The 10 Italian Towns with the Most Beautiful Historic Centers

Italy is full of special gems, locations where history can be seen at every corner and where you can discover unique traditions, scents and flavors. Villages, hamlets, towns that attract many visitors and where the beauty of the historic centers is all to be discovered. There are so many, as you might expect from a country with an ancient and glorious past, but we have chosen ten that with their peculiarities enrich our peninsula.

An intriguing journey through history, from north to south of the country, to discover special places, which are worth exploring and discovering: the ten villages in Italy with the most beautiful historic centers , to fill up on wonder and an unforgettable day trip.

Bobbio

From the Gobbo bridge that is closely linked to a terrifying legend , to the Abbey of San Colombano, up to the Malaspina dal Verme Castle: Bobbio is a concentration of wonders . It is located in the province of Piacenza, in Val Trebbia and houses some truly spectacular and scenic wonders. Starting from the 11-arch bridge, which is said to have been built by the devil, up to the Abbey that is located in the historic center and was founded in 614, in the same location there is a museum. If you go up to the upper area, then, there is a fascinating castle, whose construction began in 1304 and from here you can enjoy a magnificent view. It is a special gem of Val Trebbia , in Emilia Romagna and a place that deserves a day trip.

Sandpit

We move to the province of Mantua , inLombardy : to Sabbioneta , a village built in the second half of the 16th century, in the same place where there was a fortress and an ancient settlement. Today, together with Mantua, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered a " small Po Valley Athens " for the quantity of architectural and artistic wonders that it houses. It is also inspired by the "ideal city". It was in fact built by Vespasiano Gonzaga Colonna starting from the mid-1500s, who wanted the guidelines of the Renaissance to be followed. In addition to this, it is also a fortress city. From the city walls to the Palazzo Ducale, which is located right in the center of the village, up to the suggestive Galleria degli Antichi, without forgetting churches and a theater, it is a place that is almost unchanged and that allows - to those who visit it - to have the sensation of immersing themselves in one of the most flourishing periods of Italian artistic and cultural history.

San Gimignano

A historic center located on a hill that dominates the surrounding territory: it is San Gimignano , a village where it seems to walk in the Middle Ages and that preserves all the most characteristic places. In fact, the buildings that are found inside the double walls bear the signs of the architecture of the period that goes from the XII to the XIV century and have the typical characteristics of different styles: Florentine, Sienese and Pisan. From its towers (today there are 14, but once there were 72), to the churches, up to the buildings that compose it, it is an incredible location. So much so that it is registered in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it is located in Tuscany, in the province of Siena , not too far from Florence .

Monteriggioni

Characterized by a small historic center surrounded by very well preserved walls, Monteriggioni is located in Tuscany in the province of Siena and is inserted in a context of great scenic beauty, the Tuscan countryside is in fact ideal for excursions and walks. It is worth walking through its center where you can find towers, a castle, the Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta and much more. It is like taking a walk back in time, in fact it is a medieval village with a main road that crosses it all, also passing through Piazza Dante Alighieri, and that connects the two gates of the city. It is impossible not to fall in love with this incredible village.

Capalbio

We remain in Tuscany but we almost reach the border with Lazio, there on a hill is Capalbio . Its historic center is beautiful, picturesque and offers an incredible view: the perfect postcard for those who love unforgettable panoramas. It is characterized by a maze of streets and notable elements of the past, it is located on a hill about seven kilometers from the sea and in the territory of this municipality you are not only immersed in the past, but also in a beautiful landscape and a coast made of long beaches of light sand. Capalbio is a lively and welcoming place , culturally stimulating. The oldest part is enclosed by two rings of walls, with a door that allows access to its interior. And it is there, walking among the most precious treasures of the village, that you come across the Rocca Aldobrandesca . But it would be a serious mistake to stop at its historic center, even if it is among the most beautiful in Italy. In fact, you need to explore the surroundings such as the Tarot Garden which is located in Garavicchio and was created thanks to the artist Niki de Saint Phalle: a place that seems to have come out of fantasy.

Gradara

In the province of Pesaro – Urbino there is Gradara , a place famous since the past because it was an important crossroads, but also because here several clashes between the papacy and the families of the area took place. We are in the Marche and it is worth visiting for many reasons. In fact, it has a beautiful castle with a fascinating fortified village and is enclosed by two walls. If this were not enough, when we visit it we are at a height of 142 meters and from here you can enjoy a spectacular view. In addition to its delightful historic center, this village is the perfect destination for all those who have not forgotten the story of Paolo and Francesca sung in the Divine Comedy: Canto V of Dante's Inferno.

Spello

In the province of Perugia , in the beautiful and green Umbria, there is Spello whose historic center is without a doubt one of the most beautiful in Italy and a true concentration of treasures. Like the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, with the Baglioni Chapel located inside and where you can admire the frescoes of Pinturicchio. Or the church of Sant'Andrea, Palazzo Urbani Acuti with a very interesting loggia and - again - the Civic and Diocesan Art Gallery in the Palazzo dei Canonici with beautiful works ranging from the fourteenth to the twentieth century. A truly fascinating place, where you can walk among the ancient stone buildings and the streets, which are worth walking through and letting yourself be enchanted. To be reached in the period in which you can come across the infiorate (generally between the end of May and June), true colorful works of art made with petals, leaves and seeds.

Saint Agatha of the Goths

In the province of Benevento – in the Campania region – you come across the town of Sant'Agata dei Goti : the oldest part is located on a tuff cliff and preserves many wonders. Among these are the churches, suffice it to say that there are 10 in the historic center alone. One of the religious buildings not to be missed is the Duomo, which apparently was built before the year 1000: it was subsequently rebuilt and restored. But also worth seeing is the church of S. Menna, with precious Cosmatesque mosaics. Also interesting is the bridge over the Martorano, a spectacular infrastructure from which you can enjoy an overall view of the historic center . Finally, among the stops not to be missed in Sant'Agata dei Goti, there is the Palazzo Vescovile. A small note on a wonder that is located outside the center but is worth a visit: the Carolino aqueduct, a UNESCO heritage site, passes partly through the territory that belongs to the municipality.

Castelmezzano

Basilicata is a land to explore and get to know , full of fascinating villages, wild nature and phenomenal views. Among the stops there is Castelmezzano in the province of Potenza. A wonderful town in the Lucanian Dolomites, it is immersed in a natural setting of rare beauty . The historic center is very interesting, with its purely medieval structure: narrow streets, stairs, houses dug into the rock are just some of the characteristics that distinguish it. And it is also the right place to reach if you want to live a memorable adrenaline experience : it is the flight of the angel that connects Castelmezzano to Pietrapertosa , another village that is worth visiting.

Scicli

Looking at it from above it seems to blend in with the surrounding territory, due to its light color that immediately catches the eye. Tenth stop in Italy is a town that falls within the territory of the free municipal consortium of Ragusa: we are in Sicily , in Scicli a monumental and wonderful Baroque city whose historic center (together with that of seven other cities) has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can easily walk around (or by bike) and you will come across beautiful churches, some canals, interesting buildings and the one that houses the town hall, built in recent times. Furthermore, for lovers of the series dedicated to the Montalbano books it will be like taking a trip to the set, because many scenes were filmed here.

For a view from above of the historic center, then, it is worth climbing the Colle della Croce where the church of Santa Maria della Croce is located, a complex that includes: church, oratory, convent and two courtyards. A truly fascinating village.