A woman who visited Italy with her mother chose not to visit popular cities such as Rome, Florence or Venice, instead opting to explore less famous and more unusual destinations.

Travel writer Jenna DeLaurentis took her mother on a “retirement trip” to the iconic European country frequented by millions of tourists each year. She came to the conclusion that the likes of Padua and Ravenna would result in a “more authentic” experience of Italy.

For geographical context, Ravenna is situated in the north-east, 50 miles from Bologna, whilst Padua is just 20 miles from Venice.

Jenna said that whilst Ravenna receives a lot of tourists, these mainly appeared to be day trips from Bologna, which meant many of them left during the afternoon, leaving the area calm, reports the Mirror.

Meanwhile, in Padua, Jenna wrote in Business Insider that they encountered a “similar scenario”. She explained: “Sites like the Basilica of St. Anthony and Scrovegni Chapel were busy in the morning, but most tourists seemed to be gone before it got dark.

“As crowds dwindled in both Ravenna and Padua, my mum and I spent our evenings trying local cuisine and sipping cocktails at outdoor bars.”

Jenna’s conclusion was that visiting smaller cities such as Padua and Ravenna gave them a far superior experience than visiting major tourist hubs like Rome and Venice.

She explained: “Though the attractions are noteworthy, they’re often overshadowed by overwhelming crowds. Visiting Ravenna and Padua, on the other hand, gave us the best of both worlds.

“We made wonderful memories together while exploring each city’s historical attractions, and loved spending quiet evenings wandering around picturesque city centres.”

Jenna’s remarks about her late May trip come as Europe emerges from another intense tourism season, with the perennial debate about overtourism continuing to raise concerns about visitor capacity limits in popular cities.

Nevertheless, Italy’s tourism season may begin earlier next year as the nation gears up to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games, scheduled between February 6 and February 22 and March 6 to March 15 respectively.

The UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has consequently revised its travel advice for Italy, urging British travellers to secure appropriate travel insurance.

In their updated guidance, they stated: “If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.”

Specifically referencing the Olympic Games, they continued: “Get advice on weather and avalanche conditions before you travel and familiarise yourself with local skiing laws and regulations. You can contact the Italian State Tourist Board for advice on safety and weather conditions before you travel.”