Can you recommend a rustic-feeling countryside town in Italy?
 

I'm sort-of last minute trying to plan an Italian getaway in August, and I'd prefer a quiet-er setting (which I know will be hard to find). Do you have any insight?

Todi in Umbria or Pienza in Tuscany would be my recs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pienza
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todi

Another would be my absolute favourite Ravello on the Amalfi Coast http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravello

Ravello is a great suggestion - lots to see but not too busy. Lucca also is very agreeable.

What area are you interested in? Will you have a car? There are so many pleasant towns in Italy, it's hard to know which you would like.

Wow, thanks for those suggestions @DownUnder, those look great. I'm interested in something potentially close to the sea and away from the crowds. I won't have a car, how unreliable are Italian trains?

Just a point to note: August in Italy means crowds at the beachside towns as Italians tend to take their own Summer holidays during August. So if you're trying to escape the crowds in the height of Summer, you might find that they are doing a similar holiday to you. For example, Ravello is a great suggestion, but the annual Ravello Festival is on until 27 August this year, and usually attracts quite a few visitors. Great if you're into classical music, ballet and exhibitions, not great if you don't want crowds.

Lucca might be better for you, or Pienza, whilst not by the sea, is also a good suggestion.

Italian trains are, by and large, pretty reliable now, however depending on the town you end up in, you may find the bus services (SITA, etc) are better options for day trips.

At the risk of being a contrarian, I would not put Ravello in the category of "rustic Italian towns." It is a polished resort where low- to moderate-price hotels and restaurants are pretty thin on the ground. It will be filled to the brim in summer and I suspect that most of the tourists will not be Italian.

As beautiful as Ravello, but much more local in feeling would be one of the Puglian seacoast towns such as Trani or Polignano a Mare.

Camogli in Liguria might also fit the bill and it has good train and bus connections for daytrips.


On the Amalfi Coast, you could do well in Cetara.

Or look further south, to the Cilento peninsula.

Ischia Ponte would also be a great place to base, near the sea but with a real "Italian" feeling.

There are obviously hundreds of others--I am just giving you a couple of ideas.