Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan. The great cities of Italy are among the best-known and most-loved in the world.

But there are also the countless small towns and villages – most of which we’ve never heard of – that make up the rest of the country.

And, as many of you know, it’s often worth exploring those smaller places because they, too, can surprise and delight us.

 

This is Pontremoli - a lovely village in northern Tuscany.
This is Pontremoli - a lovely village in northern Tuscany.
Pontremoli has a castle - it's the one that houses the Statue Stele (arty shot through castle window) :) ...
Pontremoli has a castle - it's the one that houses the Statue Stele (arty shot through castle window) 🙂 ...
... a Roman bridge (Pontremoli literally means 'trembling bridge' but we can vouch for its general stability) ...
... a Roman bridge (Pontremoli literally means 'trembling bridge' but we can vouch for its general stability) ...
... and a 14th century bell tower.
... and a 14th century bell tower.
Pontremoli is on the Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrimage route to Rome.
Pontremoli is on the Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrimage route to Rome.
But the town is also famous for its travelling booksellers. From the 16th century, bookselling became a family tradition here, and businesses were handed down through generations. Today many bookshops in northern and central Italy can trace their roots back to Pontremoli's travelling booksellers.
But the town is also famous for its travelling booksellers. From the 16th century, bookselling became a family tradition here, and businesses were handed down through generations. Today many bookshops in northern and central Italy can trace their roots back to Pontremoli's travelling booksellers.
More recent literary traditions include an important annual book festival; these terrific book benches are scattered throughout the town to promote it.
More recent literary traditions include an important annual book festival; these terrific book benches are scattered throughout the town to promote it.
Like so many small Italian towns these days, Pontremoli is struggling against the tide of economic stagnation and a dwindling population.
Like so many small Italian towns these days, Pontremoli is struggling against the tide of economic stagnation and a dwindling population.
But the town's history makes it attractive to visitors, and those shopkeepers who remain work hard to take advantage of that.
But the town's history makes it attractive to visitors, and those shopkeepers who remain work hard to take advantage of that.
This shop on the left was once an apothecary. On the right, the original pharmacist's preparation area is now a shop selling baby clothes.
This shop on the left was once an apothecary. On the right, the original pharmacist's preparation area is now a shop selling baby clothes.
About 1.5hrs north-west of Pontremoli, in Emilia-Romagna, is the much smaller village of Bedonia.
About 1.5hrs north-west of Pontremoli, in Emilia-Romagna, is the much smaller village of Bedonia.
It's a pretty town ...
It's a pretty town ...
 
 
... though not the thriving village it once was.
... though not the thriving village it once was.
This is a place where people go about their lives and work.
This is a place where people go about their lives and work.
Bedonia and Pontremoli - typical modern-day Italian towns. We enjoyed our visits to both.
Bedonia and Pontremoli - typical modern-day Italian towns. We enjoyed our visits to both.