In addition to the cultural and historical importance of the places, sustainable aspects of the tourist infrastructure, an intact old town without car traffic, the preservation of the architectural fabric, living traditions as well as the promotion of the quality of life play a significant role in the award as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

14 new Villages in the “Borghi più belli d’Italia” association

Called the village of churches, Badolato is a medieval village characterized by narrow and winding alleys that intersect between the houses close to each other. Badolato is situated on a hill a few kilometers from the Ionic coast in Calabria. The hill dominates the wide valley of the torrent Gallipari, whose harsh strokes and the beauty can be admired in all their splendor. The road to the mountain and the plateau of Serre connects the ancient village with the s.s. 106 thus allowing the visitor to go in just a few minutes from the hot amenities of the ionian coast to the charm of a mountain still unspoiled. It divides in Badolato Village (or higher) and Badolato Marina. In Badolato’s ancient village you can visit 12 churches (the other 2 are located in the hamlet of Marina) that, for their position, seem almost to protect the country from all four sides.

Bagno di Romagna in Emilia-Romagna is a renowned center for thermal cares and nature tourism. It is located 56 miles southeast of Bologna. The nearby national park Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona, Campigna offers woodlands, miles of paths in the woods, mountains and a major artificial lake.

Borgo Valsugana, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, is situated between Levico and Primolano and not far from the idyllic Val di Sella in Trentino. It is the vibrant center of the Valsugana and features a characteristic river landscape. Not only historic buildings and portals characterise Borgo Valsugana, but also frescos and other decorative elements, which provide the village a Venetian style. Moreover the Brenta river which crosses Borgo, splits the village into two parts.  Well deserved being among the “Borghi più belli d’Italia”

Castagnole delle Lanze is a small Piedmontese village located in the province of Asti, embedded between the hills of the Langhe and Monferrato, in an area with a strong vocation for tourism and a deep-rooted winemaking tradition. Included within the World Heritage areas of southeastern Piedmont according to UNESCO, Castagnole delle Lanze is nestled among enchanting hills, long rows of vineyards and hazelnut groves typical of the area. The Piedmontese village is also an Orange Flag, an initiative that has been marking tourist excellence on Italian territory since 1998, and is a symbol of sustainable tourism, hospitality and high quality itineraries, thanks to the presence of a valuable natural, artistic and cultural heritage.

Celle Ligure is a small jewel of the Western Ligurian Riviera, overlooking the sea. The village has colorful houses lined up along the coast, sandy beaches and characteristic alleys overlooked by buildings of great artistic value, including Palazzo Ferri, the current Town Hall. Its historic center still retains the charm of the ancient fishing village. To fully enjoy the beauty of the country, there is nothing better than getting lost in the alleys and squares.

Golferenzo is an ancient village in the hills of Oltrepò Pavese in Lombardy, with magnetic charm and excellent food and wine. Curious tourists will find delicious and unusual panoramas in Golferenzo with vineyards nestled into the hillsides making excellent wines and Riesling and Pinot in particular.

Guarene in Piedmont, is a beautiful ancient town, perched on a hilltop with stunning views on the vineyards of the Langhe and Roero territories, recognized as a World Heritage site by Unesco. Large part of this old town is occupied by the Castle of Guarene, a finely designed baroque palace built between 1726 and 1775. Today, the palace continues to make people’s dreams come true. Preserved as it was in its heyday, with all its works of art intact, it is now also home to a top-class hotel. 

Malcesine, a picturesque village overlooking the Veronese shores of Lake Garda, dominates the lake and mountains with its castle: the ancient stronghold rises below the hills planted with olive groves; all around develops the village, rich in history and culture, while just outside the center, you can see natural beauty to be reached on foot, by boat or by cable car. The village of Malcesine actually extends over a large area, which includes coast and hill, protected behind by Mount Baldo: an area rich in natural beauty, history and culture. Malcesine definitely deserves to be on the list of “I Borghi più belli d’Italia”.

Discover the town of Ossana in Val di Sole, Trentino. Walk through the streets of the village with 1000 nativity scenes and visit Castel San Michele. Ossana lies at the mouth of the Val di Peio valley, at the foot of the peaks of the Presanella chain. The village is dominated by the Tower of the Castle of S. Michele (1191), which is nestled in a hill that has been inhabited since the Bronze Age.

Ronciglione is a ‘dual’ village: medieval, the village above, Renaissance the one added in 1500 by the Farnese family. The town in Latium, not far from Viterbo, boasts one of the 10 most beautiful Carnivals in Italy. It is also a stop on the Via Francigena North. Now, Ronciglione has been named as one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages.

