| 6 mins read
By Joseph Francis
Ranging from the soaring Alps of Piedmont and the Aosta Valley in the north to the half-baked sands and vineyards of Apulia and the craggy coastal coves of Sicily in the south, Italy is a country packed to the brim with beautiful hotspots and attractions for the would-be traveller to its shores. But, with a length from top to bottom of nearly 1,200 kilometers, covering a whopping 13 degrees of latitude across the Northern Hemisphere, packing all the treasures of this ancient land into a single itinerary can be tricky.
Cue the trusty car. Yes sir, more travellers than ever are now opting to hit the winding country roads and sun-splashed motorways of The Boot. Why? Well, because a road trip here opens up a whole load more opportunities – that’s why! Visitors can pack in the delights of the Milanese lakes before heading south to the food-crazy culinary king of Bologna, drift between the cellar doors of Tuscany before scooting off to Rome for about of the Colosseum and imperial history, case out the volcanos of Campania before crisscrossing to Marche for hilltop medieval hamlets and mouth-watering pasta – the possibilities are endless!
In this travel guide to Italy, we take a look at some of the hidden and less-accessible spots in the country open to those moving around by car, going from Umbrian country gems to freshwater lakes in the shadow of the Alps. Oh, and they’re all roughly listed north-to-south, for any people interested in making this one long, truly bucket-list-topping trip!
Sandwiched surreptitiously between the much more famous Italian lakes of Garda and Como, this dog-leg of shimmering water is a real favourite amongst domestic travellers and those heading down the highways into Italy from Austria to the north. With countless campsites peppering its shores, Iseo offers crystal-clear Alpine waters to swim in, along with loads of secluded pebble beaches and charming pizzerias overlooking the lake. Drivers enjoy scenic drives along the banks (if they don’t fancy swapping four wheels for two and hitting the lengthy cycle tracks here, that is), along with panoramic roadways on the way up to the Bossico Plateau overlooking the lake.
Bergamo
Oft overlooked in favour of its big brother of Milan to the south, Bergamo is a real jewel of the northern Italian states. Historically-rich streets dominate the Citta Alta that rises above the new town in a fortified mass of gorgeous church domes, medieval city walls and cobbled alleys. The heart of the city is at the elegant Renaissance and Baroque Piazza Vecchia, hailed by many as the most beautiful square in the entire of Europe! Meanwhile, the foothills of the Alps spread out on all sides, offering some beautiful panoramas of Lombardy and beyond.
Cinque Terre
While hardly off-the-beaten-track (Cinque Terre’s authorities are even considering instituting limits on the amount of visitors coming here during the high season), this beautiful and UNESCO-attested region that cascades its way down to the Med on the edge of Liguria is surely worth a stop-of as you make your way down the highways of central Italy. Its piece de resistance comes with the ochre-coloured, red-hued town of Manarola, which dates from the 14th century is perhaps the single most photographed spot in Italy outside of Rome.
Ravenna
One of the less-trodden jewels of Emilia-Romagna, Ravenna is a lesson in all things Italian history. The town hosts layer upon layer of Mediterranean past, from aqueducts courtesy of the Emperor Trajan to Ostrogoth mausoleums to grand remnants of its time as the capital of the Holy Roman Empire in the fifth century. There are other cultural musts here too, like the Ravenna Festival in summer; an explosion of jazz and classical, opera and electronica alike. The Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo is also top of the list for most Ravenna tour guides, complete with its UNESCO-attested decorations and haunting religious mosaics.
Orvieto
Steeped in history and draped elegantly over the steep hillsides of Umbria, the ancient town of Orvieto has been the refuge of popes and holy Roman emperors over its long life. Today, it boasts one of the most glorious (and underrated) duomo churches in the country, which rises like a shimmering monolith of marble against the sun-kissed slabs of the town’s central square. Add to that a winding maze of underground tunnels and a ruined castle-come-park, and Orvieto rarely fails to impress!
Gran Sasso d'Italia
Bisected by the A24 highway, the unpronounceable Grand Highway of the Gran Sasso and Monti Della Laga National Park and oodles of smaller country roads besides, the Gran Sasso d'Italia is perhaps the most accessible of all Italy’s national parks for drivers. It forms the great mountain backbone of the Italian Boot, rising to a whopping 2,900 meter top with its eponymous Mount Gran Sasso - the highest summit in the entire Apennines. Park up and indulge in some of Italy’s most famed hiking and biking, or head to the Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows shrine at Isola del Gran Sasso d'Italia – a revered pilgrimage site for locals.
Alberobello
Alberobello is the home of the fantastic trulli townhouses of Apulia, which are now one of Southern Italy’s most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s thought that these curious dry-stone constructions date from the 16th century, and today visitors to the spot in the midst of the Italian heel can wander the lanes and tight-knit alleys of the Rione Monti district, wondering at the curious constructions and the likes of the great Trullo Sovrano – a particularly grand and opulent trulli that’s a lesson in all things Apulian traditionalism.
Lecce
A gorgeous Baroque patchwork of gilded domes and carved church frontispieces that makes its home right in the middle of wine-mad Apulia region, Lecce is a great place to wind up a north-to-south road trip in Italy. Aside from the great reds and whites (which flow freely from the countless enotecas), this one has its own Roman amphitheatre right in the heart of the town, along with beautiful sights like the Piazza Sant'Oronzo and the elaborate Holy Cross Church – both top of the list of any Lecce tour guide.
Joseph ‘Rich’ Francis is a freelance travel writer who has travelled extensively in Asia and Europe. He particularly enjoys the jazz bars of Poland, the ski slopes of Austria and the beaches and cities of India.
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