{"id":4044,"date":"2013-05-07T22:20:24","date_gmt":"2013-05-07T21:20:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/walks.friday.ie\/?p=4044"},"modified":"2023-07-07T15:29:04","modified_gmt":"2023-07-07T14:29:04","slug":"italy-by-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region","title":{"rendered":"Guide to the 20 Regions of Italy: What to Know Before You Go"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>How much do you know about the different regions of Italy? And how many of the 20 regions have you heard of or been to?\u00a0 It might seem like a lot to ask, but if you&#8217;re planning a trip to Italy, knowing Italy&#8217;s regions is a great place to start!<\/p>\n<p>The country is broken up into 20 official regions, which you can think of as districts\u2014similar to states or provinces. What are the different regions, what are they known for, and which ones should you travel to? Here&#8217;s help!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_17782\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17782\" class=\"wp-image-17782\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/1268-Venice_Lagoon-Boat-Trip-16x9-0007.jpg\" alt=\"Traveler takes photo of Venice from afar across the lagoons\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/1268-Venice_Lagoon-Boat-Trip-16x9-0007.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/1268-Venice_Lagoon-Boat-Trip-16x9-0007-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/1268-Venice_Lagoon-Boat-Trip-16x9-0007-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-17782\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From the lush Tuscan countryside to the islands of Venice &#8211; and everything in between &#8211; the regions of Italy are incredibly diverse.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Abruzzo\" >Abruzzo<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Abruzzo\" >Why visit Abruzzo<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Aosta_Valley\" >Aosta Valley<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Aosta_Valley\" >Why visit Aosta Valley<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Basilicata\" >Basilicata<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Basilicata\" >Why visit Basilicata<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Calabria\" >Calabria<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Calabria\" >Why visit Calabria<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Campania\" >Campania<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Campania\" >Why visit Campania<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Emilia-Romagna\" >Emilia-Romagna<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Emilia-Romagna\" >Why visit Emilia-Romagna<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Friuli-Venezia_Giulia\" >Friuli-Venezia Giulia<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Friuli-Venezia_Giulia\" >Why visit Friuli-Venezia Giulia<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Lazio\" >Lazio<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Lazio\" >Why visit Lazio<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Le_Marche\" >Le Marche<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Le_Marche\" >Why visit Le Marche<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Liguria\" >Liguria<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Liguria\" >Why visit Liguria<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Lombardy\" >Lombardy<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Lombardy\" >Why visit Lombardy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Molise\" >Molise<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Molise\" >Why visit Molise<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Piedmont\" >Piedmont<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Piedmont\" >Why visit Piedmont?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Puglia\" >Puglia<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Puglia\" >Why visit Puglia<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Sardinia\" >Sardinia<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Sardinia\" >Why visit Sardinia<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Sicily\" >Sicily<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Sicily\" >Why visit Sicily<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-33\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Trentino-Alto_Aldige\" >Trentino-Alto Aldige<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-34\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Trentino-Alto_Aldige\" >Why visit Trentino-Alto Aldige<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-35\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Tuscany\" >Tuscany<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-36\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Tuscany\" >Why visit Tuscany<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-37\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Umbria\" >Umbria<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-38\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Umbria\" >Why visit Umbria<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-39\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Veneto\" >Veneto<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-40\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italy-by-region\/#Why_visit_Veneto\" >Why visit Veneto<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Abruzzo\"><\/span>Abruzzo<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The rural <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/abruzzo-italy\">region of Abruzzo<\/a>, located near the center of Italy, often gets ignored by international travelers. And that&#8217;s a shame: With beautiful countryside, mountains, and beaches, it&#8217;s the perfect place to &#8220;get away from it all.