5 amazing italian places
that have yet to discover
For the past two months I have been travelling Italy and have discovered some of the most incredibly beautiful places I have ever seen.
Here I would like to share with you 5 spots that you haven’t yet thought about visiting.
If you want to beat the tourists of Rome and Florence I invite you to spend a bit of time with me here and I will help you to discover some other incredible places Italy has to offer.
1) Levico Terme, Dolomites
I visited the town of Levico Terme, this location is great because there are easy transport links by train or bus from both Venice and Verona.
The dolomites is a mountainous area so I originally thought it would only be accessible with a car, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find that was not the case.
Levico is located on the edge of Lago di Levico (Lake Levico) which attracts a lot of Italian day trippers to enjoy a picnic and a swim in the cool water on a warm day.
I stayed in Bellavista Relax Hotel which is only a 15 minute walk on a public footpath that follows a stream down to the lake, where you can unwind, enjoy lunch and the mountain views.
The dolomites is a mountain range in north eastern Italy. There are many beautiful towns and villages to explore in this region, with rolling hills and mountains as the backdrop to a vacation of relaxation and enjoying being so close to nature, this area is a must to visit.
Once you have relaxed by the lake you can make your way back to the hotel to take a dip in the pool surrounded by mountainous views, as well as delight in the spa facilities.
To learn more about this hotel
click here.
2)Camogli, Liguria
North of Cinque Terre and devoid of the crowds of tourists sits a beautifully bustling beach town. This fishing village has a picturesque coastline lined with pastel-hued Ligurian buildings adorned with intricate frescoes.
A casual and relaxed atmosphere means that sunbathers shop or eat lunch whilst wrapped in their beach towels and swim wear, you can truly make yourself at home here. After strolling along the promenade, sit down at a restaurant or bar in the late afternoon for aperitivo - an italian ritual derived from the latin aperire meaning to open, inviting you to awaken your stomach before dining. Aperitivo is usually served with snacks; crackers, meats, olives and cheese.
With a healthy mix of tourists, youngsters from the city of Genoa and locals, there is a real feeling of vacation here.
Camogli can be easily accessed by train or boat and if you are visiting Genoa and would love to get out of the city and visit the beach this is a perfect spot.
3)Lucca, Tuscany
Half an hour train or drive from Pisa is a small walled town nestled in the heart of Tuscany, brimming with historic beauty.
Getting lost in the cobbled streets or drinking a spritz at a bar in one of the piazzas of the town.
Lucca is truly a magical experience, with gorgeous Romaneque-Gothic architecture to gaze upon, shops to dip in and out of, great places to buy gelato and some wonderful tourist attractions too.
Duomo di San Martino & Bell Tower
One of Lucca's distinct characteristics is its pedestrian-friendly centre. They've made a conscious effort to limit car traffic in the core of the town, creating a haven for pedestrians to explore. The central square, Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, exudes an inviting ambiance with its quaint cafes and charming boutiques.
To experience the town and rolling hills from a height, head to the Guinigi Tower (Torre Guinigi). With a height of 45m and total of 233 steps, once you reach the top you will be rewarded with both spectacular views and a serene garden to sit and enjoy, trees were planted on top of the building symbolising power but also rebirth. In the fourteenth century the noble men of the town competed to build the tallest tower embodying the importance of the family to which it belonged. This is one of the few remaining bell towers within the walls of Lucca. Arriving at the summit you can gaze upon hundreds of terracotta coloured roof tiles and beautiful mountain ranges in the distance.
Lucca also offers an array of fascinating churches and museums. Pictured is the Duomo di San Martino or Cathedral of Lucca, located in the old city centre. It was constructed during the sixth Century the white facade is built in the Gothic and Romanesque architectural styles. With a mix of decorative columns seen at the top half of the building, they are said to have been designed from a competition to see as to who made the prettiest by the population of Lucca. Directly next to the entrance looms the contrasting bell tower made of Guamo a quartz stone with a mix of tones, starting darker and then shifting to white San Giuliano limestone towards the top. Standing at 60 meters in height is truly grounds the cathedral inside of Piazza Antelminelli.
Lucca is easily accessible by train at around half an hour from central Pisa.
4)Ravello, Amalfi
Known as one of the most romantic honeymoon destinations, the Amalfi coast is famous for its outstanding beauty. However, you may not of heard of Ravello, known as the balcony of the Amalfi coast, it is situated high above Amalfi and Minori, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea vistas of sparkling ocean are truly breathtaking. With locations such as Amalfi or Positano buzzing with tourists, this town provides more of a relaxed, softer experience providing more time to take in the wonder that is Amalfi.
In Ravello one unmissable place to visit is the gardens of Villa Cimbrone, these 11th century gardens were extensively renovated by Lord Grimthorpe, a British Nobleman in early 20th Century. The grounds are home to classic artefacts such as statues, follies and fountains alongside enchanting walks lined with flora and greenery.
The jewel is truly the Terrazza dell’Infinito or Balcony of Infinity, with white busts sitting to attention in front of the most incredible view of blue ocean, sky and distant cliffs.
For accommodation there are hotels located in Ravello. On the site of the Villa Cimbrone gardens you will find the Villa Cimbrone hotel, a luxurious 5 star accommodation decorated with the same elegance as the gardens.
You can find out more here.
If you are looking for something more cost effective but still brimming with charm, Hotel Graal boasts sea views from the comfort of your sun lounger by the pool. With guest rooms that face the gulf of Salerno under a trellis covered balcony, or enjoy a wonderful breakfast overlooking the sea.
Further information in this link.
Ravello is a bit more tricky to access with public transport than the other locations mentioned in this blog.
From Amalfi a taxi can cost
you upwards of €45.
There is a minibus that you can take from neighbouring towns but in high season this will get busy.
Alternatively you can hire a car or scooter for the full Italian experience.
Despite this, I’m still ecstatic to have visited such an incredible place.
5)Alberobello, Apulia
The region of Apulia or Puglia boasts a town by the name of Alberobello, declared a UNESCO world heratage site in 1996, here you will find hundreds of tiny bungalows with pitched conical roofs and white limestone boulders collected from neighbouring fields, the architecture that creates the town is very beautiful and unique.
The houses are named Trulli (or Trullo if you are discussing one on its own) and date back to around mid-14th Century. Their unique structure is said to actually be designed for reasons of tax evasion. Since the drystone walling of the Trulli could easily be dismantled and then rebuilt, the residents were able to avoid the tax man working for the king of Naples when the region belonged to him. Even after Alberobello was no longer under his dominion the buildings were still built in the same style but using mortar. Hundreds of structures remain in the town today for visitors like yourself to enjoy.
The Trulli host many tourists, and many are open to the public to look around, you just need to follow the signs in the main village, there are different types of structures to visit from the siamese trullo to the church trullo. You can also stay inside one and many are used as b&b’s. The Trullo that we stayed in was in walking distance of the historic centre, and a really special experience to be part of such incredible history.
If you are looking to stay in Alberobello either in a trullo or other accommodation
there are some great options to choose from here.
If you are looking to go in July I would also recommend visiting the light show that illuminates the town towards the end of the month. A wonderful explosion of creativity and colour is projected and mounted onto these structures, adding an additional layer to these historic buildings by night.
You can find out more about it here: https://www.alberobellolightfestival.com/
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