Italy has so much to see that you could easily get overwhelmed and give up before you even start.

I think the best strategy is to alternate between big tourist hubs such as Rome, Florence, Venice or Milan, and small towns or villages where life goes at a slower pace. Some of the little towns in Italy are rare finds – whole worlds with incredible stories and secrets!

Here is a list of my five favorite little towns in Italy:

Alberobello – the town of the fairy houses

Alberobello, Aia Piccola | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

There are places in this world where fairy tales are real and Alberobello is one of those places. While you amble along cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed stone houses topped by conical roofs (trulli), it’s hard to get rid of intrusive thoughts of dwarfs and trolls peeking from behind the lace curtains of the windows. In fact, many of these houses are still inhabited by tiny Italian grannies, while others have been turned into guesthouses where you can try your hand at the fairy tale lifestyle.

Read more about Alberobello here.

Modica – the chocolate town

Chocolate of Modica, Italy

If chocolate has an address in Italy, it’s in Modica, Southern Sicily. Here your guilty pleasure is prepared according to an ancient Aztec recipe brought to Sicily by the Spanish shortly after they discovered America. Roasted cacao is ground and mixed with sugar at a temperature no higher than 40°C (104°F), which makes the texture of the chocolate grainy. When it comes to taste combinations, the local chocolate makers get creative – sea salt, ginger and peperoncino (hot chili pepper) are just some of the flavors on offer.

After you’ve had enough (or as much as you can manage), climb some stairs (of which Modica has plenty) in search of a vantage point with a panoramic view over the Baroque town.

Bolgheri – the wine town in Tuscany

Courtesy of World Wine Town Bolgheri

If Tuscany is all about wine and vineyards and Bolgheri is one of the most refined wine locations in Tuscany, then you know what to expect. In this museum-town you can trace the story of wine dating back to the time of the Etruscan civilization, indulge in wine-tasting or dine on some of the finest local produce. The town’s name comes from a small military unit of Proto-Bulgarian tribes that briefly occupied these lands centuries ago.

Read more about Bolgheri.

Cinque Terre – the five towns connected by donkey paths

Cinque Terre | Raul Taciu/Unsplash

Cinque Terre (translated as The Five Villages or The Five Lands) is a string of five colorful villages perched on steep slopes and reflecting off the waters of the Ligurian Sea. Until the 1950s, these villages were isolated from the mainland – they were accessible only by boat or by donkey through the narrow and rugged paths leading along the cliffs. Nowadays the donkey paths are tourist tracks where you can hike from one village to another surrounded by vineyards and lemon trees, with rocks on one side and the deep blue sea on the other.

Matera – the rock-hewn town

Matera, Italy | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Until the 1950s most of Matera’s inhabitants lived in caves hewn in the rocks. A national campaign forced all the locals out of their homes and made them live in blocks of flats. Many of the one-time houses have now become creepy hollow cavities, while some have been turned into hotels or restaurants. Make sure you check out the multimedia museum telling the story of the town. 

Read more about ITALY.

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Nessebar, Bulgaria

Situated on the Black Sea coast in Bulgaria, the city of Nessebar has more than 3,000 years of history. It was first inhabited by the Thracians, then it became a Greek colony, then later it was conquered by the Roman Empire and finally in the 9^th century became part of Bulgaria. It’s UNESCO-protected, with remains from all those civilizations scattered and visible throughout the city – from ancient fortifications and medieval churches to 19^th-century wooden Bulgarian houses.

When it comes to beaches, there are three in the city itself – one in the ancient city and two in the new part. Four kilometers away is the most famous Bulgarian sea resort and party destination: Sunny Beach. There are also some less-crowded beaches nearby if you’re not looking for endless party nights – Arapya, Varvara and Silistar just to name a few.

Kotor, Montenegro

Another town on the shore with a lot of history, culture… and cats. Yes, Kotor is a cat-lover’s dream, with many furry animals walking freely on the streets waiting for human affection, souvenir shops full of cat-inspired art, and even a cat museum.

Kotor has one of the best-preserved medieval old towns in the Balkans. After walking its cobbled streets you can hike up to San Giovani fortress, which dates back to medieval times and has been used to protect the town by all who have ruled over Kotor, including the Byzantine and Venetian empires. Nowadays its main purpose is to give you some breathtaking views over the town and the bay. It sure does that well.

