For centuries, tourists have flocked to Italy in their droves, spellbound by Roman ruins, Venetian canals, and coastal scenery. But much of the country remains little known to those outside Italy, despite being just as beautiful.

In recent months, some Italian hotspots have struggled so much with overcrowding that they're actively trying to deter visitors, from a set of regulations in Venice aimed at limiting visitor numbers, to Florence, where the mayor has begun ordering monument steps to be hosed down at lunchtime in a bid to drive away snacking tourists.