{"id":70206,"date":"2024-05-07T06:48:45","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T20:48:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=70206"},"modified":"2025-03-18T03:24:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T16:24:06","slug":"places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"5 places to escape the crowds in Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>With the summer travel season fast approaching in the northern hemisphere, the scramble to secure a spectacular European vacation has officially begun. And booking a trip to Italy, one of the most in-demand tourist destinations on the planet, can seem like a bad idea if you&#8217;re wary of crowds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s no getting around it: <a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"\/italy\">Italy<\/a> is popular. So popular, in fact, that cities like Venice have started imparting a cover charge for day-trippers in order to minimize the number of visitors during the warmer months.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, does that mean Italy is a no-go? Absolutely not! Beyond the hotspots you&#8217;ll see on Instagram and in the guidebooks, there are plenty of lesser-known (but equally enchanting) places to soak up Italy&#8217;s culture that are just a little less&#8230; congested.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Here are the top 5 destinations to avoid the crowds on your trip to Italy this summer:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/italy\/italy-real-food-adventure-160244\">Emilia-Romagna<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/italy\/premium-puglia-160144\">Alberobello<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/italy\/highlights-calabria-sicily-160529\">The Aeolian Islands<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/italy\/hiking-dolomites-160225\">The Dolomites<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/italy\/explore-southern-italy-160211\">Matera<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"ipf-title\">Get inspired<\/h2><div class=\"product_wrapper ipf-has-title\"><div class=\"product\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;\" data-code=\"ZMZB\"><div class=\"product-inner\"><div class=\"product-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/ipf\/ZMZB.jpg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/zmzb\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-name\">Italy Real Food Adventure<\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-footer\"><div class=\"product-footer-left\"><span class=\"product-days\">8 days<\/span><\/div><div class=\"product-footer-right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/zmzb\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-btn\">View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;\" data-code=\"ZMSKC\"><div class=\"product-inner\"><div class=\"product-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/ipf\/ZMSKC.jpg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/zmskc\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-name\">Highlights of Calabria, Mount Etna & Sicily<\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-footer\"><div class=\"product-footer-left\"><span class=\"product-days\">16 days<\/span><\/div><div class=\"product-footer-right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/zmskc\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-btn\">View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;\" data-code=\"ZMSQ\"><div class=\"product-inner\"><div class=\"product-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/ipf\/ZMSQ.jpg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/zmsq\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-name\">Southern Italy: Amalfi Coast & Puglia<\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-footer\"><div class=\"product-footer-left\"><span class=\"product-days\">10 days<\/span><\/div><div class=\"product-footer-right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/zmsq\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-btn\">View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eat your way through Emilia-Romagna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This destination is for the <a href=\"\/adventures\/should-you-travel-for-food-experiences\/\"><em>real<\/em> foodies<\/a> \u2013 the ones who won&#8217;t be satisfied solely by Rome&#8217;s famed carbonara or the pizza margherita in Naples. Although these two iconic cities did serve as the setting for the Eat portion of Eat, Pray, Love, the narrow streets can become unpleasantly packed during the steamy summer months. So we&#8217;re gathering up our appetites and heading north to the Emilia-Romagna region, a hidden gem otherwise known as Italy&#8217;s &#8216;food valley.&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a notable agricultural history and abundant farmland, it&#8217;s no wonder <a href=\"\/italy\/things-to-eat-italy\">food is at the heart of Italy&#8217;s culture<\/a>. And with more small towns than I can list (I&#8217;m talking well over 300) and plenty of open space, you won&#8217;t have to worry about beating the crowds here.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Bologna_Market_Cheese-1.jpg\" data-rel=\"penci-gallery-image-content\" ><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Bologna_Market_Cheese-1.jpg\" alt=\"A shop display is stuffed to the brim with different types of cheeses. Black and red signs advertise the name and cost of the cheese.\" class=\"wp-image-70229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Bologna_Market_Cheese-1.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Bologna_Market_Cheese-1-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Bologna_Market_Cheese-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Bologna_Market_Cheese-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Bologna_Market_Cheese-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Bologna_Market_Cheese-1-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Bologna_Market_Cheese-1-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eenie, meenie, miney&#8230; parm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Emilia-Romagna is home to some of the country&#8217;s most famed exports, like Parmigiano Reggiano and Balsamic Vinegar di Modena, as well as plenty of lesser-known specialties, like mortadella, castagnaccio (chestnut flour cakes) and Lambrusco, a light-bodied, sparkling red wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After you taste your way through 300 or so trattorias, don&#8217;t miss the opportunity to stroll around the town square. Good eating requires good digestion, and a post-meal passeggiata is not only a great way to soothe the stomach, but to get to know the locals as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"\/italy\/italy-real-food-adventure-160244\"><strong>Feast like a local on Intrepid&#8217;s Italy Real Food Adventure<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Visit postcard-perfect Alberobello<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Italy is a photographer&#8217;s dream, but when a dozen selfie sticks clog up the perfect shot, it can be anything but. So we&#8217;re trading in overcrowded, overphotographed landmarks like the Trevi Fountain and heading to the southern region of <a href=\"\/adventures\/10-days-exploring-italy\/\">Puglia <\/a>to visit Alberobello.