Each nation harbors its neglected pockets. These somewhat abandoned enclaves seldom merit their invisibility, and most definitely not so. Italy Where some of the lesser-known areas form the southern portions of the well-recognized map outline—the boot shape—such as Puglia at the heel and spur; Basilicata at the instep; and Calabria at the toe. Another region, Campania, remains relatively unknown outside of Naples, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast.
Of course, rebuilding reputation takes time. Word-of-mouth must circulate, accommodations should enhance their offerings, and affordable airlines require suitable airport facilities. In Southern Italy, Puglia has emerged as a frontrunner. It possessed all essential elements from the start—the charming towns, delectable cuisine, picturesque scenery, extensive coastlines, and historic estates ready to be transformed into upscale lodging options.
In Puglia, the influence is extending to nearby Basilicata, thanks to the rise of Matera attracting tourists and promoting the discovery of stunning mountain ranges, historical landmarks, and seaside areas throughout the area. Similarly, Calabria is experiencing growth due to increased air travel connections with Lamezia. Customized travel planners have started offering accommodations here, while major companies like Tui and First Choice are cautiously exploring various beachside destinations. While none can match Tuscany’s popularity, venturing into Southern Italy might just open new vistas for those looking beyond familiar territories; taking an exploratory journey through this part of the country wouldn’t disappoint.
Continue reading for our overview of the area’s top attractions, including suggestions on how to experience and appreciate them.
Explore the region:
- Basilicata
- Puglia
- Calabria
- Campania
Basilicata
Basilicata is the most obscure among Southern Italy’s regions, bordered by Puglia to the east and west, with Calabria to the south.
One of Italy’s poorest areas, it has recently become better known, thanks to the emergence of Matera one of Italy’s most alluring towns; a honeycomb of rock-cut churches and ancient cave dwellings – the sassi – that after decades of restoration are now a World Heritage Site.
The town is easily seen, with Bari airport close by, and is often paired with sights in nearby Puglia, but its rewards – art, culture, food and unique townscapes – make it worth a self-contained short break in its own right.
Further beyond Matera, one of Basilicata’s most accessible attractions is Maratea, known for various stylish seaside retreats nestled among mountains along the area’s Tyrrhenian coastline. Nearby notable spots include Acquafredda, D'Illicini, Macarro, and Anginarra – ideal destinations for both couples and families looking for smaller getaways away from popular tourist paths.
In the area, the Ionian coastline is relatively understated compared to others, yet it attracts archaeology enthusiasts due to the partly unearthed remains of the Greek settlements of Metapontum—near pleasant shores at Terzo Cavone—and Heraclea, which were once among the mightiest urban centers in antiquity.
You'll discover numerous historical landmarks in the towns of Melfi and Venosa—the 11th-century Abbey of Trinity near Venosa is particularly noteworthy—but after exploring Matera, Basilicata truly shines with its breathtaking landscapes. Notably, the lush, volcanic inclines of Mount Vulture stand out, famous for their exceptional wines (worth visiting). winetourism.com to book tastings at six Vulture wineries), and the majestic Monte Pollino National Park, one of Europe’s last great wilderness areas.
You can visit the park by car although the roads are limited; however, it’s even more enjoyable on foot or by bicycle, starting points could be Rotonda or Terranova di Pollino. This area caters mainly to dedicated outdoorspeople, offering sparse marked paths, thus it's worthwhile to hire a local guide (you might want to contact Giuseppe Cosenza). viaggiarenelpollino.it ) or participate in a guided walking vacation (refer below).
What to book
Short-break Matera
Many operators provide deals for Matera, but this is a brief trip that you can readily arrange on your own. British Airways ba.com ), Ryanair ( ryanair.com ) and easyJet ( easyjet.com ) travel to Bari (although some flights operate seasonally), then take a 45-minute taxi ride to reach Matera. This hotel was one of the earliest establishments to convert ancient caves into lodging, known as the Sextanrio. sextantio.it A double room at Bed & Breakfasts like this one, costing approximately £215, remains exceptional. While numerous options abound, make certain you choose accommodations located within the historic district itself.
On the beach
The beaches near Maratea are among southern Italy’s best coastal destinations, frequented by Italian families but still little-known to outsiders. Long Travel offers packages to the region, including seven nights’ B&B at the three-star Hotel Gabbiano, overlooking a pretty bay near Acquafredda, from around £1,000 per person, including flights, transfers, half board and car hire (long-travel.co.uk). Kirker Holidays offers flight, car hire and accommodation packages at the more upmarket La Locanda delle Donne Monache or Santavenere hotels in and close to Maratea ( kirkerholidays.com ).
