Trentino does not readily pop into mind for those contemplating an Italian sojourn. Tuscany, most certainly, Umbria, Sicily — but Trentino? To mention this mountainous province tends to invite head scratching: “Trentino … where is Trentino?”

Look to Italy’s far northeast corner, tucked into the shadow of the jagged limestone peaks of the famed Dolomites. To the west, Lombardy; Veneto to the east; Austria bordering the north. Best known to daring-do skiers for winter sport resorts like Canazei and San Martino di Castrozza, Trentino remains relatively untouched by the tourists of summer.

Lush hillsides and alpine villages characterize Trentino.

Trentino is tailor-made for those who enjoy traveling on their own. One can hike around a secluded alpine lake in the morning; sample wine at a family-owned winery at noon; stroll along the palm-lined promenade of a spa in the afternoon; dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant; and slip into bed in a medieval castle at the end of the day.

Measuring about 2,400 square miles (6,200 km²), Trentino is only as big as Utah’s Great Salt Lake when filled to capacity. But tucked in one small corner here are glaciers, alpine lakes and waterfalls. Castles top almost every promontory — some in rocky ruin, many partly restored, with others seeing service as museums and inns.

Lush hillsides and valleys supply high-quality grapes for renowned Italian wines, and fill the country’s market basket with an array of fruits and vegetables, cheeses and specialty meats.

Charming and tidy alpine villages enchant in a tumble of bright geraniums and petunias. Trentino’s thermal waters have been visited since ancient times. Here is one of the largest and most famous spa towns in the Italian Alps, Merano.

The town of Trento, population 55,000, beautifully situated in a wide glacial valley with a backdrop of awe-inspiring peaks, is the capital of this autonomous region. Off the beaten path of mass tourism, Trento is well worth a visit, with its unique architectural mix of restored late-Medieval and Renaissance buildings and Germanic influences.

Traveling north to south through Trentino, in about 62 miles (100 km) the vegetation changes from alpine to Mediterranean, complete with lemons, olives and oleanders. At its southern end is Lake Garda, shaped like an elongated, upside-down watery version of Italy itself. Italy’s largest lake is especially popular with Northern European tourists, who come to sail, windsurf and water ski. The historic town of Riva del Garda, with its trade mark Torre Apponale, a tower built in 1220, is particularly popular.