High ground
Inland towns built on ground too steep to spread
A great many Italian towns are where they are because somewhere below them was not safe, and the ones that went uphill mostly stayed the size the rock allowed. That is why a hill town reads the way it does: it never got the room to sprawl, so the medieval footprint is still the whole footprint. These lists separate the hills from the mountains from the genuinely high, because the three are different holidays.
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Alternatives to San Gimignano: every hill town in Tuscany, in one listThe complete list of Tuscan hill towns in our catalogue as alternatives to San Gimignano. Towers, walls and a Wednesday market, without the coach park.
Alternatives to Cortina d'Ampezzo: every alpine town in the north above a thousand metresThe complete list of alpine towns above 1,000 metres in Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli, Lombardy, Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta, as an alternative to Cortina.
Alternatives to Assisi: every hill town in Umbria, in one listAll the Umbrian hill towns in our catalogue as alternatives to Assisi and Orvieto. Spello, Montefalco, Trevi, Bevagna, Norcia and the rest of the green heart, best-recognised first.
The best small mountain towns in Italy above 500 metres, all of themEvery mountain town above 500 metres in our catalogue, from the Alps to the Aspromonte, ordered by outside recognition. Ski villages, high pastures, Apennine stone.
Every town in our catalogue above 1,000 metresThe complete list of Italian towns above a thousand metres in our catalogue, from Valle d'Aosta to the Sila and the Etna villages, best-recognised first.
The best hill towns within 75 minutes of VeronaNorth and west of Verona the plain breaks up into moraine hills, Valpolicella terraces and the first slopes of the Trentino valleys, where towns sit on high ground above vineyards, olive trees and lake water. Amarone cellars, brick and river-stone houses, cherry orchards and Friday markets, all within an easy drive or train ride of the city.
The best mountain towns within two hours of VeronaNorth of Verona the plain gives out and the road climbs into the Lessini, the Giudicarie and the Val Camonica, where hay meadows, spruce and stone-and-timber houses replace vineyards, and the kitchen turns to polenta, malga cheese and cured pork.
The best hill towns within 75 minutes of TrentoTerraced vineyards, chestnut woods and stone villages on high ground between the Adige valley and the Valsugana, all within easy reach of Trento by train or road.
The best hill towns within 90 minutes of TriesteInland from Trieste the karst gives way to vine terraces, oak woods and stone villages on high ground, where the cooking runs to prosciutto, frico and Friulian white wine. Hill towns close enough for a morning drive, with the Slovenian border never far off.
The best hill towns within 90 minutes of BolzanoVineyard terraces, porticoed streets and church towers on high ground between the Adige valley and the Valsugana, within easy reach of Bolzano by train or car. Speck, canederli, Lagrein and Teroldego, apple orchards below and larch forest above.
The best hill towns within 45 minutes of UdineNorth of the Friulian plain the ground begins to lift into moraine hills, vineyards and beech woods, and the towns up there deal in prosciutto, Friulano, mosaic and Longobard stone. All are within easy driving distance of Udine.
The best hill towns within 90 minutes of PaduaWest and north of Padua the Veneto plain breaks into volcanic cones, prosecco terraces and Valpolicella slopes, with towns of trachyte and warm brick standing above the flat land. Vineyard walks, thermal water, radicchio and Amarone, all within easy driving reach of the city.
The best hill towns within 75 minutes of BresciaHill towns rise out of the Lombard plain within easy driving distance of Brescia, built in limestone and brick, with moraine ridges above Lake Garda, Valpolicella vines and Franciacorta cellars close at hand.
The best mountain towns within two hours of BresciaNorth of Brescia the land climbs fast into the Val Camonica, Val Trompia and the Giudicarie, where stone-and-timber villages sit under limestone walls and the cooking runs to casoncelli, polenta taragna and alpine cheese. These are the mountain towns within easy driving distance of the city, from spa valleys to walled hill hamlets.
