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70% of visitors only see 1% of italy
IMAGINE HOW MUCH THEY'RE MISSING.
free guide to
Most travelers think they've seen Italy after hitting Rome, Florence, and Venice. They haven't even scratched the surface. But when you don't know, you don't know. That's why we're sharing these 21 hidden gems in Italy with you—so you can start planning a trip that isn't your typical tourist itinerary. These are the best places to visit in Italy that Italians treasure but rarely share with outsiders—places where nonna still rolls pasta at 6am, where the wine merchant remembers your grandfather's favorite vintage, and where the evening passeggiata happens whether you're
watching or not.
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"Giovanni and Chantelle have picked the best places in the region to eat, explore and visit!"
Italy's Hidden Gems: Beyond the
Beaten Path
What's Included?
21 authentic Italian destinations beyond the tourist trail
Hidden UNESCO World Heritage Sites tourists overlook
Best times to visit each region (insider seasonal secrets)
What makes each place special and worth visiting
Local specialties and regional traditions to experience
Local specialties and seasonal festivals
Professional travel tips from Italy insiders who live here
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Your FREE Guide to Italy's Top Hidden Gems includes:
These aren't simply "undiscovered" gems. Locals have been coming here for generations. They've just needed validation from mass tourism.
Ready to discover the must-see cities in Italy that 99% of visitors miss?
never
your journey the
When searching for the best places to visit in Italy, most guides point you to the same crowded destinations. But Italy's real magic happens in places that don't make the standard "Top 10" lists.
Instead inside this free guide you'll discover 21 hidden gem destinations that remain fundamentally themselves. Shaped by tourism, maybe. Defined by it? Never.
Most visitors take the same photos. Eat at the same restaurants. Miss everything that makes Italy actually Italy.
You're smarter than that - secretly you know the best places to visit in Italy are not the ones filled with throngs of tourists.
You're tired of doing what everyone else does. You don't want to feel like cattle being herded from point A to point B.
Instead you want to savor the culture, the cuisine, and soak up real Italian life in authentic destinations where locals still outnumber tourists. You don't just want to see Italy, you want to feel it.
This hidden gems Italy guide is your first step to making that happen.
beyond
guidebooks
your journey
the
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giovanni & chantelle
Meet Your Local Italy Guides (and Soon-to-Be Friends!)
We’re Chantelle & Giovanni, a Canadian-Italian couple who traded the corporate world for a life filled with good food, great wine, and unforgettable travel experiences. We don’t just run tours; we welcome you into our Italy, the one filled with the best places that tourists rarely see, where connections matter, traditions are honored, and every meal tells a story.
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Why we're sharing Italy's
secrets
Quite frankly, locals like us prefer to keep them secret. But without sharing these hidden gems with you, these communities will continue to struggle to get a slice of one of Italy's largest economic drivers—tourism.
To help these underrated places flourish from your travels, the key is how you travel. We believe in slow travel that gives back—unpacking once, staying longer, supporting local businesses instead of big hotel chains.
A style of travel that is off-limits to big bus tourism. That's why we keep our groups small and intentional, never more than 12 guests.
You'll get the chance to not only connect with your fellow travelers, but the winemakers, the chefs, local artisans, and the numerous other people we introduce you to on our tours. The result? An Italian vacation that gives you a new appreciation for the local culture and the cuisine all while making a positive impact on the destinations you visit with us in Italy and leaving you with memories to last a lifetime.
Why we're sharing Italy's
secrets
best-kept
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We're not travel bloggers who visited italy once or even yearly...
Why Trust Our Hidden Gems in Italy Guide?
We live here. We've built relationships with multi-generational cheese makers, olive oil producers, winemakers, and artisans across Italy's most authentic regions. We personally host every single one of our tours—you're not handed off to a random tour leader. You get direct access to us, the people who've spent years building these relationships and who know these communities intimately. Every year our small-group culinary tours (maximum 12 guests) take travelers to these exact hidden gems—the ones you'll discover in this free guide.
We've spent years cultivating connections in regions where:
We've spent years cultivating connections in regions where:
- Locals still outnumber tourists
- Your visit makes a difference - Support artisans whose ancient techniques need patronage to survive
- Family recipes haven't been adapted for tourist palates
- Wine cellars open only through personal introductions
- Medieval towns thrive as real communities, not open-air museums
These aren't places you'll find on typical Italy itineraries. And that's exactly why they're worth discovering.
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"My husband and I have traveled with Chantelle and Giovanni on two of their tours. Both tours have been incredible."
"From the food, sights, and wine, they have curated the best tours with an emphasis on local experiences. They plan everything, and they give you a very authentic Italian experience. We have made lifelong friends while on their small group tours. Our favorite Italian memories are from days we spent on tour with Chantelle and Giovanni. We can't wait to be back on tour with them."
Kimberly Smith
KEVIN PRELGOVISK
"Giovanni and Chantelle's 'The Italian on Tour' trips hit all the right notes for us."
"The small group sizes, unique locations, excellent accommodations, and truly great food and wine made for wonderful times. Whether you're an experienced traveler or a complete newbie, Giovanni and Chantelle provide new and enjoyable experiences. And, they are such nice people! So far we've done two great tours with them, and plan to do our third in 2025. I recommend them!"
take it from our past guests that have visited Italy's hidden gems with us:
what makes
these the
to visit in italy?
These aren't just beautiful towns. They're living, breathing Italian destinations where:
Locals outnumber tourists - Experience everyday genuine Italian life
Traditions survive - Not performed for visitors, but an integral part of the local community
Artisans still work - Supporting ancient crafts that need your visit to survive
Food is authentic - Not tainted by tourist menus, just what locals have eaten for generations
Communities thrive - Real towns where the same families live, work, and raise their children passing down their heritage from generation to generation
Heritage stays accessible - UNESCO World Heritage Sites without the crushing crowds
These are the type of places you'll get access to inside this Free Guide.
best places
what makes these
to visit in italy?
