I've lived in Italy for a decade. Here are the hidden-gem locations you've been missing.
Occupying the arch of Italy's boot, Basilicata has never been a region of prosperity or fame. However, one place you may have seen on standard tourist itineraries is Matera.
Matera is filled with caves where inhabitants lived in poverty until the 1950s. Now, however, visitors can duck into rock-hewn churches and sleep in five-star cave hotels. You may have even spotted the city in the James Bond movie "No Time to Die."
The rest of the Basilicata region shouldn't be overlooked either. It's peppered with treasures from the village of Castelmezzano — which clings to jagged rock face — to the Maratea coastline with black beaches and summery villages.
Ironically, Molise is best known as the region that "doesn't exist" — an phrase stemming from the fact that even Italians struggle to pinpoint it on a map or name more than one of its cities.
The region lies on Italy's eastern coastline just north of Puglia. Its capital, Campobasso, is crowned by the mountaintop Monforte Castle.
My favorite city in the region, however, is coastal Termoli, with pastel-painted houses inside ancient walls, a honey-hued cathedral, and a Belvedere Tower with pretty views of the harbor.
Don't miss out on the restaurants serving the famed brodetto alla termolese, a rich tomato and pepper-based seafood soup that originated in Termoli.
With flashy Lake Como to one side and sun-drenched Lake Garda to the other, it's not surprising that Lake Iseo gets overlooked. However, the over 15-mile-long body of water has its fair share of elegant, flower-adorned villages and waterside promenades.
I recommend taking a ferry to car-free Monte Isola, which is known as the biggest lake island in Europe.
Once there, visitors can rent bikes and peddle around the nature-rich perimeter of the island, or hike up the path to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Ceriola on the island's mountain summit.
Urbino is a walled city in the central Marche region of Italy. The city was a hotbed of learning and art during the Renaissance Era under the rule of Federico da Montefeltro.
A highlight of Urbino is the monumental 15th-century building called Palazzo Ducale, which is now known as the National Gallery of the Marche.
Travelers can visit the complex and wander the cavernous rooms displaying paintings by artists like Raphael, who was born in the city.
Alba is the elegant, upscale capital of Piedmont's Le Langhe, a hilly zone draped with vineyards and wineries.
Before slipping into a post-lunch food coma at one of the many restaurants, wander the pristine city, and window shop at its high-end stores.
Then, head to stylish bars that offer a range of stellar local wines, including potent reds like Barolo and Barbaresco.
Alba is also known for producing the white truffle, which is hunted by experts and their sharp-nosed dogs. Each year, Alba's International White Truffle Fair showcases and celebrates the prized tuber.