Hoping to visit some of the lesser-explored corners of Italy, swapping the crowded city piazzas for idyllic scenery in tiny villages? The newly crowned 20 most beautiful Italian villages - that's one for each region - are a great place to start. The shortlist has been drawn up by the 'Borghi più belli d'Italia' organization, which every year selects 20 villages to promote, chosen for their landscape, heritage, and culture.

And 2017 has been named as the 'year of villages' by Italy's Culture Ministry as the country turns the spotlight on its hidden gems and encourages more diverse tourist itineraries. While hotspots such as Venice have been forced to introduce measures aimed at restricting visitor numbers, these villages are comparatively untouched by travellers.