Tourists often bypass this bucolic region between Rome and Tuscany, which is a shame because it holds many charms. Historically, many noble families built palaces here, and princes and counts still inhabit several of them. The Cozza Caposavi family, for example, has opened part of their palace in Bolsena to guests who can book a room for the night.

It’s also worth visiting the incredible Villa Farnese in Caprarola, a Renaissance masterpiece by Vignola with grotesques (frescoes inspired by the designs in ancient Roman grottoes) and a hall of maps that inspired the one at the Vatican. But one of the most fascinating places to see is the Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo, a 16th-century Mannerist park built for Prince Vicino Orsini, which is full of larger-than-life moss-covered sculptures of wild beasts and mythological creatures carved out of the rock.

When you think of Tuscany, rolling hills and vineyards likely come to mind, but there’s also a beautiful coast worth exploring. The beaches here are rugged and more secluded than other more accessible beaches.

There are also charming villages like Capalbio, where you can climb a medieval tower for sweeping views and have a decadent seafood lunch at La Dogana. Just outside the town center is the whimsical Giardino dei Tarocchi, a massive sculpture park by artist Niki de Saint Phalle with larger-than-life mosaic tarot figures inspired by Park Guëll in Barcelona and the aforementioned Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo in Tuscia.

Known as Italy’s green heart, this landlocked region offers plenty of pastoral pleasures and medieval villages worth visiting. With rolling hills, olive groves, vineyards and hill towns, its landscape is similar to that of Tuscany but remains less crowded.

Some towns, like Orvieto, can be visited on a day trip from Rome, but there are also fabulous hotels like Hotel Castello di Reschio, a restored 10th-century castle on a massive estate owned by a count, and Vocabolo Moscatelli, a member of Design Hotels in a 12th-century monastery. Black truffles are a local delicacy here; they’re served in restaurants all over the region.

Far from the mega-yachts that moor on Sardinia’s glamorous Costa Smeralda, this tiny island is a more laid-back destination loved by in-the-know travelers. Just off Sardinia’s southwestern coast, the island is famous for tuna fishing, and the restaurants in the main town of Carloforte serve it in every way you can possibly imagine.

The beaches have some of the clearest water in Italy, and the town features pastel-painted buildings, thanks to the Ligurian sailors who settled there. Join the locals and loyal visitors who spend their days on the beaches like Spiaggia La Bobba and Punta Nera, then freshen up for dinner at one of the town’s Michelin-rated restaurants like Al Tonno di Corsa or Da Nicolo.