Italy has been a popular destination since the days of the Grand Tour, and its inspiring allure has never waned in the romantic eyes of travelers who dream of the postcard landscapes, the famed art and architecture, and the cities and coastal destinations they’ve seen all over travel brochures and social media. Who hasn’t wanted to gaze upon the Renaissance masterpieces in Florence, wander the historic streets of Rome, marvel at the Amalfi Coast, or ride a gondola? (Uh, nobody I know.)
The bel paese ranks number two (after Spain) for international arrivals and is the top foreign destination for EU residents. It’s had record-setting years for tourism the past four years running and is on track for more of the same, not only this year, but in 2026 with the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
Overtourism has been a buzzword for some time, especially drawing ire in the main cities from residents who complain about higher prices, dirtier streets, and homogenization as they struggle to find a balance for sustainable tourism. Obviously, those cities are valid bucket-list places to visit and popular for good reasons. The problem is, about 70% of international visitors all have the same idea, with most visitors flocking to the same places.
If you want to avoid the crowds without sacrificing the dolce vita experience and ambiance, we have five great alternatives for you to live out your romantic Italian dreams without giving up anything except the crowds.
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Instead of Rome, Try Verona
While there is no true substitute for Rome, Verona, known as la piccola Roma (the little Rome), is a compelling alternative. Verona became a Roman city in 49 BC under Julius Caesar and boasts a wealth of monuments, palaces, temples, arches, a hillside Roman theater, underground remains, and the splendid Arena amphitheater. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its Roman relics and urban structure.
The Arena, Verona’s impressive colosseum, was built in the 1st century by Emperor Flavio Vespasiano. It is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world and still hosts concerts and operas during the summer. The archaeological museum on the top floor houses many artifacts, while pieces of the ancient wall can be seen outside in Piazza Mura Gallieno. The city’s Roman gateways, bridges, and the Scavi Scaligeri underground archaeological site provide glimpses of ancient Rome, including a Roman road under the Arch of Gavi.
Piazza delle Erbe, akin to Rome’s Campo de' Fiori, hosts a daily produce market along with cafés. The square features the Column of San Marco with the winged lion of Venice atop, and a beautiful fountain with the Madonna of Verona.
Overlooking it all is Torre Lamberti. At 84 meters (275 feet) tall, it’s dubbed “the highest drawing room in the city.” The panoramic terraces and bell chambers can be visited by climbing 368 steps, or by taking the elevator, and offer 360° views of the city and surrounding environs.
Verona offers a rich art scene—the Duomo shines with works by Titian, a frescoed half-dome, and colorful fresco panels; the Basilica of San Zeno features bronze doors, an altarpiece by Mantegna, and a mosaic ceiling; and there are too many churches, museums, and palazzi to mention here. The Giardini Giusti, with its palazzo and Renaissance gardens, holds one of Europe’s oldest labyrinths.
Known as la città dell’amore (the city of love), Verona is the backdrop for Romeo and Juliet. Popular sites include La Casa di Giulietta with its famous balcony, Palazzo Montecchi (“Romeo’s house”), and Juliet’s tomb in the crypt of San Francesco al Corso.
Verona is an ideal city for exploring, with medieval districts, beautiful piazzas, and river overlooks. It has plenty to see and do, an excellent food scene, and a beautiful ambiance with ochre and pastel buildings, time-worn stone palazzi, towers and archways, cultural offerings, and all the things you’d expect to find in Rome—the Colosseum included.
Instead of Venice, Go to Comacchio
Over 20 million people visit Venice annually, with 73% being day-trippers. These massive numbers strain the city’s infrastructure, overcrowd vaporetti, and make some streets nearly impassable. Frustrated by the influx, local residents have seen officials impose an entry fee and limit cruise ship access. Venice, once known as La Serenissima, is now far from serene, and environmental concerns are mounting.
Just 2.5 hours south of Venice lies Comacchio, a serene alternative. This mini-version of Venice allows you to happily hopscotch across several canals, each with unique footbridges, without the crowds. You can easily find a canal-side lunch spot without reserving weeks in advance.
Like Venice, Comacchio was built on a series of islands in a lagoon, specifically 13 islands in the Po Delta. Governed first by noble lords and then by Papal State cardinals, it once had a powerful fleet and an extensive salt trade until Venice subdued it. Comacchio features pastel-painted buildings along its canals and a few palazzi, offering a more down-to-earth experience. Although some canals were filled in during the 1800s to create streets, the primary canal between the town and the sea is still in use, and special hydraulic systems prevent flooding.
