Pomezia, Italy

This small town near Rome is hardly the idyllic Italian paradise some may dream of. With a population of just 64,119, Pomezia was built from scratch under Mussolini and bears the scars of war and industrial development. While it has emerged as a center for pharmaceuticals and food production, the local bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the climate is unremarkable. Pomezia may appeal to those seeking affordable housing and proximity to the capital, but it offers little in the way of picturesque charm or cultural allure.