Best foot forward
Exodus offers an eight-day walking trip around Basilicata and Puglia, taking in Matera and the Cammino Materano, a hiking trail that connects Matera to Brindisi, as well as seaside Ostuni and Alberobello (see below). It costs £1,445 per person including flights and accommodation in three- and four-star hotels and converted farmhouses ( exodus.co.uk ).
Cycling mini-break
Inntravel’s self-guided four-night cycling holiday begins in Matera, serves up manageable distances (around 30 miles a day) and promises to reveal some of the Basilicata’s and Puglia’s quietest corners. It includes two nights in Matera and two nights in Noci, though more can be added. From £815pp including accommodation, bike hire and luggage transfers, but not flights ( inntravel.co.uk ).
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Puglia
Puglia stands out as the most recognized and widely attractive region among Italy’s southern four. It offers an idyllic scene with rolling, arid hills, centuries-old olive orchards, whitewashed homes contrasting sharply with the vibrant blue waters, along with a splendid mix of art, architecture, cuisine, historical towns, quality accommodations, and—more recently—increasingly available villa rentals.
It has a warm climate — too hot during midsummer to do much besides relax by the pool — but it's a destination you can enjoy comfortably in March and April, when poppies are already in bloom, or well into autumn, when the beaches are deserted yet the weather remains pleasant.
Steer clear of the northern plains unless your destination is the Gargano peninsula, a distinctive outlier featuring forests, highlands, and coastal cliffs marked by charming fishing towns like Vieste and Peschici.
To the south, venture out to discover the historic Castel del Monte fortress and visit the charming towns of Trani, Barletta, Molfetta, Bisceglie, and Ruvo di Puglia. These places showcase some of Italy’s finest Romanesque architectural gems due to their Norman influence.
In Bari, which houses Puglia’s principal airport, the Romanesque style dominates. However, it is Baroque that reigns supreme in the area’s most renowned town, Lecce. Here, the streets boast numerous buildings with golden-hued stone exteriors, ornate balustrades, and lavishly decorated palaces.
Between Bari and Lecce lies “trulli” country, a swathe of pastoral hills and sometimes rather touristy towns – Alberobello, Martina Franca and Locorotondo – scattered with the strange conical dwellings that are almost unique to this part of Puglia. Here, too, are some of Puglia’s loveliest small centres, among which Ostuni is the star turn.
To the south of Lecce, within the Salento peninsula near the southernmost part known as Italy’s instep, lie charming destinations like the fishing towns of Gallipoli and Otranto, which boast captivating harbors. No matter where your travels take you throughout Puglia, consider dedicating one day to visit Matera; this city lies just over the boundary into Basilicata region.
What to book
The villa experience
Puglia has all the ingredients for a villa holiday: a range of properties, summer sun and enough diversions for when you want a day away from the pool. The Thinking Traveller has more than 50 properties here from £2,570 weekly for a three-bed villa, plus a range of add-on experiences such as boat charters, guided hiking or biking trips on the Salento Peninsula, cheese-making in Alberobello and cooking classes and fishing in Gallipoli ( thethinkingtraveller.com ).
Hitting the hotspots
Titan Travel provides an outstanding introduction to Puglia through its eight-day guided tour titled "Puglia – Discover the Heel of Italy." This excursion covers various locations such as Lecce, Ostuni, Otranto, Castel del Monte, Trani, Alberobello, and additional cities, along with a trip to Matera. The cost starts at £1,975 for departures in October, which encompasses flights from Gatwick Airport, 12 meals, and convenient door-to-door transportation services. titantravel.co.uk ).
Puglia in private
Cox & Kings can create customized tours specifically for Puglia, as well as provide an ready-made eight-day journey through Puglia and Basilicata starting at £1,895 for travel departing in October. This package includes flights, bed-and-breakfast lodging, stops at essential sites within Puglia, and a trip to Matera. coxandkings.co.uk ).
Perfect a passion
Flavours Holidays started out providing culinary vacation packages—spots still remain for three weekly seven-night cookery outings scheduled on June 17, July 1, and October 15. However, they have since expanded their offerings to include painting, Pilates, photography, and Italian lessons based in Puglia. These tours start at £1,899 each without additional charges for solo travelers. The experiences blend instructional sessions with cultural explorations. Typically, most of these vacations cover meals as part of the package along with transportation, instruction fees, and guided activities; however, airfare is typically excluded. flavoursholidays.co.uk ).