The city’s symbol, the Trepponti bridge over the Canale Pallotta, features elegant staircases and two towers, providing a grand entrance to the lagoon city and a perfect photo opportunity. Ramble around and you’ll cross other charming bridges and find beautifully painted buildings, museums, churches, and palazzi, but also a low-key atmosphere. There are no vendors hawking souvenirs, and the bars will serve drinks at a leisurely pace instead of rushing you through to get the next wave of tourists inside.
Instead of gondolas, Comacchio offers batane, flat-bottomed boats guided by a helmsman with a long stick. These tours are available from March through October for a free-will offering. Find a trattoria with a table on the water; some are literally on the water, on boats moored along the quays. Fresh seafood comes in from the nearby Adriatic, but the local specialty is eel, prepared in many different ways. You’ll find a whole host of restaurants to choose from. Whether you have the eel in the polpette (meatballs), pasta sauce, risotto, or grilled, they turn the strange fish into delectable dishes.
A column-studded portico walkway with 142 arches, the Loggiato dei Cappuccini, leads to the sanctuary of Santa Maria in Aula Regia at the edge of town. A boat trip through the Po Delta Park is a highlight, offering views of the lagoon, its ecosystem, and its wildlife, including flamingos.
Comacchio provides a peaceful, picturesque alternative to Venice, allowing you to experience the charm of canal-side living without the overwhelming crowds.
Instead of Florence, Go to Parma
Florence is celebrated as the heart of the Renaissance and a "must-see" destination since the Grand Tour days. Its popularity means it's always packed, with residents lamenting the lack of a low season. Friends of mine live at the edge of the historic center and never venture into the centro anymore as it is too crowded. In the first five months of 2024 alone, Florence saw 12 million visitors, most of whom were day-trippers, according to Firenze Today.
Parma is a worthy contender in the art city category but is often overlooked. Located in Emilia-Romagna, Parma is a noble, refined city that thrives without fuss or headlines. It rests in the Po Valley, within an hour's train ride of Milan, Modena, and Bologna. The nearby Apennine foothills are filled with castles, vineyards, and producers of famous Italian foods like Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano cheese.
Parma offers Renaissance splendor, art, culture, and shopping at a slower pace. At its center is an art-filled cathedral with a cupola painted by Correggio, depicting a swirling mass of clouds and angels. The nave and apse are also richly frescoed. Next to it stands a lofty bell tower and a freestanding baptistry adorned with white and pink marble, sculptural details, and Byzantine frescoes inside. From the Piazza del Duomo, the city spreads out with plenty of palazzi, piazzas, shopping streets intertwined with narrow lanes of pastel buildings, and beautiful details to gawk at while you wander.
Art lovers will find plenty to admire in Parma. La Pilotta, a fortified palace, houses the National Gallery with works by Da Vinci, Fra Angelico, Correggio, Tintoretto, El Greco, and Parmigianino. The complex also includes an archeological museum with artifacts from Egyptian, Etruscan, and Roman origins, as well as the beautiful Teatro Farnese, a wooden architectural gem still used for performances. Other churches, like San Giovanni Evangelista and Chiesa della Steccata, feature artworks by masters.
The shopping scene in Parma is vibrant. Strada della Repubblica extends from Piazza Garibaldi, a lively square lined with cafés. This street offers a kilometer of mostly Italian-brand shops and more cafés where you can rest and enjoy the atmosphere.
Opera enthusiasts will be thrilled in Parma, home to Toscanini, Paganini, and Verdi. The Opera Museum and the birth home of Toscanini are notable sites. Teatro Regio, one of Italy’s finest opera houses, hosts productions beloved by local residents.
Parma’s L’Oltratorrente district, akin to Florence’s Oltrarno, is a bohemian, culturally diverse area. Here, you’ll find the Parco Ducale, a sprawling green space with tree-lined paths, quiet corners, lawns, and the recently restored Fountain of Trianon. The Renaissance-era Palazzo Ducale, with its richly frescoed halls, is open on the first Saturday morning of each month. The park is a serene escape, often filled with music students and impromptu performances.
In L’Oltratorrente, the porticoes of the Ospedale Vecchio, built in the 1400s, faintly mimic Florence’s Ospedale degli Innocenti. Via d’Azeglio, a main street in the district, is lined with shops and dining options, including the unique church of Santissima Annunziata with its blend of Baroque and Renaissance styles.
In Parma, aperitivo time is a cherished tradition. The pedestrian Via Farini is brimming with bars serving drinks accompanied by locally produced stuzzichini, usually included in the price of the drink. This lively northern city offers a blend of art, culture, and street life similar to Florence, but without the overwhelming crowds.
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Instead of Siena, Go to Arezzo
Life is beautiful in Arezzo, a city that served as the setting for Roberto Benigni’s Oscar-winning film Life is Beautiful. While it shares similarities with Florence, it draws even closer comparisons to Siena, which is only an hour away. Both cities were under Cosimo de’ Medici’s control during the Renaissance and later became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Arezzo’s Palazzo dei Priori (town hall), a crenellated building with a stout tower, mirrors Siena’s but was rebuilt shorter by Cosimo de’ Medici to avoid competing with Florence.
