Getting Away From The Tourist Hotspots

notyourcommodity

notyourcommodity

Community Member
Apr 14, 2015
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My husband and I are planning a trip back to Italy sometime later this year. We're trying to work out a rough itinerary before going ahead and booking flights.

I'm curious to hear from you - were there any places in Italy you just adored away from the tourist hotspots? I know sometimes it's hard divulging your hidden secret places, but I want to feel the "real" Italy, if that makes sense. I've been to Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan...but tell me more about some off the beaten track places, please!

Can't wait to hear your responses to give me some inspiration!
 
The Colosseum is as Italian as it gets. A monument to to history. But, I get it. Tourists are annoying. Just close your eyes and point at a random location on a random map of Italy. Isn't that how you should experience the "real" Italy? By discovering it, I mean.
 
Some of the small hill towns in Southern Tuscany and Umbria are very beautiful and peaceful, such as Montepulciano, Cortona.
If you want a small city where few tourists go, try somewhere like Padova, Vicenza, Trieste or Ferrara in the North east, or Lucca in Tuscany, or Perugia, capital of Umbria.
If you're a lover of good food and wine, what about Alba on the edge of the Langhe hills in Piemonte, in the north west. It's also close to Turin if you want to be based in a big city that isn't touristy, I stayed in Turin last year and it's a wonderful city.
Or head south and discover Puglia, Basilicata or Calabria where few tourists go. Lecce in Puglia looks beautiful, and you are never far from the coast in Puglia.
 
OliveOil said:
The Colosseum is as Italian as it gets. A monument to to history. But, I get it. Tourists are annoying. Just close your eyes and point at a random location on a random map of Italy. Isn't that how you should experience the "real" Italy? By discovering it, I mean.
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Ha, I can't really say tourists are annoying, since when it Italy I am one myself - but yes, I like your theory about just picking a random place on a map. I've done that before with other countries, but opted for the "oh, this place name sounds interesting, let's go there!" and honestly a lot of those random off the beaten track places were some of my favorite memories from trips!
 
I would suggest picking any random spot in Italy, and then travelling around from that spot. Don't over-plan: often the best holidays are spontaneous. Maybe hire a car and find a nice place to stay anywhere in Italy (away from the more visited spots), and just drive around and stop off at places that look interesting. Ask people who live nearby what they'd recommend for visitors. Or visit any part off the coast of Italy, it's wonderfully peaceful. Italy really is a beautiful country, and there are so many less-known parts to visit!
 
turtledove said:
I would suggest picking any random spot in Italy, and then travelling around from that spot. Don't over-plan: often the best holidays are spontaneous. Maybe hire a car and find a nice place to stay anywhere in Italy (away from the more visited spots), and just drive around and stop off at places that look interesting. Ask people who live nearby what they'd recommend for visitors. Or visit any part off the coast of Italy, it's wonderfully peaceful. Italy really is a beautiful country, and there are so many less-known parts to visit!
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Loved what you said about not over planning - I occasionally (alright...most of the time!) have a tendency to be an over planner, so just being spontaneous would be a nice change!
 
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