Italy’s cities are a thing of beauty, right? Whether you’re wandering the alleyways of Naples or marvelling at the ceiling of the Vatican, each one is packed to the walls with history, heritage and a whole load of impressive architecture.
But so are the country’s villages, and that’s why, back in 2002, a group of mayors formed the non-profit I Borghi più belli d’Italia (which translates to, you guessed it, Italy’s most beautiful villages), to spotlight these lovely locations’ beauty, history and way of life.
According to Fiorello Primi, the president of the association who spoke to Matador Network, the tourism in these villages tends to grow by around 8 percent once they’re included, and since the group’s inception, 940 have been evaluated, with 375 carefully selected.
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In 2024, 32 villages (which must have a population of 15,000 or fewer) were evaluated and scored, and 13 made the cut. One of these was Cividale del Friuli, a Roman-era village in northeast Italy which sits on the banks of the Antisone River. It boasts a 14th century cathedral, the 15th Devil’s Bridge and the UNESCO-protected Lombard Temple.
Perched near the French border is a hilltop village from the mediaeval era called Ceriana. Head here in late August (specifically, for the third Sunday) and you’ll get to experience the town’s yearly pork sausage festival.
Gravina is a stunning walled town which is nestled between a hill and the edge of a ravine in Puglia, and Capranica Prenestina is a gorgeous spot boasting steep streets and panoramic views in the Prestini Mountains. Read on for the full list of the 13 new villages.
These are the 13 new additions to the list of Italy’s most beautiful villages
- Cividale del Friuli
- Spilimbergo
- Bagolino
- Rassa
- Ceriana
- Bertinoro
- Mulazzo
- Ripatransone
- Scheggino
- Capranica Prenestina
- Introdacqua
- Forza D’Agrò
- Gravina
Check out our roundup of Italy’s most beautiful towns and villages.
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