Skip Rome and Milan for Italian hidden gem

With summer tourism hotspots like Rome, Venice, and Milan bursting at the seams, seasoned holidaymakers are turning to quieter, off-the-beaten-path alternatives. According to Riviera Travel's Head of European Product, Joanne Lynn, Basilicata is one of the most captivating and overlooked regions Italy has to offer.

"Basilicata offers a truly immersive experience," Lynn said. "Its landscapes are wild, its villages untouched, and its history is extraordinary. It's Italy as it once was, and still is in this part of the country."

At the heart of Basilicata is Matera, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Known for its Sassi, ancient cave dwellings carved into limestone rock, Matera presents a surreal blend of prehistoric architecture and modern luxury.

Many of these caves have been transformed into boutique hotels, restaurants, and museums, offering an experience unlike anywhere else in Italy.

A short drive away lies Castelmezzano, a fairytale village nestled high in the Lucanian Dolomites.

Perched on dramatic cliffs and accessed via winding roads, its network of narrow alleys, hidden stairways, and stone houses makes for a breathtaking, crowd-free adventure.

For those seeking something more surreal, the abandoned ghost town of Craco offers a haunting yet captivating experience. Once a thriving hilltop town, it was evacuated due to landslides in the 1960s.

Today, it stands frozen in time, its empty houses still furnished, its streets eerily quiet. Now used as a movie set and open to guided tours, Craco is a glimpse into Italy's forgotten past.

With social media making once-secret spots go viral almost overnight, Lynn encourages holidaymakers to venture beyond the tourist trail before regions like Basilicata lose their untouched appeal.

"If you want to experience Italy at its most raw, poetic and peaceful," she said,

"Basilicata is the place to go. It's not just a hidden gem, it's a treasure trove waiting to be explored."