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20 beautiful Italian villages to visit

Pietrapertosa, Italy

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(CNN) — Fabulous food, amazing art, rich language, dramatic and gorgeous landscapes — we all know what makes Italy so special.

Perhaps best of all are the scenic small towns and villages, where it’s possible to enjoy all these while surrounded by picturesque coastline, mountains, valleys, rivers or volcanoes.

Here are some of the most idyllic villages where you can travel that perfectly sum up the beautiful country, or “Bel Paese.”

Pietrapertosa

Pietrapertosa is popular with extreme sports lovers.

Courtesy I Borghi più Belli d’Italia

Located between the gigantic crags of the Basilicata region’s so-called “Southern Dolomites,” Pietrapertosa almost looks like it’s being swallowed by the mountains.

It takes its name from the ancient Petraperciata, which means “perforated stone,” a reference to the huge rock that in whose clefts this pretty village sits.

Shards of human-shaped rocks jut out everywhere in Pietrapertosa, which is shaped like an amphitheater.

Standing at an altitude of around 1,000 meters, its residents proudly say they live suspended mid-air between the sky and the earth.

This backdrop has allowed Pietrapertosa to become a hotspot for extreme sports lovers.

The most thrilling activity here is the Angel Flight, which sees visitors zip line from Pietrapertosa’s highest peak to that of the nearby village of Castelmezzano, offering an adrenaline-filled glide over sharp pinnacles and hairpin bends.

The village is also home to an ancient, crumbling Saracen castle that offers splendid views of the mountains.

Stand out local establishments include restaurant Le Rocce, located on top a hill, serves fantastic local dishes and cozy B&B Palazzo del Barone, with fabulous mountain views.

Le Rocce, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 109, 85010 Pietrapertosa; +39 0971 983260

Marina Corricella

Procida, Italy

Marina Corricella is flanked by fortress Terra Murata.

Courtesy Sergio Aletta

Procida’s oldest fishing village is easily one of Italy’s most beautiful thanks to its patchwork of purple, yellow, pink, blue and green houses.

Dating back to the 17th century, Marina Corricella has a simple, laid-back vibe that’s hard to replicate. Lined with wooden boats and fishing nets, the harbor here is usually buzzing…

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