What are Italy’s most beautiful little towns, or am they called I Borghi piu Belli d’Italia? The competition is fierce, and we can tell you that. Namely, Italy offers so many marvels that almost everyone can fall in love with. However, it often depends on our taste and our expectations.
Join us as we share a few of the small towns that we found to be the most charming, like hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Table of Contents
List of the most beautiful Italian little towns
Portofino – Liguria
Portofino, a jewel on the northwestern coast of Liguria, is a sight to behold. Once a humble fishing village, it has blossomed into a popular tourist destination, earning a well-deserved spot on Italy’s list of most charming small towns. In the summer, the streets of Portofino come alive with a vibrant and cosmopolitan energy, offering a unique and unforgettable experience.
Furthermore, it is not just a destination for the jet-set crowd; stunning natural landscapes surround it with numerous cultural and artistic treasures. That’s why we included it on our list of The Most Beautiful Little Towns in Italy. However, it can be expensive, so visiting for a day trip or weekend getaway is recommended. For a more extended vacation, there are more affordable and peaceful resorts in close proximity. May and June are ideal times to visit before the busy Italian summer holiday.
Do you happen to know the origin of Tropea’s name? Its etymology is shrouded in legends, but according to one tale, African Publio Scipione, a Roman politician, founded the city after returning victorious from the Battle of Zama in 202 BC. He supposedly offered the city as a trophy of gratitude to the gods for his triumph, and thus its name was born.
Furthermore, Tropea is renowned for its picturesque alleys, lively piazzas, and breathtaking location atop dramatic cliffs that offer stunning views of sunsets.
Tropea’s coastline has towering cliffs and sandy beaches meeting the clear sea. Summer sees Italian vacationers. Inhabited since Neolithic times, Tropea has been occupied by various groups including the Turks. Famous sweet red onions grown in the area can be made into marmalade. Tropea boasts one of Italy’s best stretches of beach with stunning views of the town and sanctuary above the water. Spend an entire afternoon in the crystal clear, Caribbean-blue water.
Positano – Amalfi coast
Firstly, it is a stunning and stylish town that graces the cover of the Amalfi Coast. Its charming streets and staircases are lined with beautiful hotels, restaurants, and shops adorned with fragrant wisteria. Once a significant part of the Republic of Amalfi, Positano is now a luxurious resort that attracts many visitors. You can stroll on its pedestrian lanes and enjoy breathtaking sea views. Suppose you prefer not to look at the sea. In that case, you can marvel at the delightful wisterias that adorn the colorful houses or explore the many boutiques that offer exquisite lemon ceramics and handmade leather sandals.
When visiting Positano, there are many things to enjoy, such as the various products made from lemons, like Limoncello, perfumes, and lemon-based items. Additionally, the city offers numerous romantic restaurants where visitors can savor fresh seafood and local wines. Positano also serves as an excellent starting point to explore the surrounding areas, including Capri, Ischia, and the Smeraldo Cave, which can be easily reached by boat. Like all The Amalfi Coast, Positano represents a wonderful One-day Trip from Naples.
Castelsardo is a charming town near Badesi on Sardinia’s northern coast. It is famous for its old castle and boasts lovely sandy beaches, making it a convenient stop between West Sardinia and the eastern islands. A Genovese family founded the town in the 12th century, and it has become a popular tourist destination due to its impressive ancient architecture. Overall, it is an excellent place to discover by foot.
Crested on the hilltop, the 14 towers of the walled town of San Gimignano rise like a medieval Manhattan. The view from the neighboring valley is truly spectacular. Thus, it is no wonder it is often placed among Italy’s most beautiful little towns.
Originally an Etruscan village, the settlement was named after the bishop of Modena, San Gimignano. According to the legend, he saved the city from Attila the Hun. A few centuries after that, San Gimignano became a “commune” (local government), prospering in part due to its location on the Via Francigena (a pilgrim path).
Building a tower taller than their neighbors (originally 72) became a popular way for prominent families to flaunt their power and wealth. In 1348, however, the plague wiped out much of the population and weakened the local economy, leading to the town’s submission to Florence in 1353.
Today, not even the plague would deter the swarms of summer day-trippers, lured by a palpable sense of history, an intact medieval streetscape, and the enchanting rural setting.
Locorotondo features a relaxing and peaceful pedestrian Centro-Storico, where everything is sparkling white. Apart from this, many blood-red geraniums hang from window boxes in remarkably striking contrast with the white facades.
