Italy has no shortage of amazing places to visit. Many of its cities are world-famous destinations, such as Rome, Milan and Venice. However, Italy is also home to many other cities with stunning attractions that are not as well known. Many of these alternative destinations will also be cheaper and quieter, allowing for a more relaxing visit. Below is a list of five underrated Italian cities that you may wish to consider for your next trip!
If you’re travelling to one of these underrated Italian cities or elsewhere in Italy, check out my post on general tips for visiting the country.
Disclaimer: posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product after clicking on these links, I make a commission at no extra cost to you. Visit my privacy policy for further information.
Trieste
Located near the border with Slovenia, Trieste is a small city that always delights its visitors. Its varied architecture reflects a multiethnic past, when Italians, Slovenians and Croatians all called the city home.
Aside from the amazing architectural heritage, Trieste’s mountainous surroundings boast incredible natural attractions, both within Italy and over the Slovenian border. Caves and waterfalls can be found a short distance from the city, alongside amazing hikes and peaks. From Trieste, you can even take day tours to Slovenia, such as this tour to nearby caves or this one to Ljubljana and Lake Bled.
Trieste is also very walkable and relatively quiet. Therefore, you can enjoy its numerous attractions while escaping the crowds of more famous locations. For these reasons, I believe it’s one of the most underrated Italian cities.
Main attractions in Trieste
Piazza Unità d’Italia
One of my favourite squares in all of Italy, ‘Unity of Italy Square’ is unique because one side is on the sea. This gives an impression of openness, making the square look larger and more spacious.
On all other sides, the square is adorned by beautiful buildings. Many of them now house public offices, but there are also hotels and grand cafes. On a sunny day, this is the best place in town for a typical breakfast, surrounded by the sea and the amazing buildings.
San Giusto’s Cathedral and Castle
Located next to each other on a hilltop, this church and castle offer sweeping views across the city, the sea and surrounding mountains. The castle now houses a museum of local history and occasional temporary exhibitions. For more information on visiting the castle and its exhibitions, visit their website.
The cathedral is well worth a visit to admire the stunning mosaic at the back of the church. It dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries and it houses one of the most impressive mosaics in Italian churches.
Miramare Castle
A stunning and unique castle located straight on the sea, Miramare Castle is a must when visiting Trieste. It’s relatively modern, being built in the 19th century by the Austrian archduke. After visiting the stunning interiors, take a stroll around the beautiful gardens to enjoy stunning views of the blue sea.
You can visit the castle and its grounds independently, but you can also join a guided tour for a more immersive experience. For further information and to buy tickets, visit their website.
Grotta Gigante
Its name translates as ‘Giant Cave’ and says it all. This cave is located just a few kilometres outside of Trieste and it boasts stunning stalagmites and stalactites. But as the name suggests, its main attraction is its huge size. The main chamber is almost 100m tall and almost 170m long. This enormous size is very rare and makes this cave particularly impressive, including for scientific studies.
Aside from the usual visitor tour, an adventurous experience is also available. You will need to wear specialist equipment and guides will lead you to remote parts of the cave. Safety features akin to a via ferrata are there to ensure the tour is adventurous but stays safe for visitors. If interested in buying tickets for your visit, check out this link.
Turin
Turin is the capital of the Piedmont region and its rich heritage, both historic and modern, makes it an amazing place to visit. It’s definitely among the best underrated Italian cities. It was the first capital of a united Italy, and later an important industrial hub, especially in the auto industry.
Turin is also famous for its coffee production, most notably for the giant company Lavazza. Make sure to visit plenty of local cafes during your visit to try out the local coffee. Also, make sure to try the local chocolate truffles, such as cremini and gianduiotti!
Turin is also a great place to visit the alps. You can drive or take the train to the beautiful Val di Susa, a long valley that starts just outside the city. This valley stretches all the way to the French border and offers stunning peaks and activities such as vie ferrate. If you’re looking to visit the alps from Turin, click here to buy train tickets or here to find a rental car.
