There’s a reason why, of all the places in the world, so many people continuously choose to come to Italy to spend their summers. The geographical diversity of this relatively small country means that it has no shortage of breathtaking Blue Flag beaches, charming towns, cultural sites, and volcanic peaks to explore–and, you can even do it all in one trip.

But why is it that some places get all the attention, and others don’t? Sometimes, it feels like somebody just arbitrarily pointed at a map and declared Capri or Portofino as the “most” beautiful. But is that really true? And in today’s golden age of overtourism, how much does natural beauty still make up for swarming crowds and sky-high prices? If you ask us, there are better options out there…