ALLTOURS

Salvaging Your Italian Vacation: 8 Hidden Gems to Rediscover Italy

1. The Ghostly Village Beneath the Waves

Fabbriche di Careggine, Tuscany, Italy

This medieval village only resurfaces from a lake every few decades, revealing forgotten homes and a lost way of life.

2. The Cliffside Artists' Haven

Calcata Vecchia, Lazio, Italy

Perched precariously on a volcanic cliff, this 'dying' medieval village was saved and revitalized by a community of artists and bohemians.

3. Italy's 'Little Jerusalem'

Pitigliano, Tuscany, Italy

Carved into a dramatic tuff cliff, this ancient town boasts a rich Jewish heritage, complete with a historic synagogue and a network of underground caves.

4. The Medieval Watermill Village

Borghetto sul Mincio, Veneto, Italy

This impossibly picturesque hamlet is dominated by ancient watermills, a medieval bridge-fortress, and a legend of star-crossed lovers and pasta.

5. The Abandoned Citadel of Clay

Craco, Basilicata, Italy

A dramatic ghost town perched atop a steep clay hill, Craco was abandoned due to landslides and now stands as a hauntingly beautiful film set.

6. The Enigmatic Park of Monsters

Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo, Lazio, Italy

This bizarre 16th-century garden is filled with grotesque, mythical creatures carved from volcanic rock, designed to shock and amuse rather than soothe.

7. The Open-Air Art Gallery Village

Dozza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Every two years, this charming medieval village becomes a canvas for international artists who paint murals directly onto its historic buildings.

8. Otranto, Gateway to the East

Otranto, Puglia, Italy

Italy's easternmost city, Otranto, harbors a chilling cathedral chapel adorned with the skulls of 800 martyrs who defied Ottoman invaders.

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