16 villes italiennes qui échappent au surtourisme

Italy may be every traveller’s dream, but for those thinking of living here the reality can be more complicated. Some towns and cities are swamped by visitors to the point where daily life becomes a struggle – queues, inflated prices, and seasonal swings in services. In this piece, we dig into the numbers with original Magic Towns data to show exactly where overtourism bites hardest, and where it barely registers. Along the way we’ll spotlight a handful of towns that still deliver culture, community, and quality of life – places where expats and retirees can enjoy Italy’s charms without feeling like extras in a theme park.

“The Historic Centre Is Dead”: Italy’s Overtourism Hotspots

Italy consistently ranks among the world’s top tourist destinations, and tourism is now back to pre-pandemic levels. A factoid that’s doing the rounds is that 70% of international tourists in Italy flock to just 1% of its territory. Reality is that most people can recite the handful of place names driving the majority of tourist flows: Venise, Florence, or the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, and a few more.

The presence of legion of tourists in compact, often Medieval town layouts, has given rise to an overtourism dilemma. Landmark destinations are overwhelmed in peak season, straining infrastructure and fraying the fabric of local life. “The historic center of Naples is dead,” says one local activist bluntly – “those streets aren’t neighborhoods anymore… They’ve become playgrounds, open-air shopping malls”. This sentiment echoes across Italy’s most touristed districts: as rising numbers of visitors flood in, locals find themselves priced out, pushed out, and crowded out.

From a resident’s perspective – even as an expat or a retiree looking at Italy -, living in an overtouristed town can be challenging. Seasonal crowds bring traffic jams and long queues even for basic errands. On Lake Garda, for instance, summer visitors can turn idyllic villages into gridlock – one reporter’s from Corriere della Sera seethed about an afternoon in Sirmione involving a 40-minute search for parking and €7 ice cream cones.. Everyday conveniences may vanish into tourist-oriented businesses. In Naples, the proliferation of short-term rentals (in some areas one B&B for every three homes) is “hollowing out the fabric of the city”, driving up rents and evictions of local tenants. Across Italy and southern Europe, protesters have taken to the streets with slogans like “Your holidays, my misery”, arguing that uncontrolled tourism “sends housing prices soaring and forces people out of their neighborhoods”. Nowhere is this more evident than Venice, where fewer than 50,000 residents remain in the historic center as it becomes harder each year for locals to afford life in the canal city.

Overtourism’s impacts go beyond crowds and housing. Many beloved Italian towns face a Jekyll-and-Hyde existence: bursting at the seams in summer, then eerily quiet in winter once the tour buses leave. Services and shops that cater mainly to tourists may shutter off-season, leaving year-round residents with limited amenities. Ultimately, when historic centers lose their local communities and authentic character, they risk losing the very soul that made them attractive in the first place.

Tourist Towns vs. Livability: By the Numbers

Magic Towns Italy analysis of data from Italy’s Ministry of Tourism shows just how much the overtourism phenomenon is hitting Italian small towns. Some localities receive astounding tourist influx relative to their size. For example, tiny alpine and coastal villages can see dozens of tourists per resident annually. A few examples:

• The Dolomites village of Sesto (Südtirol), population 1,900, recorded roughly 184,000 visitors in 2023 – about 99 tourists per resident.
• Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre (pop. ~1,300) hosts over 100,000 visitors a year (≈82 per resident)
• San Teodoro in Sardinia (pop. 1,200) gets around 110,000 visitors (≈89 per local).

These picturesque places endure severe pressure on roads, water and waste systems, and local prices. And it’s often not just the number of tourists but their concentration in peak weeks that overwhelms local life.

