Sunrise over Barolo, Piedmont

Most Beautiful Hidden Towns in Italy

Italy is renowned for its profound cultural heritage, remarkable historical sites, and breathtaking landscapes. It is a place like no other. The diversity of Italy’s landscapes is remarkable- from the romantic canals of Venice to the colourful cliffs of Cinque Terre. In this blog, I will talk about the most beautiful towns in Italy, from a photographer’s perspective. As I love a more authentic experience in Italy, rather than the more touristic ones- I will focus on towns that you may not have heard of.

La Morra is a quaint hilltop town of that is located in the heart of the Piedmont region of Italy. Known in Italian as Piemonte, this region spreads from the Alps to the Mediterranean. Piedmont is the second largest Italian region by extension after Sicily. It sits on the border of France and Switzerland. The northern side is naturally defined by the Apennines mountains and the Mediterranean coast is just a short drive away. The name Piemonte is a connection to the conformation of the region and at the foot of the mountains: pie” stands for foot and monte” for mountain. The name accurately describes its location at the foot of the Alps.

La Morra is located within the Langhe region of Piedmont and is blessed with diverse and picturesque landscapes, ranging from the ancient cities nestled upon rolling hills of vineyards, to the majestic backdrop of the Alps.

Piedmont has never really been in my radar of regions to visit in Italy, but after stumbling upon photos of it during my trip research, as well as my love for the Barolo wine– I decided it was absolutely necessary. As we drove toward the town of La Morra, I had not prepared myself for how breathtakingly beautiful the scenery was, especially in Autumn. Imagine rolling hills of vineyards, glistening in the sun while layers of fog fill the valleys.

Sunrise over Barolo, Piedmont
Autumn Colours in Barolo, Piedmont

The best photography was taken using a drone, where you can really capture the endless unique compositions of the natural beauty of La Morra and surrounding towns like Barolo and Verduno. However, there are several picturesque viewpoints for handheld photography, such as this panoramic view of La Morra, as well as this spot from La Morra itselfI highly recommend waking up before sunrise, because the countryside is often layered with fog, which takes photographs a whole new level. 

If you’re considering a trip to La Langhe, I recommend visiting in Autumn. The landscape becomes cloaked in spectacular shades of reds, oranges, yellows, and brown. We arrived toward the end of November, which allowed us to catch the end of Autumn, but I would recommend visiting during October for the best photography, as much of the landscape had already lost its colour. The other reason why Autumn is the best time to visit is because it is white truffle season. Truffles are best eaten very soon after being picked, as their intense, earthy aromas decay quite rapidly.

If you’ve ever wanted to eat the most aromatic truffles in the world at their peak, this is the place and time to do it.

Sunrise over Barolo, Piedmont
Aerial Photo of La Morra and Surrounding Countryside

We stayed in La Morra for three nights, which is the minimum amount of time I would recommend in this area. You could honestly spend weeks in this region visiting the world class wineries and well as historic buildings such as the Royal Castle of Pollenzo. There are also plenty of other historic towns outside of La Morra that are worth visiting such as Barbaresco (which also produces a fantastic wine) as well as Monforte d’Alba. The Langhe region is certainly one I will be returning to on my next trip to Italy. 

Winery photography of Piedmont, Italy
Vineyards of Barolo, Piedmont

Perugia, Umbria

Umbria is overlooked by its neighbour Tuscany, but once you visit this humble region- you will understand why it is known as the “Green Heart of Italy”. The entire region is characterized by its rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, and picturesque medieval towns. 

The charming town of Perugia is the capital of Umbria. It is is a place where history unfolds like a tapestry, weaving together centuries of culture, politics, and art. Situated on a hilltop with views of the Tiber Valley, Perugia has a rich and diverse history that spans from ancient Etruscan times to the present day.

The main thing that struck me about Perugia were the breathtaking views of the Tiber Valley. There are many viewpoints to capture awe inspiring panoramic photos such as Porta Solea view that looks beyond the city over the countryside and Belvedere del Borgobello, which allows you to look back on the town itself. We also drove out of the main city and managed to get some unique aerial compositions of Perugia and surrounding valleys. I find the way the coloured houses hug the mountains very pleasing to the eye, especially in soft morning light. 

 

Aerial photograph of Perugia, Italy
Aerial Photo of Perugia at Sunrise

Perugia make a great base for visiting other nearby towns such as Assisi, Spello and Cortona. Of the Umbrian towns, many tourists will only visit Assisi but while stunning, I find it’s too touristy and doesn’t quite capture the spirit of the region, especially if you’re seeking a more authentic Italian experience. Since Perugia is quite a large city, there are always ample dining options. Umbria is known for its black truffles and as mentioned, truffles are best eaten as soon as possible after coming out of the ground, so the best place to eat them is in the region they are from. Umbria gets overshadowed for its wine by its neighbours in Tuscany, but some best wine I had during my trip in Italy was from a region called Montefalco.

