Are These the Most Beautiful Regions in Italy? 

Watch the video and you will agree that everything wonderful about Italy is here; waiting for you in the heart of Italy.

First Stop: Tuscany

Everyone has heard about Tuscany, and for good reason. This stunning region of Italy is the epitome of beauty, where rolling hills meet sprawling vineyards, and ancient towns are bathed in the warmth of the Tuscan sun. 

The countryside, painted with fields of sunflowers, country lanes lined with cypress trees, vineyards, olive groves, and villas of golden stone, is the Italy we have all longed for. The Italy is idealized in books, paintings, poetry, and movies. 

While cities like Florence and Siena have also provided their fair share of inspiration for writers, poets, artists, and you and me for centuries.

Let's not forget the smaller villages and towns though; you've got the little town of San Gimignano, nicknamed Italy's Manhattan because of all the medieval towers and  many other small towns too, towns like Colle di Val d’Elsa, Cortona, Bagno Vignoni, Montalcino, Montemerano, and Pitigliano.

These are all towns and villages where time seems to stand still and where the pace of life is still dictated by tradition. The gentle sway of cypress trees, the golden hues of its endless fields, and the rustic charm of stone farmhouses all combine to create a picture-perfect landscape.

It is impossible not to fall in love with it all.  This is a region for walking, so join us on  the Tuscan walk we love most.

Then, of course, there is Umbria

Umbria has been a destination of pilgrims since the time of St. Francis of Assisi, where still today visitors find their spirits soar and their souls seem a little more at peace. It is impossible not to fall in love with the gentle landscape of rolling hills and medieval villages. Known as the emerald heart of Italy, this green and pleasant land is every bit as lovely as Tuscany.

Just as delightful is the fact that very few of the tens of millions of tourists who visit Italy each year ever venture here. Sometimes I feel like I have the place all to myself as I explore the more remote hill towns. Hill-town after hill-town I visit without encountering another tourist anywhere.

Wake up in one of the typical little villages like Assisi, Spello or Orvieto to the fresh aroma of espresso and the musical sounds of Italian drifting up on the gentle breeze from the piazza below. Roll up the shutters, let the sun shine in, and say hello to Italy.

Next stop is Le Marche

Gradara

Le Marche is a region undiscovered by tourists, where life is, even today, lived at the gentle pace of yesteryear. Locals happily pass a morning gossiping in the piazza, and strangers are welcomed like long lost family. Towns you will not want to miss here include Gabicce Mare, Gradara, Corinaldo, San Leo and Urbino. 

Urbino in particular is one of the best-kept secrets in all of Italy. Filled to the brim with iconic Renaissance art and architecture to rival any of Tuscany's cities, Urbino offers an intimate, almost untouched experience. Urbino is the birthplace of the legendary painter Raphael, and visitors can explore his family home, now a museum. The city itself is like an open-air museum, with its beautifully preserved Palazzo Ducale standing as a testament to the grandeur of the Renaissance period. Urbino’s hilltop location provides sweeping views of the rolling countryside.

Another key difference is Urbino’s tranquility. Where cities like Siena or Pisa are often bustling with tourists, Urbino remains quiet, allowing visitors to explore its charming cobbled streets at a leisurely pace. Despite its rich history and art, it feels less commercialized, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking authenticity.

Visited these regions? Time to return to Rome

I really recommend you check-in to this hotel in Rome that my family and I love. Once you've checked in, head out sightseeing (these are the top sights to see in Rome).

Shopping in Rome is also fantastic; actually, pretty much everything in Rome is amazing; even the cats have a story to tell in this great city.