Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Which Italy areas are your favorite

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Which Italy areas are your favorite

Besides Rome, Florence, Venice, Capri,Milan What are your favorite out of the way places to visit in Italy? I have been to the above cities and also Sicily and Lake Como and I am looking for other places to visit. I speak fluent Italian so language is not a problem.

Basilicata - totally undiscovered. Give it a try.

I'm tempted to say "all the areas south of Switzerland", and I wouldn't be all wrong. This summer I particularly enjoyed spending time in Puglia. The city of Lecce was beautiful and seemingly untouristed. The countryside of Calabria was great as well. And really enjoyed the towns of Matera and especially Polignano di Mare. It's also hard to leave out Sardinia and Sicily. Then of course, there are the "magical" lakes of northern Italy and the Dolomites. Ok,I'll go back to my original answer.

The art cities are the first thing people think of in Italy. However, after 11 trips to Italia, my top five destinations only include one of the major cities--Venice. The others are: The Lakes [ actually 3 destinations] The hill towns of Tuscany/Umbria The Dolomites The Amalfi coast It takes at least 6 weeks to see most of Italy--choose well and by region.

thanks for the replies so far. Any place you would recommend for staying in the places suggested? We would need a place that sleeps 4 or 6. Not sure how many people are going yet. It could be a villa or hotel. We will be spending at least 1 week somewhere just not sure where yet.

Venice and Amalfi gets my vote...

My personal undiscovered favorite: Rieti. A variety of posts here from me about it. Some might be retrievable by searching "Orvinio" (NOT Orvieto). Not that there is anything wrong with Orvieto (a place I have NOT been). Best wishes, Rex

When makes a big difference.

Umbria - Spello, Todi, Bevagna - the countryside is wonderful!

Thanks everyone Bob- it would be towards the end of June into July as with kids I don't have much of a choice as when to go. Last year we went to Rome, Venice and Sicily as the kids and other people traveling with me haven't been there before.

What about a castle just outside of Assisi?

Montepulciano and Pienza. Lovely strolls.

all the southern province of Siena, the Orcia valleys (most of the images representing Tuscany come from this particular area) wild and never crowded spotted with old hilltowns (Monticchiello, MOntepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino). Timeless, quiet, charming spot of Italy, never too celebrated... a trip for your soul

GA, I concur--southern Tuscany is hard to beat. I would stay near Montalcino and day trip from there. Where you stay depends on $ and rural or in town.

Howard, do tell about the castle outside of Assisi. Laura

What about a little italian island? Elba is the 3 biggest island, or you can try Tremiti Islands http://tremiti.planetek.it/0t/en/0t.htm

Agree with southern tuscany Mt. Amiata area,St.Antimo can stay in a rental on a farm RR

My vote if for Naples!!! I know you hear alot of negative but I love it. It is true Italy!! The people are great and the food is the best in Italy. Then there is that view of the bay, Ahhhhhhhh..........

I have a somewhat diverse list of places I enjoy the most in Italy, which perhaps gives you an idea of what I am like, but more than that, gives you an idea of the diverse places you can go in Italy. It's so many different countries packed into one. I am a big fan of slow travel, so my first suggestions would be to visit Le Marche and Umbria, giving yourself a few weeks. This is one of the best things to do. Central Italy is blessed with gorgeous hill towns, including Macerata (le Marche), Urbino (le Marche), Sarnano (Le Marche), Gubbio (Umbria), Perugia (Umbria), and Assisi (Umbria). Some other charming towns in these two central Italy regions are Spoleto (Umbria), Norcia (Umbria), Ascoli Piceno (Le Marche), and Loreto (Le Marche). On my trip to Puglia, which, by the way, is one of the hidden gems of Italy, where Italians go to take a break from it all (and your fluency will come in handy here!), I visited beautiful beautiful beautiful Lecce, the real jewel of the south. It is gorgeous, with what is known as Lecce Baroque around every corner. I loved Lecce. It is a welcome change to northern fastpaced Italy. Also, we visited Ostuni, which is beautiful for its whitewashed homes and Greek Isle feel, and the town of Trani, which is right on the Lecce-Milano line train and worth a stop over just to see the Romanesque church. Lucca and Siena in Tuscany are nice. I haven't visited enough of Tuscany, but these two cities are charming and make good trips from Florence. A LOT of people get caught up in Toscana, the beautiful Italian region, and miss out on some of the other hill town regions that I have listed above. Toscana is nice, but, in my opinion, it's a little overrated. Le Marche and Umbria are just as beautiful in terms of landscape, and worth a visit just to escape all of those people rushing into San Gimignano 18 times a day. Finally I would suggest Bologna, for the big town feel with great great food and a nice university life. If you like big cities, Bologna is among the best of them in Italy.

Our family really enjoyed Liguria. We stayed in Lavagna because we had friends in that area; this is south of Portofino and north of Cinque Terre. Easy to get around by train. My favorite: wonderful pesto for sell in the pasta shops! We'd buy a box of Ritz crackers and a pint of pesto and be in heaven!!

I'd highly second Jack's recommendation re: the Orcia valleys. We spent 5 nights outside of Pienza and really loved it. I'd add Bologna. Not just for the food, but . . . ohmygodthefood!

Basilicata, definitely. One of the out-of-the-way towns I especially liked in that region was Pietrapertosa. You've already been to Sicily, but if you want to know a very untouristy part of it that's my favorite, it's the Nebrodi Mountains area, not just the Parco dei Nebrodi, but also some towns that are technically not within the confines of the park.

I have to vote with the previous Napoli fan. I absolutely loved Napoli!! Yes it is congested but it is exciting and alive. If you haven't been, consider giving it a try. April [email protected]

May's issue of TRAVEL and LEISURE features an article on Pantelleria, an Italian island between Sicily and Tunisia. Apparently, you can fly there from Rome during the summer months. It sounds heavenly, although probably better for a couple seeking isolation, sun, and interesting food and culture than for a family with kids looking for things to do. They also recommend Monterpertuso,a small mountain village that overhangs Positano. I've been there, and it would be a lovely day visit from Positano, because you can walk back to Positano by way of a footpath that descends from the church of Santa Maria della Grazia. Also Monterpertuso is home to two restaurants: Il Ritrovo, and Donna Rosa, both well worth a visit. Have a great time!

I have to agree with "a napoli fan" & "AprilA" above. Naples is truly an amazing place to experience. So much to see & do. You will definitely experience true Italian life in Naples. The people are great & the food is wonderful. I've been to many cities in Italy, but Naples is one of my favorites & I plan on returning soon. It's a must see.

My vote is the Cinque Terre. There are several agriturisms near Levanto on the north and La Spezia to the south. Traveling to these towns and taking the train is the best way to travel into the Cinque Terre. You will love the hiking and the beaches. I am told that it is possible to rent apartments in the small towns, but I don't know of any sites to find them. Maybe someone could help. I think doing a Google search of Cinque Terre would offer some ideas.
Lucca and Pisa are also near. We stayed in an adorable little town northeast of Lucca, Montecarlo. We had some of the finest dining in all of Italy at the small tratorias in this village. The drive through the mountains to get to Montecarlo is beautiful. Have a great trip.

I would vote for Naples as well. Also a pleasant change of scenery would be the Umbrian towns (I've been to two, Assisi and Orvieto).