Pillar Guide · Best Towns in Italy · Updated 2026
Top 5 Best Towns in Every Italian Region
A clear, practical guide to the strongest towns in all 20 Italian regions for expats, retirees, remote workers and families planning a real move to Italy.
Italy’s beautiful problem is that there are simply too many good places to choose from. Every region has towns with charm, history, food culture and a distinctive local rhythm.
This guide narrows the search. We reviewed the full livinginitaly.life town dataset and selected the five strongest towns in each Italian region using the factors that matter for long-term life: livability, walkability, healthcare access, services, cost of living, climate comfort, family practicality and regional character.
Use this page as a launchpad. Start with the regions that match your preferred lifestyle, then compare individual towns in the Town Explorer or take the Lifestyle Quiz for a more personal shortlist.
Need a personalised shortlist?
Take the lifestyle quiz and get town recommendations based on your budget, pace of life, climate preferences and everyday needs.
Quick answers
What to Know First
Best overall use
A region-by-region shortlist for relocation research, retirement planning and first-stage town comparisons.
Main trade-off
The best town on paper is not always your best personal fit. Services, language, transport and seasonality matter.
Best next step
Open the Town Explorer and compare your favourites side by side.
Useful for
Expats, retirees, remote workers and families deciding where to build a life in Italy.
The framework
How We Compare Places
Every town is assessed through practical, long-term relocation factors rather than holiday appeal alone.
1. Livability
Healthcare access, safety, services, family infrastructure, green space and year-round community life.
2. Walkability
Historic centres, daily errands on foot, piazza life, access to markets and car-light living.
3. Cost of living
Housing value, groceries, utilities, local prices and realistic monthly budgets.
4. Regional character
Food culture, climate, landscape, coastline or mountain access, cultural depth and long-term fit.
Region by region
The Top 5 Towns in Every Italian Region
Abruzzo
Central Apennines · Gran Sasso · Adriatic coast
- 1. Sulmona — Best overall balance — stunning mountain setting, low cost, historic centre
- 2. L’Aquila — Excellent healthcare, university energy, rebuilt historic centre
- 3. Pescara — Coastal livability, beach access, good services
- 4. Chieti — Walkable hill town, great food scene, authentic character
- 5. Teramo — Family-friendly, affordable, near Gran Sasso
Basilicata
Matera · Lucanian Apennines · Tyrrhenian coast
- 1. Matera — UNESCO Sassi cave city — rising livability, world-famous heritage
- 2. Potenza — Best services and healthcare in the region
- 3. Maratea — Stunning Tyrrhenian coastal town — Caribbean-quality water
- 4. Pisticci — Authentic, low-cost hill town with genuine character
- 5. Bernalda — Quiet, walkable, great value — near Matera
Calabria
Costa degli Dei · Sila · Aspromonte
- 1. Tropea — Beach paradise + high walkability, stunning clifftop setting
- 2. Scilla — Dramatic cliffside fishing village, Strait of Messina views
- 3. Praia a Mare — Family-friendly Tyrrhenian coast with good services
- 4. Catanzaro — Best healthcare in Calabria, modern livability
- 5. Soverato — Relaxed Ionian beach town, authentic southern character
Top towns: Tropea, Scilla, Praia a Mare, Catanzaro, Soverato
Campania
Naples · Amalfi · Cilento · Bay of Naples islands
- 1. Sorrento — Iconic, walkable, excellent services — Amalfi gateway
- 2. Naples (historic centre) — Vibrant food capital, world-class pizza, extraordinary character
- 3. Procida — Quiet island charm, car-free, authentic Bay of Naples life
