Traveling to Italy and want to escape the notorious crowds in most famous Italian destinations? We’ve got a list of the best non-touristy cities and towns in Italy you should visit before they’re crowded.
Given that Italy is one of the most popular countries for tourists across the globe, the excessive numbers of attactions here are seriously overwhelming. Every destination is better than the last, what with its powerhouse cities such as Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan – and there’s also the fabulous Italian Riviera.
All these popular destinations are nice to visit – after all, they’re popular for a reason! – but it’s so much nicer to have a destination all to yourself. This allows for seeing a bit more of the “real” side of Italy.
While these major destinations are all must-visits on your grand Italian vacation, many other great points of interest get overlooked. Know that Italy is a perfect place for lucky finds – you just gotta know where to look!
Let’s guide you to these perfect finds – the best non-touristy cities and towns in Italy.
14 Best Non-Touristy Cities and Towns in Italy
From the advantages of art, architecture, and history to great food and wonders of nature, here are 14 of the best non-touristy cities and towns in Italy you must visit before they get too crowded.
1. Pitigliano, Tuscany
This quaint old Tuscan town is built on a mountain of lava. As it literally clings to the cliff face of the tuffaceous rock, Pitigliano is truly a paradise for vloggers and photographers.
There are plenty of lanes and labyrinth vicoli to explore, with houses in most improbable positions. And although a bit steep, the historical center of this non-touristy Italian town is an easy walk. You can relax and enjoy the views of the valley below in the terrace of one of the restaurants.
There is nothing quite like the experience you can get from visiting Pitigliano. A real treat for those who prefer the non-touristy cities and towns in Italy.
2. Tropea, Calabria
Legend says that Hercules founded the non-touristy Italian town of Tropea, an area on Italy’s west coast that’s noted for producing the prized red onions called cipolle di Tropea (Tropea onions) that are well-known in Italy.
Tropea is an old fortified town that is perched on the cliffs overlooking splendid beaches and the stunning Tyrrhenian Sea. The sea alone is a great reason to visit Tropea. However, the place offers so much more.
Like all the other towns on the Amalfi Coast, beautiful sandy beaches await you beneath the picturesque cliffs. It’s the best place to enjoy sunset with calzone or cipolla gelato. That’s right, it’s onion gelato – one of the not-to-be-missed when visiting Tropea and its top restaurants.
You also shouldn’t miss Cattedrale di Maria Santissima di Romania, a 12th-century cathedral built on a former Byzantine cemetery. It features marble sarcophagi and a painting of the Madonna of Romania.
3. Bergamo, Lombardy
Situated in the alpine region of Lombardy, Bergamo is just about 30 km. from the Swiss border and some 40 km. northeast of Milan. This stunning city is a treasure of Northern Italy.
Its upper town, the Città Alta, is encompassed by a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the massive Venetian defensive systems. The view from high up is fantastic. The old town offers ample opportunity to dander through the old narrow streets. It’s connected to the lower city, the Bassa, by walking trails and a funicular.
Bergamo houses the quirky mausoleum of the world famous juggler Rastelli, historic sites like palaces and churches, and a shopping district. It’s truly one of those quaint little non-touristy towns in Italy that is absolutely well-worth a visit.
If you’re visiting the city and need a place to eat, check out the best restaurants in Bergamo!
4. Bolzano, South Tyrol
Bolzano is a gateway to the super-impressive Dolomites in the Italian Alps, nestled in a valley amidst seemingly endless hills of vineyards.
This non-touristy Italian city in South Thyrol is distinctly Germanic since it has only been Italian during World War I, so you’ll see an incredible mix of the two cultural influences.
Bolzano is home to the famous Neolithic mummy, Ötzi the Iceman, who lived in circa 3300 BC. You can “meet” him at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, in the vicinity of the Duomo di Bolzano and Mareccio Castle.
The city center is a good place for some delicious bakeries and other various foods, with spectacular views as an added treat.
5. Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna
While its convenient location between Venice and Bologna makes it easy to reach, Ferrara is still relatively off the beaten track of tourists.
Ferrara has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its beauty and cultural significance. It is one of Europe’ capitals of culture, arts, politics, and gastronomy. It is also a reference point for artists, poets, and minstrels.
Ferrara boasts numerous Renaissance palaces that its former rules, the Estes, had built. The city’s historic center is well-preserved and easy to visit. This is a must if you want a nice view of the evolution from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
This beautiful medieval city is a treasure trove of cultural and historical delights, with little streets you will have fun getting lost in. It’s an absolute must in your itinerary, especially if you want to explore some non-touristy cities and towns in Italy’s north.
6. Cagliari, Sardinia
Cagliari is built upon several hills so you can imagine the views from up there. This non-touristy Italian city has been the capital of Sardinia for centuries. It is also the island region’s largest city.
Cagliari is famous for its diverse Art Nouveau architecture, several monuments, clear and pristine waters, and gorgeous stretches of coastline.
The place is vibrant and charming. You can find restaurants, especially pizzerias, in practically every corner. Within the city limits is the 5-mile-long Poetto Beach, which is among the best on the Mediterranean.
For culture and history buffs, you will love Castello, the city’s medieval district that’s still guarded by 13th-century towers.
One of the most exciting non-touristy cities and towns in Italy, Cagliari offers the perfect combination of recreation and exploration activities – Cagliari has it all!
- ALSO READ: 10 Best Beaches in Sardinia, Italy
7. Matera, Basilicata
With its designation as a European Capital of Culture in 2019, Matera in the region of Basilicata has become Italy’s pride. It wasn’t always like this, though.
Some 50 years ago, Matera was maligned as “the shame of Italy” mainly due to the extremely poor living conditions of its cave-dwelling citizens. They lived among animals in the caves and had no running water and electricity, which led to diseases that hit the population until the place was evacuated in the early 1950s. Today these caves house shops, cafés, and hotels.
The little troglodyte city in Southern Italy came out of obscurity when the 2021 James Bond film No Time to Die featured it. Now the world wants to explore it.
Deemed as Italy’s magical city of stones, Matera is a fabulous non-touristy Italian town you should visit before it becomes crowded with visitors from all over the world. Its fantastic setting and intriguing history, added by its exquisite cuisine, make Matera a must-visit in Italy.
8. Ostuni, Puglia
Known for its whitewashed old town, Ostuni is in the heart of the Puglia region, situated in the heel of the “boot.” The city consists of a series of levels, staircases, arches, and small streets and alleys that lead to corners that have traces of the Middle Ages.
Like so many other historical towns and villages in Italy, walking around in Ostuni’s historic center feels like being there in the past. It’s a delight to wander around and get lost in the city’s nooks and crannies (which are many). You can see olive trees all over the city, so remember to buy their high-quality olive oil.
The non-touristy Italian city is beginning to be popular among day trippers, so visit before it gets too crowded.
9. Sant’Angelo, Isola d’Ischia, Campania
The village of Sant’Angelo is on the south coast of the Isola d’Ischia, a mountainous volcanic island that’s part of the Campanian Archipelago.
Ischia is the largest of those pretty islands in the Bay of Naples with fantastic sceneries of rolling hills and rocky beaches. While the island is famous for thermal spas and natural springs, it attracts only a fraction of the summer day-trippers from Naples who are actually headed for Capri. So the best time to visit is now, before this non-touristy Italian town gets crowded.
Towered over by the beautiful Mount Epomeo, Sant’Angelo offers authentic Italian village experience. From superb seafood dishes at the village’s charming restaurants to ultimate relaxation at curative spas and long stretches of secluded beaches – this colorful borgo won’t disappoint!
10. Turin, Piedmont
Best-known for the Holy Shroud and white truffles, Turin (Torino in Italian) is the capital city of the region of Piedmont in the northwest of Italy.
It is one of the country’s renowned cities and also its first capital city before the national headquarters transferred to Rome.
