Italy · Series
8 places in Italy that are not Rome or Venice
Italy has far more to see than Rome and Venice. These eight places fall into two groups that each make one road trip: four in the Dolomites in the far north, around Bolzano and Cortina, and four in Tuscany between Pisa and Florence. All eight are small enough to see in a day or less, and most are quiet outside July and August.
The places in this film
- 1
Seceda, Dolomites
A grass ridge at about 2,500 metres that ends in a sheer drop. Two cable cars climb from Ortisei in summer.
- 2
Lago di Braies, Dolomites
A mountain lake with a wooden boathouse. In peak summer the road is restricted in the daytime, so go early or late.
- 3
Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Dolomites
Three rock towers with a loop trail around them. The toll road up must be booked ahead in summer.
- 4
Val di Funes, South Tyrol
A small church on a green hill under the Odle peaks. The viewpoint is a short walk from the village of Santa Maddalena.
- 5
San Gimignano, Tuscany
A walled hill town with 14 medieval towers. Stay the night to see it after the day visitors leave.
- 6
Siena, Tuscany
A brick city around a shell-shaped square. The Palio horse race is run there on 2 July and 16 August.
- 7
Val d'Orcia, Tuscany
Rolling fields and cypress-lined lanes around the small Renaissance town of Pienza. Drive the back roads slowly.
- 8
Montepulciano, Tuscany
A wine town along a ridge, with cellars cut into the rock beneath the main street.
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Plan it
- Best time
- Mid-June to September for the Dolomites, when the cable cars run. April to June and September to October for Tuscany, when it is mild and the hills are green or gold.
- How long
- About a week for each group. Two weeks covers both, with a train or a half-day drive between Bolzano and Florence.
- Getting around
- A rental car for both regions. Old town centres in Tuscany are closed to visitors' cars, so park outside the walls.
Good to know
- Book the Tre Cime toll road and Lago di Braies parking before a summer trip.
- Place names in the Dolomites appear in Italian and German. Ortisei is also St. Ulrich.
- Small towns are at their best in the evening. Plan at least one overnight stay in each region.
Frequently asked
Where should you go in Italy besides Rome and Venice? +
The Dolomites and Tuscany are the two easiest regions to build a first trip around. The Dolomites offer mountain scenery, lakes and cable cars. Tuscany offers hill towns, vineyards and Florence. Each works as a one-week road trip.
Can you visit the Dolomites and Tuscany in one trip? +
Yes, with about two weeks. Bolzano and Florence are linked by fast trains through Verona and Bologna, or by a drive of around four hours. Spend the first week in the mountains and the second among the hill towns.
Which of these places need booking ahead? +
In summer, the toll road to Tre Cime di Lavaredo needs an online reservation, and Lago di Braies restricts cars without a parking booking during the day. The towns need no booking, though rooms in San Gimignano and Siena fill early around the Palio dates.