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This little town of just over 10,000 people is known for its curious-looking limestone dwellings known as trulli. From a distance, the whitewashed walls and cone-shaped roofs of Alberobello look a little bit like the Italian version of a hobbit village.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_alberobello_town-trulli-houses_ss-439023022.jpg\" data-rel=\"penci-gallery-image-content\" ><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_alberobello_town-trulli-houses_ss-439023022.jpg\" alt=\"A row of five white houses with conical rooftops is decorated with bright green foliage.\" class=\"wp-image-70221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_alberobello_town-trulli-houses_ss-439023022.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_alberobello_town-trulli-houses_ss-439023022-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_alberobello_town-trulli-houses_ss-439023022-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_alberobello_town-trulli-houses_ss-439023022-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_alberobello_town-trulli-houses_ss-439023022-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_alberobello_town-trulli-houses_ss-439023022-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_alberobello_town-trulli-houses_ss-439023022-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some of Alberbello&#8217;s iconic trulli have been converted into restaurants, shops and hotels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But Alberobello is more than just aesthetic; the whimsical trulli date back to the 14th century and have only ever existed in this part of the world. Legend has it that locals created the conical (and easy to remove) roof structure as a ploy to skirt the tax collectors and avoid paying for a &#8220;finished&#8221; dwelling. But whatever the purpose, this UNESCO World Heritage Site, set among a backdrop of olive groves and rolling hills, is easily one of the most picturesque places in Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tourism to Alberobello has increased over the past few years, so while it&#8217;s not entirely off the beaten path, it&#8217;s worth noting that there are still plenty of quiet backstreets and hidden nooks outside the town centre to explore in solitude. Leave the souvenir shops of the main drag behind and head for the Rione Aia Piccola neighbourhood, a more authentic side of Alberobello where trulli still serve as family homes. If you want the full experience, many of the town&#8217;s 1500+ trulli have been converted into restaurants and accommodations for visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"\/italy\/rome-southern-italy-160531\">Explore the Puglia region on a Rome to Southern Italy trip<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Island hop in the Aeolians<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Coastal Italy is undoubtedly <em>the<\/em> place to be in the summertime, but sitting shoulder to shoulder on the beach with thousands of other tourists isn&#8217;t exactly the recharging summer vacation we dream about during the ol&#8217; 9 to 5. So why not break from the norm and swap the Amalfi Coast for Sicily&#8217;s Aeolian Islands, an archipelago known for its laidback vibe and unspoiled terrain. Think: all the best parts of a trip to the Med without the crowds, noise or long waits for Aperol spritz.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Aeolian_Islands_ss_249832093.jpg\" data-rel=\"penci-gallery-image-content\" ><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Aeolian_Islands_ss_249832093.jpg\" alt=\"A rugged green stretch of island dotted with homes intersects an expanse of blue Mediterranean sea.\" class=\"wp-image-70222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Aeolian_Islands_ss_249832093.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Aeolian_Islands_ss_249832093-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Aeolian_Islands_ss_249832093-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Aeolian_Islands_ss_249832093-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Aeolian_Islands_ss_249832093-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Aeolian_Islands_ss_249832093-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy_Aeolian_Islands_ss_249832093-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The perfect place to unplug.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Aeolians are a chain of 7 UNESCO-protected volcanic islands, all relatively easy to access from the mainland. Serene Salina is best for those looking for charming boutique hotels, spas and vineyards, while Filicudi is an excellent choice for swimmers, divers, floaters and boaters. Adventure-seekers can get their thrills climbing Stromboli&#8217;s namesake volcano or taking a night-time cruise by the Sciara del Fuoco (Stream of Fire) to see the glowing lava slide toward the sea.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"\/italy\/italy-highlights-calabria-160197\">Cruise the Aeolian archipelago on Intrepid&#8217;s Highlights of Calabria trip<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Discover the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You know what they say about crowds: if you can&#8217;t beat &#8217;em&#8230; climb above &#8217;em. Summer is a great time to escape the major cities and head for the Italian Alps to trade an air-conditioning-less accommodation for a cool mountain breeze.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Dolomites are a paradise for active travellers, with an abundance of hiking trails, mountain biking routes and climbing opportunities. And it&#8217;s not just any hiking&#8230; it&#8217;s hiking with some of the most spectacular views in the country. Picture quaint mountain huts and crystal-clear lakes nestled against a backdrop of jagged peaks and impossibly green alpine meadows.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_dolomites_hiking-landscape-alps-SS-217316929.jpg\" data-rel=\"penci-gallery-image-content\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_dolomites_hiking-landscape-alps-SS-217316929.jpg\" alt=\"A lone hiker holding a set of poles stands in the middle of a trail taking in a view of the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites in the distance.