Main attractions in Turin
Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano
This museum is great to visit if you’re passionate about history. It’s located in the same building as the first Italian parliament and chronicles the events leading up to unification. You can learn more about this historical period, known in Italy as ‘Risorgimento’ and see the original Italian parliamentary chamber.
For more information and to buy entry tickets, visit their website.
Egyptian Museum
This was the first museum dedicated to ancient Egypt to be founded outside of Egypt itself. It dates back to the 19th century when it displayed the rich collection of Egyptian artefacts acquired by the king. Today, its collection is one of the largest in Europe, making it one of the best places to admire ancient Egyptian culture.
Visit their website to purchase entry tickets and guided tours. If you’d like to explore two locations in one go, this guided tour of the Egyptian Museum and the Royal Palace is also a great option.
Cappella della Sacra Sindone
The ‘Chapel of the Sacred Shroud’ is located inside the city’s cathedral and hosts the controversial relic. This shroud is thought to have been the one that Jesus was covered with following his crucifixion. It has marks on it in the shape of a man’s face, said to be Jesus’s.
While the Church has never endorsed the shroud, many people still travel there to admire it. Perhaps the main attraction is the mystery surrounding it, which despite scientific investigation is likely to remain unexplained.
Parco del Valentino
A beautiful park located on the banks of the river Po. Its large size allows for long, relaxing walks through the beautiful gardens. The park also contains an interesting reproduction of an old mediaeval village. It’s an unusual attraction that is well worth a visit, as it provides a glimpse into how such a village looked in the middle ages.
Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile
Owing to Turin’s heritage in the automobile industry, this museum displays a collection of early and classic cars. It chronicles the history of the auto industry and the evolution of vehicles. The museum also explores Turin’s role within the industry and cultural differences in car designs, particularly American cars. It may not be for everyone, but it’s an interesting attraction if you have a vague interest in cars.
Visit their website to purchase entry tickets and find out more.
Bologna
The capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan city. It’s home to the oldest university in the world and a large community of international students. Bologna has a beautiful historic town centre that boasts imposing palaces, churches and squares. Shops and restaurants are also abundant and you can find cuisines from all over the world. For these reasons, it makes the list as one of the best underrated Italian cities.
Main attractions in Bologna
Piazza Maggiore
This is the main square in the town centre that houses classic palaces and the local basilica. You will also find plenty of cafes to have a snack, a meal or even a drink.
Le ‘Due Torri’ (The Two Towers)
Known as ‘Torre degli Asinelli’ and ‘Torre Garisenda’, these two towers date back to the 12th century and lie in the heart of the old town. Torre Garisenda is leaning heavily and is currently still closed to the public. The taller Torre degli Asinelli is open though, and you can climb up almost 500 steps to the top. If visiting Bologna, the tower is well worth a visit for the sweeping views across the city and the surrounding hills. Online tickets are available on their website.
Viale dell’Indipendenza
Its name translates as ‘Independence Avenue’ and it’s perhaps Bologna’s most vibrant street. It connects the train station to the main square, Piazza Maggiore, and is always busy with shoppers and commuters. Both sides are lined with traditional ‘portici’ and you can find numerous shops, restaurants and cafes. If exploring on foot, why not venture into the small side streets and discover the city’s best hidden gems.
San Luca Sanctuary
Its full name in Italian is ‘Santuario della Beata Vergine di San Luca’. This church is located on a hilltop just outside the city and, in its current form, dates back to the 18th century. Aside from its rich, baroque-style beauty, the sanctuary offers spectacular views of the city and the hills. You can walk up to the church using a covered walkway that starts in the city. From Piazza Maggiore, the walk is about 5 km (3.2 miles) long and will take about one and a half hours. Alternatively, you can take a taxi, the 58 bus or the convenient San Luca Express.
A tour that includes a visit on the San Luca Express and local food tasting is also available.