Where flavors become emotions! Sammichele di Bari in Apulia is located on the Murge Plateau and is built primarily on agriculture. On the last weekend of September, there is a festival called Sagra della Zampina, to promote the local products. The town’s castle houses the “Museo della civilltà contadina” in which there are pictures, utensils, and clothes concerning farmer’s life in the 19th century.

San Donato in Poggio is located in the middle of the classical Chianti territory of Tuscany.  The town has maintained much of its classical medieval architecture and has incorporated delicious restaurants, charming B&B accommodations and hosts several fun events throughout the year. Treat yourself to exploring a piece of the Tuscany that played an important role in the rise and fall of the Florence and Siena powers and contributes to the culinary and wine cultures of today.

By now, I am sure, you have noticed that mostly medieval towns have been included in the most beautiful villages in Italy. Stroncone in Umbria is another one. The historic center has preserved intact its enchanting medieval atmosphere, with narrow winding streets, beautiful stone doorways and an ancient well, which is just inside the walls near the beautiful gate called Porta del Borgo. At the entrance to town there is a monumental 17th-century fountain with an elegant design. 

Tempio Pausania is an enchanting, large town in the heart of Gallura, in north-eastern Sardinia, a “granite temple” surrounded by water and greenery, famous for its carnival, cork and moscato. The town is famous for working granite and cork, to which the cork machinery museum is dedicated, for its wines (Vermentino, Karana and Moscato), and for lu carrasciali timpiesu, an allegorical carnival par excellence that attracts 100,000 visitors every year. 

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The association of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy” (I Borghi più belli d’Italia) has gained twelve new members. A total of 325 villages, each with unique characteristics, now belong to the network, which is committed not only to promoting tourism but also to preserving and restoring the historic fabric of the villages.

In addition to the cultural and historical importance of the places, sustainable aspects of the tourist infrastructure, an intact old town without car traffic, the preservation of the architectural fabric, living traditions as well as the promotion of the quality of life play a significant role in the award as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

12 new villages in the “Borghi più belli d’Italia” association

As one of the newly awarded villages, Alberobello is probably one of the better-known destinations on the tourist map. Located in the Itria Valley in Puglia, the “City of the Trulli” was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1996 for its characteristic architecture.

On the eastern shore of Lake Como in the province of Lecco lies Bellano, a small fishing village with narrow streets and colorful houses. Not far away is the impressive “Orrido di Bellano”, a deep natural gorge that can be crossed along paths carved into the rock.

Sicily is home to two of the newly awarded villages: in the province of Siracusa, in the heart of the Monti Iblei, lies Buccheri, rich in evidence of a long history marked by the ancient Greeks, Romans Byzantines, Arabs and Normans. In the province of Enna, on the other hand, is the small village of Calascibetta, which also scores with its archaeological heritage, such as the necropolis of Realmese from the Iron Age.

Campiglia Marittima, in the province of Livorno in Tuscany, is also one of the most beautiful villages in Italy: it is located on a hill in the Val di Cornia with a wide view of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the surrounding countryside.

The Lazio region is represented by Castelnuovo di Porto in the province of Rome, where the important 13th century Castello della Rocca is located. The ancient village is located on a tuff spur and is of Etruscan origin.

Crecchio, in the province of Chieti in Abruzzo, is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves on a small hill near the Arielli River and is dominated by the Ducal Castle, which today houses the “Byzantine and Early Medieval Museum of Abruzzo”.

Not just a village, but a small island: La Maddalena, capital of one of the most popular islands of Sardinia in the archipelago of the same name, captivates with its historical center and its natural beauty and is now also one of the “Borghi più belli d’Italia”.

Further north, the province of Trento can also boast 2 new additions: Luserna is a true natural balcony and one of the most historic and traditional municipalities of Trentino, where Cimbric, an ancient German language, is still spoken. Pieve Tesino is located on the southern slopes of Monte Silana and extends over the Tesino basin. The village is also known as the birthplace of the Italian statesman Alcide De Gasperi.

Nocera Umbra, in the province of Perugia, was founded by the Umbrians and later conquered by the Romans, who made it an important stop on the Via Flaminia. Its origins as a defensive fortress are still witnessed by the immense castle walls.

In the Marche, Petritoli was chosen as the new borgo in the province of Fermo. Situated on a hill, it overlooks the green and fertile Aso Valley and offers a breathtaking panorama from the Sibillini Mountains to the Adriatic coast.

Find out more about all the “Borghi più belli d’Italia” here: www.borghipiubelliditalia.it

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