Italy: 5 Enchanting Places to Visit to Escape the Crowds

Italy is a country full of culture and history, with an incredible variety of landscapes and experiences to be discovered. A long time favourite with tourists, the country’s big-hitting destinations are responsible for drawing huge numbers of visitors each year. Rightly so. Attractions such as the capital, Rome, the iconic waterways of Venice and the leaning tower of Pisa (to name but a few) remain firm favourites.

Look beyond those places though, and you will find that Italy has so much more to offer. From Alpine mountains in the north, to sandy beaches and active volcanoes in the south, the 20 regions of Italy showcase a country that has it all. Add to that some world-renowned gastronomy and vibrant urban centres, and you will find that there is something for everyone.

Here, I will take a look at 5 of my favourite places to explore in Italy. While all perhaps less obvious places to go, they remain places that my family have very much enjoyed visiting during our various trips to the country over the years.

#1 Tivoli, Lazio

Located in the hills only around 30km inland from Rome, Tivoli makes a beautiful place to visit to escape the heat and bustle of the capital. Along with a quaint old town to explore, the town is home to 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a long, Roman history whose architecture is still very much in evidence.

Being in an elevated position also allows for far reaching views over the surrounding rolling green countryside, with plenty of walking options all around, making Tivoli great for lovers of nature. Altogether, the town makes a perfect short break destination (or even day trip from Rome) for anyone looking for a taste of Roman history, while escaping the tourist crowds found elsewhere.

Hadrian’s Villa

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, Hadrian’s Villa is an enormous villa complex constructed by the Roman Emperor of the same name back in the second century AD. It covers over a square km of land and was home to a collection of buildings and elaborate water features, along with a staff of thousands needed to run the estate. The villa was originally constructed by Hadrian as a country retreat to escape the stresses of Rome, but later he went so far as to run the entire Empire from this house.

Inspired by his extensive travels around his empire, different sections of the villa complex were designed and named after places that he’d been, such as Egyptian and Greek sections. Indeed, at the time the villa was considered an architectural masterpiece.

After Hadrian’s reign, the villa was occupied at times by his successors, before later falling into disrepair. Sadly, a lot of the statues and building materials were stolen to be reused elsewhere, but still an impressive amount remains. The villa is fun to explore and imagine living in such splendour, with opportunities to enjoy spaces all to yourself, even in the peak of summer.

Villa d’Este

Tivoli’s other UNESCO site (since 2001), Villa d’Este is a grand 16th century villa constructed on the hillside above the town. Famed for its lavish gardens and particularly its complex network of water features, the villa makes a beautiful and interesting place to visit.

The landscaped gardens of the villa contain no less than 51 fountains and 64 waterfalls, all fed by over 800m of canals and all working by the force of gravity alone without any additional pumping. The hillside setting also provides unbeatable views over the surrounding countryside.

Inside the villa itself, there are many notable frescos and historical works of art. Much of the building material used to construct the villa complex was actually reused from the nearby Hadrian’s Villa.

Villa d’Este is a truly spectacular example of this kind of grand, historical country retreat, and well worth a visit. It’s splendour has even gone on to inspire the naming of other gardens elsewhere, such as the Jardin de Tivoli in Paris and the Tivoli Gardens amusement park in Copenhagen.

For the best Tivoli hotel offers, check out Ebooking

#2 Merano, Trentino-Alto Adige

Located in the Alpine mountains of Northeast Italy, Merano is a town with a charm all of its own. In the heart of the Trentino-Alto Adige region (also known as the South Tyrol), the history of Merano has been turbulent through the ages with the town changing hands many times. This can be seen in the range of architecture on display in the town, along with the fact that for many of the locals German remains their primary spoken language.

The whole South Tyrol area is a treat for lovers of mountain landscapes and is a feast for the eyes. There are endless opportunities for walking and other mountain pursuits. A drive through the mountain roads in the area is another easy way to see some of what is on offer.

Merano itself is full of grand, old houses and a pleasant river frontage that showcase the town’s previous prosperity and importance. It makes a beautiful place to relax for a few days and enjoy the spectacular surrounding scenery.

Tappeinerweg Trail

Perhaps the best thing to experience in Merano is the extensive network of purpose built hillside walking trails set above the town, including the famous Tappeinerweg Trail. This was built back in the grand days of promenading to allow the visiting Duke (at his request) to have a pleasant walk where he could survey the town below. It is largely flat and was deliberately constructed to allow for a series of impressive viewpoints. It was also planted with a variety of unusual plant species along the trail to create a corridor of botanical gardens. Walking the length of the trail is a great way to spend an afternoon.