Arezzo’s sloped, trapezoid-shaped Piazza Grande resembles Siena’s shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, surrounded by palazzi and tower houses. Like Siena, Arezzo hosts an annual historic Palio event, but instead of a race, Arezzo’s version is a joust, where participants hit a target with heavy wooden lances while maneuvering horses around the piazza. The cobbled streets of Arezzo feature a mix of stone and stuccoed buildings from the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods.
Arezzo’s cathedral may look spare from the outside, but inside, the column-lined nave leads to frescoed cross vaults and gorgeous stained-glass windows. With artworks by Donatello, Vasari, Luca Signorelli, and local Renaissance master Piero della Francesca, there’s no lackluster here. Art is everywhere, thanks to the legacies of Piero della Francesca and Giorgio Vasari, both of whom hailed from Arezzo.
The cuisine here mirrors classic Tuscan fare. The city is nestled in the Chianti wine-producing zone, with numerous wineries in the countryside and wine bars in town.
Despite having nearly double Siena’s population, Arezzo receives less than half the number of tourists. Its similarities to Siena, coupled with fewer crowds, make it an ideal destination for those seeking to explore beautiful streets, enjoy classic countryside views, and soak in the rich atmosphere.
Instead of the Amalfi Coast, Try the Cilento Coast
The Amalfi Coast is famed for its scenic road skirting the coastline, with glitzy towns along the way. However, what the postcards don’t show are the lines of cars and buses, the heavy (often standstill) traffic from May through October, and the crowds that make navigating and enjoying these towns a challenge. The Amalfi Coast is undeniably beautiful, but it’s also very crowded and expensive.
For a quieter, more serene alternative, consider the Cilento Coast. This national park offers not just miles of seafront but also vast green spaces, hills covered in olive groves, small hamlets, and towering mountain peaks.
Paestum, an ancient Greek city, boasts some of the best-preserved Greek temples outside of Greece. If long sandy beaches and shallow water are your thing, you’ll like the seaside here. Just south, Agropoli, an ancient town named after the Greek Acropolis, sits on a hill topped by a medieval castle, with an active marina and vibrant town life. The long lungomare (seafront) offers accessible beaches, and the beautiful bay of Trentova is a picturesque cove with rocky backdrops. Hiking paths connect to ancient ruins and the next town down, Santa Maria di Castellabate. Agropoli has a train station, one of the few in the Cilento, so if you prefer not to drive, this is your destination.
Castellabate is a popular choice on the Cilento Coast. With the original old town on the hill, Castellabate also includes three seaside towns that retain the old fishing village ambiance. Santa Maria, the largest, features a waterfront castle, easily accessible beaches, excellent eateries, and all the shops and services you could want. San Marco, with its fishing fleet and pleasure craft, offers a taste of an old-time fishing village, but with a world-class spa and beautiful beaches. Lastly, in the Castellabate constellation, is Ogliastro Marina, a teensy hamlet with some fabulous restaurants and nice beaches in the shadow of a medieval watchtower.
Further south, the road becomes more like the Amalfi Coast, with sea views, cliffs, and a mountainous backdrop, but without the heavy traffic. Acciaroli is known for its centenarians and Ernest Hemingway’s stay, with locals vehemently insisting he found his “old man” for The Old Man and the Sea right here. It’s a delightful town of exposed stone buildings, turquoise water, and a laid-back atmosphere.
Coastal splendors await in Pisciotta, a pretty hillside town with pebble beaches below, and in colorful Palinuro, with its cape and sea grottoes. The Blue Grotto here is just as beautiful as Capri’s, but you can swim in it without waiting in a queue or choking on boat fumes. Marina di Camerota, with its quiet coves and bays, offers shuttle boats or pedal boats to explore the coastline and swim in cobalt-blue waters. Further south, Scario and Sapri are even lesser-known but lively enough towns with easily accessible beaches backed by green hills.
The Cilento Coast provides a variety of beaches, from quiet coves to active beaches with facilities, all without mass tourism. Instead, you’ll find southern hospitality, unique experiences, and the chance to relax in natural surroundings.
Get Your Free Italy Report Today!
Get Your Free Italy Report Today!
Escape the crowds: learn more about the quieter parts of Italy and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you a FREE report – Italy: Europe’s Most Seductive Country.
By submitting your email address, you will receive a free subscription to IL Postcards, The Untourist Daily and special offers from International Living and our affiliates. You can unsubscribe at any time, and we encourage you to read more about our Privacy Policy.