Two very special very small towns for me is Cantolupo in Molise (it is really just a village) and Regello (southeast of Florence) and Congeliano (in Veneto) that is not really little but still small. Also Agordo in the Dolomities. So many places, so little time!

Oooops, guess that is four, not two ;;), Another tiny tiny spot is Cavalri (sp?) just east of Chiaravi. It is too sweet for words.

what a fun thread! we love lacoste, st. paul de vence, kitzbuehl. we are going to italy and the south of france next month and my husband paints. if there a must-paint view or town, do let me know!

<<if there a must-paint view or town, do let me know!>>

Take a look at http://www.maisondetreholidays.com/P...ighlights.html - - a nice overview of the abundant way-too-many choices you have as you drive west from the Cote d'Azur towards Avignon. You'll weep over not having a year to explore all of these.

Positano , Amalfi Coast

Would you believe my small town is actually under the protection of the English crown since Henry VIII in 1512. Read about it on this article www.italymag.co.uk/italy_regions/lazio

A few other small towns-Centeno, Proceno and Onano- on the Tuscany/Lazio border were once governed by an Irish man, Joseph Denham from Cork..I'm doing research on it right now.
www.elegantetruria.com

Topping for Jones10hhs

Clisson, Loire-Atlantique, and also Langeais in the Indre et loire, both in France.

Montefalco in Italy, Olivet in France.

it has to be ASOLO in the veneto,followed by volterra in tuscany

Urnerboden, Uri, Switzerland

and how could i forget VARENNA ON LAKE COMO AND SIRMIONE ON LAKE GARDA AND THEN GORDES IN PROVENCE

Montepulciano, without a doubt. Granted, I spent my honeymoon there, so perhaps I'm a bit biased...but it's truly heaven on earth, in my opinion!

I also was very enchanted by Durnstein, Austria. The church has a "Carolina blue" steeple- how could I resist? :)

Telc, Czech Republic. Halfway between Prague and Vienna, this restored Rennaisance town is beautiful. Great photo ops near the lakes that surround the city.

And I can't omit my father's birthplace and it truly is a great little town:

Idar-Oberstein with its church carved out of the mountain.

Google Idar-Oberstein and you will see what I mean.

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We are still hoping to visit Italy in July/Aug 2006.
After seeing the AAA report that bookings to Italy for summer 2006 are up 250%....I am considering small towns.
Can you recomend any -small, less crowded with tourists, towns that are easily reachable by train?
We would prefer not to rent a car.

Thanks in advance

Justincase,

A lot of people advise balancing small cities into an intinerary. If you study this thread, then there are more small towns than you can plot on a map.

Now what are your interest?

These three are accessible by Train:
Vicenza - Architecture
Varenna - a smaller village on Lake Como
Pontresina (Switzerland) - On the bernina route. In winter it's a ski resort.

Here is one idea (needs fourteen days, or more). Use Venice and Rome (fly open jaw) and the Lakes and then a few small towns in Tuscany.

Burano in Italy and Gourdon in France.