One of Europe’s most fantastic destinations, Italy is popular for many things. From its rolling hills of Tuscany to dramatic coastlines, and stunning mountain ranges, Italy is famous for its beauty. When planning a trip to Italy, most travelers include cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice on their list. We at TravelGooru recommend that you must include some hidden gems of Italy as well. The best way to experience it all is by exploring the hidden gems as well.
Knowing where to find secret towns in Italy can be daunting, but that is why we are here to help. We are very excited for you to start planning your tour of Italian culture, food, and natural beauty so without further ado here are 7 secret towns in Italy that you need to visit.
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Burano, Venice
Burano is a small island in the Venice Lagoon, and as yet is untouched by tourists who come to Venice on a daily basis. The island is less than an hour away from Venice, and yet not many visitors make a boat trip to this colorful island. Every house on the island is painted in bright colors: red, yellow, green, blue, and pink. Given its rich seafaring heritage, Burano offers delicious seafood restaurants, and it is the ideal place to try local specialties like risotto de go, made with goby fish from the lagoon, and rich seafood lasagne.
Visiting Burano is an ideal day trip from Venice, and you’ll have a completely different experience to being in Venice and a much quieter one.
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Procida, Campania
Procida is the smallest island in the Bay of Naples, and tourists often miss it in their rush to see the nearby Ischia and Capri. But we recommend that you must definitely visit this untouched location by hopping on the Procida ferry from Naples. With its vibrantly colored buildings overlooking a picture-perfect harbor, this island is a photographer’s dream come true. Climb to the Terra Murata, which is the oldest and highest point on the island, where you’ll come across crumbling ruins and stunning views.
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Castelluccio, Umbria
This is the highest village in the Apennine Mountains at 1,452 m above sea level. It is a charming hamlet with stunning squares that offer spectacular views over the mountains and colored fields that blossom with red poppies and violets. The fields of lentils and poppies bloom every year, carpeting the landscape with a colorful quilt of blossoming flowers. Each summer the phenomenon is viewed by thousands of tourists.
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Tropea, Calabria
Calabria is a secret place in the South of Italy that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Tropea is a nice old town full of beautiful buildings and excellent restaurants. It is also surrounded by sandy beaches. There are several seafood eateries and a pebbly beach lined with umbrellas and deck chairs you can rent. The water is emerald green, the perfect way to cool off after a hike.
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Salina, the secret Sicilian Island
The local feel and the food scenes make Salina a great place to base your stay. The twin peaks of two volcanic cones define Salina’s landscape and have endowed the island with mineral-rich soil. Fig trees, wild fennel, and caper bushes grow in abundance. The streets are lined with seafood trattorias, gift boutiques, and Aperitif bars. When visiting, you must search for hidden black sand beaches and cool-off inside stunning churches with hand-pressed floor tiles.
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Town of Taormina, Sicily
This picturesque town offers stunning views of the ocean below and epic panoramic scenes of green hills above and Mount Etna in the distance. The climate is wonderful all year round due to the protection of the slopes, making a visit in winter quite pleasant.
There are historical places like the Ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina or the Roman Odeon. There are stunning churches like the Church of San Giuseppe, the Duomo, and St. Pancras Church. All in all, Taormina has something for everyone and is a true Italian secret to explore.
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Cala Coticcio, Sardinia
Regarded as one of the most stunning beaches in the world, this gem offers a great hike and is located on a small island near Sardinia. The sand is clean and almost white. You can reach this place by taking a ferry from Palau in Mainland Sardinia to Maddalena Island. From there, drive over a small bridge to Caprera Island and after 5 minutes park up by a small forest. After a 30-minute walk through some rocks, goats, and some steps, you arrive at a stunning beach.
With this list of secret towns to visit in Italy, you now have a small base for an itinerary. Italy is a land that will fill you with wonders at every turn and you must definitely go explore it.
If you desire to see all of these amazing places in Italy, connect with us at TravelGooru today. We help clients search for cheap hotels and rental cars at their vacation destination. We instantly compare prices and provide precise details to make it easy for our clients.