Travelers: The Hidden Gems of Italy You've Never Heard About

In Italy, they have a problem: tourists, which means "us," seem to only know about Firenze, Roma, and Venezia. The situation is becoming explosive in those cities. You can't walk as you want in the museums, where herds of sightseers monopolize the best artworks of Da Vinci and his friends. In fact, when you walk in the streets, you always hear english and french speakers. So the question is: what do we want from a travel? Only clichés? Or more? This question is related to how we see life: most people, when they come to buy a sports car, will buy a Ferrari. If you are like me, and you want more from life than clichés, herds of tourists, expensive prices, and random sport cars, you are at the right place. So now, let's escape Venezia, and discover the true Italy, through five Italian car brands you have never heard about.

1. De Tomaso: the car of the stars:

Funded by an Argentinian pilot in the lat 50s, De Tomaso has become the car of the stars. Specially exported to the US, the De Tomaso cars equipped Elton John, Elvis Presley, and so on. They have a fantastic design. Despite this glorious notoriety, the brand disappeared in 2012. As a traveler, you have to discover Modena, the city where De Tomaso (and Ferrari...) has come to birth: with three monuments classed at the Unesco World Heritage, hundreds of local gastronomic dishes, and a splendid landscape in the true heart of Italy, you need to discover this city. And remember that one day, a billionaire has dreamed to ride a De Tomaso, rather than a random Lamborghini.

The De Tomaso Pantera

2. Iso Rivolta: killed by gasoline

This brand will make you travel in the North of Italy, just above Milano. Born in Bresso, a little city of 26,000 inhabitants, Iso created the famous "bubble car" in the 1950s. Then, in the 60-70s, the goal of the creators was to compete with Ferrari. So, those ambitious created the Iso Griffo, a terrible V8 with a competitive design. In 1973, the petroleum crisis suddenly killed the brand: a huge decrease in the demand for V8 engines turned the dream in a nightmare. In 1974, bankruptcy was declared. In 2014, the Zambon group inaugurated the "bolla d'aria" in the Parco Nord of Bresso. This piece of design, located on the water of a small lake has the goal to share our knowledge about the operation of breathing. You can combine the visit of this small city with a delicious brunch in the side restaurant.

The Iso Griffo, not for random people

3. Autobianchi: fresh italian mini:

If you are looking for a fresh Italian babe, don't look further. She is there: the Autobianchi. Founded at the beginning of the last century, this Italian brand was originally operating in the Abruzzi, in the heart of Italy. After the bombing of the World War, they moved to the North of Milan in the small lovely town of Desio. The brand became widely know with the A112 model, a kind of Italian mini. This cute car was the biggest success of the brand in the 70s. I think that Mr Bean would have dealed his British mini for an A112 if he ever heard about this car. The brand disappeared in 1995 when she was merged in the Lancia brand. If you come in Desio to remember the A112, let me introduce you a hidden treasure of the city : the Villa Tittoni Traversi. Yes, let's google it bro :). This is truly why you need to escape the big cities of Italy, and discover the rural side of the country. BELIEVE ME.

Look at her

4. Siata: Men prefer cabriolet:

Another lovely Italian brand killed by the Petroleum Crisis. This brand, which only lived 44 years, has delivered us the small lovely cabriolet we've all dreamed about. Founded by an amateur race driver in 1926, Siata was located in Turin, in the north-west of Italy, one of the biggest industrial cities of the country. The best model of the firm is the Siata 208s, with 33 models only. This little cabriolet car was produced in the 50s, and was a great combination between style and great race performance. The recent renovation of the heart of Turin is another great motivation to discover the city. If the city had a terrible reputation for a long time, thanks to her industrial heritage, she was largely transformed in the 2010s. The "museo egizio" (egyptian museum) of Turin is also widely known, with more than 700,000 visitors per year and 30,000 artefacts. Let me give you a good advice: you should visit it.

The Siata 208s

5. Edonis: an Italian doped Bugatti

As you may know, Bugatti is NOT an Italian Brand. Bugatti's cars are produced in France, in Alsace. Now, let's talk about Edonis, an Italian doped Bugatti. Assembled and designed by Bugatti's former employees in the 2000s, the brand, in fact, never worked. Also produced in Modena, which gives you a second chance to FINALLY book your trip in this city, the Edonis was in fact... too much. Only 21 Edonis cars were produced in the whole story of the brand.

Too much

The goal of this article was to help you discover another side of Italy. Most of us are only planning to go in the Big Three: Venezia, Firenze, and Roma. Which allow us to pay expensive prices, and never feel the real Italian lifestyle experience. True Italy is also in those little cities, such as Modena and Bresso or in Turin, the city, where, in fact, Italy was born in the late 19th century. As humans, you need to go beyond the headlines, and discover how a country is truly shaped. Through the example of those unknown Italian brands, I wish you have learned something, and discover something else about Italy: the love that Italian people have for design and cars. Which explains why, a hundred years ago, Michelangelo and his fellow friends have changed the face of Art forever. Because they truly loved beautiful things.

Thank you for reading my friends, you can discover my others article like this one, and follow me on Instagram for more great content.

Ciao a tutti ! :)