- 4. Amalfi — Cliffside beauty, strong livability scores, iconic coastline
- 5. Salerno — Best value + great healthcare — underrated Campania base
Top towns: Sorrento, Naples (historic centre), Procida, Amalfi, Salerno
Emilia-Romagna
Bologna · Parma · Modena · Food Valley
- 1. Bologna — Italy’s food capital — top livability, world-class university city
- 2. Parma — Walkable, family-friendly, excellent services, prosciutto DOP homeland
- 3. Modena — Balsamic & Ferrari heartland, beautiful medieval centre
- 4. Ferrara — Renaissance beauty, extraordinarily flat and very walkable
- 5. Ravenna — Byzantine mosaic city with beach access, underrated gem
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Trieste · Udine · Dolomites · Adriatic coast
- 1. Trieste — Elegant port city, superb healthcare, coffee culture capital
- 2. Udine — Compact, walkable, family-oriented — Friuli’s cultural heart
- 3. Gorizia — Affordable border town, unique cross-cultural character
- 4. Pordenone — Modern services, low cost, well-organised family infrastructure
- 5. Cividale del Friuli — Stunning historic gem, Lombard heritage, very authentic
Top towns: Trieste, Udine, Gorizia, Pordenone, Cividale del Friuli
Lazio
Rome · Viterbo · Castelli Romani
- 1. Rome (select neighbourhoods) — Eternal city — Prati, Pigneto, Testaccio for year-round living
- 2. Viterbo — Thermal spas, medieval walkability, very manageable scale
- 3. Tivoli — Gardens, Villa d’Este, history — easy Rome commute access
- 4. Latina — Best modern services and value in Lazio outside Rome
- 5. Civitavecchia — Coastal convenience, port access, practical Rome proximity
Top towns: Rome (select neighbourhoods), Viterbo, Tivoli, Latina, Civitavecchia
Liguria
Cinque Terre · Genoa · Riviera
- 1. Genoa (historic centre) — Vibrant, authentic and underrated — Italy’s largest medieval centre
- 2. Cinque Terre (Manarola/Riomaggiore) — Iconic but manageable year-round — extraordinary coastal living
- 3. Sanremo — Walkable seaside elegance, palm-lined promenade, year-round life
- 4. La Spezia — Best value and services near Cinque Terre
- 5. Santa Margherita Ligure — Portofino area luxury with genuine year-round livability
Top towns: Genoa (historic centre), Cinque Terre (Manarola/Riomaggiore), Sanremo, La Spezia, Santa Margherita Ligure
Lombardy
Lakes · Bergamo · Brescia · Milan
- 1. Bergamo — Top overall score — walkable Città Alta, extraordinary charm
- 2. Brescia — Excellent healthcare, vibrant culture, consistently underrated
- 3. Como — Lake beauty with strong year-round services
- 4. Mantua — Renaissance gem, very family-friendly, surrounded by lakes
- 5. Lecco — Affordable lake town, great outdoors access, Manzoni country
Marche
Adriatic coast · Apennine hills · Urbino
- 1. Urbino — Renaissance hill-town perfection — UNESCO, compact, magical
- 2. Ancona — Coastal capital, great services, ferry connections
- 3. Pesaro — Beach and culture balance, Rossini birthplace, family-friendly
- 4. Ascoli Piceno — Walkable medieval beauty, famous olive ascolane, lovely piazza
- 5. Macerata — Affordable and authentic, university energy, opera festival
Top towns: Urbino, Ancona, Pesaro, Ascoli Piceno, Macerata
Molise
Italy's smallest region · Adriatic coast · Apennines
- 1. Campobasso — Best services in the region, manageable city scale
- 2. Isernia — Quiet, very low cost, real mountain feel
- 3. Termoli — Coastal walkability, beaches, charming old town on promontory
- 4. Larino — Charming historic centre, archaeological museum, authentic
- 5. Bojano — Nature, affordability and genuine southern Italian character
Top towns: Campobasso, Isernia, Termoli, Larino, Bojano
Piedmont
Turin · Langhe · Western Alps · Barolo
- 1. Turin (Torino) — Elegant, efficient city with superb year-round livability
- 2. Alba — White truffle and Barolo capital — genuine food culture
