Want to visit Italy but have been put off by the idea of peak season tourists crowds surging through Rome, Florence and Venice? Can’t afford the ever-increasing prices of hot spots such as Capri or Tuscany? Don’t worry. There’s far more to Italy than the places that usually feature on travel itineraries.

Explore a little farther, and there are scores of extraordinary places where tourists are a rare sight. They might require a little extra effort to reach, but these secret spots where traditions and old lifestyles survive offer a chance to experience the authentic soul of Italy.