Fabulous food, amazing art, rich language, dramatic and gorgeous landscapes -- we all know what makes Italy so special. Perhaps best of all are the scenic small towns and villages, where it's possible to enjoy all these while surrounded by picturesque coastline, mountains, valleys, rivers or volcanoes. Here are some of the most idyllic villages where you can travel that perfectly sum up the beautiful country, or "Bel Paese."

Pietrapertosa

Located between the gigantic crags of the Basilicata region's so-called "Southern Dolomites," Pietrapertosa almost looks like it's being swallowed by the mountains. It takes its name from the ancient Petraperciata, which means "perforated stone," a reference to the huge rock that in whose clefts this pretty village sits.