a Mare is a small commune in the bigger city of Bari in Puglia. Though it's a countryside town, it's actually a pretty popular destination. Why? Because it houses one of the
most beautiful coasts in Puglia. Thanks to the cove shoreline, locals and tourists alike flock here once summer arrives. And even when it gets too crowded, you'd still insist to go here too. That's how much of a paradise Polignano a Mare really is!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Positano
Positano is yet another relatively popular town in the Italian countryside. Located along the Amalfi Coast, it's one of the most scenic seaside communes in the country. In fact, the area is such a paradise that it's drawn many famous people to its shores. Though Portofino is more of the elites' playground, those who want to escape its crowds retreat to Positano for some peace and quiet. The turquoise waters here are absolutely breathtaking. As are the views of and from the town!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
San Leo
In the heart of the Montefeltro countryside stands San Leo, a clifftop commune that's worth checking out. Bibliophiles will know it as one of the many real-life places in Dante's “Divine Comedy,” a lengthy narrative poem that imagines what hell, heaven, and purgatory look like. Fortunately for San Leo, Dante used the town as the basis for purgatory, not the underworld. Nevertheless, there really is something other-worldly about this astounding town. It's the kind that you have to see to believe!
Source: Flickr.com/ Billy Wilson
Sorrento
Finally, there's Sorrento, a coastal town by the Bay of Naples. Also quite popular as a summer destination, the place tends to get busy at certain times of the year. But make no mistake! Even when tourists invade the town, it's still part of the Italian countryside. Its Mediterranean appeal is inescapable, not that you'd ever want to escape it in the first place. From the lemon trees that add a zesty scent to the air to the big blue umbrellas that line the coast of the town, Sorrento is the quintessential Italian retreat.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Want to see the true beauty of Italy? Then check out the most idyllic towns in the Italian countryside. These charming villages and peaceful communes are the heart of the country. and their beauty will take your breath away!
