Luminous Destinations 2026: 10 revealing places that light up another Italy

There's an Italy that doesn’t seek the spotlight, yet manages to surprise those who choose to travel beyond the usual routes. It cannot be consumed in a hurried visit, but reveals itself gradually, through its extraordinary landscapes, ancient traditions, and the authentic rhythms of local communities.

This is the Italy that shines again through Luminous Destinations: a Visit Italy initiative that invites travelers to change perspective and see travel with fresh eyes, rediscovering the joy of authentic and mindful experiences capable of creating deep connections with the land and the people who live there.

So come to discover together the Luminous Destinations 2026, 10 gems destined to inspire a way of traveling that is genuine and sustainable, highlighting the most magical Italian atmospheres that will stay with you forever.

For some time now, a new way of looking at travel in Italy has been emerging with increasing clarity: no longer just famous landmarks and iconic stops, but an invitation to rediscover a mosaic of stories, communities, and authentic landscapes ready to come into the light.

This vision lies at the heart of Luminous Destinations, a project by Visit Italy created in response to the growing challenge of overtourism, with the aim of giving a voice to those territories that, despite their extraordinary heritage, remain outside the most traveled routes.

Rather than being a simple list of places to visit, this initiative is conceived as a true form of recognition. It's designed to highlight destinations that successfully combine clear, value-driven criteria of responsible tourism: local identity, sustainability, environmental protection, and the ability to tell their story in balance between past and present.

Each year, a dedicated jury will select 10 Luminous Destinations—territories capable of inspiring a new way of traveling, while bringing attention to that 99% of Italy that often remains in the shadow of the most popular destinations. The winning destinations for 2026 were unveiled in preview at the February 10 event during BIT – Borsa Internazionale del Turismo in Milan.

Within the ancient walls of Viterbo lies an Italy that surprises those who take the time to look closely, with medieval streets, timeless squares, and springs that rejuvenate body and spirit. Located in the historic region of Tuscia, in present-day Lazio, north of Rome, it reveals stunning glimpses of a land still little known, yet extraordinarily rich in charm.

The historic heart of the city, the San Pellegrino district, is a labyrinth of cobbled streets, towers, and loggias that tell the authentic story of a medieval center among the best-preserved in Europe.

Yet Viterbo is more than history: its thermal waters, renowned for centuries, provide moments of true and mindful rejuvenation, far from the frenzy of conventional tourist routes.

Even the surroundings, from the nearby hills to Lake Vico and Lake Bolsena, offer enchanting landscapes, perfect for leisurely walks and moments of complete relaxation.

It's a concrete example of the spirit of Luminous Destinations: a territory where history, thermal waters, and restorative routes intertwine, offering a unique harmony between daily life, culture, and hospitality.

From atop a hill overlooking the Conca d’Oro, Monreale welcomes you with enchanting corners where artistic treasures, artisan workshops, and breathtaking panoramas suddenly open up toward Palermo and the surrounding landscape.

In this timeless setting, one treasure stands out, illuminating the entire village: the Cathedral of Monreale, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Inside, the magnificent golden mosaics covering the nave and apses seem to come alive before your eyes, revealing the secrets and stories of those who have brought this place to life over the centuries.

Next to the Cathedral lies the Benedictine Cloister, where silent arcades and perfect geometry offer moments of pause and relaxation, while the stunning views of the hills of western Sicily invite you to enjoy a visit of pure contemplation.

Because beyond its artistic treasures, it is precisely Monreale’s authentic dimension that makes it such a special village, and a perfect Luminous Destination that combines heritage and local life into a genuine cultural experience that stays with you.

Livigno, in upper Valtellina, just a few kilometers from the Swiss border, welcomes those who love to experience the mountains with curiosity and respect. Nature dominates the horizon, with forests and wide-open spaces inviting walks or bike rides while breathing pure air, far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.

At any time of the year, you can find exciting activities to immerse yourself in this idyllic setting: in winter, the town becomes one of Italy’s most fascinating skiing destinations, with over 115 km of thrilling ski slopes. In summer, hiking trails reveal wild, beautiful peaks and crystal-clear lakes.

The free public transport system within the valley, along with the widespread network of charging stations for electric cars and bikes, encourages low-impact mobility and promotes the use of clean transport by both residents and visitors.

What truly makes Livigno a Luminous Destination is the way it has made sustainability an integral part of both its tourism approach and daily life, managing to spread tourism throughout the year and highlight the value of every season.

Northern Sardinia is a captivating mosaic of rural landscapes, small villages, and traditions that have withstood the test of time. In the province of Sassari, Borutta blends naturally into this setting, at the heart of a territory that preserves a strong spiritual and cultural identity, amid countryside, hills, traces of past eras, and signs of a millennia-old history.

The island’s interior reveals itself through the nearby nuraghi and the narrow streets of the historic center, among the trachyte houses and the silhouette of the Church of San Pietro di Sorres, a reminder of the deep-rooted faith in the village.

The celebrations dedicated to San Pietro are deeply felt, evoking centuries of religious history and reinforcing the bond with a territory that makes traditional events one of its defining strengths.

Right in the heart of Northern Sardinia, Salude & Trigu comes to life: a calendar of events that guides you through local rites, popular festivals, craftsmanship, and culinary traditions, highlighting a destination that shows how tourism can spread value beyond the usual routes. That's why Borutta deserves the title of Luminous Destination.

Historical art, elegant architecture, and a rich tradition of craftsmanship still alive today: these are some of the qualities that make Arezzo ready to enchant you. One of the most captivating art cities in Tuscany, it was founded as an Etruscan settlement and later flourished during the medieval and Renaissance periods.

