Among Europe’s Treasures: 4 Italians in the European Best Destinations Ranking

Overtourism is a topic that’s frequently discussed, but in Europe there are real marvels that lie away from the most trodden routes. We’re not talking about unknown destinations, but simply places that are a little farther from the big crowds.

This is the European Best Destinations ranking that has selected 12 destinations among medieval towns, islands, natural landscapes, and locations with a strong historical identity, daring Italy four times with some places that are all worth discovering.

The 4 Italian Treasures in the Ranking

The first Italian destination on the podium: in third place there is San Giulio Island, which dominates Lake Orta in Piedmont. Known as the island of silence, it is reached by small boats and once there you visit the Romanesque Basilica of San Giulio alongside the Benedictine monastery. The circular path is short and absolutely unmissable.

The second Italian marvel is Alberobello, which takes fourth place on the list: the Puglian village, with the famous trulli that instantly make the place recognizable and with the narrow streets in the Monti and Aia Piccola districts, it forms a scene that earned it the UNESCO World Heritage title.

The last two marvels lie a bit further down, but they are by no means less important: ninth place for the Lake Resia in South Tyrol. With the 14th‑century bell tower emerging from the water it has now made the rounds worldwide and what remains visible of Curon is truly evocative. In winter the lake freezes and the image becomes even more evocative.

Twelfth place, instead, goes to Craco: the ghost town of Basilicata is among the most appreciated in Italy. With a progressive abandonment of the town center it has left streets and buildings that today cling to the hillside… one cannot deny that the impact is almost cinematic.

Leading the ranking, in first place, is Tübingen, a university town in southern Germany. The historic center preserves half-timbered houses, alleys and squares overlooking the Neckar River, a river that can also be navigated on traditional local boats.

In second place there’s Motovun, in Istria. Perched above the Mirna river valley, the Croatian village preserves medieval walls, stone streets and a landscape dominated by vineyards and forests. The area is also known for white truffles and Istrian wines.

After Alberobello, the ranking continues with Meteora, in Greece, in the fifth place. It is one of the most spectacular landscapes on the list: monasteries built atop enormous rock formations, some dating back to the 14th-16th centuries. Greece appears again in the s sixth place with Fiskardo, a small port on the island of Kefalonia, famous for its colorful houses, Venetian-influenced architecture and the clear waters of the coast.

In the seventh place are the Kravice Falls, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, formed by the Trebižat River in a lush area. Followed, in eighth position, by Monsaraz, a Portuguese medieval town in Alentejo overlooking the plains and the large Lake Alqueva.

After Lake Resia, in the tenth place comes the French Pérouges, a fortified town with cobbled streets and stone houses that preserve the medieval layout.

The eleventh position finally goes to Gásadalur, in the Faroe Islands. A tiny village that was long isolated, today famous mainly for the Múlafossur waterfall, which plunges from the cliff directly into the Atlantic. Until the construction of a tunnel in 2004, reaching it meant undertaking a demanding journey through the mountains.

The ranking of the 12 European treasures:

1. Tübingen, Germany;
2. Motovun, Croatia;
3. San Giulio Island, Italy;
4. Alberobello, Italy;
5. Meteora, Greece;
6. Fiskardo, Greece;
7. Kravice Falls, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
8. Monsaraz, Portugal;
9. Lake Resia, Italy;
10. Pérouges, France;
11. Gásadalur, Faroe Islands;
12. Craco, Italy.