Located along the Adriatic Coast in central southern Italy is the quasi-anonymous, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it region of Molise. Encircled by the regions of Lazio, Abruzzo, Puglia, and Campania, it’s about a three-hour drive from major cities like Rome and Naples. Few have ever heard of it, and even fewer have visited. 

For such a small destination, Molise packs quite the punch when it comes to geographic diversity. It has the Apennines shawled with snow, rolling green valleys, and a stretch of pristine coastline that’s home to some of Italy’s best and most underrated beaches.