We’ve been hearing about how Italy’s famous landmarks have been suffering under the strain of overtourism lately. As well as crowds being a nightmare for residents, it doesn’t exactly make for the most enjoyable travel experience for visitors either. After all, it’s hard to enjoy the view when you’re being poked in the eye by someone’s selfie stick.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep visiting. While Italy’s hotspots are famous for good reason, there’s so much more to see beyond the usual tour routes. And this year there are some exciting goings -on that put less predictable towns and regions into the spotlight.