The best hill towns within 75 minutes of ParmaSouth of the Via Emilia the plain buckles into the Apennine foothills, where sandstone ridges carry castles, cherry orchards, chestnut woods and porcini, and the culatello cellars sit in valley damp. These are the towns on high ground, all within easy driving of Parma.
The best mountain towns within 90 minutes of PerugiaBeech woods, stone villages and high pasture within easy driving distance of Perugia, where the Umbrian hills stop rolling and turn into real mountains. Lentils, pecorino, chestnuts and a cold clear autumn that arrives weeks before it reaches the valley.
The best mountain towns within two hours of CataniaInland from Catania the road climbs fast, into lava-stone villages on the flanks of Etna, chestnut and beech woods on the Nebrodi, and sandstone hill towns on the Madonie ridges where the winter is genuinely cold and the pork, mushrooms and ricotta are the point of lunch.
The best hill towns within 90 minutes of CataniaInland from Catania the roads climb fast, into black lava stone and honey-coloured limestone, olive terraces, chestnut woods on Etna's flanks and towns built on ridges where the air cools by late afternoon. Baroque staircases, ricotta, thyme honey and sheep's cheese, within easy driving distance of the coast.
The best hill towns within two hours of CagliariInland Sardinia rises fast behind Cagliari, into basalt plateaus, limestone walls and villages built of dark trachyte where the cooking runs to suckling pig, sheep's cheese and Cannonau. These are the towns on the high ground, reachable in a morning's drive from the capital.
The 10 smallest villages in LiguriaLiguria packs three hundred kilometres of coast and mountain into the narrowest region in mainland Italy, and some of its villages have fewer residents than a single Milanese apartment block. These are the smallest of them, including two you have almost certainly heard of.
The 7 Aosta Valley villages above 1,000 metresThe Aosta Valley is the highest region in Italy and its villages sit under the four biggest mountains in the Alps. These are the ones above a thousand metres, from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn.
The best high-altitude villages in the province of IserniaHigh villages in the province of Isernia, all of them on the cool side of the Molise mountains: stone houses, beech woods, sheep tracks and winters that arrive early. Seven upland towns where fewer people go than in the ski resorts over the Abruzzo border.
The best high-altitude villages in the province of PotenzaHigh villages in the province of Potenza, in the Lucanian Dolomites and the ridges above the Agri and Sinni valleys, where the stone is sandstone and the summers stay cool. Peperoni cruschi, pecorino and mountain roads instead of the queue for the Sassi.
The best hill towns in the province of NuoroInland Nuoro is Sardinia at its steepest: granite and limestone villages stacked on slopes above the Barbagia and Ogliastra, with Cannonau vineyards, sheep's milk cheese and stone streets that climb rather than spread.
The best hill towns in the province of AstiHill towns in the province of Asti, where Barbera vineyards climb slopes too steep for anything else and the villages sit on the ridge lines above them. Six inland places built of brick and tufo, best in autumn.
The best mountain towns in the province of RietiMountain towns in the province of Rieti, between the Sabine hills and the high Apennine ridges: stone villages above Lake Turano, sheep-cheese country, beech woods and winter light.
The 10 best high-altitude villages in the province of TrentoHigh villages in the province of Trento, on the pasture terraces and forest plateaux above the valley floors, where the houses are stone below and larch above and the winter lasts a long time. Ski areas, spruce woods, canederli and Trentino cheese, and fewer people than the resorts that draw the crowds.
The best hill towns in the province of TrevisoHill towns in the province of Treviso, where the Prosecco vineyards climb slopes too steep for tractors and the villages are built of river stone, brick and Istrian marble. Asolo, Cison di Valmarino, Follina, Valdobbiadene and more.
The best hill towns in the province of CosenzaInland Cosenza is a province of steep stone villages set above river valleys, between the Pollino massif and the Sila. These hill towns sit on ground too sharp to build wide, and they eat, drink and keep time accordingly.
