Top 15 the most beautiful villages in Italy

It is known: Italy is beautiful wherever you go, whether you go to the mountains, the sea, the elegant lakes in the north or picturesque Sicily at the top of the ‘Boot’. In Italy, you can visit the big cities – Rome, Milan, Naples, Florence – on quick city breaks or spend unforgettable holidays in regions like Tuscany, Puglia, or Campania.

Enchanting wherever you are, Italy has an added flavor if you stray just a little into its countryside. The small villages and towns you come across on a leisurely holiday spent driving around one region or another, will delight you and leave you with unforgettable memories. For authenticity, gastronomy, and the general charm. You may wonder… where to start such a tour. The answer is simple: anywhere. And here are just 15 suggestions. Fifteen of the most beautiful villages in Italy that you shouldn’t miss if you happen to be near them.

Interestingly, the association I Borghi Più Belli d’Italia (Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages) publishes an annual list of the most beautiful villages with fewer than 15,000 inhabitants. The ‘certification’ process to get on this list is long and incredibly meticulous, following a thorough analysis of the history, traditions, artistic heritage, tourist infrastructure, and caring about the sustainability of the village in question. Once on this important list, villages automatically become national stars. Please browse through this list of villages in Italy (some larger, real towns, some smaller) and put them on your future itineraries around the peninsula. The order is random; all of them are gorgeous.

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15 most beautiful villages in Italy

Map with the most beautiful Italian villages (zoom for details)

San Gimignano (Tuscany)

Tuscany is one of Italy’s leading regions, and one of its most prized gems is undoubtedly San Gimignano. The tiny village in the heart of the country’s wine region is characterized by narrow streets, quiet squares, and imposing towers built in the 13th century (originally, there were around 70, but they’ve crumbled throughout history).

These towers, today perfect for any photographic lens, were erected to defend against raids by rival noble families in the region. San Gimignano is a wonderful place to escape for a few days while enjoying exceptional homemade pasta, Tuscan red wine, and gorgeous sunsets. Be warned, however, that in the height of the tourist season (i.e., summer), the place gets very crowded.

Alberobello (Puglia)

You can’t fail to include this particular, unique village in Italy in the top list of the most beautiful Italian villages. Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage village, is famous for its rustic pointed houses, called trulli. There are about 1500 trulli in Alberobello; these bizarre constructions are made without the use of mortar and painted an almost blinding white.

Many of them are available to rent, but without needing to stay here for several days, at least a stop for a few hours in Alberobello is essential.

Manarola (Cinque Terre)

Manarola is considered the most beautiful of the five towns that make up the so-called Cinque Terre region of Liguria. A community developed on a cliff between the hills, where the brightly painted houses dance perpetually with the Mediterranean. Like most coastal towns in Italy, Manarola welcomes its guests with delicious cuisine and a small beach, which adds to the flirtation of the place. 

Cefalu (Sicily)

An hour’s drive from Palermo, ‘suspended’ between the mountains and the sea, the idyllic little town of Cefalu is a delight for any tourist eager to discover the most beautiful places in Sicily. As well to picturesque beaches, from which the sunsets are fabulous, and narrow medieval streets, Cefalu also boasts some classy restaurants and a remarkable nightlife that may make you consider a longer stay. 

Matera (Basilicata)

Also known as Città dei Sassi, Matera, located in the south of Basilicata (whose capital it was from 1663 to 1806), is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is recognized for its beauty and uniqueness. The village is famous for its sassi structures, a complex of houses, monasteries, and churches built in the natural caves of the Murgia, a troglodyte area covering over 1000 hectares. Matera is one of the oldest and most beautiful villages in the whole world, with even film producers choosing it as a “set” for famous productions (most famously – Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. 

Monte Isola (Lombardy)

Located on the island of the same name, Monte Isola has the particularity of being set in the middle of one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy – Lake Iseo. To get to Monte Isola, you need to drive an hour and a half from Milan, then take a 20-minute ferry ride to Iseo. It’s a worthwhile effort: there are some excellent trattorias, waterside cafes, charming bed and breakfasts, and a beautiful chapel (Madonna della Ceriola) on the hill that surrounds the village.