Located on top of a hill on the Murge Plateau, it is one of the “I Borghi più Belli d’Italia.” That is to say, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Even though there are few sites, you should still put it on your to-visit list. In other words, the whole city is a magnificent sight. The streets are paved with smooth ivory-colored stones, with the Santa Maria della Graecia church as their centerpiece.
Perched on a hilltop more than 365 meters above the Mediterranean and far away from the crowds that flock to the sea towns of Amalfi and Positano, Ravello is the hidden treasure of the Amalfi Coast.
Its villas and vistas have enchanted visitors for centuries. Most importantly, many famous actors, authors, composers, and artists have come here for refuge and inspiration, including Giovanni Boccaccio, Richard Wagner, Virginia Woolf, Greta Garbo, Humprey Bogart, and Pierce Brosnan, to name a few.
Ultimately, Ravello has been named the City of Music and is home to the Villa Cimbrone, Villa Rufolo, the striking Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium, and a vibrant cultural scene: Ravello Festival, Ravello Concert Society.
Thousands of years of history, an enchanting mountaintop setting on Italy’s most beautiful coastline, and views that have captivated countless souls and inspired artists’ hearts with passion. Yet it’s just the beginning of what you will find in this charming village. There are still stories to be uncovered along its medieval streets, garden villas, and ancient stone pathways. But more about this in a separate article.
Matera – Basilicata
First, it is a unique city of unparalleled beauty that offers incredible emotions. It saw a vital influx of tourists nationally and internationally from then on. Most importantly, they were all mesmerized by the timeless charm of the Sassi (caves in an old town), declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. No wonder it was named the European Capital of Culture 2019.
The attractive historical center of Matera namely offers a maze of alleys, passages, stairs, panoramic squares, and churches carved in the rock.
To be more specific, Sasso caves are the oldest district that preserves the appearance of the “city in stone.” Its citizens have been living in those caves for millenniums. At the same time, the Sasso Barisano, the largest, is characterized by shops, restaurants, and hotels.
In recent years, Matera opened places in the public eye that had never been opened for cultural events. The local government resettled the citizens into a new quarter with better living conditions, thus making the old Sassi center available for a wider audience. Ultimately, this led to an overwhelming increase in the tourist influx. That is why Matera has recently become one of the significant South Italian tourist destinations.
Gallipoli – Salento
“Beautiful city” is what Gallipoli means; the town certainly lives up to its name!
Gallipoli is a two-part town: the modern hub is based on the mainland, while the older Centro-Storico occupies a small island that juts into the Ionian Sea. With plenty of serene baroque architecture surpassed only by Lecce, it is unquestionably the prettiest of Salento’s smaller settlements.
The old town, encircled by the remains of its mighty 14th-century walls, is the best place to linger. It’s punctuated by several baroque chapels, a traditional fishing port, a windswept sea drive, and narrow lanes barely wide enough to accommodate a smaller car. Again, it is a genuine contender for the grand prize of being named Italy’s most beautiful village.
Note: If you are part of the LGBT+ community, check out our article about Gallipoli.
As if all this was not enough, there are also many sandy beaches with crystal clear sea that in color resembles the Caribbean sea.
Civita di Bagnoregio – Lazio
With its crumbling ruins perched atop a craggy mountain and reachable only by a boardwalk that climbs the cliffside, Civita di Bagnoregio is one of Italy’s most dramatically situated villages. It was initially built by the Etruscans more than 2,500 years ago; it has a fascinating history and a heritage of well-preserved medieval buildings thanks to its remote location.
With erosion that has led most inhabitants to move, the cobbled streets and stone houses of Civita di Bagnoregio are now almost deserted, leaving it a charming reminder of past times.
The uniquely located city still comes to life in the summer when part-time residents return to welcome tourists, and visitors gather to enjoy the stunning views and roam the city that time had forgotten.
Rocca Imperiale – Calabria
Considered the gateway to Calabria, Rocca Imperiale is a picturesque medieval village “par excellence.” Therefore, it is no coincidence that in 2018, it became one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
The natural beauty of the landscape and the sea, together with the architectural and historical heritage, is a fascinating tourist attraction, making it a must-see destination for everyone who visits this beautiful region.
Italy’s most beautiful little towns, the conclusion
We could continue our list of “Italy’s most beautiful little towns.” The list is endless. So vast is the cultural heritage of this great country.
Which village did you like the most? Share your opinions with us in the comments below, please.
Note: If you’d like to find even more amazing Italian villages, please check out our related article about the most beautiful villages in Italy.
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