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Once you've lived in Italy for a bit or spent a lot of time visiting, you find yourself drawn away from the flashy hotspots of Capri or Cinque Terre.
Those places are beautiful and popular for a reason, to be sure, but in the summer months the crowds (not to mention the prices) make one crave a quieter, more unique experience.
The Local is looking for suggestions from our knowledgeable readers on the under-the-radar spots and favourite destinations in Italy that you love to visit in the summer months.
Did you find a new favourite place to visit in Italy this summer? Or do you have a tried-and-true summer spot you've been returning to year after year? Please take a moment to share your tips for a future article.
YOUR TIPS: Where are Italy's best lesser-known summer spots?
Our reporter Elaine tried out the ‘coolcation’ trend this August by spending her Italian summer holiday not at the beach but in the mountains – specifically in Italy's autonomous region of South Tyrol.
South Tyrol and the Dolomites more broadly are increasingly popular destinations, and usually a great choice for waiting out the oppressive summer heat.
South Tyrol isn't just about mountain landscapes – though the Plätzwiese plateau and turquoise-blue Lago di Braies are internationally famous and worth seeing. It's also a region with fascinating history and a deep-rooted Austrian identity, where 70 percent of the population speaks German as a first language.
From language tips to getting around, here’s what to know if you’re planning a trip to this multi-faceted, multi-cultural part of Italy.
What to expect if you’re visiting Italy’s South Tyrol Dolomites
If you’re like many people I know, you might have spent at least part of the summer enjoying the inimitable beaches of Puglia – one of Italy’s most beloved summer destinations.
Maybe you even started day-dreaming about what life could be like in the bootheel?
It’s easy to see why, with the glittering coastline and olive groves, the whitewashed farmhouses and conical stone trulli houses.
Life in Puglia can be lower-cost and slower-paced, and your potential new pugliese neighbours are famously welcoming and hospitable.
Our editor Clare has lived in Puglia for at least part of the year since 2019. Here’s what she would say to those thinking about relocating.
Seven things to know before moving to Italy's Puglia region
As for me, I spent most of August at home in Rome because I actually quite like the city when it empties out.
But since Ferragosto last weekend, residents of the capital have started trickling back in, the streets have started filling up, and I no longer have the gym all to myself.
‘Il rientro’ has begun.
The September grande rientro is perhaps even more inspiring to Italians than the New Year. It’s the time of year when people recommit to old routines – school, work – and try to start new ones, like going to the gym.
Like every year, there will be an influx of new gym members as people return from holiday feeling refreshed.
If you, too, would like to start lifting weights or maybe pick up padel at your local sports club, you’ll want to check out our new essential guide to fitness in Italy.
EXPLAINED: How gyms and fitness studios work in Italy
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Is there an aspect of the Italian way of life you’d like to read more about? Please email us at news@thelocal.it.
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