One stark consequence is seen in real estate: Italy’s most touristy locations often have sky-high property prices. Homes turn into lucrative vacation rentals or trophy investments, pricing out locals and would-be residents. Capri, for instance, has average home prices around €10,000 per square meter – more than double the provincial average. Positano et Amalfi on the Amalfi Coast routinely see asking prices in the €7,000–10,000/m² range, on par with major global cities. In Italy’s Alpine resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo, a surge of interest ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics has pushed prices to Paris levels – averaging ~€12,000/m², with prime properties above €20,000/m². Meanwhile, more “ordinary” Italian towns have prices in the low thousands per square meter. The contrast suggests that tourist demand is a key driver of local housing costs.

Figure: Tourist intensity vs. property prices in selected Italian towns. Each point is a town; many highly touristic destinations cluster at the upper right, showing both high visitors-per-resident and high real estate prices. For example, towns like Capri and Positano (red annotations) combine heavy tourist inflows with home prices above €9,000/m². In contrast, more livable, lesser-known towns (green annotations) have low tourist density and far cheaper housing. Source: Magic Towns Italy analysis of property prices and Italian Tourism ministry data.

The chart above illustrates the relationship between tourist density (annual visitors per resident) and median home prices in Italian towns. We see a clear trend: as tourist density rises, so do property prices. The most extreme cases – e.g. Positano (~52 tourists per resident, median >€9,500/m²) or Capri (~20 per resident, ~€11,600/m²) – are far outliers from the norm.

In contrast, many provincial towns with negligible tourism have prices well under €2,000/m². For locals, this means famous postcard towns often come with a cost-of-living premium – from housing to an everyday coffee – that doesn’t afflict Italy’s lesser-known locales. It’s little wonder that some of Italy’s highly touristed centers have seen steady depopulation, while many “under the radar” towns remain affordable and community-oriented.

The Bucket List: Avoiding Tourists With Italy’s Magic Towns Dataset

The analysis above draws on data from Magic Towns Italie Explorateur de villes, a curated search engine covering thousands of comuni (towns) across Italy. We looked at metrics like tourist arrivals, population, real estate prices, and quality-of-life indicators for each town. A “Touristy Index” was computed to flag places with outsized visitor numbers per capita – from “Not Touristic” all the way to “Tourism Hotspot” (for the top few percent). We also considered Magic Towns’ composite Quality of Life index, which weighs factors like environment, safety, healthcare, infrastructure, and community services.

By filtering for towns that combine low to moderate tourism avec high livability metrics, we identified some excellent candidates for those seeking Italian dolce vita away from the tourist throngs. Below, we present two sets of towns: 

• (1) well-known Italian destinations that remain relatively livable and not overrun, and 
• (2) true hidden gems – smaller cities and towns that boast rich culture and quality of life without the masses.

(All data is from Magic Towns Italy’s database or official Italian statistics. Tourist figures are for 2023; property prices are median values as of 2025. You can explore these metrics and more for any town using the Town Explorer on Magic Towns Italy.)

Equally Alluring but More Livable: 7 Alternatives to Tourist Hotspots

Not every beautiful Italian city is drowning in tourists. Some are large or famous enough to offer culture and amenities, yet manage to avoid the worst of the tourist swarms. These towns often have thriving local economies (e.g. universities, industry) that keep them lively year-round, and they tend to be plus abordable and authentic than the big-name hotspots. Here are four such destinations that blend rich heritage with a resident-friendly vibe.

