It may be hard to believe, but there are still fantastic, beautiful places in Italy that aren’t overrun with travelers. Some of them, in fact, aren’t far from popular tourist areas, which make them an excellent add-on to a trip.  One example is the province of Friuli Venezia Giulia, northeast of Venice. It has beautiful scenery, fascinating historical sites, and incredible food and wines. In fact, the food and wines are so special The New York Times named the province “Italy’s secret garden.”

The only thing missing are the tour buses. Snuggled between the serene Adriatic and the rugged Dolomites, Friuli Venezia Giulia forms Italy’s eastern border with Slovenian and part of its northern border with Austria. It was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which accounts for its slight Austrian flavor, especially in its architecture and coffee-culture. Nevertheless, it firmly remains deliziosamente Italiano.