Italy is that wild and crazy friend we all have. She’s intoxicating, and I’m drawn to her like a fine Barolo wine. She’s boisterous, colorful, and invigorating. She envelops all that she encounters, shaking up our worlds like welcomed whirlwinds. Having her in our lives produces a high that no drug could duplicate. And when she’s gone, we’re left completely exhausted, yet dreaming of our next meeting.

On the surface, Italy and France are quite similar: great wines, food, and illustrious histories. I’ve written of the attitude adjustment needed to cross the French-Italian border, because culturally, they couldn’t feel more opposite. Recently, a Parisian friend told me that French are refined Italians. Conversely, a Florentine friend told me that Italians are happy French. Being a somewhat impartial outsider, I can see where both statements have some truth.

In the last year, I’ve left France and taken my life into my own hands by setting off on two road trips to visit some of the best places in Italy. Akin to a Formula 1 race, driving in Italy isn’t for the faint of heart, and the further south you go, the more the rules go out the window. Stop signs are suggestions, painted highway lanes are decoration, and continuous horn honks make the radio obsolete.

But, if you want to see Italy outside of big cities like Rome, Florence, Rome, Napels, Venice, and Milan then you’ll need a car. Even with the plethora of trains to smaller cities like Siena, Bologna, and Salerno, a set of wheels is necessary to find parts of Italy that most don’t know exist, including Italians. Having embarked on these Italian road trips, I believe that the risk is worth the reward.

As much as I love the country’s typical tourist stops, there is still so much of Italy that’s untouched by tour buses and guides holding flags. In Texas, we say the proof is in the pudding. Thus, here are three hidden places to visit in Italy before they’re ruined by tour groups.

Maremma

Mention Tuscany and most people think of the vineyards of Chianti, Pisa and its leaning tower, or the walled city of Lucca. I’d wager that very few people outside of Italy have heard of Maremma, much less point it out on a map. Located along the costal area of southern Tuscany, Maremma runs from the border of Lazio up to Cecina, a town about an hour south of Pisa. Once inhabited by Etruscans, the hills are home to medieval villages and dense forests. Pirates roamed the 150 miles of Mediterranean coastline that ranges from black and white sand beaches to rocky shores. It’s still a wild part of Italy, virtually untouched by tourists.

Within Maremma is Monte Argentario, an even more remote part of the region. What used to be an island is now connected to the Italian mainland by two large sandbars and reachable by crossing over lagoons. Once controlled by Naples and Spain, the two main areas of Argentario are Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole. The later was once a fortress harbor that transformed into a picturesque fishing village, welcoming the Italian elite come July and August.

Monte Argentario feels like no part of Tuscany I’ve encountered. In October, I left the familiar Florence area for a three-night stay at Argentario Golf Resort and Spa. The crowds were gone, but the temperate climate made the area still pleasant. The contemporary-style resort is located next to Porto Ercole, on the Lagoon of Orbetello and Tyrrhenian Sea. Only five minutes from the Duna Feniglia Nature Reserve, Argentario feels isolated in the best kind of way.

Like Maremma itself, Argentario Resort is a far cry from typical Tuscany. As a member of Design Hotels, the style is contemporary using a black and white theme. The modern resort is a nice contrast to this rustic area of Italy. The soft curves of the limestone façade set the tone for what’s inside. The first thing I notice in the large, open lobby is the glass dome that sits above a modern spiral staircase that leads to the seriously cool bar. Just off the bar is Dama Dama. This restaurant features a menu filled with new takes on Tuscan and Italian dishes, some of which are made with products from the resort’s organic garden.

The massive panoramic terrace looks out over the 18-hole, 77-hectare golf course and Lagoon of Orbetello. Below the terrace is an outdoor pool, which connects to a heated indoor pool and the 30,000 square foot spa. With thalassotherapy, Kneipp pools, hot tubs, fitness center, tennis courts, and eight treatment rooms, there’s something for everyone, including children.

The 73 rooms and suites are individually designed and unique. Each feature a private terrace and sunbeds, giving guests prime views of the Tuscan countryside. If it weren’t for my trip to Argentario Resort, I, too, would be ignorant to this little-known area of Italy.

Civita di Bagnoregio

For thousands of years, the Volsini volcanoes erupted on the Pliocene hills of the Tiber River Valley, helping to create what is now known as Civita di Bagnoregio. Dating to the 7^th century B.C., the village has been occupied through the Iron Age, Etruscan period, and Middle Ages. Today, less than twenty people live here full time. Built on a volcanic plateau, this ‘Dying City’ is crumbling due to earthquakes, erosion, and landslides.