• Padoue (Padua, Veneto) – Just 30 minutes from Venice, Padova is a historic city often bypassed by tourists rushing to its lagoon neighbor. Padova has no shortage of cultural pedigree – it’s home to one of Europe’s oldest universities (founded 1222), Giotto’s famed Scrovegni Chapel, and grand piazzas under medieval porticoes. Yet wandering Padova, you’ll notice it’s largely locals enjoying the cafes and markets.
  The city draws a more manageable ~770,000 visitors yearly (far fewer than Venice’s ~5.6 million), giving it an easy-going, lived-in atmosphere even in summer. With median home prices around €2,400/m² (much lower than Venice) and a large student population, Padova feels authentically alive rather than a tourist stage set. It consistently ranks high for infrastructure and services (top in Italy for public transport and healthcare access), making daily life convenient. Whether you’re admiring the Basilica of Saint Anthony or chatting with locals at the daily produce market in Prato della Valle (Italy’s largest square), Padova offers Renaissance charm without the chaos.
• Trieste (Friuli–Venezia Giulia) – Tucked in Italy’s northeast corner on the Adriatic, Trieste is a culturally unique city that few foreign tourists think to visit – yet many expats adore it. As the cosmopolitan port of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, Trieste boasts stately Habsburg architecture, renowned coffeehouses, and a stunning seafront piazza. “Trieste is a very livable city. Its architecture is stunning… Public transport is reliable… plus plenty of green space for walking or hiking,” one resident says. With around 480,000 tourists a year (moderate for a city of 200k), Trieste never feels overrun – indeed it can feel peaceful even in August, aside from cruise ship day-trippers. The quality of life is exceptionally high here: Trieste often tops Italian liveability rankings, and Magic Towns data gives it a QOL index of 90/100. Locals and expats alike enjoy the easy balance between urban amenities and nature – the city is backed by the Karst hills (with hiking trails and vineyards) and bordered by clear blue sea. “We retired and moved to Trieste… best decision we ever made,” says an expat couple, praising its relaxed pace and friendly community. Despite its grandeur, Trieste remains abordable (median homes ~€2,500/m²) and human-scaled. This is a city where you can savor Viennese-style pastries at a cafe, take an evening stroll along the waterfront, and never feel like you’re in a theme park for tourists.
• Ferrara (Emilia–Romagna) – If Florence’s throngs wear you out, try Ferrara – a Renaissance jewel that’s much calmer by comparison. This medium-sized city (pop. 130k) was the seat of the Este court, which graced it with elegant palaces, a moated castle, and 9 km of medieval walls. Ferrara’s entire historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, yet it sees only a modest flow of visitors (~230,000/year) and retains an easygoing, small-town feel. In Ferrara’s spacious piazzas and under its shady plane trees, you’ll mostly encounter locals on bicycles – Ferrara is famously bike-friendly and flat. The city promotes itself as “La Città delle Biciclette” and indeed two wheels are the preferred way to get around the quiet cobbled streets. By night, students from the local university keep the aperitivo scene lively, but by 11 pm the city is pretty tranquil. Ferrara consistently scores high in Italy for quality of life. And crucially, it’s abordable: properties average about €1,400/m², a fraction of prices in Tuscany’s more touristed towns. With its combination of rich history, lack of crowds, and community vibe, Ferrara offers an Italian lifestyle that’s both cultured and stress-free.
• Cervia (Emilia-Romagna) – Many know Cervia as a summer beach haven on the Adriatic, with 10 km of sandy Blue Flag beaches and surrounding pine forests and salt pans that form a natural oasis. Despite hosting about 27 tourists per resident annually (thanks to its seaside appeal), Cervia has worked to keep development sustainable – it even earned an environmental EMAS certification. The town retains a quality-of-life score of 90/100 in our index, suggesting that locals enjoy clean green spaces and a tight-knit community year-round. Property prices here average around €4,150 per m², reflecting Cervia’s desirability, but you’re paying for an appealing mix of beach lifestyle and livable scale. In short, Cervia hasn’t been spoiled by its popularity – it’s a family-friendly “city of salt” that balances tourism with tradition.
• Abano Terme (Veneto) – Renowned since Roman times for its therapeutic hot springs, Abano Terme is a historic spa town near Padua famous for mud baths and wellness retreats. Tourists (around 27 per resident each year) flock to its many thermal hotels and pretty parks to “take the waters.” Yet Abano remains delightfully tranquil and orderly, with a local population that sustains year-round life beyond the resorts. The town scores a solid 88/100 on our quality-of-life index – aided by pedestrian zones, well-kept green spaces, and a low crime rate – making it popular with Italian retirees and wellness seekers alike. As the general decline in popularity in Italian spas (rather than branding as family retreats, Italian spas have historically chosen to be positioned as retreats for the convalescent, and are paying the price for this marketing choice), and Abano’s home prices are therefore about €2,200 per m², moderate for a famous spa destination. Abano Terme shows that even a touristy town can stay relaxing – here tourism is more about slowing down and rejuvenating, not rowdy crowds.
• Cesenatico (Emilia-Romagna) – A charming port town on the Adriatic, Cesenatico blends beach resort amenities with authentic maritime heritage. Its historic Porto Canale – the canal harbor famously designed by Leonardo da Vinci – is the town’s showpiece, lined with fishing boats and seafood trattorias. Cesenatico attracts about 23 tourists per resident annually, mainly Italian families seeking a more laid-back vibe than Rimini. Even with millions of summer visitors, Cesenatico retains a local feel in its neighborhoods and weekly markets. The town’s livability score is 83/100, and residents enjoy good infrastructure (including schools and sports facilities) funded by the steady tourism revenue. Median real estate prices around €3,050 per m² reflect Cesenatico’s popularity, but still come in lower than flashier resorts. And unlike purpose-built tourist towns, Cesenatico doesn’t shut down in winter – there’s a real community here, proud of its seafaring traditions and happy to share them with respectful visitors.
• Jesolo (Veneto) – Jesolo is one of Italy’s most-visited beach destinations, and it shows – this Lido city of 26,000 residents hosts over 5 million visitors each year, among the highest in the country. That works out to an eye-popping ~46 tourists per resident. Yet Jesolo has managed to channel this influx into a well-organized resort city that’s still livable for those who call it home. Thanks to its 15 km of beaches and proximity to Venice, Jesolo thrives on tourism, but it also invests in safety, events, and services for locals (and not just tourists). The town’s quality-of-life indicator is a respectable 78/100 – lower than quieter towns, but fair given the seasonal hustle. You’ll find a modern pedestrian-friendly town center and extensive cycle paths behind the beachfront hotels. Real estate runs about €4,300 per m², among the priciest of our list (reflecting Jesolo’s high demand). If summer crowds don’t faze you, Jesolo offers the buzz of a big resort with surprisingly solid livability – a testament to decades of local planning keeping the chaos in check.