Locorotondo (Puglia)

A holiday by car in the Puglia region of Italy’s ‘hilly’ Boot could bring you to, among other places, Locorotondo, a charming ‘white’ village in this part of the country, perched softly on a hill, like neighboring Martina Franca and Cisternino (which we also recommend for a quick visit).

Locorotondo’s countryside is dominated by Chiesa Madre San Giorgio, a cathedral whose dome and tower you can still see from the valley as you approach. Wander through Locorotondo’s narrow streets, and if you stop for lunch, don’t forget to order white wine – the local produce is excellent.

Spello (Umbria)

If you’re in Umbria and want to get away from the crowds in Assisi, head to Spello, just a 15-minute drive away, where you’ll admire the excellently preserved Roman walls and quiet old churches. Spello is also known for a unique cultural event called Le Infiorate. A festival takes place in late spring (or early June) and during which the walls of the buildings, especially the pavements and squares, are adorned with artistic creations of flowers and flower petals.

Positano (Amalfi Coast)

Of course, this list could include all the towns on the Amalfi Coast, and even if they cannot be called “villages” in the classical sense, they could still fall into this category. The most beautiful, in the eyes of many, is Positano, which has a chic beach and numerous restaurants with tempting menus. Positano is charming, however, especially when viewed from a distance, namely from a boat out at sea, from where you can savor its beauty unfolding on the mountain, with its layers of Moorish-style houses stretching out in ‘layers’.

Corricella (Procida, Campania)

Stretching over 2 square kilometers, Procida is the smallest island in the Bay of Naples, and tourists usually bypass it in their rush for Capri or Ischia. But if you prefer somewhere less crowded, take a ferry from Naples and stop in Procida, where the village of Corricella welcomes you.

Brightly colored buildings perched above a picturesque harbor – a photographer and Instagrammer’s dream. The heart of the village is Piazza Olmo, from where all the little streets lead you to the most interesting places. Climb to Terra Murata, the highest and oldest point on the island, where you’ll find exciting relics and stunning views.

Bellagio (Lake Como)

Few places can boast of being as romantic and picturesque as Lake Como. And even fewer villages can boast beauty close to that of Bellagio, nicknamed the ‘pearl on the lake’. In Bellagio, luxury is at home: several world-class hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants, from whose terraces you can enjoy views of the lake against the backdrop of the imposing Alps. But the village is defined by centuries-old buildings, stone alleyways, and passages lined with shops selling expensive designer clothes.

Ravello (Amalfi Coast)

Although not located on the spectacular road that “cuts” the Amalfi Coast, but perched 350 meters above sea level, somewhere in the “back”, Ravello is a delight to the soul and the eye, not to be missed by anyone holidaying on the Coast. The fabulous landscapes, the monuments, the sumptuous villas, the elegant gardens – all these elements and many more make Ravello a jewel to put in your tourist’s memory book.

If you visit this beautiful Italian village, here you have the best things to do in Ravello.

Portofino (Liguria)

“I found my love in Portofino,” sang the famous Dalida in 1959 about this charming Ligurian fishing village that seems to have always been a star since it was a favorite for aristocrats and intellectuals as early as in the late 19th century. According to the Lonely Planet guidebook, even the trees are beautiful in Portofino.

Gorgeous scenery, lush vegetation, elegant architecture, and, of course, top restaurants in a natural setting seemingly laid out by the hand of an inspired landscape designer. Don’t miss the nearby medieval monastery of San Girolamo, built in the 13th century and home to one of Europe’s most beautiful gardens.

Montepulciano (Tuscany)

Montepulciano is pure beauty – one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany and the whole of Italy. The village lies in the Siena area, between Val d’Orcia and Valdichiana. Dubbed the “pearl of the 16th century”, Montepulciano presents itself to the visitor with its Renaissance palaces and fascinating narrow streets, all converging on Piazza Grande, the place dominated by the imposing Town Hall. Nobile di Montepulciano is one of Italy’s best red wines and should be tasted.

Santa Maddalena (South Tyrol)

Santa Maddalena is a ‘cluster’ of timber-framed houses revolving around the most photographed church in the Dolomites. Tucked away in the green meadows of Val di Funes, this picturesque village enjoys a superb view and is a good starting point for hikers who come to the area.

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