All things olive
The Awaiting Table, a creative company based in Lecce, provides opportunities to explore the abundant countryside of Puglia through various engaging activities. One notable offering is a week-long program held within a historic castle, focusing on olives, olive oil production, and other facets of daily life in Puglia. Participants will have the chance to work directly in the olive groves during both harvesting and replanting efforts. The cost for this exclusive experience begins at €1,995 for trips scheduled towards the end of fall and beginning of winter. awaitingtable.com ).
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Calabria
Escaping this fact isn’t possible — Calabria presents quite a challenge when trying to attract visitors. Historically, the region at Italy’s southern tip has faced numerous conquests, struggled with poverty and migration, and been constrained by harsh weather conditions and rugged terrain. Unlike Basilicata, which benefits from places such as Matera that spur further discovery, Calabria doesn’t have similar draws to propel tourists beyond their initial point of interest.
Yet there are beacons, some on the sea, others in the region’s mountainous interior. Calabria’s finest stretches of coast begin at Pizzo, close to a bulge of land known as the Promontorio del Poro. Visit the area’s little capital, Vibo Valentina, for its churches and Norman castle, or head straight to Tropea, Calabria’s best resort, thanks to its long, sandy beaches and the picturesque cliff-top churches and cathedral of the old town. From here explore the rest of the promontory, which has more good beaches at Zambrone, Parghelia, Joppolo and Nicotera, as well as some sublime coastal scenery on and around Capo Vaticano.
Inland, Calabria offers a handful of little towns with historical and cultural interest: crag-top Gerace, for example, blessed with an ancient cathedral; Stilo, celebrated for La Cattolica, Italy’s best-preserved Byzantine-style church; and Rossano, whose Museo Diocesano houses the 6th-century Codex Purpureus, an illustrated manuscript of the Gospels, one of the earliest and most beautiful in existence.
Similar to Basilicata, Calabria's main attraction lies in its breathtaking landscapes, particularly the Sila region. parcosila.it ) and Aspromonte ( parks.it Surrounded by mountains, both areas are safeguarded within national parks and boast breathtaking remoteness. A vehicle—and an adventurous spirit—are indispensable; however, the payoff includes foothills enveloped in jasmine and bergamot scents that transition into expansive pastures, woodlands, and villages like Roghudi, Roccaforte del Greco, and Gallicianò. Here, evidence from 2,500 years ago when Greeks inhabited these lands can still be seen through their local dialect, which some say mirrors Homeric and Platonic languages more closely than contemporary Greek does, let alone Italian.
What to book
Calabrian Cammino
Italy’s latest long-distance path is the Cammino Basiliano. camminobasiliano.it ), 864 miles (1,390km) across 73 stages through the great Apennine ranges – the Pollino, Sila and Aspromonte. Larger UK operators have yet to offer the Cammino, but Realitaly Travel can tailor-make self-guided or guided walks on sections of your choice, with excellent eating and other recommendations en route ( realitalytravel.com ).
Alternatively, Inntravel (www.inntravel.co.uk) offers a seven-night The Secret Apennines self-guided walk in the same mountains from £1020, including full board.
Touring from Tropea
Options for visiting Tropea, Calabria’s most appealing resort, include an escorted group tour with Newmarket Holidays, which offers an eight-day trip from a hotel base just north of the old town from £800 per person, including half-board, return flight to Lamezia, transfers and excursions to key Calabrian towns, such as Gerace, Locri, Cosenza and Reggio di Calabria, and an optional boat tour to the Aeolian Islands ( newmarketholidays.co.uk ).
Calabrian contrast
Citalia can customize packages for trips to Tropea and further destinations, featuring a selection of two upscale hotels in the area. Additionally, Citalia provides options for accommodations at Ricadi, which is a more peaceful location near Capo Vaticano to the south, such as the Baia del Godano Resort. citalia.com ).
Late-summer sun
Calabria is a fair way south; not far enough south for winter sun, perhaps, but certainly at a latitude that provides for warmth when autumn’s chill is beginning to grip in the UK. Average temperatures in October, for example, are 73F (23C). Tui offers packages to five Calabrian coastal centres, including seven nights’ all-inclusive at Pizzo, on Calabria’s Tyrrhenian coast (30 minutes from Lamezia airport), from £820 per person, including flights from Gatwick in October ( tui.co.uk ).
