Nestled among the Lucanian Dolomites of Basilicata is Pietrapertosa, a little-known medieval village rated among Italy’s most beautiful borghi, complete with a Saracen castle and timeless charm. Pietrapertosa made European Best Destinations’ 2022 list of Europe's best hidden gems. 

European Best Destinations is a travel organization based in Brussels that promotes culture and tourism in Europe; the list includes 22 of “Europe's secret destinations, away from the crowds, […] the most beautiful destinations on a human scale.” Indeed, while tourism isn’t yet back to pre-pandemic levels, if you’ve traveled around Italy as of late, you sure have noticed the return of mass tourism, both national and international.