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The best Italy cruises bring travelers off the beaten path to explore some of the Mediterranean country’s less-visited treasures.

The latest on the cultural capitals and emerging destinations of the Bel Paese.

The Rome-based culinary writer and guide is planning her travels around good food and her family’s history in Italy.

Some of Italy’s prettiest and most uncrowded beaches are on the islands in the Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, and Adriatic seas.

36 destinations to kick-start your travel dreaming and scheming.

Save the big Italian cities for the off-season—during summer, head for under-the-radar islands and towns that offer all the ancient history with none of the modern mobs.

5 Reasons You’ll Fall In Love With This Hidden Italian Island

Ponza is an island destination mostly frequented by Italians (especially Romans and Neapolitans, as it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump away by boat) that is largely undiscovered by foreign tourists. In some months of the year, you’ll find it’s empty, with just the relatively few locals who stay year-round. In the high-season months (May-August), you may find it packed with vacationing Italians, mostly families, couples, and groups of friends in their teens and twenties. Since it’s such a small island, Ponza doesn’t offer a whole lot in terms of nightlife, so you should go prepared for some laid-back evenings out. Take a post-dinner stroll around the port in your nicest outfit, Italian style, while you enjoy a gelato and browse the souvenir shops that are open until late. If you’re up for a drink, have a seat in one of the bars right along the water’s edge and sip your cocktail while the soft sea breeze soothes your sunburnt skin.

Ponza is an island destination mostly frequented by Italians (especially Romans and Neapolitans, as it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump away by boat) that is largely undiscovered by foreign tourists. A must-do in Ponza: rent a motorboat on your own, or take one of the guided boat tours (spaghetti lunch included!), and visit the beaches that aren’t reachable by foot, and the nearby islands. Palmarola is a tiny island near the north end of Ponza (it’ll probably take you 20 minutes to cross there from Ponza) and almost completely uninhabited. Palmarola’s beach is only frequented by other boaters and tour boats and offers a French-style restaurant. Instead of sand, the beach is formed from small pebbles. The water is absolutely crystal clear and as calm as a swimming pool. This is a good spot for snorkeling, so bring your mask and flippers.

Ponza is an island destination mostly frequented by Italians (especially Romans and Neapolitans, as it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump away by boat) that is largely undiscovered by foreign tourists. One of my favorite beaches accessible by foot (there are many beautiful beaches and inlets in Ponza that are only accessible by boat, due to the dangerous rock collapses from the above cliffs that have happened previously) is the Piscine Naturali. To get there, take the bus from the port to Le Forna chiesa (there’s only one main road on the island, so all buses go there - you just have to ask the driver to tell you when to get there). From the church (chiesa), follow the signs or ask someone to direct you to the Piscine Naturali. It’s a long walk down (and an even longer walk back up at the end of the day) but it’s worth it. These natural swimming pools formed in the rock are the perfect comfortable place to sunbathe and easily get in and out of the water - which should not be taken for granted in rocky, cliff-filled Ponza! There are some makeshift coffee bars built into or on top of the rocks where you can buy sandwiches, soda, water, ice cream, etc, so you don’t have to worry about packing a lunch. Rent a lounger to sunbathe comfortably or spread your towel out on a rock. Dip into the warm water of the natural swimming pools - and bring your snorkeling mask, because you will see fish, sea urchins, corals, and more.