The best mountain towns in the province of CosenzaSix mountain towns in the province of Cosenza, set between the beech forests of the Pollino and the granite uplands of the Sila, where stone houses stack up steep lanes and the cooking runs to pork, chestnuts and mountain cheese.
The best mountain towns in ToscanaToscana has high country as well as vineyards: the Apennine passes above Pistoia, the chestnut valleys of the Garfagnana, the Lunigiana, and the wooded flanks of Monte Amiata. These are the stone-built mountain towns, with beech forest, snow, chestnut flour and cold-water streams.
The best high-altitude villages in LombardiaHigh villages in the Lombard Alps, from the Valtellina and Valchiavenna to the Val Camonica and the Presolana, where the houses are stone and larch and the kitchen runs on buckwheat, rye and mountain cheese.
The best hill towns in the province of FirenzeHill towns in the province of Firenze, from the Mugello ridges to the Elsa valley and the Chianti road south, where stone villages sit on ground too steep to build out. Olive oil, Sangiovese, brick towers and long views.
The 8 best high-altitude villages in SiciliaSicilia has a cold, stone-built interior above the citrus belt, where villages sit high in the Madonie and the Nebrodi and the Iblei. These are the ones worth the drive inland, chosen because each stands well above the coast.
The best mountain towns in PiemontePiemonte's mountains run from the Walser larch houses under Monte Rosa to the stone villages of the Valle Maira, and most of the valleys hold towns that see far fewer visitors than the ski resorts on the French border. A guide to mountain towns across Piemonte, from Monte Rosa to the Ligurian Alps.
The best mountain towns in LazioLazio is not only coast and capital. Beyond Rome, the Apennines rise into limestone ridges, beech woods and stone villages where the cooking runs to mutton, pecorino, chestnuts and hand-rolled pasta. These mountain towns sit in the Simbruini, the Sabina and the Comino valley, and fewer people go.
The 9 best hill towns in the province of MateraHill towns across the province of Matera, from the clay badlands around Aliano and Craco to the wheat plateaux above Irsina and the oak woods of Accettura, where houses are cut from the same tufa and sandstone they stand on.
The best hill towns in the province of PisaInland from the Arno plain, the province of Pisa rises into ridges of sandstone and clay where towns sit on ground too steep to spread. A guide to the hill towns worth the drive, from white truffle country above the Arno to the alabaster ridges and geothermal valleys of the Val di Cecina.
The 6 best hill towns in the province of AlessandriaSix inland hill towns in the province of Alessandria, from the pale stone cellars of Cella Monte to the cherry orchards of Garbagna, the white wine slopes of Gavi and the peach country around Volpedo.
The best small mountain towns in CampaniaCampania away from the sea: beech woods, limestone ridges and hill villages in Irpinia, the Sannio and the Cilento interior, where the cooking runs to chestnuts, caciocavallo and Aglianico. Ten small mountain towns worth the drive inland.
The 6 best hill towns in the province of ChietiInland Chieti is a province of stone hill towns wedged between the Maiella and the Adriatic, built on ridges too steep to spread. Archi, Casoli, Crecchio, Fara San Martino, Guardiagrele and Pretoro are the ones worth the climb.
The best small mountain towns in SiciliaSicilia's interior rises into beech forest, stone villages and cold winters, from the Madonie and the Nebrodi to the slopes above the Alcantara valley. These are the smaller mountain towns, where the food turns to lamb, pork, ricotta and mushrooms rather than seafood.
The best hill towns in the province of L'AquilaHill towns in the province of L'Aquila, built in stone on slopes above the Peligna valley and the Tirino: Balsorano, Capestrano, Castelvecchio Subequo, Corfinio, Morino, Ofena, Roccacasale and Sulmona.
The best hill towns in the province of PescaraInland from the Adriatic, the province of Pescara rises into steep ridge towns of brick and river stone, olive groves, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo vineyards and hermitages cut into the Majella. These are the hill towns worth the drive up.
The best hill towns in the province of ImperiaInland from the Riviera dei Fiori, the province of Imperia rises into steep valleys of olive terraces and slate-roofed stone villages. Six hill towns above Sanremo and Ventimiglia, where the bread, the oil and the mule tracks are the point.