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Campania
The Romans called it Campania felix , or the joyous land, draws people with its stunning beauty and rich soil; however, those who visit Campania nowadays rarely venture beyond the usual circuit of Naples, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast.
If anything, Amalfi and Pompeii suffer from having an excess of tourists, although Naples frequently gets overlooked by travelers who prefer to immerse themselves in Rome, Florence, or Venice, put off perhaps by its past reputation as crowded and sometimes troubled, which isn’t quite so accurate nowadays.
Actually, it brims with charm, exquisite cuisine (considering it’s where pizza originated, naturally), magnificent Baroque churches, and the Palazzo Reale ( palazzorealedinapoli.org ), featuring works by masters such as Raphael, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and more, along with the Archaeological Museum Nacional ( mann-napoli.it ), one of Europe’s greatest museums.
To summarize, this destination works well for a brief urban getaway or as part of a more extended journey. If you decide to explore the Amalfi Coast, which is roughly an hour away via car, train, or boat, opt for less crowded towns like Vettica, Praiano, or Maiori instead. Enjoy some peaceful moments in the serene Lattari mountains overlooking the coastline. Consider visiting the tranquil islands of Ischia and Procida rather than bustling Capri.
Even better, explore the more remote areas of Campania, which remain largely unvisited by UK travel companies. Make sure to visit, in particular, the magnificent temple complex at Paestum. museopaestum.beniculturali.it ), located 55 miles south of Naples, and situated in an area renowned for producing some of Italy’s best mozzarella. Check out the local consortium’s website for more information. mozzarelladop.com For more information about the creators, you can reach out to a manufacturer such as Barlotti. barlotti.it It's just a short distance away from the temples. If you're willing to rent a vehicle, head towards Cilento, located south of Paestum. This area offers stunning mountain views, particularly the Alburni highlands, along with beautiful coastlines, quaint seaside towns, and charming villages.
Proceed towards the stunning landscapes of the Monti Picentini – the routes near Acerno offer breathtaking views – and the nearby Monti della Maddalena, using Montesano as your starting point, and lodging at the Palazzo Cestari. palazzocestarihotel.it ; costing approximately £60 per person), for a visit to the Certosa di San Lorenzo, one of Italy’s most magnificent monasteries.
What to book
Solo in the Cilento
Cilento's manageable size makes it ideal for self-guided adventures—fly into Naples and rent a vehicle—but if you'd rather have a packaged experience, Sunvil provides accommodations in the area with just one hotel: L'Approdo. This charming spot sits along a picturesque cove, offering views of a tiny sandy shore. For seven nights on bed-and-breakfast terms, inclusive of flights, prices begin at £1,363 per person. sunvil.co.uk ) Alternatively, for solo travelers, Just You offers an eight-day guided tour based in Cilento starting at £1,799. This package includes half-board accommodation, flights departing from Gatwick, Edinburgh, or Manchester, as well as transportation and certain excursions. justyou.co.uk ).
Classical Campania
Pompeii can be explored either independently or as part of one of the many Amalfi Coast holiday packages organized by various UK travel companies. However, this area also boasts an array of other historical sites seldom visited by occasional tourists. Many such locations can be enjoyed via personalized tours arranged through cultural specialists like Andante Travels. Their eight-day tour titled "Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania" starts at $3,965 (£3,071), covering most meals, lodging, entrance fees, and airfare. andantetravels.co.uk ).
Campania – go for a hike or ride a bike
Exodus provides an eight-day bicycle trip beginning in the pristine region of Cilento and concluding at the bustling Amalfi Coast. Initially, the terrain consists mainly of hills; however, the distances covered each day are brief and the pace leisurely. Prices start from £1,849 per individual, covering flights as well as the majority of your meals. exodus.co.uk If hiking is your preference, consider visiting Headwater. headwater.com It features an intricately planned eight-day self-guided hiking journey through the Cilento starting at £1,099, which includes bed and breakfast accommodations as well as three dinner meals.
Amalfi overview
If you’re a first-timer to Campania, the chances are you’ll want to see the obvious highlights in one go, easily done with Jules Verne, which has an Amalfi, Pompeii & Sorrento tour (from £1,145) offering a good overview of the key sights from a base in Sorrento, with a free day for trips to Naples, Paestum or beyond. Prices include B&B and flights from Heathrow ( vjv.com ).
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Tim Jepson wrote 'The Amalfi Coast, Naples & Southern Italy' for National Geographic.
The article was initially released in May 2022 and has since undergone revisions and updates.
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