Located in central Italy, in the Province of Viterbo and region of Lazio, Civita di Bagnoregio was the first stop on my July road trip with Jennifer from The Luxe Adventure Traveler. Having lived in Italy for about six years, Jennifer put together a weeklong drive that literally circled the country. There was not a single city or place that appears on the typical tourist trail. Instead, our itinerary was filled with out-of-the-way and virtually unknown places.

Reachable only by a long, steep bridge, Civita di Bagnoregio is simply one of the most magical places I’ve seen. In 1923, the construction of a stone arch bridge began, but was marred with problems. Ultimately, retreating German soldiers blew up this bridge in 1944. Two wooden walkways replaced it. Work on a new bridge began in 1963 and was finally completed in 1965. It was in 1999 that artist, Bruna Esposito, conceived the work of bamboo brooms with bells that line both sides of the pedestrian bridge. When the wind rings the bells, it’s considered a good omen for Civita di Bagnoregio. It reminds those visiting to listen to nature and focus positive and constructive minds on protecting the crumbling village.

Once you enter through the massive stone entrance, it’s as if you’ve entered another time. This rustic maze of stone buildings is one head-shaking surprise after another. Civita di Bagnoregio’s gathering point is the main piazza. Surrounded by a few shops and restaurants, the focal point of the piazza is a Catholic church, which also served as Etruscan and Roman temples. Simple in stucco, the terracotta-colored church is anchored by a tall clock tower.

Ivy clings to façades and brightly colored flowers adorn windows, stairs, and terraces. There are more cats than people, and they seek shelter in the shade from the sultry sun. The cobblestones are smooth from 2,500+ years of wear and views over the Tiber River Valley will easily fill your camera’s memory card. Civita di Bagnoregio may continue to crumble, but its true demise will come at the hands of tour buses and commercialism.

Craco

When Jennifer told me we were visiting Craco during our road trip, I secretly wondered why she’d included Poland in our Italian itinerary. As silly as it sounds, even Italians had no idea about this ghost town located in the arch of Italy’s boot. Found in the province of Matera, in the region of Basilicata, Craco is not a place you stumble upon by chance. It’s a destination unto itself.

Looking more like Texas’ Big Bend National Park than Italy, the land leading to Craco is dry, deserted, and vast. Yellow mountains rise to meet the blue skies, and the only signs of people are the occasional farmer tending to his crops. Faded signs and Garmin are the only indications that confirm Craco’s existence.

The Greeks originally founded Craco in 540 A.D., with some of the buildings in the hilltop ghost town dating to 1060. Over the centuries, Craco continued to expand in population and size. And although the area regularly experiences earthquakes and landslides, it was the citizens of Craco that ultimately led to the town’s end. Over-expansion coupled with a massive landslide in 1963 made Craco unsafe for human inhabitation. Now, only goats, donkeys, and stray dogs call the area home.

Craco has played roles in blockbuster films such as Quantum of Solace and Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ. It was here that the hanging of Judas scene was filmed. More recently, a Japanese Pepsi commercial was filmed in Craco.

Gates keep the public from exploring Craco on their own. Not only is it slightly dangerous {hardhats are required}, but also many of the buildings are privately owned. Admission is available only by daily guided tours. During the hour-long tour, only a small portion of the city is visited, but it’s enough to get a picture of life in Craco.

The crumbling buildings and faded frescoes are intriguing and the history fascinating, but it’s the seemingly never-ending views to the badlands that make the trek worthwhile. On this day, there were five people to about thirty goats. I’ll take that ratio over the mob of people at Rome’s Colosseum any time.

For more on Craco, see this article by Jennifer on The Luxe Adventure Traveler.

[map skin=”gowalla” autofit=”1″] [pin icon=”red” tooltip=”Argentario Golf Resort & Spa “]Via Acquedotto Leopoldino, 58018 Porto Ercole GR, Italy[/pin] [pin tooltip=”Craco, Italy”]75010 Craco MT Italy[/pin] [pin tooltip=”Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy”]01022 Civita VT Italy[/pin] [/map]

I was a guest of Argentario Golf Resort and Spa. In no was I swayed to write a positive review based on the exceptional cappuccinos, the mind-blowing sunsets, or the complete relaxation I achieved during my stay. As always, opinions are mine.