For the best Merano hotel offers, check out Ebooking

#3 Lovere, Lombardy

Lovere can be found in northern Italy, flanked my mountains at the northwest tip of Lago d’Iseo (Lake Iseo). Regularly included in lists of Italy’s most beautiful towns, it doesn’t disappoint. The architecture is an unusual mix of Italian and Swiss styles, with the town’s main square being host to a collection of buildings with grand, stone facades.

As well as making an interesting place to explore on foot, Lovere also has some top class restaurants and a bustling pavement cafe culture. It’s position at the top of Lake Iseo also ensures that the water is fresh off the mountains, so perfect for anyone wanting to cool off with a swim in summer.

Lake Iseo is itself wonderful to explore. It is possible to take boat trips on the lake to visit some of the other picturesque towns and vineyards that line the steep sided lake shoreline. A drive around the road that surrounds the lake is also pretty spectacular in places. Although the lake does receive many visitors each year, it also feels much less overwhelmed with foreign tourists than some of the other northern Italian lakes (particularly Lake Garda), allowing for a much more pleasant atmosphere in which to explore.

‘Lovere, the town of light’ Display

Each summer the centre of Lovere comes alive each evening after dark with a beautiful display of lights, with the 2021 display being the 9th edition of this event. Over 10,000 square feet of the old town’s stone building frontages are illuminated with a series of projections. These display colourful patterns, along with replications of prominent art works. It is an impressive sight to behold and definitely something not to be missed.

For the best Lovere hotel offers, check out Ebooking

#4 Siena, Tuscany

Siena is a beautiful city located in the ever-popular Italian region of Tuscany. While you may struggle to escape the crowds here, I have included it in this list as it often falls under the shadow of some of the other big hitters in the region, such as Florence and Pisa. This shouldn’t be the case however, as it is home to some of the finest architecture that can be found anywhere in Italy. Indeed, the city was once one of the most important cities in all of medieval Europe.

The central old town of Siena has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its historical treasures. There is so much to explore, as well as a strong gastronomical scene to enjoy when taking a break from sightseeing. If visiting Tuscany, Siena is must-see destination.

Siena Cathedral (Duomo)

Siena’s main cathedral is a masterpiece of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture. Work began on the cathedral in the 12th century, but was not completed until 1380. It is built to a style and scale that is truly impressive. The construction is out of striped, black and white granite and marble stone, giving the building exterior and internal columns a unique appearance.

Inside the cathedral, things get even more impressive. The elaborate inlaid mosaic marble floors are incredible. You will struggle to find a cathedral with more internal decoration anywhere in the world.

Piazza del Campo

Siena’s sloping main square is shell-shaped and flanked by impressive brick built buildings. At the top end of the square are a semi-circle of bars and restaurants, perfect to sit outside at and enjoy watching the people going about their business in the square below. It makes a great location for an early evening sundowner.

Twice each summer the square is host to the famous Palio, a medieval style horse race. Competitors from each of the city’s neighbourhoods compete for the prestige of winning this bareback horse race, dressed splendidly in their own area’s individual colours. It is a little bit crazy but incredible to witness.

For the best Siena hotel offers, check out Ebooking

#5 San Marino

Admittedly not actually in Italy, but a tiny mountainous country in its own right, San Marino is landlocked and surrounded on all sides by its larger, closest relation. Because of this obvious Italian influence, I considered it could still make this list. The country has the claims of being both the smallest and oldest constitutional republics in the world.

Although it may not be on the radar of many foreign visitors to Italy, the hilltop old city of San Marino is a real fairytale kingdom. Set high in the mountains, the views are incredible, stretching as far as the sea over 20km away. Being a tax haven, expect the usual odd mix of cigarettes and knives in the souvenir shops, but look beyond that and it really is a beautiful place well worth visiting.

Guaita Tower

As San Marino City’s oldest fortress, set upon the mountain top, the Guita Tower offers up some of the best views to be had. The castle is fun to explore, with costumed staff adding to the themed effect (great for children), with the climb up the highest tower well worth the effort. A visit to San Marino and, in particular this fortress, is truly unforgettable.

For the best San Marino hotel offers, check out Ebooking

In Summary

Italy as a country has so much to offer foreign tourists and visitors of all kinds. While the main tourist sites and principle cities will always with good reason remain popular, if you scratch below the surface you can discover another whole range of interesting, scenic and historic places to visit.

Writing this just makes me think I need to get back there soon to discover some more!

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