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Abruzzo is an especially great place to hike, ski, camp, or bike. While Italians certainly travel here, it&#8217;s hardly a touristy region. That&#8217;s partly because, for many years, rural Abruzzo was dogged by poverty. This has turned around recently, although Abruzzo&#8217;s comeback hit a serious road bump in 2009, thanks to the devastating earthquake in L&#8217;Aquila, the region&#8217;s capital.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Abruzzo\"><\/span><strong>Why visit Abruzzo<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Visit Abruzzo if you lou love the outdoors; you want to experience the &#8220;authentic Italy&#8221;; you&#8217;re planning on driving (public transport isn&#8217;t great); you&#8217;d like an active vacation; you&#8217;d like to get off the beaten path; you want to travel on a budget (it tends to be pretty cheap to stay and eat in Abruzzo, especially compared to other regions!).<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_18516\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18516\" class=\"wp-image-18516\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/b-wklgavsxs.jpg\" alt=\"Abruzzo, one of the many regions of Italy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/b-wklgavsxs.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/b-wklgavsxs-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/b-wklgavsxs-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-18516\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Roccascalegna is a picturesque destination in Abruzzo. Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/es\/fotos\/B-WKLgavSXs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Federico Di Dio<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Aosta_Valley\"><\/span>Aosta Valley<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Tucked in between France, Switzerland, and Piedmont, Aosta Valley is all the way up in the northwest corner of Italy. As you might expect, that means this area is\u00a0<em>mountainous!\u00a0<\/em>The Alps run right through this tiny region, including Mont Blanc (here called &#8220;Monte Bianco&#8221;), shared with France, and the Matterhorn (the Italian resort is called &#8220;Cervinia&#8221;), shared with Switzerland. The region&#8217;s mixed heritage makes it culturally &#8211; and culinarily &#8211; fascinating.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s enough here for history buffs, too! The capital, Aosta, has some fantastic ancient Roman ruins, and other towns boast medieval castles. Aosta Valley is also politically interesting, since it&#8217;s an autonomous region. And despite its agricultural background, it&#8217;s one of the wealthiest regions in Italy. Find out more about <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/all-around-italy\/best-places-to-visit-in-italy-in-winter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the Valle d&#8217;Aosta and other winter wonderlands<\/a> in Italy.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Aosta_Valley\"><\/span>Why visit Aosta Valley<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Visit Aosta Valley if you&#8217;re a fan of winter sports, especially skiing or snowboarding; if it&#8217;s summer, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/hiking-in-italy\">you&#8217;d love to hike<\/a> or do other outdoor activities; you have a soft spot for picturesque Alpine villages; you want to get out of the heat (because of the mountains, even the summer can be chilly here); you want a taste of a multicultural side of Italy; you like castles and ruins.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2078\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/summer-view-of-Arpy-lake-near-La-Thuile-Aosta-valley-Italy.-Image-processed-with-hdr-technique.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2078\" class=\" wp-image-2078 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/summer-view-of-Arpy-lake-near-La-Thuile-Aosta-valley-Italy.-Image-processed-with-hdr-technique.jpg\" alt=\"One of the most beautiful small lakes in Italy\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/summer-view-of-Arpy-lake-near-La-Thuile-Aosta-valley-Italy.-Image-processed-with-hdr-technique.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/summer-view-of-Arpy-lake-near-La-Thuile-Aosta-valley-Italy.-Image-processed-with-hdr-technique-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2078\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Arpy Lake in the Valle d&#8217;Aosta<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Basilicata\"><\/span>Basilicata<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The southern region of Basilicata is located in the &#8220;instep&#8221; of Italy&#8217;s boot. Large and rural, it has a very low population density and lots of countryside, not to mention mountains\u2014the Apennines run right through here. People have lived in Basilicata since the Palaeolithic times, and you can still see Neolithic cave dwellings in Matera, the number-one city in Basilicata to visit (and a World Heritage site). One of Italy&#8217;s poorer regions, Basilicata is also one of its most starkly beautiful, filled with forests, lakes, and tiny villages.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Basilicata\"><\/span>Why visit Basilicata<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Book a trip to Basilicata if you&#8217;re driving (public transport isn&#8217;t great here); you want to really go off the beaten path and explore areas of Italy that tourists hardly ever visit; you like the outdoors; you want an active holiday; you&#8217;re traveling on a budget; you&#8217;re as <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/basilicata\/matera-italy-sassi-travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fascinated by Matera as we are<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Calabria\"><\/span>Calabria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Another quintessential southern region, Calabria sits in the &#8220;toe&#8221; of Italy&#8217;s boot. As you might expect, that means it has lots of beautiful\u00a0beaches! Like Basilicata, it&#8217;s mountainous, so it&#8217;s great for hiking. And like the rest of Italy&#8217;s south, Calabria historically has been fairly poor. So despite its natural gems (and long stretches of lovely coastline!), it&#8217;s pretty underdeveloped compared to other seaside destinations in Europe.