Piazza Grande is the focal point: from here, every street seems to open onto a new story to discover, among elegant palaces and glimpses that invite you to slow your pace. Arezzo is not only a place of artistic treasures, but also a human-scale city where you can find ancient artisan traditions.

Along the historic artisans streets, such as Via Cavour, Via Cesalpino, and Via Bicchieraia, workshops of goldsmiths, leatherworkers, carpenters, and ceramists continue to shape local life, carrying on practices handed down through generations.

Arezzo celebrates its identity through captivating events, like the Antiques Fair, held every first weekend of the month, and the Giostra del Saracino, a medieval jousting tournament that lights up Piazza Grande with a spectacular display of colors: a blend of culture and tradition, transforming a city often overlooked into an unmissable spot, a shining example of a Luminous Destination.

In the picturesque Molise countryside, perched on a hill overlooking the Biferno River valley, in the province of Campobasso, Oratino is one of those hidden villages that offer glimpses of another time.

The bucolic atmosphere surrounds you with the scent of the earth and wild herbs rising from the hills, but also with the quiet rhythm of hands shaping stone: Oratino, in fact, is a town renowned for its long-standing tradition of artistic stonework, which has left an indelible mark on the portals, gates, and façades of historic buildings.

And then there's the music: not a vague background, but an integral part of the village’s cultural life. Especially in summer, when Oratino MAC – Music, Art and Culture takes place, a three-day festival that brings open-air concerts and opportunities to meet local and national musicians to the historic center.

The authentic atmosphere of Oratino holds a unique and special spirit, showing how small villages, when carefully preserved and presented with coherence, can generate tourism value and perfectly embody the essence of a Luminous Destination.

Amid the forests and deep valleys of the Lucanian Apennines, Castelsaraceno is a village ready to amaze you with its natural landscapes, authentic atmosphere, and the way engineering and nature intertwine. One of its most recognizable symbols is the Tibetan Bridge, stretched between the slopes of Monte Raparo and Monte Castelveglia.

It’s the world’s longest single-span Tibetan suspension bridge: walking across it means finding yourself suspended above a breathtaking territory, experiencing the mountain’s pulse from a unique perspective. The trails through the surrounding Monte Alpi are also perfect for relaxing and rejuvenating both body and mind.

In the heart of the village, you can feel the village’s deep connection to local traditions through classic events like the Festa della ’Ndenna, and in the typical dishes of Lucanian cuisine: tangible expressions of a place to discover step by step, at your own pace.

This is also why Castelsaraceno is part of our Luminous Destinations: because it celebrates the mountain without altering it, while culture and history guide you through the light of a magical landscape.

Admiring the spectacular panorama that stretches from the Adriatic Sea to the Umbro‑Marchigiano Apennines, you immediately understand why Cingoli, a town in the province of Macerata, is nicknamed “the Balcony of the Marche.”

From the natural terrace of its ancient medieval walls, your gaze wanders 360 degrees, while in the historic center you can admire the noble and Renaissance palaces, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Church of San Domenico with the painting by Lorenzo Lotto, the elegant portals, and the streets of Polisena, a district with small stone houses and charming cobbled lanes.

But there is something else that truly stays with you in this enchanting town: the feeling of being in a place where you can explore at your own pace, simply and calmly, stopping now and then to take in the profile of Lake Castreccioni, or to listen to the sound of the wind through the forests of the Tassinete or Monte Nero.

It's a connection with the territory that cannot be seen, but that you feel by revealing the treu identity of Cingoli: an Italy made of panoramic views and a slower pace, where every corner becomes a Luminous Destination.

The rock on which Gerace stands seems to tell the story of everything this corner of Calabria has experienced, nestled among the folds of the Aspromonte and the valleys that open toward the Locride.

The village takes its name from the Greek word Hierax (“hawk”), and, according to legend, it was this very bird that guided the ancient inhabitants of Locri Epizefiri to the cliff where the town now sits. Founded in the Byzantine era and shaped by Norman and Swabian rule, Gerace has preserved its medieval layout intact, letting you walk through it like an enchanting open-air museum.

From the small, welcoming Piazza del Tocco to the imposing Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, with its Romanesque-Norman features and Byzantine remnants inside, you can appreciate the centuries-old relationship between architecture, art, and local life.

Beyond the more “touristy” spots in the usual sense, wandering the hidden streets of Gerace, you’ll discover artisan workshops where the crafting of local materials tells the story of the territory through simple, everyday gestures. This is also part of the secret charm of a Luminous Destination inviting you to slow down and uncover a village that is unique, ancient, yet vibrantly alive.

Genoa “La Superba” is a complex city, a true metropolis. And yet, if you explore it carefully, you can glimpse its most authentic spirit—the same one that defines some of its outlying districts, such as Nervi and Boccadasse, former maritime villages along the Ligurian coast, with pastel-coloured houses and a timeless atmosphere.

In the heart of the historic center, one of the largest in Europe, the past comes to the surface as you walk through the picturesque caruggi, among elegant noble palaces, hidden churches, and shops offering local products like the much-loved Ligurian pesto.

In this crossroads of cultures, shaped over the centuries by merchants and sailors, the Old Port stands as another cornerstone of local identity. Today it’s a vibrant space for gathering and culture, home to the impressive Aquarium and watched over, in the distance, by the unmistakable silhouette of the Lantern.

Genoa, in the end, is not a city that can be understood all at once. It has to be discovered by peeling back one layer at a time, until you fall in love with its many souls. It's a Luminous Destination that has learned to highlight its history, neighborhoods, and everyday life, projecting its unique charm beyond local boundaries.