Mountain towns
In the Alps, the Apennines and the ranges between them.
29 lists
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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 mountain towns in the province of Bolzano/BozenSouth Tyrol speaks German at the bakery and Italian at the bar, and its mountain towns sit under limestone walls with dumplings, speck and Vernatsch on the table. Larch-shingled roofs, arcaded main streets and lifts that run in both winter and haymaking season.
The 6 best mountain towns in the province of PalermoInland from the Palermo coast the land climbs into the Madonie, where stone villages sit on limestone ridges above beech woods, sheep pasture and wheat. Cool summers, snow in winter, and a kitchen built on ricotta, provola, lamb and manna.
The 10 best hidden mountain towns in CalabriaCalabria's interior is a country of beech forest, granite ridges and stone villages built high above the sea, where the cooking runs to pork, chestnuts, pecorino and chilli. These are the smaller mountain towns of the Pollino, the Sila and the Aspromonte, where fewer visitors go.
The 9 best small mountain towns you can reach by train in the province of L'AquilaStone villages high in the Abruzzo Apennines, reachable on the slow lines that climb from the Fucino basin towards the Maiella, where the winters are long, the lentils and saffron are local, and the beech woods turn copper in late autumn.
The best mountain towns you can reach by train in Trentino-Alto Adige/SüdtirolMountain towns in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol that you can reach on the Val Pusteria, Brenner and Val di Sole lines, with larch forest, speck, dumplings and painted arcaded houses at the end of the platform.
The best mountain towns you can reach by train within 90 minutes of RomaEast of Rome the railway climbs into the Apennines, past beech woods and limestone ridges into towns built of grey stone where the air turns cold by late afternoon. Lentil soup, mountain lamb and saffron country, all reachable from Termini without a car.
The best mountain towns within 90 minutes of FoggiaInland from Foggia the Tavoliere plain gives out and the ground climbs into the Daunian Apennines and the Irpinia hills, beech woods, stone-built villages on ridges, caciocavallo podolico and mountain lamb, and winters cold enough for snow within an easy drive of the city.
The best mountain towns within 90 minutes of SalernoInland from the Gulf of Salerno the land climbs fast into the Cilento and the Irpinian hills, where stone villages sit above chestnut woods and the summer heat breaks after dark. Mountain towns within easy driving distance of the coast, built for walking, eating and cooler air.
The 9 best mountain towns within 90 minutes of TrentoMountain towns an easy drive from Trento, where the road climbs from vineyards into spruce forest and pasture: larch-and-stone villages, summer malghe selling their own butter, and winters of quiet snow on the Altopiano and in the Val di Sole.
The 7 best mountain towns within 90 minutes of TerniEast and north of Terni the hills stiffen into real mountain country: stone villages on ridges above the Velino and the Nera, lentils and pecorino, beech woods that turn copper in October. These are the upland towns within easy driving distance of the city.
The best hidden mountain towns within 90 minutes of RomaEast of Roma the land climbs fast into the Apennines, where limestone villages sit above beech woods and the air turns cold by late afternoon. These are the mountain towns of the Marsica, the Sabina and the Prenestini hills, close enough to the capital for a day but built entirely apart from it.
The best mountain towns within two hours of MilanNorth of Milan the plain gives out and the Bergamasque valleys begin: stone villages under limestone walls, polenta taragna with butter and cheese, chestnut woods and thermal water. These are mountain towns close enough to the city for a weekend, in the Val Brembana, the Val Seriana and the Valle Camonica.
The best mountain towns within 75 minutes of RomeLimestone ridges, chestnut woods and stone villages in the Monti Lucretili, the Simbruini and the Marsica, all close enough to Rome for a morning drive. Cool summers, porchetta and mushroom season, and hill towns built from the rock they stand on.
The best mountain towns within two hours of TurinThe valleys that climb west and north from Turin hold stone-and-larch villages, walker's passes and mountain kitchens built on rye bread, toma cheese and polenta. These are the smaller places in the Alps and the Ligurian ridge, within easy driving distance of the city.
10 mountain comuni near PescaraTen Abruzzo mountain comuni within driving range of Pescara, in the Gran Sasso and Maiella national parks. Drive times, what each town does well, and the food (saffron, lentils, pecorino) that comes off these mountains.
10 Aspromonte hill towns near Reggio CalabriaTen Calabrian hill comuni within driving range of Reggio Calabria, in the Aspromonte and Sila national parks. Drive times, what each town does, and the bergamot, 'nduja, and Grecanico-dialect heritage that the inland comuni hold.
10 mountain comuni near TurinTen Alpine and pre-Alpine comuni within two hours of Turin: the Val di Susa, Valle d'Aosta high villages, Val Pellice, and the Occitan-dialect comuni of the lower Cottian Alps. Drive times, elevations, and what each does well.