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Calabria\"><\/span>Why visit Calabria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Calabria is perfect if you want to hit the beach\u2014but still be away from the crowds; you&#8217;d like to go off the beaten path; you&#8217;re traveling on a budget; you want a taste of quintessential southern Italy, from the food to the small towns.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2577\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/calabria-landscape.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2577\" class=\" wp-image-2577 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/calabria-landscape.jpg\" alt=\"The countryside of Calabria\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/calabria-landscape.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/calabria-landscape-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2577\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The countryside of Calabria<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Campania\"><\/span>Campania<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The southern region of Campania has a lot to recommend it, from fascinating, chaotic Naples (here are <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/why-visit-naples-rome-day-trip-campania-italy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">9 reasons not to miss Naples<\/a>!), to the spectacular islands of Capri and Ischia, to the world-renowned ruins of Pompeii, to the famed Amalfi coast. But Campania, Italy&#8217;s second most populous region and one that has, like much of Italy&#8217;s south, struggled with poverty in the past, has lots of off-the-beaten-path destinations, too. We especially like <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/campania\/the-best-ancient-greek-ruins-in-italys-mainland-paestum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paestum<\/a>,\u00a0the best ancient Greek ruins on Italy&#8217;s mainland, and <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/salerno-sorrento-italy-amalfi-coast-holidays\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Salerno<\/a>, a bustling, un-touristy town on the Amalfi coast.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Campania\"><\/span>Why visit Campania<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You&#8217;ll love Campania if you&#8217;re looking for a taste of Italy&#8217;s sun-soaked south, but don&#8217;t have time for more than a day or weekend trip from Rome or Florence; you&#8217;re as in love with Naples as we are; you want to visit Italy&#8217;s most famous coastline; you won&#8217;t necessarily have your own car (you can get around the most popular parts of Campania easily by public transport); you want to taste\u00a0real\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/mozzarella-di-bufala\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mozzarella di bufala<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>and proper\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/neapolitan-pizza\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pizza napolitana<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_216\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Landscape-of-the-city-of-Salerno-in-Italy.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-216\" class=\" wp-image-216 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Landscape-of-the-city-of-Salerno-in-Italy.jpg\" alt=\"Salerno, the best alternative to Sorrento on the Amalfi coast\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Landscape-of-the-city-of-Salerno-in-Italy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Landscape-of-the-city-of-Salerno-in-Italy-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-216\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Salerno, in the southern Italian region of Campania<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Emilia-Romagna\"><\/span>Emilia-Romagna<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Stretching across northern Italy, Emilia-Romagna is a wealthy region with the third-highest GDP per capita in Italy. It&#8217;s also a joy to visit! The region includes Renaissance cities like Bologna, Ferrara, and Modena, beautiful stretches of coastline, and, arguably, <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/food-from-bologna-parma-emilia-romagna-italy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">some of the best regional cuisine in Italy<\/a>\u00a0(<em>prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano-Reggiano,\u00a0<\/em>and balsamic vinegar of Modena all come from here). The area also is home to Ravenna, a World Heritage-listed city for its extraordinary Byzantine mosaics.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Emilia-Romagna\"><\/span>Why visit Emilia-Romagna<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Emilia-Romagna is for you if you want to visit beautiful cities that have some must-see sights, but aren&#8217;t quite as crowded or touristy as Florence or Venice; you have a weakness for Italian sports cars (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, De Tomaso, and Ducati all are based here); you want to try some of Italy&#8217;s most famous foods, in the place where they come from. Here are <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/emilia-romagna\/why-visit-emilia-romagna-and-bologna-italy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">8 reasons to head to Emilia-Romagna<\/a>!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1899\" style=\"width: 544px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/DSC_1012.