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Home to world-famous landmarks like the Colosseum, the floating city of Venice, and the leaning Tower of Pisa––not to mention the incredible cuisine––Italy is easily one of the most popular destinations worldwide.
That’s both a blessing and a curse, as regardless of the appreciation, visitation levels have reached unsustainable levels in recent years, to the point quaint beach towns like Portofino have become mere Instagram photo ops (good luck with that now that there’s selfie ban).
(Much) of Italy is crumbling under mass tourism, and with the mounting pressure, even tourists who wouldn’t typically be fazed by crowds and an uptick in prices are seeking alternatives.
The good news is that Italy is not the be-all and end-all of vacations: great pasta, Roman ruins, and ancient allure can be found pretty much everywhere across the pond.
Here are 4 cheaper, less crowded alternatives in the European continent that feel just like Italy:
Évora, Portugal
A short 1h30-train ride away from a touristy Lisbon, Évora is a laid-back town of around 40,000 people, tucked away in the verdant Alentejo hinterlands.
Other than the postcardy Old Town, with its gorgeous Gothic cathedral, whitewashed houses and cobbles, arched alleys that have barely seen interventions further than the 15th century, Évora is famous for being the site of a Roman temple.
Much like Spain, Croatia, and other Southern European countries, Portugal was once under Roman control.
They left many a monument scattered around the Iberian country, including this one, which dates back to the 1st century AD, and serves a permanent reminder of Évora’s unbreakable bond with Italy.
Other than its historical charm, and Ancient World allure, it is yet to be ruined by mass tourism, and it’s incredibly affordable to visit: the average nightly rate for a downtown hotel is $94, and meals in locally-run restaurants will average $12–14.
By the way, if you’re craving traditional Portuguese pork cheeks or Brás-style codfish, Tempero & Prosa is your spot.
Pula, Croatia
Lining the turquoise coast of Croatia, Pula is often considered the most Italian town in Croatia, not only because it plays host to a number of well-preserved Roman ruins, but due to the fact that, for much of its history, it was in fact an Italian-majority settlement.
Despite finding itself under Croatian administration now, it still largely resembles a port city on the opposite side of the Adriatic, with its colorful, skinny buildings, distributed in rows along pedestrianized lanes, numerous seafood and pasta spots, and of course…
Pula Arena.
A Colosseum by the sea, it is among the fallen Rome’s largest gladiatorial arenas still standing, and while the original Colosseum no longer serves as a sports venue, it continues to offer Croats panem et circu every summer:
Unlike other arenas that serve exclusively as museums or are lying in ruins, Pula’s hosts live performers and cultural events every other week.
On the topic of prices, you should know staying in Pula for a week will set you back 81-a-night on average, while eating out in a trattoria down by the marina will cost as little as $17 for a small salad, some pasta, and a glass of local Istrian wine.
Budva, Montenegro
Further down the Adriatic, Budva is a hidden gem of Montenegro that’s every bit as charming as the much-more popular Kotor, and that could easily belong in Southern Italy somewhere.
It is centered around a walled historic center, right on the waterfront, criss-crossed with winding streets that become even narrower once alfresco tables are set up in spring, and dotted with ocher-colored Romanesque churches.
Its Venetian-built citadel boasts magnificent views of the Adriatic and the beaches lying adjacent to the walled city, and if you’re visiting in the high season and keen on some beach time, Mogren Beach is everything you’d hope Amalfi would be:
A pebbly strip straddling translucent waters and backdropped by a medieval townscape, but here’s the kicker… none of the excessive crowding and staggeringly-high prices that make Amalfi a total headache to visit at times.
Effectively, a ćevapi and draft beer dinner will run you up a negligible $15, and as for Old Town hotels, you can find rooms for as cheap as $89 in non-peak dates.
Corfu Town, Greece
You might know Greece for its Aegean islands, where Instagrammable villages bestride volcanic peaks, bougainvillea adorns stone-paved streets, and caldera-facing villas will wipe your savings account clean, but that’s far from being representative of Greece as a whole.
In fact, the vibrant city of Corfu, capital of its namesake island, feels worlds apart from Santorini, Mykonos and the like:
For starters, there are no chalk-white houses and blue-dome churches to be seen anywhere: instead, you get a medieval maze filled with signature Italianate pastel-colored houses and piazzas with fountains, and not one, two monumental Venetian fortresses.
Walking around Corfu Town, you’ll also stumble upon beautiful displays of Greek, French, and even British architecture, reflecting the island’s diverse heritage and the several successive empires that ruled it.
Oh, and the best part is, if you’re dreaming of freshly-caught fish and souvlaki dinners by a scenic harbor front, this small luxury is priced $16–18 on average in Corfu.
Accommodation is equally inexpensive: private rooms in guesthouses cost roughly $45.
Vinicius Costa
Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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