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cities in italy
-that aren't rome, venice
- Medieval hill towns where time moves differently
- Baroque cities that locals call home year-round
- Coastal gems without the Amalfi Coast prices
- Wine regions producing Italy's best-kept vinous secrets
- Historic centers where daily life unfolds in centuries-old piazzas
must-see
florence
Each destination includes specific recommendations on what to see, seasonal timing, and what makes each place special—helping you start planning the authentic Italian journey that you've been dreaming of.
cities
in italy
-that aren't rome,,
venice, or
While Rome, Florence, and Venice deserve their fame, Italy's soul lives elsewhere.
The Free Italy Hidden Gems Guide reveals:
The Free Italy Hidden Gems Guide reveals:
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frequently asked questions about italy's hidden gems & best places to visit
They're hidden from mass tourism, not from Italians. These are places locals treasure and visit regularly—they've just never needed validation from guidebooks or influencer posts.
The Best time to visit Italy's hidden gems truly depends on the season which is why our guide provides specific seasonal recommendations based on the local of these hidden gems.
Absolutely. Our guide gives you everything you need to explore independently and discover these authentic destinations at your own pace.
The destinations are accessible to everyone—that's what makes them special.
Our tours feature exclusive itineraries you won't find anywhere else, combining these destinations in ways that maximize authentic experiences while minimizing travel time. We personally host every tour—you travel with us, not a random tour leader—giving you direct access to the relationships we've built over years. These include private chef experiences at wineries, artisan workshops where you're treated like family, home cooking in local kitchens, and curated tasting menus at authentic restaurants. These connections and experiences can't be replicated by independent travelers.
In addition to the fact that you won't have to struggle over the lingo or logistics and you can actually enjoy your wine because our drivers will whisk you away to all these destinations ensuring you can sit back, relax, and experience Italy instead of stressing over organizing the all the details.
Most "best of Italy" lists repeat the same 10-15 destinations. We're sharing places where locals actually live, where traditions haven't been commercialized, and where your visit supports real communities and artisans.
Experience These Hidden Gems with Our Exclusive Italy Itineraries
Italy’s Epicurean Journey
10 days, 9 nights
Regions visited: Le Marche & Abruzzo
Places of interest: Ascoli Piceno, Coast of Conero, Civitella del Tronto, Loreto, Offida
Time of year offered: September & October
Reading about Italy's hidden gems is one thing. Experiencing them with insiders who've spent years building relationships in these communities? That's something else entirely.
Highlights: Farm-to-table lunch with a local family, truffle hunting, Sustainable Michelin star dining, private chef meals at Gambero Rosso award-winning wineries, visiting an Olive mill to taste the new oil (only available during October)
Umbria Undiscovered
10 days, 9 nights
Regions visited: Umbria & Le Marche
Places of interest: Assisi (Unesco), Fabriano (Unesco), Urbino (Unesco), Lake Trasimeno, Frasassi Caves
Time of year offered: May
Highlights: Farm-to-table cooking with an Italian mamma and olive oil sommelier, visiting a young organic biodynamic farmer and honey producer to a meal crafted from ingredients grown on site, wine tasting in Verdicchio wine country
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Northern Italian Delights
10 days, 9 nights
Regions visited: Veneto
Places of interest: Murano (Unesco), Burano (Unesco), the Prosecco Hills (Unesco), Palladian Villas (Unesco)
Time of year offered: September
Highlights: Cooking with a local chef at his family home in the Prosecco hills, Organic Cheese tasting experience with a multi-generational producer, Artisanal Grappa tasting at the food hills of the Dolomites, Wine tasting small batch producers in winemaker’s family homes, Private Boat ride through the Venetian Lagoon
Passport to Puglia
8 days, 7 nights
Regions visited: Veneto
Places of interest: Alberobello (Unesco), Polignano a Mare, Ostuni, Martina Franca, (Unesco), Lecce
Time of year offered: April & October
Highlights: Private Boat ride on the Adriatic Coast of Monopoli & Polignano a Mare, Wine experience in the heart of Itria Valley, Puglian Cheese making experience, Farm-to-table 4-course meal and Organic Olive Oil Tasting of millennial olive trees at an Ancient olive mill
get the details
get the details
we personally host every single tour
- NOT A RANDOM TOUR LEADER
YOU TRAVEL WITH US
you won't find anywhere else and access to experiences you can't arrange on your own.
Our boutique small group italy tours take you to these exact destinations with exclusive itineraries
Private chef experiences at local wineries with curated tastings paired to each course
Artisan workshops where you're welcomed like family, not tourists
Home cooking experiences in local families' kitchens
Multi-generational producers who share their craft and stories
Curated tasting menus at authentic restaurants showcasing regional cuisine
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TAKE IT FROM margaret
"The Italian on Tour trip was worth every penny to us because we could never have experienced all that we did on our own."
"While package tours I have experienced in the past are great in that you don’t have to deal with all the planning and details; really, on those tours, we were paying for convenience - we could have experienced everything we did on the those tours ourselves if we had planned it out. This is not that kind of a tour. Every place we went, every experience we had, people were genuinely happy to have us because of the strong and friendly relationships Chantelle & Giovanni have built, and because of the fact that these are not regular tourist experiences where every day is a repeat for the host. We felt like welcome friends, guests. There was a terrific balance of planned events and time to relax/go out on your own. In short, this trip was everything we had hoped for and more. I highly recommend it. You won’t be disappointed."
get on the email list
We send Italian food & wine tips, local insight + some travel advice almost every week. Plus our once-a-year sale you don’t want to miss!