Some regions and tourist destinations of Italy are famous for obvious reasons — from the genteel days of the Grand Tour to modern backpackers on a shoestring budget, the cities of Rome, Naples, Milan, Venice, and Florence have seen centuries of visitors walking up and down their cobblestone streets.

But the country is much bigger than that. We recommend venturing down the roads less travelled and visiting some of the smaller towns for a new experience of Italy. Dust off the keys and fill up the tank, it’s time for a road trip.