Borgo dei Borghi 2026: Final on Easter — Meet the 20 Candidates

Borgo dei Borghi 2026: Final on Easter — Meet the 20 Candidates

The thirteenth edition of the competition celebrating Italy’s small historic villages concludes with a special broadcast on Easter Sunday. Online voting closed on March 22 and the winner will be revealed during the final show on Rai 3.

About the competition

Borgo dei Borghi highlights the historical, artistic and landscape value of small Italian towns, promoting slow and sustainable tourism. The 2025–2026 season began on October 19, 2025 with presentation videos and featured one episode per village.

When and how to watch

• Final: Easter Sunday (special prime-time episode on Rai 3).
• Episodes on demand: each village episode is available on the dedicated Rai portal.
• Voting system: final ranking combines public votes (85%) and a jury panel (15%).

Recent winners

Previous editions awarded the title to villages such as Militello in Val di Catania and Peccioli. The current edition will crown the new champion during the final evening.

The 20 competing villages (2026 edition)

Below is the list of nominated villages, one per region, with a short note on each:

• Realmonte (Agrigento, Sicily) – coastal landscape near the Scala dei Turchi.
• Castellaro Lagusello (Mantua, Lombardy) – medieval village around a heart-shaped lake.
• Cingoli (Macerata, Marche) – known as the “balcony of the Marche” for its views.
• San Nicola Arcella (Cosenza, Calabria) – seaside terraces and the Arcomagno rock formation.
• Battaglia Terme (Padua, Veneto) – spa village near the Euganean Hills.
• Lucignano (Arezzo, Tuscany) – perfectly preserved spiral-shaped historic center.
• San Fele (Potenza, Basilicata) – surrounded by greenery and famed for waterfalls.
• Villar San Costanzo (Cuneo, Piedmont) – at the foot of the Cottian Alps, close to the Ciciu del Villar formations.
• Villalago (L’Aquila, Abruzzo) – natural terrace over the Sagittario Valley and the heart-shaped lake.
• Guardialfiera (Campobasso, Molise) – medieval village overlooking its lake.
• Arenzano (Genoa, Liguria) – Liberty-style villas, seaside gardens and free-roaming peacocks.
• Margherita di Savoia (Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia) – famed for its large salt pans.
• Passignano sul Trasimeno (Perugia, Umbria) – lakeside village combining nature and history.
• Spilimbergo (Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia) – known as the city of mosaics.
• Zungoli (Avellino, Campania) – evocative medieval hilltop village in Irpinia.
• Canossa (Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna) – a scattered village made up of many hamlets.
• Baselga di Pinè (Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige) – hamlets around Lake Serraia and pine forests.
• Sadali (Cagliari, Sardinia) – tiny village noted for springs and larice woods.
• Châtillon (Aosta, Aosta Valley) – medieval village immersed in an alpine valley.
• Nemi (Rome, Lazio) – overlooking Lake Nemi, set within the Castelli Romani Park.

Practical tips for visiting

• Check local opening hours and access: narrow streets and limited parking are common.
• Choose slow mobility: walking and cycling are the best ways to enjoy these villages.
• Look up local events and special openings around the final to make the most of your visit.

The final edition celebrates the diversity of Italy’s small towns; tune in to discover the stories, architecture and landscapes that make these places unique.