Though the town itself is not your classic sandy beach destination, it is less than 15 kilometers from Plavi Horizonti beach – one of the best in Montenegro.

When it comes to delicious Mediterranean cuisine, some local specialties include thick fish soup and njoke (a gnocchi-like pasta dish).

 Korčula, Croatia

Often described as mini version of Dubrovnik, the town of Korčula is the main settlement on Korčula island in southern Croatia. Korčula was once ruled by the Venetian Empire, whose impact can still be felt mostly in the old quarter, which takes pride in its rich collection of medieval art and architecture. The whole old town is surrounded by high stone walls and towers that once defended it from enemies, and are today among the town’s tourist highlights.

Korčula is believed to be the home town of Marco Polo, and the house in which he is thought to have lived is open to visitors.

Another thing Korčula is famous for is moreška – a type of dance with swords. It represents a fight between white and black knights for a woman – Bula. In the past this art form was popular across the whole Mediterranean, but today it is preserved only in Korčula.

Coast-lovers can choose between some pebble beaches – like Banje or Zakerjan – or sandy beaches like Luka Korčulanska.

Saranda and Butrint, Albania

Saranda and Butrint are two coastal towns in southern Albania – 20 kilometers away from each other.

The first one, Saranda, boasts some of the best beaches and turquoise waters in Albania – varying from hot tourist spots to more secluded hideaways. The town is located opposite the Greek island of Corfu and there is a ferry running frequently between both.

Butrint is a millennia-old town that has been inhabited by both Greeks and Romans throughout its history. The ruins in the old town are UNESCO-listed and include an ancient Greek theater, public baths, a Palaeo-Christian baptistery and a massive Cyclopean.

From the top of the hill, where the acropolis once loomed, you’ll be rewarded with a great view over the town and the surrounding nature.

The ancient Greek theater in Butrint

Koper, Slovenia

Koper is the largest coastal town in Slovenia, as well as the oldest town in the country. It was part of the Venetian Empire, whose influence can be felt in the old town, the undisputed sightseeing highlight of Koper.

The pebbled Mestna beach, as well as the local marina, contribute to the charm of the town and make for a delightful trip.

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Alkmaar is well-known for its numerous well-preserved medieval buildings, most notably Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk tower. The other main attraction, especially in the summer, is Alkmaar’s cheese market at the Waagplein. 

Courtesy of Julia Dimova

The cheese market

After the old-fashioned tradition of the hand clap, traders and carriers start weighing the cheese. The demonstration takes place in front of the medieval weighing house, which is surrounded by stands where you can buy local cheese. Pay special attention to the ceremony; you probably won’t see it elsewhere, as Alkmaar is one of only five remaining traditional cheese markets in the Netherlands.

It is quite a challenge to take nice pictures here, as the cheese market is packed with tourists and shoppers. You don’t need more than an hour here, and if you need a break, simply embark on a city boat trip – it’s a whole lot of fun and it’s the best way to take kick-ass photos of the city.

If you are passionate about museums and culture, you can also visit the Beatles Museum (dedicated of course to the legendary band), the Dutch Cheese Museum and the National Beer Museum “De Boom”.

Practical information:

The cheese market takes place every Friday morning between 10:00 am and 12:30 pm from April to September. For more information about when, where and how the Alkmaar cheese market is held, visit its official website.

To check times for the train from Amsterdam to Alkmaar, visit this website. 

If you are curious to know more about the other typical cheese markets in the Netherlands, check this website. 

This is a guest post submitted by Julia Dimova, a 30-something Bulgarian currently living in the Netherlands after having sampled several other countries and beautiful cities. French language and culture are her passion and her love, as well as books, cooking, eating, drinking wine with friends, visiting museums and of course travelling. In her free time she writes in her blog about everything that crosses her mind. For more info, please check it out at OrpheeWay and have fun!

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Anyway, you can experience pure bliss almost everywhere else. These are five of the things I love the most about Italy.

Narrow streets – because you never know what’s around the next corner.

Towns on hills – the memorable vistas are worth those sweaty walks up steep cobbled streets.

Vineyards – and sunsets with a glass of wine, and sunrises engulfed in the morning fog. Wine goes hand in hand with the concept of dolce far niente.

Vespas – exploring cities on an old-school Vespa is as Italian as it gets.

Espresso – Italy has perhaps the most serious espresso culture in the world. If you don’t want to look like a tourist in Italy, have your espresso in one shot, standing at the bar and exchanging gossip with the barrista.

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