Italy is one of those countries that are not exhausted in just one trip. It appears that the late unification process helped to preserve the unique characteristics of the various regions that make up the country.
But today we don’t want to talk about the most famous cities and attractions. Check out which are the main unusual destinations that you still need to visit in Italy and see what to see in the country beyond the traditional Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome itinerary.
Bergamo
You’ve probably heard of this northern Italian city at one time. Bergamo is close to Milan and is simply wonderful, but it still doesn’t seem to have fallen in with travelers.
You can stroll through the narrow streets of the 16th-century walled historic center or use the city as a starting point to explore the Lombardy countryside or the famous Italian lakes.
Matera
Visitors to this city’s hotels, restaurants and galleries cannot imagine that it was considered one of the poorest in all of Western Europe just over 50 years ago.
There, the main attractions are the caves used as housing – one of the most interesting seats in the Mediterranean – and the buildings that date back to the Middle Ages.
Porto Venere
The Liguria region is known for the city of Genoa and the five villages that make up the Cinque Terre, but these are definitely not its only points of interest.
Porto Venere stands out for its charming colorful buildings that face the sea, for constructions that follow different artistic schools and for the partially submerged caves.
Ravello
Without a doubt, the Amalfi Coast is an incredible destination to discover in Italy. But that doesn’t mean you should limit your trip only to familiar little towns like Amalfi and Positano!
Take advantage of your days there to visit Ravello, a small town located in the upper part of Campania and offering a privileged view of the region. It’s such a glamorous place that Greta Garbo and Jacqueline Kennedy vacationed there!
Ravenna
Perhaps you’ve also heard about this city that is close to Ferrara. Its main attraction is a set of Byzantine mosaics that are considered one of the World Heritage Sites by Unesco.
The best period to get to know Italy and visit Ravenna is between June and September, when the main mosaics are open for public visitation. It is also when the festival of the city’s patron saint, Santo Apolinário, takes place.
Salento
The Salento Peninsula is so preserved that some villages in this region still preserve cultural traces from the time of ancient Greek occupations! Perhaps the best example of this is griko, a local dialect.
A plain covered with olive trees will make you feel like you are in Greece. To complete the experience, visit the Bay of Porto Salvaggio and the market town of Nardò.
Treviso
The last unusual destination you need to visit in Italy is Treviso. Located near Venice, this city also stands out for its canals that inspire a lot of romance.
Following the best medieval style, the center of this small town is walled. Take time to stroll through the narrow streets of the region and observe the buildings made with reddish bricks.