\" class=\"wp-image-70224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_dolomites_hiking-landscape-alps-SS-217316929.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_dolomites_hiking-landscape-alps-SS-217316929-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_dolomites_hiking-landscape-alps-SS-217316929-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_dolomites_hiking-landscape-alps-SS-217316929-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_dolomites_hiking-landscape-alps-SS-217316929-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_dolomites_hiking-landscape-alps-SS-217316929-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_dolomites_hiking-landscape-alps-SS-217316929-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Crowds? Where?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But don&#8217;t worry, you won&#8217;t have to summit the peaks to get the epic views; there are lookout spots and photo ops around every corner. For those who like a vacation with a little less adrenaline and a little more R&amp;R, consider a picnic lunch with some of the local delicacies, like apple strudel, local cheeses and speck ham. Food in this region has both <a href=\"\/germany\">German <\/a>and <a href=\"\/austria\">Austrian <\/a>influences.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the peak season in the Dolomites does see its fair share of visitors, it&#8217;s nothing compared to Venice or Vatican City. Trust me, when you&#8217;re standing on the summit of Monte Elmo, taking in the jaw-dropping views below, the crowds will feel a million miles away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"\/walking\">Check out Intrepid&#8217;s range of walking &amp; trekking tours<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Peek into the past in Matera<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In need of an ancient history fix, but <a href=\"\/adventures\/rome-guide\/\">Rome is just a little too crowded<\/a>? Try the city of Matera, one of the world&#8217;s oldest continually inhabited human settlements, instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Matera&#8217;s Old Town sits atop an impressive plateau and contains two Sassi, or communities, of over 3000 cave homes, frescoed churches, monasteries and amphitheatres dug from the soft limestone cliffside. What began as a collection of natural cave dwellings and grottos grew into a man-made labyrinth of alleyways, staircases and underground tunnels that snake through the limestone ravine. The Sassi extends 12 levels high because the inhabitants built dwellings one on top of the other.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_matera_church-ancient-cityscape-SS-199745828.jpg\" data-rel=\"penci-gallery-image-content\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_matera_church-ancient-cityscape-SS-199745828.jpg\" alt=\"The old town section of Matera is a jumbled puzzle of stacked homes and businesses built into the side of a plateau. The town is a uniform light brown dotted with bright green trees and the occasional flag.\" class=\"wp-image-70223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_matera_church-ancient-cityscape-SS-199745828.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_matera_church-ancient-cityscape-SS-199745828-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_matera_church-ancient-cityscape-SS-199745828-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_matera_church-ancient-cityscape-SS-199745828-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_matera_church-ancient-cityscape-SS-199745828-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_matera_church-ancient-cityscape-SS-199745828-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-italy_matera_church-ancient-cityscape-SS-199745828-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">New structures sit atop old cave dwellings in Matera&#8217;s Old Town.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, a large portion of the population in the Sassi lived in poverty, and rampant disease and unhealthy living conditions forced the government to relocate many residents in the 1950<s>&#8216;<\/s>s. Today, the Sassi are undergoing continuous renovations, with museums, underground exhibits and tours giving an authentic peek into life in ancient Matera. You can even have dinner inside a 9000-year-old cave dwelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So as you plan your Italian adventure this summer, remember there&#8217;s more to this&nbsp;passionate country than the bustling tourist hubs. Whether your trip to Italy is about appreciating ancient history, admiring art, or just practising the Italian philosophy of &#8220;Il dolce far niente,&#8221; straying from the mainstream sites will allow you to explore a side of Italy the crowds haven&#8217;t quite reached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"\/italy\"><strong>See a more authentic side of Italy on a small group tour with Intrepid.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"ipf-title\">Explore Italy&#039;s hidden gems in 2025<\/h2><div class=\"product_wrapper ipf-has-title\"><div class=\"product\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;\" data-code=\"ZMSV\"><div class=\"product-inner\"><div class=\"product-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/ipf\/ZMSV.jpg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/zmsv\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-name\">Best of Italy<\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-footer\"><div class=\"product-footer-left\"><span class=\"product-days\">14 days<\/span><\/div><div class=\"product-footer-right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/zmsv\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-btn\">View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;\" data-code=\"ZMXI\"><div class=\"product-inner\"><div class=\"product-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/ipf\/ZMXI.jpg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/zmxi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-name\">Hiking in the Dolomites<\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-footer\"><div class=\"product-footer-left\"><span class=\"product-days\">8 days<\/span><\/div><div class=\"product-footer-right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/zmxi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-btn\">View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;\" data-code=\"ZMPL\"><div class=\"product-inner\"><div class=\"product-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/ipf\/ZMPL.jpg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/zmpl\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-name\">Premium Sicily <\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-footer\"><div class=\"product-footer-left\"><span class=\"product-days\">10 days<\/span><\/div><div class=\"product-footer-right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/zmpl\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-btn\">View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Don&#8217;t dismiss a trip to Italy because of the crowds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16291,"featured_media":70477,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[455,1313],"tags":[46,3192,19],"class_list":["post-70206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","category-guides","tag-europe","tag-food-adventures-2","tag-italy"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.3.