Hidden Gems: 9 Italian Towns with Culture and Quality of Life

This next group of towns are on nobody’s bucket list – and that’s exactly their appeal. These hidden gems see fewer than 1–2 tourists per resident per year, meaning you won’t be tripping over tour groups on your morning caffè run. Yet each town boasts high livability (our scores range 93–95/100) and distinctive local charm, be it alpine scenery, cultural treasures, or just a genuine Italian small-town vibe. They prove that you don’t need selfie-stick hordes to have something special. For travelers, these are places where you can blend in with the locals; for prospective expats or homebuyers, they’re affordable, pleasant locales far from the overtourism storm.

• Ascoli Piceno (Marche) – Tucked in Central Italy between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic Sea, Ascoli Piceno is “an unforgettable, splendidly decorated hidden gem” that many travelers miss. This medieval city of ~46,000 dazzles with travertine stone architecture – its Renaissance Piazza del Popolo is often cited among Italy’s most beautiful squares. But despite its historic grandeur, Ascoli Piceno remains remarkably livable and down-to-earth. The centro storico is a “living museum” of Roman and Renaissance treasures, yet it’s also full of real life: stylish boutiques, family-run trattorias, markets, and coffee bars woven into the urban fabric. With only ~38,000 tourists a year, there’s zero sense of crowding; you’re more likely to bump into neighbors at the market than tour groups. Ascoli’s la qualité de vie is high across the board: low crime, excellent healthcare (the local hospital is well-regarded), and plenty of cultural events (concerts, food festivals, open-air markets twice weekly, etc. year-round. Outdoor lovers enjoy that you can be hiking in mountain parks or lounging on the Adriatic coast in under an hour. Meanwhile, property in Ascoli is a bargain – around €1,300/m² on average, far cheaper than in Tuscany or Umbria. Many expats describe Ascoli Piceno as delivering that elusive “dolce vita” dream: a gorgeous, human-scaled city where life is relaxed and community ties are strong. Ascoli Piceno truly “rocks the good life” – you see it in the locals’ smiles and feel it just walking around town.
• Cuneo (Piemonte) – In Italy’s northwest, the mid-sized city of Cuneo (pop. ~55,000) flies under most foreigners’ radar – but Italians know it for its high quality of life and alpine setting. Perched on a plateau at 534 m elevation, Cuneo sits at the foot of the Maritime Alps with spectacular mountain views and skiing/hiking at its doorstep. It’s a prosperous provincial capital, yet quiet and eminently livable. Cuneo’s elegant arcaded main street leads to Piazza Galimberti, the grand central square that hums with local life (especially on market days when hundreds of stalls sell fresh produce, cheeses and more). The city is famed for its food: chocolate and chestnuts are local specialties, and the slow-food movement thrives here. According to Magic Towns data, Cuneo scores 93/100 on Quality of Life, among the highest in Italy (benefiting from low pollution, low crime, and solid healthcare and schools). Tourists are few and mostly Italian; Cuneo’s annual visitors (~55k) are negligible compared to any big tourist site. Yet for residents, there’s plenty to enjoy: numerous parks and bike paths, a vibrant cultural calendar (jazz festivals, literary fairs), and quick escapes to nature or even the French Riviera (the French border is only 20 km away). Despite all this, Cuneo remains highly affordable – real estate here (around €1,500/m²) costs a fraction of prices in Italy’s tourist hubs. Cuneo offers “affordable property, a lively piazza, and quick access to France” – a winning trifecta for a balanced life. For anyone seeking a clean, active lifestyle amid gorgeous scenery (while still having a city’s conveniences), Cuneo is a gem waiting to be discovered.
