5 Under-the-Radar Italian Vacation Destinations
Between Instagram, the Internet, and your own vacations, you’re probably familiar with Italy’s better-known holiday spots (we’re talking places like Lake Como, Venice, Tuscany, Rome, and Capri, to name a few). They’re all stunning, fairy-tale locations, to be sure, but not exactly undiscovered. In fact, with all the tourists flocking to these locales each year, you just might get a better view of the sites with a Google image search from the comfort of your sofa than in real life.
But that doesn’t mean you should decamp to other countries just yet. It simply means you need to get a little creative. Mara Solomon, founder of luxury Italian villa rental company Homebase Abroad, has a few suggestions. Solomon has spent the past two decades years exploring Italy. “I discover places by taking the actual road less traveled,” she says. “I am famous for choosing streets I have not driven before (especially if they’re unpaved!) and asking a lot of questions of the locals at the coffee shop or the farmers’ market.” And while she’ll happily help you plan a dream vacation to perennial hot spots, her skills are best put to the test in Italy’s under-the-radar little towns and villages. Here, Solomon shares five of her favorite, off-the-beaten-path Italian vacation spots. No tour buses in sight.
Photo: Alamy1/5Umbria
“This region is an amazing alternative to crowded Tuscany,” says Solomon. Located just southeast of Tuscany’s sprawling hills, the tiny landlocked area has become known for its serious foodie culture. One of the most fertile regions of the country, Umbria offers everything from ham (i.e., prosciutto) and wild boar to creamy cheeses and truffles. “I always feel that the flavors are sharper, the food fresher, and the people even warmer and more welcoming (if this is even possible) when I am in Umbria,” says Solomon. Her favorite places to visit: Montefalco, a charming medieval hilltop town, and Foligno, a gastronomic paradise (Cucinaa is her can’t-miss restaurant in the town). And in the unlikely event that you want a break from eating, Solomon says there are also gorgeous biking routes in the region (but beware the hills!).
Photo: Alamy2/5Maremma
A beautiful coastal area of Tuscany, right at the southern tip of the region, Maremma is known for its peaceful beaches and laid-back lifestyle. “Add gorgeous ocean waters to the ready appeal of delicious local food, great wine, and lesser-known hill towns and you have a recipe for a truly relaxing vacation,” says Solomon. “It’s very la dolce vita.”
In the upper Maremma area, Solomon recommends visiting the medieval town of Castagneto Carducci (where you should ask for the Croatian tailor who makes gorgeous cashmere jackets) and the beach towns of Donoratico and Marina di Bibbona (where locals hit the sand, leaving the tourists to Bolgheri). Try the beach club–slash–restaurant La Pineta. And for a spa day, hit up Terme di Sassetta, natural thermal springs tucked away in the woods.
Meanwhile, in lower (or bassa) Maremma, further south, Solomon says the medieval town of Capalbio is a must-see. While there, be sure to stop by artist Niki de Saint Phalle’s Tarot Garden before heading for the beach clubs L’Ultima Spiaggia and La Dogana. For the full local experience, check in to La Civetta, a stunning seven-bedroom villa with playful, vibrant decor.
Photo: Alamy3/5Praiano
If you absolutely must get your fix of the Amalfi Coast (and who could blame you), skip the better-known towns like Positano for the more laid-back, locally favored Praiano. Spend your day at beach club Il Gavitella (extra points if you arrive by private boat), enjoy a romantic dinner at Il Pirata, and dance all night at L’Africana, a raucous club built into a grotto. “Praiano is really best seen from the sea,” explains Solomon. “Rent a boat to explore the coast and the casual, very Italian main beach by day, or go out fishing in a rowboat at sunset.”
Photo: Getty Images4/5Cilento Coast
“Totally undeveloped and almost unknown among American travelers, the Cilento Coast [which lies south of the Amalfi Coast] is a great option for those who want to really explore and discover the Italian Italy,” says Solomon. Go to organic farm Tenuta Vannulo for incredible fresh buffalo products (yogurt and gelato as well as cheese, which you can watch being made in front of you if you get there before noon). Then head down the coast to the towns of Agropoli and Santa Maria di Castellabate, where you can spend days on the water in a boat helmed by a handsome, tanned skipper and evenings wandering the town squares watching kids play soccer and old men gossiping on benches.
Photo: Alamy5/5The Dolomites
A year-round destination, this stunning mountain range is as spectacular for summer hiking as it is for skiing in the winter. Consider it a less-touristed alternative to the Alps. Solomon’s favorite towns include Brunico, Bolzano (check out the cozy mountain-chic San Lorenzo villa nearby), and Ortisei for the gorgeous views, and Merano for shopping and the Matteo Thun–designed spa and thermal baths Terme Merano. “Skiing the famous circular Sella Ronda is a must for anyone who enjoys skiing in Europe,” says Solomon. “Plus, in the Dolomites, as much time is spent drinking coffee and aperitivi as taking runs, and the landscape is spectacularly beautiful. What’s not to love?”