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1899\" class=\" wp-image-1899 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/DSC_1012.jpg\" alt=\"Castell'Arquato, italy\" width=\"534\" height=\"356\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1899\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Castell&#8217;Arquato, one of the many beautiful castles of Emilia-Romagna<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Friuli-Venezia_Giulia\"><\/span>Friuli-Venezia Giulia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This tiny region, all the way in Italy&#8217;s northeastern corner, borders Austria and Slovenia. Like the Aosta Valley, it&#8217;s an autonomous region, accounting for its unique cultural heritage. Despite its small size, Friuli has both seaside and mountains, since it&#8217;s home to the last section of the Alps. From its food to language, this is a region that&#8217;s markedly different than the rest of Italy\u2014and rightly proud of it!<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Friuli-Venezia_Giulia\"><\/span>Why visit Friuli-Venezia Giulia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Visit Friuli-Venezia Giulia if you&#8217;re a fan of outdoor activities and winter sports; you want a taste of a unique region of Italy, one with a multicultural background; you like both the sea <em>and\u00a0<\/em>the mountains.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4051\" style=\"width: 490px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Cabia-e-monte-Sernio.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4051\" class=\" wp-image-4051 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Cabia-e-monte-Sernio.jpg\" alt=\"Cabia and Monte Sernio in Friuli-Venezia Giulia\" width=\"480\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Cabia-e-monte-Sernio.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Cabia-e-monte-Sernio-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4051\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cabia and Monte Sernio in Friuli-Venezia Giulia<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lazio\"><\/span>Lazio<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Lazio is a pretty well-known region since, after all, it&#8217;s home to Rome! (It&#8217;s also the third most populous region in Italy). But there&#8217;s much more to this central region than Italy&#8217;s capital. Lazio, which gets its name from &#8220;Latium,&#8221; has sandy beaches along the coast and hills and small mountains further inland. It&#8217;s home to famous lakes, like Bracciano and Albano; the lovely Castelli Romani hills; medieval towns and Renaissance gardens; and great archaeological sites, like Ostia Antica. (Don&#8217;t miss our post on the <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/rome\/lazio-region-italy-rome-day-trips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">hidden gems of the Lazio region<\/a>!).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Lazio\"><\/span>Why visit Lazio<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Visit Lazio if you&#8217;re keen to see Italy&#8217;s famous capital; you&#8217;d like to mix up your city sightseeing with ancient ruins, small towns and lush countryside; you&#8217;re a history buff.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2592\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Civita-di-Bagnoregio-Lazio2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2592\" class=\" wp-image-2592 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Civita-di-Bagnoregio-Lazio2.jpg\" alt=\"Beautiful town in Lazio\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Civita-di-Bagnoregio-Lazio2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Civita-di-Bagnoregio-Lazio2-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2592\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">More to Lazio than Rome: Civita di Bagnoregio is just one hidden gem in the region<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Le_Marche\"><\/span>Le Marche<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This relatively little-known region in central Italy is hilly and mountainous, and has long stretch of coastline along the Adriatic. Historically agricultural and poor, today, it&#8217;s known for its specialized industries, like furniture and textiles. Tourism is popular here, too\u2014although there are far fewer tourists than in many of Italy&#8217;s other regions!\u2014with travelers attracted to the region&#8217;s lovely beaches, mountains, and small towns.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Le_Marche\"><\/span>Why visit Le Marche<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You&#8217;ll love Le Marche if you&#8217;d like to get off the beaten path; you want to hit the beach (the beaches around Rimini are especially popular in summer); you want to hike or enjoy other outdoor activities; you&#8217;re on a budget.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4059\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/The-Ducal-Palace-of-Urbino-Marche-Italy.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4059\" class=\" wp-image-4059 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/The-Ducal-Palace-of-Urbino-Marche-Italy.jpg\" alt=\"The Ducal Palace in Urbino, a beautiful city in Le Marche\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/The-Ducal-Palace-of-Urbino-Marche-Italy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/The-Ducal-Palace-of-Urbino-Marche-Italy-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4059\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Ducal Palace in Urbino, a beautiful city in Le Marche<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Liguria\"><\/span>Liguria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A narrow strip along the coast in northwestern Italy, Liguria is bordered by France, Piedmont, Tuscany, and Emilia-Romagna. Famous for its seaside (although not necessarily for its beaches\u2014the coast tends to be cliffy and rocky), Liguria has a proud maritime history. In fact, its capital, Genoa, was one of the most important maritime states in the Middle Ages and Renaissance; it was also the hometown of Christopher Columbus. Most tourists know Liguria because of its famous resort towns, including the Cinque Terre and Portofino.