Italy hides some small gems that regular routes don't touch, and these truly unusual places are rarely discovered by tourists. These attractions are perfect for local events or business meetings, or they can be combined with well-known nearby tourist attractions. You ready? Here are 7 unique things to do while in Italy for business.
Get a passport to the Grandi Panchine
Checking out these fun benches along the way will make you feel like you've been back in time as a child – it's the tour of the big benches that dot the Piedmont region between Langhe and Monferrato. They can also be found in Italy and elsewhere in Europe, but most are in the Piedmontese wine region, where the activity also originated.
You can purchase a special passport for the Big Bench Community Project, then collect the stamps corresponding to each bench on the app and official** as a sign and memento along the way.
Get a glimpse of the Italian desert
Few people know that Italy also has a real desert. It is located in the Siena region, from Asciano to T**Erne D'The semi-desert area of Arbia. The soil there is hard clay and there is no vegetation.
The name of this desert is Deserto di Accona, and the area is also known as Biancane di Leonina, and the views are spectacular. From Siena, it can be easily reached within an hour by car or by fast regional train.
Get lost in Arianna's labyrinth
In the Castel di Lucio, in the province of Messina, Sicily, there is a wonderful labyrinth that can make you lose yourself and find yourself.
It is called Labrinto di Arianna (Labrinto di Arianna) and is located in the Museum of Fine Arts Fiumara D'Inside the Arte, an open-air museum along the Tusa River Valley, it is full of works by contemporary artists. If you're in Mexico on business, it's a 2-hour drive to get here, but this unique activity is sure to make your trip worthwhile.
Built in 1990 by the Mantuan artist Italo Lanfredini, this labyrinth is a journey to the heart of self and life. The title of the work refers to the labyrinth designed by Daedalus, which the legendary King Minoan wanted, in which Theseus killed the Minotaur with the help of Ariadne and a ball of wool. That mass of wool was the thread of the legendary Ariadne.
Find secret dungeons
Valchiusella, about an hour's drive from Turin, has a mysterious underground city.
The city is built underground, deep in a mountain, up to 70 meters deep, but full of lights, colors and wonders. Its name is Damanhur and it was founded in the 70s of the last century and a small independent community lived here. There are many ornate rooms dedicated to water, earth and mirrors, all connected by corridors, staircases and secret passages, and there is also the largest underground temple in the world. Not to be missed!
Stroll through the mural village
In the heart of the medieval village of Dozza, in the Emilia Romagna region, the walls are covered with frescoes: coming here is like entering a museum, without having to pay an entrance fee.
Located 35 kilometers from Bologna, this wonder of color and art is worth exploring slowly. Wander the streets and let yourself be captivated by the murals on every corner. The Biennale del Muro Dipiinto mural biennale is also held here.
Andromeda Theatre
The Andromeda Theater is a masterpiece of breathtaking. It is located in the heart of the Sikani Mountains, at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level, in the province of Agrigento in Sicily. Lorenzo Reina was a shepherd and sculptor who drew inspiration from the sheepfolds that guard his flock to create this unique building in Italy.
The 108 stone seats in this amphitheater are arranged according to the Andromeda seat, ensuring that the audience can enjoy an unparalleled view. It's an hour's and a quarter of an hour's drive from Agrigento and less than two hours from Palermo.
The ideal city to visit in the heart of Umbria
In the Nexi neighborhood of Umbria, in the valley where St. Francis once lived, stands La Scarzuola, an ideal city designed and built by the architect Tommaso Buzzi in 1956 and completed in 1981 after his death, thanks to the sketches that his nephew Marco Solari kept in the estate.
This complex is a great piece of stone architecture inspired by Italy and other parts of the world, such as the Villa d'Este and Villa Adriana, the Acropolis, the Colosseum, the Beaumaso Monster Park and the Renaissance Palace. The variety of elements, shapes, and themes will captivate you.