Live la dolce vita – without the crowds: Italy’s best hidden-gem destinations revealed by travel experts, from landscapes ‘out of a dream’ to ‘unique’ villages and ‘golden-sand’ beaches

BRESCIA, LOMBARDY REGION: Brescia, in the heart of northern Italy, is often ‘overlooked’ in favour of its neighbours Milan and Venice, says Brescia Tourism, which urges holidaymakers to divert to the region. It says: ‘Brescia is a land of extraordinary beauty – from iconic Lake Garda to the snow-capped peaks of the Camonica Valley.’ Plus, visitors can ‘wander the cobbled streets of villages such as Bagolino, Bienno, and Monte Isola [Lake Iseo], considered to be amongst the most beautiful villages in Italy’. Wine buff? Brescia is the home of the International Wine Region of the Year 2024, Franciacorta (pictured)

DOLOMITI FRIULANE NATIONAL PARK: This is a ‘rugged and wild section of the Dolomites that almost no one talks about’, says Meeshka Brand, outdoor adventurer and founder of Sand & Elevation. She continues: ‘This area is fantastic for solitude-seekers, with trails winding through untouched valleys and jagged peaks that make you feel like you’re on another planet.’ Pictured above is the Val Montanaia spire in the area, ‘a dramatic rock formation that feels almost surreal up close’

CASTELLABATE, CAMPANIA REGION: Adam Schwab, co-founder and CEO of Luxury Escapes, recommends visiting Castellabate in Cilento National Park ‘if you love the idea of the Amalfi Coast but not the crowds (or prices)’. He describes it as a ‘beautiful hilltop town’ that offers ‘those postcard-perfect Mediterranean views’ but ‘with a more laid-back feel’, adding that the beaches below it, in the seaside towns of Santa Maria and San Marco, are ‘proper gems’. Adam explains: ‘Think crystal-clear water and plenty of space to lay your towel’

LECCE, APULIA REGION: ‘Think of Lecce as Florence’s southern cousin, but with its own special charm,’ says Adam at Luxury Escapes. ‘The city is famous for its gorgeous Baroque buildings [pictured], which look almost like they’re made of icing sugar. The local limestone is so soft that artists went absolutely wild with the decorations – you’ll see angels, flowers, and fantastic creatures adorning nearly every church and palace. The food scene here is fantastic too, with plenty of wine bars serving local wine and restaurants dishing up Pugliese specialties’

SAN VITO LO CAPO, SICILY: This town is tucked between the Zingaro and Monte Cofano nature reserves and famed for its crescent-shaped beach bordered by the dramatic 530m/1,738ft-high Monte Monaco mountain [pictured]. The travel experts at holiday-home platform HomeToGo love the spot, explaining that many international tourists don’t know about it. Foodie? Then perhaps a September visit for the annual Cous Cous Fest, which is a celebration of food and music

COSTA REI, SARDINIA: ‘Costa Rei – the “King’s Coast” – is a majestic stretch on southeast Sardinia,’ HomeToGo’s experts declare. ‘Spanning 8km/4.9 miles along the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, the beach [pictured] offers endless possibilities for relaxation and fun, from sunbathing on soft golden sands to kitesurfing on breezy waters’

ORVIETO, UMBRIA: The hilltop town of Orvieto is a ‘unique find’ that’s ‘perched on a volcanic rock plateau’, Elaine Warren, travel expert at The Family Cruise Companion, tells us. She adds: ‘What made this spot unforgettable [for me] wasn’t just the stunning cathedral or underground caves but the chance to take a funicular up to the town. My youngest couldn’t stop talking about the “mountain train” and for us, it was a stress-free way to access the historic centre’

TELLARO, LIGURIA: This tiny fishing village is one of Everyday Family Travel founder Melissa Harms’ ‘favourite discoveries’. The travel expert tells MailOnline: ‘It feels like a hidden piece of the Cinque Terre but without the overwhelming crowds. My kids loved wandering its colourful alleys, listening to the local legend of a giant octopus that once saved the town from pirates, and splashing in the small, rocky coves along the coast’

VALSAVARENCHE: The Valsavarenche area (above) is another of Meeshka’s Italian hidden gems, ‘nestled deep in Gran Paradiso National Park’. She adds: ‘It is the kind of place where time slows down, and the scenery is straight out of a dream. I based myself here while hiking towards Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II [a mountain refuge in the Alps] – one of the most rewarding treks I’ve done in Italy. The air is crisp, the valleys are empty except for ibex [wild goats] and marmots [a type of squirrel], and there’s a peacefulness you won’t find in the busier Dolomites’

ISLAND OF ELBA, TUSCAN ARCHIPELAGO NATIONAL PARK: The ‘picturesque historic centre’ of the town of Portoferraio (pictured) is just one of the reasons to head to the Italian island of Elba, according to the HomeToGo experts. They add that the island is ‘known for its variety of sandy beaches and rocky bays, lined with rugged cliffs’ and that visitors can also ‘trek the trails of towering Monte Capanne, and explore the island’s Etruscan history’