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Liguria\"><\/span>Why visit Liguria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Visit Liguria if you&#8217;d like to see one of Italy&#8217;s most spectacular stretches of coastline; you&#8217;re a fan of\u00a0<em><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/pesto-alla-genovese-liguria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pesto alla genovese<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>and want to try the\u00a0<em>real\u00a0<\/em>stuff; you want to take a day or weekend trip to the seaside from Milan or Florence.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4054\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Lerici-.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4054\" class=\" wp-image-4054 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Lerici-.jpg\" alt=\"Lerici, a lovely resort town in Liguria\" width=\"540\" height=\"358\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Lerici-.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Lerici--768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4054\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lerici, a lovely resort town in Liguria<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lombardy\"><\/span>Lombardy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Lombardy is located all the way in the north of Italy, bordering Switzerland. Italy&#8217;s wealthiest region (Lombardy is especially strong in the sectors of industry, service, and agriculture), it&#8217;s also the most populous. Milan, its capital, is the second-largest city in Italy.<\/p>\n<p>But there&#8217;s plenty of nature here, too, with Lombardy the location of Italy&#8217;s so-called &#8220;lake district,&#8221; with destinations including Lake Como, Maggiore, and Garda. If you have trouble picking a spot, don&#8217;t miss our blog post on <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/como\/italian-lakes-garda-como\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">choosing between Lake Como and Lake Garda<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Lombardy\"><\/span>Why visit Lombardy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Visit Lombardy if you&#8217;d like to experience a city known for its nightlife and fashion; you want to explore Italy&#8217;s most famous lakes; you want to day-trip to Switzerland.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4055\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/milan.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4055\" class=\" wp-image-4055 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/milan.jpg\" alt=\"Milan, the capital of the region of Lombardy\" width=\"540\" height=\"351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/milan.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/milan-768x499.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4055\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Milan, the capital of the region of Lombardy<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Molise\"><\/span>Molise<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Italy&#8217;s newest region (until 1963, Molise was lumped in with Abruzzo), Molise is also Italy&#8217;s second-smallest region. Mainly agricultural (it produces wine, olive oil, dairy, fruit and vegetables, and cereals like faro), hilly Molise has some lovely small towns, countryside, and castles. Tourism isn&#8217;t particularly developed here, so it&#8217;s also a definitely off-the-beaten path destination\u2014and a good place to find meals and accommodation on a budget.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Molise\"><\/span>Why visit Molise<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Visit Molise if you&#8217;d like to do some outdoor activities; you want to get off the beaten path; you want to visit some of Italy&#8217;s most authentic small towns; you&#8217;re traveling on a budget; you have your own car (public transportation is a little tough here).<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4060\" style=\"width: 490px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Region-Molise-in-center-Italy-the-little-villages-are-Limosano-and-S.Angelo-Limosano.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4060\" class=\" wp-image-4060 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Region-Molise-in-center-Italy-the-little-villages-are-Limosano-and-S.Angelo-Limosano.jpg\" alt=\"The villages of Limosano and S. Angelo Limosano, in the region of Molise\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Region-Molise-in-center-Italy-the-little-villages-are-Limosano-and-S.Angelo-Limosano.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Region-Molise-in-center-Italy-the-little-villages-are-Limosano-and-S.Angelo-Limosano-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4060\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The villages of Limosano and S. Angelo Limosano, in the region of Molise<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Piedmont\"><\/span>Piedmont<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The northern region of Piedmont is surrounded by the Alps on three sides, but it&#8217;s not all mountainous; in fact, much of Piedmont is a flat plain. That&#8217;s where many of its farms are, producing food like rice and wine\u2014some of Italy&#8217;s most well-renowned wines, including Barolo and Barbaresco, come from here. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slowfood.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Slow Food movement<\/a> is based here in the region, making it a must-visit for foodies.