Turin is embellished with palaces and elegant architecture. It has been a center of European culture for centuries, offering attractions of great artistic and cultural values.
Turin is one of the most interesting non-touristy cities in Italy, although it often serves just as the springboard to ski resorts in the Alps.
Turin also takes pride in sports cars and chocolate, as well as the world’s most impressive collections of Egyptian artifacts.
Turin is also where you can find the best coffee in all of Italy. Check out the best restaurants in the city when you visit!
11. Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
While Trieste is a prosperous trading hub in the Mediterranean, this non-touristy city in Italy has yet to be crowded with a lot of tourists.
This charming seaside port city serves more of a stopover for most visitors headed to somewhere else. After all, it’s nestled right up against the border to Slovenia, just about 40 minutes to Piran and a little over an hour to the capital, Ljubljana. Zagreb in Croatia is also just 2.5 hours away.
However, the capital city of Friuli-Venezia Giulia offers more than that with its mixture of history and heritage that sets it apart from the rest of Italy. The city is in the easternmost tip of Italy with Italian, Austro-Hungarian, and Slovenian influences all evident in its layout.
Trieste takes pride in being home to one of the country’s largest coffee brands and the Mediterranean’s biggest coffee port, castles, and seafood-based Mediterranean dishes, as well as stunning views of the Adriatic Sea.
12. Orvieto, Umbria
Orvieto is a city perched on the flat peak of a large butte of volcanic tuff, rising dramatically above the nearly-upright faces of tuff cliffs. So, imagine the spectacular views!
But this still non-touristy Italian city has more to offer than views, no matter how fabulous they are.
The site where Orvieto stands today was once an Etruscan acropolis. This is attested to by an incredible underground cave network which you can (and should) visit.
There’s also the Duomo di Orvieto that dates to 1290, imposing with its mosaic façade and a marble Pietà sculpture.
The 16th-century well shaft called the Pozzo di San Patrizio (“Saint Patrick’s Well”) is an absolute must-experience in Orvieto. Be prepared to tackle a lot of stairs, though! 248 steps, to be exact. But you’ll be rewarded when you hit the bottom of the well, where the water is so still and clear you’d think it’s not real.
13. Cefalù, Sicily
Cefalù was built by the Normans in the 12th century, located on the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily. The city is dominated by the “promontory of Hercules,” a 270-meter high monumental rock on which the Temple of Diana stands. So the backdrop says it all.
Most visitors come to Cefalù for the beautiful beach, so no doubt this is a popular holiday destination.
However, compared to other major Italian cities, Cefalù is not given the proper attention it deserves from tourists. But if you’re looking for non-touristy cities and towns in Italy, this is one of the best ones you could go to.
This Sicilian city is not all about the stunning beach and vivid blue Thyrrhenian waters. Cefalù is also famous for having some of the most precious Byzantine mosaics in the world.
It is a great place for walking, with plenty of bars, restaurants, and shops along the charming cobbled streets.
Cefalù also has a Gothic cathedral, ancient ruins, and of course – the breathtaking views over the town, the sea and the wooded mountains.
14. Civita di Bagnoregio, Lazio
Less than 2 hours from Rome is the fantastic Civita di Bagnoregio, part of the province of Viterbo in Lazio. It’s a suburb of the comune of Bagnoregio, the nearest town, and can only be reached via footbridge from the latter.
An ornate gateway to Civita is guarded by a variety of cats bathing in the sun. Inside the village, you’ll have fun strolling the warren of tiny streets and alleys that will either lead you to viewpoints or private dwellings. The buildings are pretty; however, the real attraction of this non-touristy Italian town is the amazing views from up there.
Civita is so rare because of its location. It’s on a slim bluff of land rising up from the valley floor, cut off from Bagnoregio – and, heck, the rest of Italy and the world – by a small canyon.
Civita di Bagnoregio is famously known as “the dying city” because the hill it’s built on is progressively being eroded, hence, the threat that the village could disappear. So hurry up before it’s gone – or crowded!