Starfinancer

1) Ossana, Trentino

Ossana is located at the entrance of the Val di Peio, at the foot of the peaks of the Presanella group and is the seat of the municipality to which the hamlets of Fucine and Cusiano belong. Dominated by the Tower of the Castle of S. Michele (1191) which is located on a hill inhabited since the Bronze Age, the town of Ossana was the political, administrative and ecclesiastical center of the upper Val di Sole, built at the confluence of the villages of Vermiglio and Peio. Thanks above all to the iron working of the Comasine mines in the nearby Forges and to the trade exchanges with the nearby Lombard valleys, it was a thriving village throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern age. Its history is largely linked to that of its castle, often disputed between the bishop of Trento and the count of Tyrol and inhabited by various feudal families, from Federici to Heydorf to Bertelli. The town was also the scene of clashes during the rustic war of 1525. On 5 November 1918, at the end of the world conflict, the Italian troops descended from the Tonale and set fire to the old rectory.

A tip for eating and sleeping: BB Antica Osteria Ossana

2) Field, Veneto

In one of the most popular places on Lake Garda, Brenzone, a forgotten gem is hidden: the abandoned village of Campo di Brenzone. Reachable only on foot, this village made of houses leaning against each other and dominated by the remains of a fortress that appears suddenly, once it was full of life but today it hosts a handful of inhabitants and is considered a ghost village. To reach it you can start from Castello di Brenzone, stopping to admire, during the walk, other fascinating and characteristic villages. There are many paths that cross the area around Campo di Brenzone and that make it an arrival or stopping point for many trekking enthusiasts.

Here more information.

3) Usseaux, Piedmont

Usseaux, in the province of Turin, is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, a small village of 191 inhabitants, an example of high mountain agricultural and peasant reality. Better known as the land of bread and murals, it owes part of its fame to an oven, still occasionally used today for baking, dating back to the 1700s, to a large wash house and a water mill. In August 2011 the “Brunetta d’Usseaux – Protagonists and Heroes” Museum Point was inaugurated, dedicated in particular to the figure of Count Eugenio. The wall paintings, about forty, wind along the narrow streets and alleys and recall peasant life, the world of nature, animals and fairy tales. The painted sundials are wonderful, each one different from the other. For trekking lovers, the isolated high altitude villages located on open meadows in a panoramic position are unmissable.

Here more information.

4) Charterhouse of CalciTuscany

Leaving the chaos of the city, you can arrive in a small village on the slopes of Monte Pisano which from the Latin takes the name of Calci, that is feet or heel del Monte. From good local cuisine to walks or visits to monuments, this destination is full of scenic surprises but the most interesting part is probably represented by the Charterhouse and the Natural History Museum, historic buildings of breathtaking beauty rich in history and animated by science and passion for the culture. A curiosity: a French engineer presented a study that would identify the landscape portrayed by Leonardo da Vinci in the background of his most famous painting, the Mona Lisa. It would be Caprona, in the province of Pisa, a place that also saw Dante Alighieri participate in a siege that later saw the victory of the Florentines over the Pisans, and which is located just a stone’s throw from here.

A tip for tasting a glass of wine: Fattoria San Vito

5) MorigeratiCampania

Morigerati, in the province of Salerno, is the first town to offer widespread hospitality in the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park. Among the scents of Mediterranean scrub, breathtaking landscapes and a well-preserved medieval historic center, it impresses with the historical architectural heritage of the village and the naturalistic richness of the territory. The doors of the houses in the historic center are opened to guests to offer a familiar and authentic welcome. Workshops and educational activities are offered to groups and schools to rediscover the life of the village, the crafts and traditional gastronomy. For lovers of the outdoors, donkey excursions, naturalistic trekking and mountain bike rides.

Here more information.

6) Massa d’AlbeAbruzzo

Massa D’Albe is a small town of about 1450 inhabitants in the province of L’Aquila and includes, in addition to the capital of Massa, the hamlets of Forme and the ancient village of Alba Fucens (Albe), founded in 303/304 BC by Romans as a colony of Latin law, today one of the most important archaeological sites in the Region. Situated on the slopes of Monte Velino, at 865 meters above sea level, Massa D’Albe is one of the municipalities of the “Sirente-Velino Regional Natural Park” and offers naturalistic and historical-archaeological attractions for all tastes. In a strategic position both for its height and for its proximity to Lake Fucino, in ancient times it developed on a hill north of the ancient Via Tiburtina Valeria, the remains of which, in perfect condition, are still visible today. It was also surrounded by imposing polygonal walls, which are also largely preserved and clearly visible.

A tip for an aperitif at sunset: Le Radici del Gusto

7) Stone of the Lady BrideCalabria

There is in Longobucco, in the heart of the Sila, a place called “A petra e ra gna ‘zzita” (“The stone of the wife”), or “Petra e ru trisuaru” (“The stone of the treasure”), so called because, according to legend, a bride was brought to this place immediately after the wedding and here the brigands killed her. Longobucco, in the province of Cosenza, is located in a valley of the Sila Greca crossed by the river Trionto and is the fourth largest municipality in Calabria. The area, fascinating and unspoiled, is reminiscent of the wild forests of Canada and is a paradise for lovers of trekking and outdoor walks.

A tip for enjoying the shepherds’ breakfast: Le Rustiche della Gnà zzita

8) BudoniSardinia

The Blue Flag – awarded by the Danish Foundation for Environmental Education FEE – is a prestigious symbol and Budoni is the only new location to win it in the whole of Sardinia, a guarantee mark that summarizes the wide panorama of offers, initiatives, events and services that the Gallura town is ready to provide to its guests. The award represents the milestone of a path that Budoni has undertaken to enhance not only its stretch of coast but also the efforts on the road to environmental protection, inclusiveness, sustainable mobility and the organization of events throughout the season. To make the holiday with a lower environmental impact and free from the stress of the private car, this year Budoni inaugurates a large fleet of shared electric scooters. Objective: to allow guests and residents to move in an agile, fast, economic way and with zero impact on the environment.

Here for more information