7 of Italy’s most beautiful villages

From Rome to Florence to Venice, Italy’s famous cities have little trouble drawing the eye, boasting an abundance of architectural splendour, ancient history and lauded landmarks. Yet there is beauty to be found off the beaten track – just as disarming, and just as alluring – encapsulated by the less-visited villages that sprinkle the hills of this Mediterranean peninsula.

Known as borghi, these small Italian towns and villages hold their own special charm. They’re pretty as a picture, with tucked-away trattorie, medieval towers and winding cobblestone streets, all set in bucolic surrounds a world away from the stresses of city living. The seven delightful borghi below are each members of I Borghi più belli d’Italia (‘The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy’) association, and all worthy of a detour from the tourist track.

Castiglione del Lago
Region: Umbria

This town’s position on the edge of Lake Trasimeno gives it an utterly…