Peccioli, located within the beautiful Valdera region, has made headlines by entering the prestigious ranking of the 30 most sought-after small towns under 5,000 inhabitants across Italy, according to Holidu’s recent analysis. This ranking emphasizes towns based on online searches, making Peccioli the only town from the province of Pisa to secure this honor, along with Pienza and Pitigliano from Tuscany.
Holidu, known for its vacation rental booking platform, enumerated these towns based on the average monthly search volume for terms relating to what to do and see. With this substantial recognition, Peccioli has taken the 14th spot among these elite locations, moving up to this prominent position due to its significant online interest which amounts to approximately 50,430 searches per month.
Sitting second among Tuscan locations, Peccioli follows closely behind Pienza, which claimed the 9th position with 61,570 searches, and precedes Pitigliano, which is now 19th with 5,050 searches. The ranking demonstrates growth for Peccioli, especially as it stands among such renowned tourist spots as Maratea, Portofino, Amalfi, and others.
The mayor of Peccioli, Renzo Macelloni, expressed great pride at the town's positioning, highlighting, "We are truly pleased to see our village featured on such a significant list. Peccioli is one of the three Tuscan municipalities included and finds itself immediately behind Pienza, which is historically linked to tourist flows. This result reflects the hard work of our community to develop our infrastructure and territory to become increasingly sought-after as a tourist destination."
Peccioli’s status has undoubtedly been enhanced by the dedicated efforts of its residents and local authorities, who have spent decades building on sustainable tourism ideas, evidenced by the town earning the Orange Flag for the twenty-first consecutive year—a prestigious eco-tourism accolade awarded by the Italian Touring Club.
Overall, when examining the most popular small tourist destinations, Maratea takes the lead with over 111,000 average monthly searches, followed closely by San Vito Lo Capo and Positano at third. These locations exemplify popular itineraries for travelers seeking breathtaking vistas and rich Italian culture.
Judging from the latest data, the towns discussed are not only attracting visitors for their scenic beauty but are also becoming hotspots for their affordability relative to their popularity. For example, as Holidu reported, Maratea's average price per night stays competitive even when ranked against significantly tourist-heavy areas like Portofino.
This ranking serves as evidence of the changing trends of travel preferences among tourists who are more frequently searching for hidden gems over simply flocking to high-cost, well-known destinations. Mayor Macelloni’s remarks remind us of the collective belief within the Pecciolo community to embrace their history, environment, and identity for the benefit of their tourism ambition.
With these new findings, both Peccioli and others like it will likely continue to flourish as tourist hot spots, appealing to those interested not just in the available attractions but also the enchanting lifestyle and spirit of the communities behind them.