The 9 Most Beautiful Small Towns in Italy

There are nine little towns that I believe are the most beautiful small towns in Italy.

I’m Italian; my husband isn’t. But hey, I still love him anyway! None of us are perfect, right? Over the past ten years, we’ve lived in Italy, exploring every region of this incredible country together—from the winding canals of Venice to the sun-kissed streets of Catania, and every hidden corner in between.

We’ve wandered along sandy beaches, tackled snowy ski slopes, and reveled in the grandeur of Italy’s great cities. But, believe me when I say, choosing these nine towns was one of the hardest things we’ve ever done. After all, how do you pick just nine?

As a romantic at heart, I’ve always been drawn to those magical little towns where romance seems to blossom anew. They’re the kind of places that make me feel like I’m on my honeymoon all over again, strolling hand in hand down a dreamy via d’amore.

But enough chit-chat! Let’s begin our journey to Italy’s most enchanting towns...

The nine towns we have selected, in no particular order, are...

Manarola & Corniglia (Cinque Terre)

Life in Corniglia

Two of the five Cinque Terre villages. All of them are delightful, but Manarola and Corniglia are my favorites. Still, I've got friends who love Riomaggiore, while others rave about Vernazza. Honestly, all of the towns are worthy of this list.

Don't stay here, though, but rather in nearby Levanto (click for the hotel I recommend). Levanto is much less crowded, far more affordable, and has a better beach too. It's right on the doorstep of the Cinque Terre, and there's a train that runs up and down all day long, allowing you to hop on and off between the five villages of the Cinque Terre.

To see just how lovely Manarola is view the video below or click here. While here is all you need to know about Corniglia.

Neive (Piedmont)

Neive

A tiny little village in the heart of the Piedmont winelands. Many rate this wine region, known as the Langhe, as being the most beautiful of all of Italy's wine-producing areas. The red wines, too, in particular the Barolo wine, are rated as, arguably, the best red wines in Italy.

If you visit, I suggest you stay at the small, family-run, and utterly charming Hotel Villa Lauri. The owner is one of the friendliest hotel owners I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Neive will also have you out of bed bright and early too:  click here for the reason.

Asolo (Veneto)

Asolo

Not far from Venice, nestled in the heart of the Veneto, you’ll find Asolo—a little slice of Italian heaven that has inspired poets, writers, and dreamers for centuries. They say it’s one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, and honestly, I can’t argue. Every time I step into Asolo, I catch myself thinking, “One day, I’ll live here.” Maybe I’ll retire here, or perhaps I’ll take the leap next year. Truthfully, every time I visit, I feel like I could stay forever—just move in tomorrow and call it home.

So close to Venice and Treviso, yet so few of the millions of visitors to Venice ever discover Asolo. They don't know what they have missed! The Albergo Al Sole is the place to stay. Click here for more about Asolo.

Corinaldo (Marche)

Walking up the stairs that lead through town, you pause for a moment and look back. Your eyes follow the stairs down, between honey-colored stone cottages, and out across the rolling green hills beyond. In that moment, every effort you made to get here was worth it a thousand times over. Read more about Corinaldo here

San Leo (Marche)

San Leo

Another lovely town in Le Marche. One of the most spectacular hill towns in Italy with an awesome castle. Click to discover the secrets of San Leo.

Albori (Amalfi Coast)

On the Amalfi Coast, there are many towns that deserve to be on this list, like Ravello, Positano, and Amalfi. And yet, it is another town we have chosen on this Coast of the Gods. It is a tiny little borgo called Albori, and coming here, you'll discover a little corner of paradise. You'll visit and no doubt have to leave, but your heart will always stay here, lost forever in the narrow lanes and merry jumble of bougainvillea-bedecked cottages.

For my guide to the dream hotels of the Amalfi coast click here. To "visit" the best Amalfi beaches click here.

Civita di Bagnoregio (near Rome)

Bagnoregio by Jim Jones

Perched high above the beautiful landscapes below, seemingly lost, a little lonely, and definitely sad, how long this medieval and car-free gem will be around is anyone's guess. Experts say that one day its hilltop location will crumble away to nothing. My advice is to get here and see this incredible village while you can. Read more in this article.

Macugnaga (Piedmont)

Welcome to a typical little mountain hamlet in the mountains of Piedmont, close to Switzerland. You feel as if you've gone to sleep and woken up in a fairy tale. Head to fairy land - click here.

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