{"id":10204,"date":"2023-10-26T19:18:04","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T16:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/?p=10204"},"modified":"2025-12-10T19:36:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T17:36:52","slug":"the-top-cities-to-visit-next-time-you-visit-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/the-top-cities-to-visit-next-time-you-visit-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top Cities to Visit Next Time You Visit Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Italy is the European destination that no one can fail to like: the laid-back people, unbeatable cuisine, and historical architecture. A sunny, Mediterranean destination that millions flock to each year, Italy is <\/span>perfect for solo travelers<\/span><\/a>, families, and groups of friends alike.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sure, cities like Milan and Naples are popular for a reason, and plenty of travelers base themselves there for day trips to Naples<\/a>, but sometimes you just want somewhere quieter. If that\u2019s what you\u2019re after, here are a few cities that deliver that hidden-gem feel.<\/p>\n

Siena<\/b><\/h3>\n

This city is known as \u201csmall Florence\u201d and it happens to only be about one and a half hours from Florence itself. Siena is a hidden treasure that deserves to be better known. It’s an artsy place with an old medieval center named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

View the shell-shaped city square and the red roofs from above, climbing the 400 steps that run up Torre del Mangia Tower.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And don\u2019t forget to see the marble-floored cathedral, graced by the artistic work of Michelangelo and Nicola Pisano.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Descend below and discover the underground labyrinth of aqueducts. They have been used to circulate water to the city fountains since the Middle Ages.<\/span><\/p>\n

Palermo<\/b><\/h3>\n

You\u2019ll find Palermo in the toe of the boot of Italy. It is Sicily\u2019s main city but it\u2019s not too big and bustling, with a population of around 850,000.<\/span><\/p>\n

Due to its southerly Mediterranean location, it may come as no surprise that Palermo is the \u201cmost conquered city in Europe\u201d. The Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Germans, Spaniards, and Bourbons have all left their mark on the city.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With so much history to explore, a <\/span>walking tour could be the best way<\/span><\/a> to be sure you haven\u2019t left any stone unturned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stroll through the street markets, and marvel at the stunning Piazza Pretoria, Quattro Canti, and the Massimo Opera House. Enjoy some traditional Sicilian treats, such as \u2018fruttini di Martorana\u2019, a dainty, realistic-looking marzipan fruit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Matera<\/b><\/h3>\n

This ancient city was virtually unheard of until it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. It is one of the oldest cities in the world to still have a population, built by the Romans in 251 B.C. You\u2019ll also find Neolithic caves that were occupied 7,000 years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

Known as the \u2018City of Caves\u2019, plenty is worth seeing here. In the 1950s, people called it the \u2018Shame of Italy\u2019. This was because of the poverty and disease, by-products of cave-dwelling. In the 50s and 60s, people started moving into new, modern homes elsewhere in the city.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But this doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t see your share of historical Matera caves today! You can even stay in a luxury underground cave hotel if you so choose.<\/span><\/p>\n

Urbino<\/b><\/h3>\n

This tiny walled city is rich in <\/span>Rennaisance history<\/span><\/a>. It is here that the famous artist Raphael was born, and you can now visit the museum at his birthplace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Based on a hilltop, you\u2019ll see some spectacular views. The Ducal Palace is one of those, standing watch on the skyline. In the heart of the city itself, you can admire the cathedral a your leisure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because the city isn\u2019t too crowded with tourists, it\u2019s not too hard to find hotel rooms and restaurants here with reasonable prices, either!<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n

When you travel to some of Italy\u2019s less well-known locations, you\u2019ll see that the heritage and history of Italy are even richer than you thought! While some of the popular destinations are lovely, it is worth taking the time to discover the beauty of some of Italy\u2019s quieter spots, too.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Italy is the European destination that no one can fail to like: the laid-back people, unbeatable cuisine, and historical architecture. A sunny, Mediterranean destination that millions flock to each year, Italy is perfect for solo travelers, families, and groups of friends alike.\u00a0 Sure, cities like […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2778,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[28,366],"tags":[34],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/palermo-sicily-italy.jpg?fit=800%2C556&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10204"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10204"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10204\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11118,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10204\/revisions\/11118"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingbuzz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}