Italy is beautiful, historic, and compelling – and home to more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country. Plus, with a rich culture, fabulous cuisine, stunning landscapes, and glorious weather, it has something for everyone.
The only difficulty in visiting such a dazzling and diverse country is that it can be tricky to choose which destinations to visit; do you want to stroll around ancient cities, relax amongst rolling hills, kick back on the beach, or explore captivating coastal towns? Perhaps you’d prefer to stay in one area and really get to know a place – or take a whistlestop tour and see as much as possible.
Whatever your preference, an escorted tour with Cosmos* can help you get the most out of your trip. Everything is arranged for you, from transport to hotels to sightseeing, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the travel experience.
Plus, while you can see many of Italy’s most famous sights, you can discover less travelled areas too – from the remote corners of Umbria to quietly pretty Puglian towns. Exploring places that remain unknown to many tourists can show you a different side of Italy. You can sightsee like a local: wandering cobblestone streets, sipping espresso, and learning about each region’s unique culture and history.
So, to inspire you to explore some of Italy’s hidden gems, here are six must-see spots.
1. Bolgheri, Tuscany
If you’re passionate about Italian food and wine, there’s a good chance you’ve always wanted to visit Tuscany. This rural region is known for sensational landscapes, rustic charm, and mouthwatering red wine. While historic hilltop towns like San Gimignano and Volterra are always busy, medieval Bolgheri has managed to slip under the radar. A cypress tree-lined road takes you to this tranquil village, where an enchanting entrance will lure you in.
With a characterful Old Town and dramatic red-brick castle, Bolgheri looks like it’s fallen from the pages of a fairy tale. During Cosmos’s eight-day Gourmet Tuscany tour*, you’ll visit wine cellars to taste Bolgheri’s famously delicious Super Tuscan reds. Based in Montecatini, you’re perfectly placed to explore Tuscany’s many other gastronomic hotspots. You’ll travel through vineyards and olive groves, visit wine shops and restaurants, join a cooking lesson, and feast upon a dizzying range of local gourmet food and drink.
2. Orvieto, Umbria
Of Umbria’s gorgeous hill towns, Orvieto is one of the most striking and mysterious settlements, and isn’t half as well-known as it should be. Sitting majestically above a valley, on a sheer ledge of lava stone, Orvieto is steeped in history and charisma. The streets are virtually traffic-free and perfect for strolling, the colourful cathedral is breathtaking, and the local crisp white wines are some of Italy’s best. Beneath the city is a hidden underground world: a maze of man-made caves, tunnels, and cellars.
To explore Orvieto and many more magnificent towns and cities, why not join Cosmos’s Splendours of Italy tour*? Over nine days, you’ll travel to many of Italy’s most famous cities, including Rome, Siena, Florence, and Venice, admiring the magnificent architecture, ancient ruins, and world-class art. Go wine tasting in Greve, explore San Gimignano’s medieval squares, take a gondola ride in Venice, and admire the remarkable St. Peter’s Basilica and square in Vatican City.
3. Erice, Sicily
As the largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily’s charms are well known – but it still has a few secrets. Perched precariously on a mountain top, 750 metres above sea level, Erice is one such hidden gem. Visiting this beautifully preserved medieval town feels like stepping back in time. You can learn about its unique history as you lose yourself in cobblestone alleys, visit ancient churches, and admire grand fortifications.
From this unique vantage point, you can also enjoy breathtaking views of the sparkling blue sea, the port town of Trapani, and the sweeping valleys below. During Cosmos’s eight-day Sicily tour*, you’ll take a cable car ride up to Erice, and the views as you soar through the sky are utterly sensational. If you’re interested in history, you’ll also love exploring the ancient Greek temples in Selinunte and Agrigento, as well as the Roman Villa at Casale, which is famous for its striking mosaics.
4. Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna
Florence and Rome may be viewed as the high points of Italian art and architecture, but many towns have almost as much going for them – without the throngs of tourists. The small city of Ravenna might be unassuming today, but for three centuries, it was the capital of the Western Roman Empire. Jam-packed with history and culture, it boasts basilicas, mausoleums, and tombs, as well as one of the world’s most impressive collections of early Christian mosaic artwork.
Cosmos’s nine-day Shrines Of Northern Italy and Rome tour* takes you to Ravenna’s majestic masterpieces – but that’s the tip of the iceberg. This fascinating faith-based tour ventures to Milan, where you’ll visit the St Ambrose Basilica and Gothic Duomo. In elegant Turin, you can learn about the famous Holy Shroud, while in beautiful Padua, a sightseeing tour and free time await. You’ll have two days in Rome too, touring the four main Basilicas and visiting Castel Gandolfo, the peaceful Papal summer residence.
5. Assisi, Umbria
Deep in the undulating Umbrian hills is one of Italy’s most captivating towns. Assisi is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s best-preserved medieval towns. Boasting priceless art, ancient buildings, and picture-postcard charm, the town is known for spreading the Franciscan Order, and today, remains a pilgrimage site. When you first glimpse the town, sprawled above wooded hills, it’s difficult not to feel a sense of magic and wonder.
But Assisi is just one of the lesser-known spots on Cosmos’s Best of Italy tour*. This 14-day tour takes you to the country’s most impressive sights, from the lakes of the far north to the sunny south coast. Kicking off in Rome, you’ll travel to Sorrento and the dreamy island of Capri, before exploring ancient Pompeii. Venice and Verona are next, then it’s time to head to Lake Maggiore, arguably the prettiest of the Italian Lakes. You’ll also visit the Cinque Terre, explore Tuscany and Florence, and delve into the very heart of Italian culture.
6. Cisternino, Puglia
Another Puglian town that’s managed to slip under the tourist radar is Cisternino. Surrounded by rolling hills and green valleys, the views from this whitewashed town are spellbinding. But exploring the streets themselves is just as magical. Cisternino is known for its small squares, narrow alleys, and pristine white homes decorated with colourful flowers – but also for its food. As the sun sets, the restaurants, bars, and gelateries around the piazza fill up with locals looking for a feast.
Cisternino is most famous for its barbecued meat, particularly bombette (little parcels filled with mince, ham, and cheese). If you fancy yourself a foodie, why not book yourself onto Cosmos’s eight-day Gourmet Puglia tour*? Visiting towns and cities like Bari, Martina Franca, and coastal Lecce, you’ll sample a range of local delights. Enjoy freshly made orecchiette pasta, cured meats, local cheeses, sweet pastries, and sip Primitivo wine. Then, acquire a taste for different olive oils on a tour of an olive farm.
While Italy is home to many world-famous destinations and attractions, all kinds of wonderful places have managed to avoid mass tourism.
From tranquil villages in rural Umbria to sun-drenched coastal towns in Puglia, these lesser-known places reveal a different side of Italy.
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