Italy is committed to promoting tourism in lesser-known regions.
While popular Italian cities like Rome, Venice, or Milan suffer from excessive tourism, other regions of the country are actively trying to attract visitors.
Travel publication Travel Off Path has named five lesser-known regions in Italy that want to see more tourists.
It is noted that Italian state tourism agencies are even conducting a special information campaign to redirect travelers to less popular destinations.
According to Alessandra Priente, president of the ENIT association, they are “grateful to Venice, Florence, Milan, Naples, and Capri,” but now the focus is on attracting attention to Italy’s forgotten regions and transforming them into promising destinations.
5 Italian regions to visit in 2026
Apulia
Located on the Adriatic coast, this region with its snow-white houses clinging to steep cliffs and its quiet pebble beaches washed by the turquoise sea has only recently begun to gain popularity.
Its lively capital, Bari, is known for its picturesque medieval center, dotted with family-run trattorias and Romanesque churches.Advertisementad
However, the true charm of Puglia lies in its small coastal towns, such as Polignano a Mare and Alberobello.
Basilicata
Located on the border with Puglia, this underrated region of Southern Italy is home to several of the country’s most important cultural attractions.
One of them is Matera, considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, which is famous for its rock-cut houses and churches, as well as its thousands of years-old limestone-paved paths.
Pollino, a national park with deep gorges, picturesque wooded ridges, and wildlife reserves, is located a short drive from Matera.
Marche
This eastern region of Italy, located between the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea, is unfairly considered one of the least visited tourist destinations in the country, despite its fascinating history and rich natural and cultural attractions.
Its capital, Ancona, is a bustling port bordered by the sandy bays and limestone cliffs of the Riviera del Conero, while the picturesque city of Urbino is a UNESCO-protected Renaissance city perched on a hilltop.
Abruzzo
The capital of Abruzzo, L’Aquila, which was recently recognized as the best cultural destination in Italy in 2026, is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
But its picturesque streets and majestic palaces are just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to exploring this cultural giant, it is also worth visiting the rural areas of Abruzzo, where tourists can find picturesque lakes such as Scanno and untouched mountain villages such as Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
Sardinia
This island is expected to see a significant increase in demand in 2026, so it’s important to get there before it becomes too crowded.
Whether it’s a beach vacation in the paradisiacal north, surrounded by the white-sand beaches and turquoise waters of the Costa Smeralda, or exploring the fortified coastal towns in the south, such as the capital city of Cagliari, this is a Mediterranean paradise that should be enjoyed at a leisurely pace.