We already said that living in Italy means even accepting contradictions and things hard to understand. One of that can be prejudices. In that there is the bucket which politicians draw lifeblood dividing Italian themselves.
So here we go with a bucket list that consider only five of the cities that can be visited but are not on the usual tourist maps – avoiding to include cities we already talked about. Then just take your notebook and be ready – It’s time to fly again to discover new cities and their suburb.
5 place – Messina
Have you ever heard of the Strait of Messina and an imaginary bridge that should connect Italy to Sicily? And of the splendid shores in which the Tyrrhenian Sea joins the Ionian Sea creating The Vortices that prompted Homer to write about Scylla and Charybdis? Messina represents not only the gateway to Sicily but also one of the largest provinces in all of Italy and one of the cities with more kilometers of coastline in its interior. A perfect destination for cruise passengers who every year disembark in the city center to observe the astronomical clock of the Cathedral of Messina, the most complex and oldest in Europe together with that of Wenceslas Square in Prague.
Try to taste even focaccia, arancini, pitoni, pignolata and cannoli. A different chapter belongs to granita, the best summer stop for italians according with traditions. Take a look at Savoca, home of the Godfather, Taormina and Aeolian Islands. Not forget Nebrodi and ancient Argimusco.
4 place – Mantova
Named Italian Capital of Culture in 2016, Mantua is one of the cities that possess within it the true Lombard soul and some of the most beautiful palaces of all Italian architecture. Not only beautiful architecture and excellent food, the city has in fact also ranked first in the ranking of the best Italian cities for quality of the environment and life.
The city of churches par excellence in Lombardy, Mantua deserves to be visited for its cathedral, built at the beginning of the fifteenth century. In the historical and culinary tour through the streets of the historic center you can also visit the Basilic of Sant'andrea designed by Alberti. The domination of the Gonzaga resides in every brick of those that have allowed Mantua to become one of the most beautiful fortified cities in Italy. A visit to their personal cathedral, the Palatine Basilica of Santa Barbara, part of the Doge's Palace, is highly recommended.
3 place – Macerata
The origin of Macerata is traced back to the Roman city Helvia Recina, evolution of a pre-existing Italic city perhaps of the third century BC inhabited by the Piceni.The remains of the Roman theater of the second century AD are today the most important testimony of the ancient city and highlight the prosperity of the settlement.
In the fourth or fifth century the invasions of the Goths forced most of the inhabitants to move to the hills where the medieval centers of Macerata and Recanati were founded. Recanati instead is the home of one of the most influent Italian poet, Giacomo Leopardi.
Macerata province it extends between the coasts of the Adriatic Sea and the beauties that reside at the foot of the Sibillini Mountains, whose ski area attracts thousands of tourists from all over Italy every year. We recommend getting lost in the medieval alleys of the city enjoying a good glass of native white wine and ciuscolo, among the specialties of the province.
2 place – Lecce
Lecce is a wonderful city that does not leave indifferent. The predominant style is the Baroque and the Churches and monuments are covered in Lecce stone, limestone also called "gentle stone". Churches, amphitheaters, but also good food and the vicinity of the wonderful Salento sea, are some of the reasons to visit Lecce
The fulcrum of Lecce life is Piazza Sant'Oronzo, which bears in the center the mosaic depicting the coat of arms of the city. In the center of Lecce it is also worth visiting the small Church of San Marco, built in the sixteenth century by the Venetian community that had commercial relations with Lecce. The craft shops, where mainly papier-mâché and ceramics are processed are highly reccomended. Another place rich in history in Lecce is the Castle of Charles V, commissioned by the sovereign in 1539. Today the Rocca show the defensive structures such as the four angular bastions, the mighty walls and a deep moat are still visible.
1 place – Genova
Riches from its maritime past have left the port city of Genova with a rich legacy of Italy's most splendid noble palaces. Dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, these marble showcases of Italian art and architecture are the Genoa's prime tourist attractions and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Old Harbor, or the Aquarium and the Maritime Museum are those whom define Genova such as a wonderful city out of the touristichs maps. Close to the city there is Portofino, one of the most visited small villages in Liguria – hardly suggested for a romantic weekend. The Cinque Terre are one of the other local attractions. With their narrow streets dropping down to tiny rock-bound harbors, the 5 small villages of the Cinque Terre are the most filled with character, and despite its recent popularity with tourists remains one of Italy's most appealing attractions.
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