<\/p>\n<p>Piedmont is also industrial, with the Fiat automobile company based in Turin, the region&#8217;s capital. With lovely small towns, the bustling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/turin-in-italy\">baroque city of Turin<\/a>, and its mountains, Piedmont has something for everyone.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Piedmont\"><\/span>Why visit Piedmont?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Piedmont is the perfect destination if you enjoy winter sports; you&#8217;re an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/guide-to-italian-wines\">Italian wine-lover<\/a>; you love food (and the principles behind the\u00a0 Slow Food movement); you want to get somewhat off the beaten path.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4061\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/the-village-of-Barolo-Piedmont-Italy-.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4061\" class=\" wp-image-4061 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/the-village-of-Barolo-Piedmont-Italy-.jpg\" alt=\"The village of Barolo, home to the famed wine, in Piedmont\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/the-village-of-Barolo-Piedmont-Italy-.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/the-village-of-Barolo-Piedmont-Italy--768x514.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4061\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The village of Barolo, home to the famed wine, in Piedmont.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Puglia\"><\/span>Puglia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The &#8220;heel&#8221; of the boot of Italy, for a long time, Puglia experienced much of the same poverty as the rest of the south. While still poorer than northern Italian regions, though, Puglia today has a good deal of industry, and its agricultural sector\u2014especially its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/how-is-olive-oil-made-meaning-of-extra-virgin-cold-pressed\">olive oil industry<\/a>\u2014is one of the most important in the country.<\/p>\n<p>Puglia has also gotten very hot lately, finally getting attention in the foreign press and travel magazines for its beautiful beaches, gorgeous countryside, excellent food, and unique towns and architecture (like its cone-shaped\u00a0<em>trulli<\/em>). A favorite destination for Italians in the summer, this is hardly an &#8220;undiscovered&#8221; region &#8211; but there are definitely parts of it that remain to be discovered!<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Puglia\"><\/span>Why visit Puglia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Visit Puglia if you want to see some of Italy&#8217;s most beautiful sandy beaches; you&#8217;d like a taste of the Mediterranean lifestyle; you&#8217;ve always wanted to see (or stay in) a\u00a0<em>trullo;\u00a0<\/em>you want to go slightly off the beaten path (especially if you&#8217;re traveling outside of summer); you&#8217;re traveling on a budget.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2341\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/shutterstock_8801524.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2341\" class=\" wp-image-2341 \" title=\"Puglia a region in ITaly\" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/shutterstock_8801524.jpg\" alt=\"The beach at Polignano a Mare\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/shutterstock_8801524.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/shutterstock_8801524-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2341\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The town beach at Polignano a Mare, Puglia<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sardinia\"><\/span>Sardinia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This island, located in the Mediterranean to Italy&#8217;s west and just south of Corsica, is a long-time favorite summer destination of Italians &#8211; with good reason!<\/p>\n<p>The beaches are stunning, and the resort towns of Costa Smeralda, in the island&#8217;s north, buzz with nightlife. Visit the interior of Sardinia, though, and it&#8217;s a different picture, a rural, agricultural area with lots of tiny towns. And by visiting even Sardinia&#8217;s most popular coastal areas outside of July or August, you&#8217;ll find it&#8217;s surprisingly peaceful.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Sardinia\"><\/span>Why visit Sardinia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Sardinia is ideal if you want to experience some of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/italy-beach\">Italy&#8217;s most spectacular beaches<\/a> and coastlines; you&#8217;re going in August, and want to be where all of the Italians are; you want to visit a part of Italy that has a very different history from, and culture than, the mainland.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sicily\"><\/span>Sicily<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily is a place\u2014and culture\u2014all its own. (Some Italians joke that it&#8217;s not even Italy!). That&#8217;s because of its unique, and ancient, history. Settled by the ancient Greeks and Romans (in fact, <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/sicily\/travel-in-sicily-taormina-syracuse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sicily boasts some of the best ancient sites in Italy<\/a>), Sicily later was conquered by the Arabs, Norman French, and Spanish.<\/p>\n<p>That mixed-heritage background makes for not fantastic art and architecture, but amazing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/food-and-wine\/sicilian-cuisine-cannoli-arancini\">Sicilian cuisine<\/a>, as well. For these reasons, along with its sunny climate, miles of beautiful coastline, and natural beauty, Sicily is a top destination for tourists\u2014although you&#8217;ll still find plenty of towns and areas untouched by tourism, and outside of high season, even the beaches and resort towns are relatively quiet.