The 7 best hill towns in the province of FermoHill towns in the province of Fermo, in southern Marche, where brick and travertine villages sit on ridges between the Sibillini mountains and the Adriatic, built on slopes too steep to sprawl.
The best hill towns in the province of LecceInland Salento, where the ground rises just enough to matter: baroque limestone towns, Griko-speaking villages, olive country and menhirs between Lecce and the Adriatic. A guide to the hill towns of the province of Lecce, from Specchia and Martano to Copertino and Nardò.
The best hill towns in the province of ArezzoHill towns in the province of Arezzo, from the Casentino and the Valdichiana to the ridges above the Arno, built in sandstone and brick on ground too steep to build flat. Where to go for Piero della Francesca, Chianina beef and antique markets without the crowds of the Val d'Orcia.
The 9 best hill towns in the province of AnconaInland from the Adriatic, the province of Ancona rises into brick-walled hill towns set on ridges above vineyards, wheat and river gorges. Nine of them, from wine villages to paper towns, worth the drive away from the coast.
The best hill towns in the province of RomaHill towns in the province of Roma, on volcanic ridges and limestone spurs above the Aniene and the Campagna: porchetta counters, papal villas, chestnut woods and stone streets too steep to build wide.
The 6 best hidden hill towns in the province of LecceInland Salento, where small towns sit on rises of soft limestone above the olive plain: baroque doorways, Greek-speaking villages, pittule fried in bar kitchens and courtyards cut straight out of the local tufo.
The best small hill towns in the province of Pesaro e UrbinoSeven small hill towns in the province of Pesaro e Urbino, inland from the Adriatic, where the Metauro and Candigliano valleys run up into the Apennines. Truffle country, brick and sandstone walls, and fewer visitors than the ducal city downriver.
The 10 best small hill towns in the province of SienaSmall inland hill towns across the province of Siena, built in travertine and brick on ground too steep to spread, from the Val d'Orcia and the Crete Senesi to the Chianti ridges and the woods below Monte Cetona.
The best hill towns in Friuli-Venezia GiuliaFriuli-Venezia Giulia's inland hills carry ham cellars, Ribolla Gialla vineyards, Lombard stonework and mosaic schools, all on ground too steep for a town to spread. A guide to the hill towns worth the drive north of the Adriatic.
The best hill towns in MoliseMolise's inland hill towns sit on limestone ridges between the Apennines and the Adriatic, built of pale stone and stacked on slopes too steep to build wide. A guide to the best of them, from Roman Larino to the olive terraces above the Trigno.
The best hill towns in Trentino-Alto Adige/SüdtirolSix inland hill towns in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, built on slopes too steep to spread, where vineyards, apple terraces and porticoed streets sit below the rock. What to see, when to go and how to reach each one.
The 9 best hidden hill towns in BasilicataBasilicata's inland hill towns sit on sandstone ridges and clay badlands, built tight because the ground gave them no other option. A look at the smaller ones, from the Bradano valley to the Tyrrhenian slopes, where fewer visitors go.
The best hidden hill towns in LombardiaInland Lombardia builds its villages on slopes too steep to spread: stone towers in the Oltrepò Pavese, walled hamlets above the moraine hills near Mantua, terraced ledges over Lake Garda. These are the hill towns fewer travellers reach.
The best small hill towns in PugliaPuglia's inland hill towns sit above the olive plains, built in tufa and local limestone on slopes too steep to build wide. Biccari, Giurdignano, Nociglia, Pietramontecorvino, Poggiorsini and Specchia are the smaller ones, where the streets climb and fewer people go.
The best small hill towns in SiciliaInland Sicilia is a landscape of towns built on rock too steep to spread, with tufa lanes, ricotta pastries and views across wheat country to Etna. These are the smaller hill settlements, in the Madonie, the Nebrodi and the sulphur hills, where fewer visitors go.