Manarola

Manarola is among the oldest and most popular towns in the Ligurian Cinque Terre coastal region. Its stacks and blocks of 12th-century houses in different pastel colours look over the tiny bay from the top of the rocky cliff.

Portofino

This fishing village dates to Ancient Roman times and its name means the “Port of Dolphins” thanks to the many sea mammals that visit the bay.

Matera

In the Basilicata, one of Italy’s driest regions, Matera stands out as a medieval “stone city” – aptly nicknamed “Sassi” (‘stones’ in Italian). It’s picturesque from afar, with a series of stone buildings carved out of the rocky mountain.

Castelmezzano

Castelmezzano is one of Italy’s most unique villages, with most of its buildings and interconnecting pathways fused into the mountain’s contours and rocky terrain.

Positano

As one of the most dramatic communes along the Amalfi Coast, Positano is worth the combined train and bus trip from Naples. Admire the breathtaking sight of the village’s colorful houses perched over the cliffs.

Vernazza

As one of the most popular seaside towns of the five Cinque Terre, Vernazza charms with its beautiful setting of colourful houses clustered together overlooking the quaint harbour.

Bellagio

Bellagio is a lakeside town on Lake Como that combines the classical and contemporary. Modern 5-star resorts and facilities are set beside quaint harbourfront promenades that are lined with cafés and fashionable clothing and jewellery boutiques.

Procida

The idyllic village of Procida is a small island off the coast of Naples. You can take a walk along the promenades with the view over the marina constantly in view.

Verenna

Around a 15-minute ferry ride from Bellagio, Varenna is another beautiful town to discover on Lake Como. You can enjoy scenic walks along its lakeside promenade.

San Gimignano

A series of bell towers and buttresses rise over the medieval houses at the ancient hilltop town of San Gimignano in Tuscany.  Soak up the vibes of this enchanting city from its triangular piazza, the bustling Piazza della Cisterna (named after a cistern or well that has served as the town’s centrepiece for centuries).

Orvieto

A stunning Umbrian hilltop town, Orvieto sits on top of an ancient volcanic rock dome in Terni. Inside this small medieval city, cobblestone pathways connect its old piazzas and imposing mosaic-rich Gothic churches.

Castellucio

The breathtaking plateau around Castellucio has a hilltop village as the icing on the cake. The village overlooks the great flowing plains that are famous for its “fiorita” or midyear blooming (roughly from May to June).

Como

Como is the lakeside village on the southern end of namesake Lake Como, around an hour’s train ride from Milan. Far from the buzz of the city, Como is where you can take in the immersive beauty of the Alps…

Pitigliano

Set on top of a stony cliff in Italy’s Tuscany region, the medieval town of Pitigliano is an amazing sight. Most of its buildings and towers were built using the same rock from the cliff.

Civita di Bagnoregio

This charming village comprises a few ancient towering buildings set on top of a hill. From the ticket office in the Bagnoregio village, you’ll need to cross a pedestrian bridge to get to the hilltop Civita di Bagnoregio.