- 3. Asti — Walkable, family-friendly, excellent value — wine country
- 4. Novara — Affordable, excellent services, Milan proximity
- 5. Cuneo — Alpine access, low cost, beautiful arcaded piazza
Top towns: Turin (Torino), Alba, Asti, Novara, Cuneo
Puglia
Salento · Adriatic · Gargano · Trulli country
- 1. Polignano a Mare — Clifftop beauty, high walkability, spectacular sea caves
- 2. Otranto — Historic coastal gem, Ionian coast, international community
- 3. Lecce — The “Florence of the South” — Baroque masterpiece, great value
- 4. Bari (old town) — Vibrant port city, authentic Pugliese life, good services
- 5. Monopoli — Relaxed beach town with excellent services, growing expat base
Top towns: Polignano a Mare, Otranto, Lecce, Bari (old town), Monopoli
Sardinia
Cagliari · Alghero · Costa Smeralda · Ogliastra
- 1. Alghero — Catalan-heritage walled city — sea, airport, expat community
- 2. Cagliari — Best overall services and livability — Sardinia’s capital
- 3. San Teodoro — Caribbean-style beaches, growing year-round community
- 4. Olbia — Airport convenience, modern feel, Costa Smeralda gateway
- 5. Villasimius — Pristine coast, family-friendly, lagoons + beaches
Top towns: Alghero, Cagliari, San Teodoro, Olbia, Villasimius
Sicily
Palermo · Catania · Val di Noto · Etna
- 1. Cefalù — Norman cathedral, beautiful beach, genuine year-round community
- 2. Syracuse (Ortigia) — Ancient Greek island city, international community, beautiful scale
- 3. Ragusa Ibla — UNESCO Baroque, Inspector Montalbano country, great value
- 4. Taormina — Spectacular hilltop setting, Etna views, established expat life
- 5. San Vito lo Capo — Sardinia-quality white sand beach, growing year-round base
Top towns: Cefalù, Syracuse (Ortigia), Ragusa Ibla, Taormina, San Vito lo Capo
Trentino-Alto Adige
Dolomites · Bolzano · South Tyrol
- 1. Bolzano — Top livability score in the entire country — #1 in Italy for quality of life
- 2. Merano — Spa paradise, family Christmas #1, flat river promenade
- 3. Ortisei (Val Gardena) — Ski, walkability and Dolomite access combined
- 4. Trento — Historic, family-friendly, excellent Christmas market
- 5. Bressanone — Alpine charm, compact scale, excellent services
Top towns: Bolzano, Merano, Ortisei (Val Gardena), Trento, Bressanone
Tuscany
Florence · Siena · Chianti · Val d'Orcia
- 1. Lucca — Walkable walled city perfection — the most livable in Tuscany
- 2. Siena — Medieval beauty, livability, UNESCO Piazza del Campo
- 3. Florence — Culture capital — best neighbourhoods: Oltrarno, San Frediano
- 4. Pisa — Affordable university town, excellent services, river life
- 5. Arezzo — Best value in Tuscany, genuine hill-town character, antique market
Umbria
Green Heart of Italy · Perugia · Assisi · Orvieto
- 1. Perugia — Best services in Umbria, university vibe, excellent food culture
- 2. Assisi — Spiritual, walkable, extraordinary hill-town character
- 3. Spoleto — Hill-town charm, arts festival, great Umbrian food culture
- 4. Orvieto — Dramatic cliff location, magnificent duomo, excellent wine
- 5. Gubbio — Authentic medieval feel, very manageable, affordable
Valle d'Aosta
Mont Blanc · Gran Paradiso · Western Alps
- 1. Aosta — Walkable capital with Roman ruins, mountain views, good services
- 2. Courmayeur — Ski and luxury balance, Mont Blanc gateway, Skyway cable car
- 3. Cogne — Quiet alpine village, Gran Paradiso, world-class Nordic skiing
- 4. Champoluc — Family-friendly ski area, authentic alpine village character
- 5. Saint-Vincent — Thermal spas, good services, best value in the region
Top towns: Aosta, Courmayeur, Cogne, Champoluc, Saint-Vincent
Veneto
Venice · Verona · Eastern Dolomites · Prosecco country
- 1. Verona — Romantic, walkable, lively — one of Italy’s most livable cities
- 2. Padua (Padova) — Excellent healthcare, top university, Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel
- 3. Vicenza — Palladian beauty, excellent livability, less expensive than Venice
- 4. Treviso — “Mini Venice” with lower costs — canals, Prosecco country
- 5. Cortina d’Ampezzo — Winter wonderland prestige, 2026 Olympics, Dolomite glamour
Top towns: Verona, Padua (Padova), Vicenza, Treviso, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Side by side
Comparison at a Glance
| Region | Best first towns to compare | Best for | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abruzzo | Sulmona, L’Aquila, Pescara | Central Apennines · Gran Sasso · Adriatic coast | View region |
| Basilicata | Matera, Potenza, Maratea | Matera · Lucanian Apennines · Tyrrhenian coast | View region |
| Calabria | Tropea, Scilla, Praia a Mare | Costa degli Dei · Sila · Aspromonte | View region |
| Campania | Sorrento, Naples (historic centre), Procida | Naples · Amalfi · Cilento · Bay of Naples islands | View region |
| Emilia-Romagna | Bologna, Parma, Modena | Bologna · Parma · Modena · Food Valley | View region |
| Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste, Udine, Gorizia | Trieste · Udine · Dolomites · Adriatic coast | View region |
| Lazio | Rome (select neighbourhoods), Viterbo, Tivoli | Rome · Viterbo · Castelli Romani | View region |
| Liguria | Genoa (historic centre), Cinque Terre (Manarola/Riomaggiore), Sanremo | Cinque Terre · Genoa · Riviera | View region |
| Lombardy | Bergamo, Brescia, Como | Lakes · Bergamo · Brescia · Milan | View region |
| Marche | Urbino, Ancona, Pesaro | Adriatic coast · Apennine hills · Urbino | View region |
| Molise | Campobasso, Isernia, Termoli | Italy’s smallest region · Adriatic coast · Apennines | View region |
| Piedmont | Turin (Torino), Alba, Asti | Turin · Langhe · Western Alps · Barolo | View region |
| Puglia | Polignano a Mare, Otranto, Lecce | Salento · Adriatic · Gargano · Trulli country | View region |
| Sardinia | Alghero, Cagliari, San Teodoro | Cagliari · Alghero · Costa Smeralda · Ogliastra | View region |
| Sicily | Cefalù, Syracuse (Ortigia), Ragusa Ibla | Palermo · Catania · Val di Noto · Etna | View region |
| Trentino-Alto Adige | Bolzano, Merano, Ortisei (Val Gardena) | Dolomites · Bolzano · South Tyrol | View region |
| Tuscany | Lucca, Siena, Florence | Florence · Siena · Chianti · Val d’Orcia | View region |
| Umbria | Perugia, Assisi, Spoleto | Green Heart of Italy · Perugia · Assisi · Orvieto | View region |
| Valle d’Aosta | Aosta, Courmayeur, Cogne | Mont Blanc · Gran Paradiso · Western Alps | View region |
| Veneto | Verona, Padua (Padova), Vicenza | Venice · Verona · Eastern Dolomites · Prosecco country | View region |
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
What is the best Italian town to live in?
There is no single best town for everyone. A retiree prioritising healthcare, a family needing schools and a remote worker needing airport access may need very different places.
Should I choose the region or the town first?
Start with the region to understand climate, culture, transport and cost patterns, then narrow down to towns that fit your daily life.
Are the most famous towns always the best?
No. Famous towns can be beautiful but expensive, seasonal or crowded. Many of Italy’s strongest relocation towns are practical regional centres or smaller cities.
Continue exploring
Plan Your Next Step
Town Explorer
Compare towns by lifestyle, cost, services and long-term practicality.
Lifestyle Quiz
Find the Italian town that fits your goals and preferred pace of life.
Region Guide Library
Browse detailed guides to daily life across Italy’s regions.
Living in Umbria
A practical guide to one of Italy’s most balanced regions for expats.
Find the Italian Town That Fits Your Life
Compare lifestyle, budget, services and long-term practicality across Italy.