When not in Rome.
With colder weather on the way, tourist season is tapering off in Italy, leaving an empire’s worth of hidden gems open for savvy travelers to explore in less crowded conditions, one travel expert shares.
The best places to see on the boot during the fall and winter are lively but lesser known towns, miles and miles from major cities and tourist magnets like the Amalfi Coast, according to Maria Nuzzolillo, who loves to share her home region of Campania with interested visitors.
“You get to participate in the harvests and festivals. You can go fruit picking and taste the local specialties without the tourist veil,” Nuzzolillo, from the small town of San Lupo, told Business Insider.
“The beauty of Italy, especially if it’s off the beaten path, is that even though towns may be half a mile away from each other, each has their own unique take on the holidays and the fall.”
She strongly urges visitors to go to her neck of the woods instead of the typical hotspots where “things are aimed to please the masses.”
Nuzzolillo starts her list with the unsung city of Benevento in Sannio wine country, which is “about an hour in” from the Amalfi Coast, which can be very sleepy in the off-season.
“Benevento is a lovely little city with a UNESCO Heritage church — Church of Santa Sofia — and a Roman theater that is still used today for special events such as operas,” the pro explained.
“It has an amazing pedestrian-only area with shops and restaurants open year-round, regardless of summer or winter.”
Nuzzolillo suggests using Benevento as a base to hop around several charming villages known for their fall festivities that are within driving distance. She noted that the city has a rental car service.
She recommends starting an hour north in Cusano Mutri — “a little hidden town that’s famous for their porcini mushrooms.” It even has a month-long festival for the fungi.
It is also close to Castello Medievale, a Middle Ages fortress and a dream for hiking and horseback riding.
History and culture lovers will also delight in Sant’Agata, about an hour west of Benevento.
“There are 20 churches in the historic center from different periods and thus different architecture and art,” Nuzzolillo said, mentioning that the area is known for a “special,” pretzel-style pastry called nfrennula.
Concerning where to stockpile Italian treats, some of the best Torrone, a Christmas favorite, can be found in San Marco, 25 minutes northeast of Benevento.
“There are all sorts of bakeries that make it all over Italy,” she said. “But in our area, there are little family-owned mom-and-pop shops that make very high-end artisanal delicacies for the holidays.”
The local, who takes pride in her home of San Lupo for its particular bean growing, admitted, “We go to San Marco for the Torrone.”