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Sicily\"><\/span>Why visit Sicily<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Visit Sicily if you&#8217;re looking for a beach holiday; you&#8217;re interested in seeing some of the best ancient Greek and Roman ruins in Italy; you&#8217;re curious about a culture that&#8217;s Italian&#8230; but with a special stamp that&#8217;s all its own; you&#8217;re attracted to sunny, warm, dry weather; you want to try real\u00a0<em>cannoli\u00a0<\/em>or\u00a0<em>arancini <\/em>(or\u00a0<em>pasta alla norma, <\/em>or\u00a0<em>granita,\u00a0<\/em>or&#8230;).<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2026\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/taormina-theater.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2026\" class=\" wp-image-2026 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/taormina-theater.jpg\" alt=\"The region of Sicily\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/taormina-theater.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/taormina-theater-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2026\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The ancient theater in Taormina, a must-see site in Sicily<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Trentino-Alto_Aldige\"><\/span>Trentino-Alto Aldige<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Also known as Trentino-South Tyrol, this naturally-stunning, autonomous region in northern Italy used to be part of Austria-Hungary. It was only annexed by Italy in 1919. As you might expect, that means it has a very different\u2014and Austrian-flavored\u2014culture than the rest of the peninsula!<\/p>\n<p>In South Tyrol, German, not Italian, is spoken by the majority of the population. Trentino-Alto Aldige also includes a large part of two of Italy&#8217;s most major mountain ranges, eastern <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/italian-alps-dolomites\">Alps and the Dolomites<\/a>, making it a favorite destination for skiers and trekkers. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/italy-lake-garda\">Lake Garda<\/a> is located here, too).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Trentino-Alto_Aldige\"><\/span>Why visit Trentino-Alto Aldige<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Visit Trentino-Alto Aldige if you want to practice your German, as well as your Italian; you&#8217;d like an active holiday; you&#8217;re into mountain sports; you like nature; you want to visit small, picturesque Alpine villages.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4065\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Approaching-the-Falzarego-Pass-Italy.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4065\" class=\" wp-image-4065 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Approaching-the-Falzarego-Pass-Italy.jpg\" alt=\"The Falzarego Pass in the mountains of Trentino-Alto Adige\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Approaching-the-Falzarego-Pass-Italy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Approaching-the-Falzarego-Pass-Italy-768x513.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4065\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Falzarego Pass in the mountains of Trentino-Alto Adige.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tuscany\"><\/span>Tuscany<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The region of Tuscany has it all\u2014seaside and countryside, food and wine, cities and small towns\u2014and the tourism to match. The region&#8217;s stunning cities (including not only Florence, but Siena, Lucca, and Pisa) are considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. The beautiful countryside is quintessentially Italian, with rolling hills, cypress trees, and lovely vineyards (in fact, the landscape of Tuscany&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/1026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Val d&#8217;Orcia was named a World Heritage Site in 2004<\/a>). Tuscany is also famous for its food and wine, as the region produces Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino, among others.<\/p>\n<p>While Tuscany\u00a0<em>is\u00a0<\/em>touristy, and while some of its towns and cities can be pricey and crowded, there are still plenty of undiscovered corners of this large, central region. For ideas on where to go, don&#8217;t miss our post on the <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/florence\/best-top-ten-towns-in-tuscany-day-trips-from-florence-italy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">top 10 towns of Tuscany<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Tuscany\"><\/span>Why visit Tuscany<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Visit Tuscany if you want to feel like you&#8217;ve stepped into a postcard of the Italian countryside; you&#8217;re excited to see some of Italy&#8217;s most stunning, and important, art and architecture; you&#8217;re a fan of the Renaissance; you&#8217;re interested in wine tastings or vineyard visits; you feel like you can&#8217;t miss Florence\u2014or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/leaning-tower-of-pisa-facts\">Leaning Tower of Pisa<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_12841\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12841\" class=\"wp-image-12841\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Walks-20150504-Florence-Tuscany-Day-Trip-16x9-0014.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-12841\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Visiting the lush Tuscan countryside is a dream for many Italian travelers.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Umbria\"><\/span>Umbria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Often referred to as the &#8220;green heart of Italy,&#8221; Umbria is smack-dab in the center of the boot\u2014and right next to Tuscany, to whom it&#8217;s always compared. Like Tuscany, Umbria boasts dozens of medieval hilltop towns (like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/umbria-in-italy-favorite-spots\">Assisi, Perugia, and Orvieto<\/a>), beautiful countryside, and olive and wine vineyards.