Hidden Italy: Hill Towns, Wild Trails and a Secret ‘Mini Venice’

Italy may be crowded with famous cities and long queues, but a quieter, more intimate version of the country lies just off the tourist trail. In the hills of Emilia-Romagna, near the town of Brisighella, the landscape feels like the backdrop to a Renaissance painting. Jagged rocky outcrops, lone trees and enigmatic towers give the arrival into town an almost dreamlike quality.
Brisighella itself makes an ideal base for walking and slow exploration. Its medieval lanes twist between stone houses, and an elevated walkway offers secluded spots to gaze down at the rooftops. From here, you can head out into the surrounding hills or simply sit and absorb the sense of time layered into the town’s stones.
Far to the south, Sicily’s Via dei Frati offers an entirely different, but equally peaceful, experience. The 54-mile route from Caltanissetta to Cefalù crosses the Madonie mountains, yet walkers may not see another tourist for days. Each stage ends in a quiet village such as Gangi, where conversations unfold through gestures and smiles rather than English.
In Basilicata, the small town of Venosa hides a past far larger than its present-day size. Birthplace of the Roman poet Horace, it still preserves Roman remains, ancient Jewish catacombs and a striking castle. The surrounding region is dotted with castles and palaces at places like Melfi, Lagopesole and Pietragalla – destinations that would be world-famous if they sat on a more beaten track.
Scattered across the rest of the country are more retreats: an off-grid eco-hotel in the Apennines where phones fall silent and stars crowd the sky; Cividale del Friuli with its Lombard treasures and emerald river; Chioggia, a working “little Venice” of canals and fishing boats; mountain villages in Liguria and Piedmont serving truffles, polenta and sweet wines; and the Roman city of Urbs Salvia, where theatre and amphitheatre stand in almost eerie solitude. Together they form an Italy that feels both deeper and more personal – a country of unsung wonders waiting quietly in the background.