Northern Italy is teeming with historic, art-filled cities vying for travellers’ attention. Most visitors will head to Venice, Milan or Turin, but this year two often overlooked destinations should be on your radar. Bergamo and Brescia, both in the region of Lombardy, are sharing the accolade of the country’s Capital of Culture for 2023.

These two destinations will buzz with cultural events, festivals and exhibition openings this year. Two new sustainable routes to travel from one city to another have also been announced. Here’s how you can take an inspiring trip to Italy’s 2023 cultural hubs.