• Ragusa (Sicile) – Far to the south, the hilltown of Ragusa embodies the hidden treasures of Sicily’s Baroque heartland. Ragusa and its neighboring towns were rebuilt in splendid Baroque style after a 1693 earthquake, but Ragusa remains less famous than, say, Noto or Taormina – meaning a more genuine atmosphere. The city is actually divided in two levels: Ragusa Superiore (modern center) and Ibla, the older district draped over a hillside with maze-like lanes, golden-stone palaces and churches (many on UNESCO’s list). Ragusa’s vistas – domes and bell towers against rolling green countryside – are nothing short of cinematic (indeed, the Italian TV series Inspector Montalbano was filmed here, showcasing Ragusa’s charm). Tourists do visit Ragusa Ibla, but in modest numbers (~163k/year), and the town never loses its local feel. In the evenings, Ibla’s picturesque piazzette fill with neighbors on their passeggiata and kids kicking soccer balls, a scene of everyday life under Baroque facades. Ragusa shines in livability metrics: it scores an impressive 91/100 on Quality of Life, reflecting excellent air quality (Sicily’s clean hill towns), low stress, and tight-knit community. Crime is low and the pace is delightfully slow – as a local saying goes, “we have watches, but in Ragusa we don’t have time.” Yet the town is far from isolated: an airport (Comiso) is 30 minutes away and the provincial capital has good hospitals and shopping. The coût de la vie is very reasonable – you can find beautifully restored historic apartments for under €150,000, and the median price ~€1,400/m² is very low for such a gorgeous setting. For those dreaming of sun-soaked island life with cultural depth, Ragusa offers an ideal mix: rich history, warm community, and a peaceful lifestyle amid Sicily’s beauties (without the tourist congestion of the coast).
• Forlì (Emilia-Romagna) – Often overshadowed by its famous neighbors Bologna and Ravenna, Forlì remains a relatively undiscovered gem – an art- and history-rich city that tourists bypass. That’s great news for its 117,000 residents, who enjoy spacious piazzas, excellent museums (the San Domenico complex hosts prestigious exhibitions), and tasty Romagna cuisine sans tourist crowds. Forlì sees fewer than 0.9 tourists per resident annually, mostly business travelers and Italian visitors, so the historic center feels authentically lived-in. Strolling its streets you’ll encounter locals at produce markets, students biking to the university, and families at traditional trattorias – a far cry from the selfie chaos of more touristed cities. Forlì scores a stellar 95/100 on our livability index, thanks in part to its robust local economy and services. Despite this, housing costs remain low (about €1,550/m²). In short, Forlì offers all the perks of a small regional capital – culture, healthcare, infrastructure – with an unhurried local ambiance that’s increasingly rare in Italy’s cities.
• Conegliano (Veneto) – Set amid the rolling Treviso hills, Conegliano is synonymous with Prosecco wine – this town is one of the two traditional capitals of Prosecco production. Despite that claim to fame, Conegliano itself sees only about 1.2 tourists per resident annually, mostly wine aficionados driving through. The town offers a peaceful base to explore the surrounding vineyards (which were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2019), and it has its own understated charms: a castle atop a hill, an airy piazza lined with frescoed palazzi, and Italy’s oldest wine school. With a high 95/100 livability score, Conegliano punches above its weight in services – good schools, small hospitals, efficient public transport – and enjoys the prosperity of the Prosecco trade without overdevelopment. Houses here go for around €1,750 per m², reflecting the area’s affluence yet far cheaper than Venice or Vérone. For a taste of la dolce vita in the Veneto, surrounded by vineyard-covered hills, Conegliano is an excellent choice – authentic, genteel, and green. Just be ready to raise a glass of locally-made bubbly with the friendly locals at aperitivo time!
• Cittadella (Veneto) - Cittadella est un medieval walled town that truly lives up to its name – it’s one of the rare places in Europe where the entire 13th-century defensive wall circle is still intact and fully walkable. Visiting this town near Padua feels like stepping into a time capsule: you can literally stroll atop the walls, peering down on the perfectly preserved moat and radial street layout below. Despite this unique attraction, Cittadella isn’t overrun – tourist numbers are low (just ~1 per resident yearly) and mostly day-trippers. The result is a town that’s wonderfully alive with local rhythm. Children play in the piazza after school, shopkeepers chat under the porticoes, and there’s a lively weekly market that draws folks from neighboring towns. Our livability index gives Cittadella a high 93/100, owing to its safety, cleanliness and sense of community. It’s also an easy 30-minute train ride to Padua, so residents enjoy small-town calm with city amenities close by. Property prices average €2,500/m², reflecting Cittadella’s desirability as a commuter town for Padua/Vicenza. For those seeking Old-World charm and modern livability in equal measure, Cittadella is a hidden gem that deserves a closer look.

