Hi all, I am travelling to Italy for the 4th time, I have seen Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice, Pisa, Naples - now this time I really want to dive further in and go somewhere not too turisty - any italy connoisseurs that can help me?
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Siena! It was not on my plan when I was travelling, but we ended up there and had the best time! It’s a walled city with lots of cool history behind it, and the town square is such a cool place!
Also if you’ve made it to Naples, take the commuter train and hit the coast! We stayed in a small town just a couple train stops from Sorrento, and met some great locals and had some amazing food from restaurants with zero tourists!
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I wouldn’t say this is the most ‘hidden’, but maybe not on the typical itinerary…BOLOGNA! It’s really an incredibleeee foodie city, and very walkable. I also loved the Portico di San Luca walk 
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Puglia and include Matera!! You won’t regret it!
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I definitely agree with @WhisperingPines - Siena is a must. We did plan to include it on our Tuscany trip, but we didn’t realize just how much we’d enjoy it. It ended up being one of our favorite stops - authentic and full of character.
After that, we made our way to Montepulciano, which I also highly recommend as it had beautiful views, great wine, and a relaxed, local feel.
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If you’re a James Joyce fan, then Trieste near the Slovenian border is a must!
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If you’re looking for something less touristy but still deeply Italian, I’d really recommend Puglia.
Towns like Alberobello, Valle d’Itria or Ostuni offer a slower pace, strong local culture and incredible food — especially if you visit outside peak summer.
It’s one of those regions where everyday life still feels very authentic. Hope this helps! 
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I’ll throw Brescia, Verona, and Modena into the consideration pot.
I like to focus on smaller towns and rural areas rather than big cities.
If you’re driving the possibilities are endless.
For wine-tasting in northern Italy, how about the Barolo Wine Route (Strada del Barolo e grandi vini di Langa).
Italy really feels like an endless discovery — every region, even every small town, has its own soul.
What I love most is how travel there is never just about places, but about flavors and traditions too.
From small family-run vineyards to local olive groves producing incredible extra virgin olive oil, food and wine are part of everyday life, not just something you taste in restaurants.
You can stop in a tiny village, have a simple lunch, drink a local wine you’ve never heard of, and it turns into one of those unforgettable travel moments.
That’s why focusing on smaller towns, countryside roads, wine routes and rural areas makes Italy so special — it’s slow, authentic and deeply connected to the land.
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I posted in a different thread about the 6-day ‘Via Degli Dei’ hike which runs from Bologna to Florence and takes you through a whole range of hidden gems in Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. One place which really stood out was our night at the ‘Agriturismo Il Passeggere’ which is 75km or so from both Bologna and Florence. It was set aside all on its own surrounded by beautiful green hills. The accommodation was lovely as was the dinner. A real treat of a place - especially when it’s 3 days into a hike - but plenty of the guests had arrived by car.
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@kris Italy is probably my favorite country in Europe, and I’ve been lucky enough to travel through almost every region over the years.
If you’re looking for places that still feel less explored and more authentic, I’d definitely suggest looking south. Puglia and Calabria are two regions that, in my experience, still haven’t been fully discovered by mass tourism.
Puglia has beautiful white towns, olive groves, incredible food and a very relaxed rhythm of life, especially once you move away from the most obvious stops. Calabria feels even more raw and local, with dramatic landscapes, quiet coastal villages and a strong sense of regional identity.
Both regions reward slow travel and curiosity, and they’re perfect if you want to experience Italy beyond the classic, heavily touristed routes.