While the likes of Matera and Taormina might draw the largest crowds, you shouldn’t overlook Italy’s lesser-known hill towns, ranging from higgledy-piggledy Calcata to savagely beautiful Pietrapertosa. Whether you’re keen to explore lofty castles or verdant Piedmont vineyards, there’s a clifftop enclave to suit every taste — here are some of the best. 

The region that brought Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano to the world has another, lesser-known draw — its hilltop castles. Chief among them is Brisighella’s medieval fortress, which occupies one of three rocky pinnacles looming over the town.