<\/p>\n<p>And, like Tuscany, Umbria has stunning art and architecture and a fascinating history that dates back to the ancient Etruscans. However, Umbria feels a little wilder and more off the beaten path than its famous neighbor. It&#8217;s also much less touristy (although it&#8217;s far from an undiscovered region) and less expensive. Here&#8217;s help if you&#8217;re <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/umbria\/umbria-and-tuscany-italy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">trying to decide between Umbria and Tuscany<\/a> for your trip.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Umbria\"><\/span>Why visit Umbria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Book a trip to Umbria if you like the sound of Tuscany\u2014or you&#8217;ve visited Tuscany, and liked it\u2014but you want an alternative destination that&#8217;s a little less well-known, less touristy, and less expensive; you&#8217;re looking for a weekend or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/day-trips-from-rome-ostia-orvieto-pompeii\">day trip from Rome<\/a> (Umbria is closer than Tuscany); you want to get off the beaten path.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1726\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1726\" class=\"wp-image-1726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/DSC_1709-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Beautiful Umbrian town of Todi\" width=\"1200\" height=\"797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/DSC_1709-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/DSC_1709-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/DSC_1709-1536x1020.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1726\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Umbrian town of Todi is well worth a visit.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Veneto\"><\/span>Veneto<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One of the wealthiest, most developed regions in Italy, the Veneto&#8217;s also the best-known to tourists\u2014thanks, of course, to its capital, Venice. (No fewer than 60 million tourists visit the Veneto every year!).<\/p>\n<p>Historically poor and agricultural, the Veneto has boomed ever since the 1970s; in fact, after Lombardy and Lazio, it&#8217;s Italy&#8217;s third-richest region. Although tourism and industry are important here, agriculture still plays a part, and it produces some of Italy&#8217;s most famous wines, <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/veneto-wines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">including Prosecco, Valpolicella, and Soave<\/a>. Top towns to visit here for their beauty, art and architecture include Venice, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/thing-to-do-in-verona\">Verona<\/a>, Vicenza, Belluno, and Padua.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_visit_Veneto\"><\/span>Why visit Veneto<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You should visit the region of Veneto if you&#8217;re keen to see Venice or Verona; you want to visit a region as well-known for its mountains as its seaside; you&#8217;re intrigued by a region of Italy that has a different, but just as renowned, of tradition of art and architecture as regions like Tuscany; you want to try some of Italy&#8217;s finest wines; you&#8217;d like to combine sightseeing with outdoor activities.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_17785\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17785\" class=\"wp-image-17785\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/1268-Venice_Lagoon-Boat-Trip-16x9-0017.jpg\" alt=\"Vibrantly painted houses along the canal in Burano, Venice\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/1268-Venice_Lagoon-Boat-Trip-16x9-0017.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/1268-Venice_Lagoon-Boat-Trip-16x9-0017-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/1268-Venice_Lagoon-Boat-Trip-16x9-0017-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-17785\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The colorful canals in Burano, Venice are a top attraction in the Veneto region.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you know Italy\u2026 by region? It might seem like a lot to ask, but if you\u2019re planning a trip to Italy, knowing Italy\u2019s regions is a great place to start!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[101,65,74],"ppma_author":[155],"class_list":["post-4044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-tips","tag-culture","tag-act-like-a-local","tag-transportation"],"authors":[{"term_id":155,"user_id":3,"is_guest":0,"slug":"walksofitaly","display_name":"Walks of Italy","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9f4cd4dd0c5ab4b4bae57f3500298e23?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog","last_name":"of Italy","first_name":"Walks","job_title":"","description":"Walks began life as the passion project of two guys with one simple mission: To share their love for, and knowledge of, the city of Rome. Since then, Walks has grown into a team of over 100 ground staff and at any time up to 600 guides, operating across 13 of the world\u2019s most exciting cities (and counting!)\r\n\r\nToday we provide some of the most exclusive and beautifully designed small group tours in the industry through Italy-based Walks of Italy and around the world at Walks, where we offer special access to some of the world\u2019s most iconic landmarks and attractions as well as unique cultural experiences."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4044"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4044"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4044\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18521,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4044\/revisions\/18521"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4044"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=4044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}