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>5 places to escape the crowds in Italy | The Good Times by Intrepid<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Travelling to Italy this summer? We&#039;ve got 5 off the beaten path destinations to soak up culture while avoiding crowds.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 places to escape crowds in Italy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Travelling to Italy this summer? We&#039;ve got 5 off the beaten path destinations to soak up culture while avoiding crowds.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Good Times by Intrepid\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intrepidtravel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-05-06T20:48:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-17T16:24:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy-Tuscany-San-Gimignano-ITLL0450-2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Liz Carr\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Intrepid_Travel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Intrepid_Travel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Liz Carr\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/\",\"name\":\"5 places to escape the crowds in Italy | The Good Times by Intrepid\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy-Tuscany-San-Gimignano-ITLL0450-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-05-06T20:48:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-17T16:24:06+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/a07d3d0f6f4d4ab63d1709384a029cac\"},\"description\":\"Travelling to Italy this summer? We've got 5 off the beaten path destinations to soak up culture while avoiding crowds.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy-Tuscany-San-Gimignano-ITLL0450-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy-Tuscany-San-Gimignano-ITLL0450-1.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"5 places to escape the crowds in Italy\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/\",\"name\":\"The Good Times by Intrepid\",\"description\":\"adventure news\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/a07d3d0f6f4d4ab63d1709384a029cac\",\"name\":\"Liz Carr\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e5a9d0637dd702edb379288e56c3bb6291a9f8b041485d72a67ea6e0fad94759?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e5a9d0637dd702edb379288e56c3bb6291a9f8b041485d72a67ea6e0fad94759?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Liz Carr\"},\"description\":\"Will travel for food. From al pastor in Mexico to camel burgers in Morocco, khao soi in Thailand to perfect tomatoes in Greece, I've traveled far and wide for a tasty meal. When I'm not abroad searching for the perfect bite, I'm enjoying some good ol' home cooking in my tiny Seattle kitchen.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/author\/elizabeth-carr\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"5 places to escape the crowds in Italy | The Good Times by Intrepid","description":"Travelling to Italy this summer? We've got 5 off the beaten path destinations to soak up culture while avoiding crowds.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"5 places to escape crowds in Italy","og_description":"Travelling to Italy this summer? We've got 5 off the beaten path destinations to soak up culture while avoiding crowds.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/","og_site_name":"The Good Times by Intrepid","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intrepidtravel\/","article_published_time":"2024-05-06T20:48:45+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-03-17T16:24:06+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1080,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy-Tuscany-San-Gimignano-ITLL0450-2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Liz Carr","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@Intrepid_Travel","twitter_site":"@Intrepid_Travel","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Liz Carr","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/","name":"5 places to escape the crowds in Italy | The Good Times by Intrepid","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy-Tuscany-San-Gimignano-ITLL0450-1.jpg","datePublished":"2024-05-06T20:48:45+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-17T16:24:06+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/a07d3d0f6f4d4ab63d1709384a029cac"},"description":"Travelling to Italy this summer? We've got 5 off the beaten path destinations to soak up culture while avoiding crowds.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy-Tuscany-San-Gimignano-ITLL0450-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy-Tuscany-San-Gimignano-ITLL0450-1.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/places-to-escape-the-crowds-in-italy\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"5 places to escape the crowds in Italy"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/","name":"The Good Times by Intrepid","description":"adventure news","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/a07d3d0f6f4d4ab63d1709384a029cac","name":"Liz Carr","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e5a9d0637dd702edb379288e56c3bb6291a9f8b041485d72a67ea6e0fad94759?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e5a9d0637dd702edb379288e56c3bb6291a9f8b041485d72a67ea6e0fad94759?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Liz Carr"},"description":"Will travel for food. From al pastor in Mexico to camel burgers in Morocco, khao soi in Thailand to perfect tomatoes in Greece, I've traveled far and wide for a tasty meal. When I'm not abroad searching for the perfect bite, I'm enjoying some good ol' home cooking in my tiny Seattle kitchen.","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/author\/elizabeth-carr\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Italy-Tuscany-San-Gimignano-ITLL0450-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4OQMK-igm","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16291"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70206"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82979,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70206\/revisions\/82979"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}