FICO World Eataly
This is literally a theme park for Italian food. It features traditional food products from all over the country, alongside restaurants and even on-site farms. It’s an unmissable place to visit for the food lovers, and provides an immersive experience into Italian food culture. Courses and activities are also available.
To get there, you can take the 35 bus from the train station which will take about 50 minutes.
Modena
I might be biased since it’s near my hometown, but I believe Modena belongs in a list of underrated Italian cities. Its mediaeval historic centre is charming, walkable and rich in heritage and activities. You may know Modena for its food culture, especially for its production of balsamic vinegar. The food culture goes way beyond that, however, and the town centre boasts plenty of restaurants where you can enjoy the local cuisine, from Modena and the rest of the Emilia-Romagna region. This beautiful Italian region also has an amazing food culture, and plenty of other underrated cities.
Main attractions in Modena
Piazza Grande
The main square in the town centre, its name translates to ‘Large Square’. Here you’ll find some important landmarks of the city, with the imposing Duomo di Modena dominating the scene. The Duomo is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best romanesque cathedrals in Italy. Its iconic bell tower, named ‘Ghirlandina’, is also an incredible sight.
Piazza Grande also houses another notable attraction: a balsamic vinegar plant. You can visit it with a guided tour that you can book on their website. Unfortunately, the tour is only available in Italian. This vinegar plant was set up by the council to celebrate the city’s culinary heritage and it’s definitely an interesting place to visit for food enthusiasts.
Palazzo dei Musei
This palace was once the site of a priory, but nowadays it houses several museums. Its name translates to ‘Palace of the Museums’ and it’s now the main centre for cultural heritage in Modena. It houses art galleries, historic libraries and Modena’s civic museum. The artistic collections were largely amassed by the city’s dukes, the Este family. Visit this website for more information on the museums’ opening times and entry prices.
Enzo Ferrari Museum
Modena is certainly a powerhouse of the motor industry, with Maserati being located in the city itself and Ferrari in the nearby town of Maranello. The museum displays a large collection of vehicles and engines that span Ferrari’s long and innovative history. You can also try out other activities such as formula 1 and GT simulators.
Another Ferrari Museum is located in Maranello, near the factory itself. This museum is more focussed on Ferrari’s Formula 1 history, while the Modena museum focuses more on innovation and production cars. At Maranello, however, you can also take a panoramic tour of the Ferrari factory and the Fiorano circuit. For more information on both museums, visit their website.
Mantua
Located in the Lombardy region, Mantua is definitely among the most underrated Italian cities. It’s located in the middle of the Padana plain and was built on the banks of the river Mincio. The river was later dammed, creating three artificial lakes. The northern side of the city faces the lakes, offering relaxing walks by the water.
Mantua’s rich heritage is mainly from the Renaissance period. The architecture is grand and houses stunning frescoes. The local food culture is also a strong attraction, and the city offers plenty of great restaurants.
Main attractions in Mantua
Palazzo Te
This imposing palace is Mantua’s most interesting and unusual attraction. It was built in the 16th century and designed by a pupil of the great painter Raphael. It’s a Mannerist palace, a popular artistic style in that period, characterised by intense colours and distorted perspectives.
Unlike other palaces that served political functions, Palazzo Te was constructed for leisure. This is evident in the whimsical and illusionist interiors, which make the palace a unique location to visit.
To purchase entry tickets, visit their website. If you’d rather have a more immersive guided tour, visit this link.
Palazzo Ducale
The large and imposing Ducal Palace houses a rich collection of frescoes from Renaissance painter Andrea Mantegna. On summer weekends, you can visit the palace with a guided tour if you wish. I would recommend this, as you will learn much more about the rich heritage and the city’s history. For more information and to buy tickets, visit this website. Alternatively, a detailed guided tour of the palace is available here.
Piazza Virgiliana
Entitled to poet Virgil, this large square offers stunning views of the lakes and access to more footpaths. It features a statue of Virgil, alongside other grand statues and fountains. This square also frequently hosts local markets, where you can enjoy amazing street food and shop for local craft products.