Montefalco Sangrantino is often coined the most underrated wine in Italy- a statement I can certainly attest to. 

Aerial photograph of Perugia, Italy
Aerial Photo of Perugia at Sunrise

Perugia has some of the best street photography in Italy due to its rich architectural history. The architecture of this town shows evidence of how it has been influenced by the many ancient civilisations.

The Etruscan walls that surround the city still stand as a testament to their engineering prowess. The Romans expanded upon the Etruscan foundations, constructing bridges, aqueducts, and temples. The Arch of Augustus, built in the 3rd century BC, remains a remarkable example of Roman architecture in Perugia. The medieval period witnessed the construction of iconic landmarks such as the Palazzo dei Priori and the Fontana Maggiore, showcasing a blend of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles.

Today, Perugia stands as a vibrant city that seamlessly blends its rich history with modernity. The medieval streets, adorned with arches and charming squares, coexist with contemporary amenities, making it a unique destination for both locals and visitors. 

The ancient streets of Perugia are lit up so beautifully at night. The main square Piazza IV Novembre is a photographer’s delight. I love playing with compositions and using the stairs as leading lines toward Fontana Maggiore in the middle of the square. Perugia is very much a local city- there are very few tourists around. Locals tend to make better subjects in photos as their attire and mannerisms blend into the environment seamlessly. 

Overall I highly recommend visiting Perugia, spending at least three nights, especially as it can be used as a base for visiting other nearby cities of Umbria. 

Street photography of Perugia
Street Photography of Perugia
Piazza IV Novembre

Castelmezzano, Basilicata

Castelmezzano is in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata; it is a picturesque village in Southern Italy. It is known for its stunning mountainous landscape and traditional Italian charm. The name comes from the Castrum Medianum, meaning median castle. It was built by the Normans between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. It is nestled in the Dolomiti Lucane mountain range, providing visitors with breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. The village itself is perched on the side of a mountain, adding to its unique and charming atmosphere. The design of Castelmezzano is very much medieval which features a collection of houses with roofs concentric sandstone slabs embedded in a rocky basin.

The village features narrow cobblestone streets, traditional stone houses, and historic architecture that reflects the area’s rich history. The Church of Santa Maria dell’Olmo is one of the notable landmarks in the village.

It is a very quiet town with very few tourists. There are some great hikes in this town, however I was restricted for time so didn’t get to check them out. The best view points of this town are from the Panoramic Terrance, located here, located in the centre of town. The best view in my opinion is located behind the town itself. If you keep walking beyond the Church of San Marco, you’ll find a set of stairs known as the Norman Stairway, that lead to a path behind the town. While it’s a steep climb, the views are worth every step. If you follow the path toward the granite rocks, you’ll find the towns main viewpoint- Gradinata Normanna. I recommend bringing a headlamp and going at sunset because this town is most beautiful when it lights up like fairy lights at night.

Castelmezzano was one of the most magical hidden gems I have come across during my travel in Italy and I would highly recommend spending a night here.

Aerial photograph of Castelmezzano, Italy
Photo of Castelmezzano at Night

Città Di Bagnoregio , Lazio

Civita di Bagnoregio is a picturesque and ancient hill town located in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is often referred to as the “Dying Town” or the “City That Is Dying” as a result of the erosion that has led to its gradual decline and isolation. The Etruscans established Civita di Bagnoregio on top of a hill of friable volcanic tuff overlooking the Tiber River Valley and on the border of the ancient Volsini volcano. There is no vehicle access to the town, only via a footbridge. The footbridge is about one kilometre from the carpark with a very steep decent- so wear good shoes! The lack of access to this town is part of its charm. 

There is a great lookout point for capturing this beautiful town, which I located at near the ticket shop before crossing the bridge. The best time to photograph is sunset, as the town glows a warm orange as the sun sets behind the horizon. If you have a drone, there are some wonderful perspectives that show just how frail this town is against the rugged volcanic backdrops. Many tourists walk across the bridge, to the town centre and return- but many don’t venture to the other side of town, where you will see the ferocious fault lines that lay dormant beyond Bagnoregio. Photographing these in soft morning light will emphasise the stark creases in the earth’s fault lines. 

 

Aerial photograph of Bagnoregio, Italy
Aerial Photo of the Fault Lines Behind Civita di Bagnoregio

Staying a night in the town is something I would highly recommend. Since it is an abandoned town, there is a certain eeriness which made the experience so much more memorable. The mountain becomes lit up at night, which many visitors would fail to see. 

Civita di Bagnoregio is such a unique town, unlike anywhere else in Italy and given its proximity to Rome, I definitely recommend checking it out. 

Nature photograph of Bagnoregio, Italy
Aerial Photo of Civita di Bagnoregio

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