Final Thoughts: Finding Your Own Tourist-Free Town

Italy’s famed destinations will always captivate – but as we’ve seen, the most hyped locales come with trade-offs for those who actually live there. Overtourism can strain even the most beautiful city, turning la dolce vita into daily frustration for residents. Fortunately, Italy is a country of endless variety. As the examples above show, there are many places that offer historic beauty, livable scale, and authentic Italian life without the downsides of mass tourism. Whether it’s a dynamic mid-sized city like Padova or Trieste, or a hidden gem town like Ascoli Piceno or Cuneo, you can find your ideal balance of culture and tranquility.

Our methodology — using the Magic Towns Italy dataset to filter for tourism and quality-of-life metrics — is a powerful starting point. But nothing beats experiencing these towns for yourself. We encourage readers to explore the data further using the Explorateur de villes (where you can set your own criteria for climate, cost, healthcare, etc.) and to read the in-depth expat guides on Magic Towns Italy for each town that catches your eye. There you’ll find first-hand insights (like the "Ce que les gens disent de la vie en..." series) and practical tips for relocation. In the end, finding votre magic Italian town is a personal journey. With a bit of research beyond the obvious tourist spots, you’ll discover that Italy’s 99% untapped territory holds incredible opportunities to live la dolce vita – not as a visitor, but as a welcomed member of a local community.