Autumn

A small village on the L'Aquila side of the Gran Sasso, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, as happened to most of the towns in the Abruzzo hinterland, experienced a strong depopulation in the second half of the 20th century. It has experienced vindication, more recently, thanks to the development of an excellent hotel tourism service. From the end of the 16th century, Santo Stefano di Sessanio was governed by the Medici and the local economy flourished thanks to the production of wool direct to Florence. The crenellated tower, which stands between the houses, is called the Medici Tower, but in reality it dates back to the 14th century: the name testifies to the economic and cultural impact that the Florentine family had in the village. The restoration of the keep, destroyed by the 2009 earthquake, was completed in 2021, preserving the original elements. Even today, the Medici Gate retains the family coat of arms affixed to the gutter. The memory of the village and the surrounding territories is preserved in the Terre della Baronia Museum. A few steps from the museum, the Medici square overlooks the small church of the Holy Souls, or Suffrage, with the main altar dedicated to the Virgin of Mount Carmel. In the plots of clay land surrounding the village, ideal for the growth of legumes, the lentils of Santo Stefano di Sessanio have been cultivated for centuries, a Slow Food presidium: small and permeable, it does not need soaking and a simple but renowned soup is obtained.

Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club About thirty kilometres from Piacenza, the village of Castell'Arquatostands on a hill largely made up of fossilised shells, which accumulated in the area when it was submerged by water long ago. The interesting relics of this curious history can be admired in the Geological Museum, located in the former hospital of Santo Spirito, a starting point for those wishing to explore the village and learn more about the area. On an urban level, two centres of development overlap: the first with the medieval districts of Borghetto and Monteguzzo found at the foot of the hill; the second, on the hill, is the historic centre, where the atmosphere is like it used to be, which has its centre in the monumental square where you can admire thePalazzo del Podestà, the Visconti Fortress and the Collegiate Church, symbols of the three powers (political, military and religious). The Palazzo del Podestà, now the town hall, goes back to 1293, with the addition of a pentagonal tower in the early 14th century. The Rocca, an impressive defence structure, was built by the Municipality of Piacenza in 1342. The most prominent position in the square is reserved for the Collegiate Church, a Romanesque building consecrated in 1122, with a cloister from which you can access the Collegiate Museum, where sacred furnishings and objects, lapidary material and a picture gallery are on display.

Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club Of the many fortresses described as invincible, there are only a few that were actually invincible: one of these is the Rocca del Sassodi di Verucchio, built in view of Rimini as the future capital of the dynasty and made all-powerful by Sigismondo Malatesta in 1449. Only Federico da Montefeltro, in fact, succeeded in penetrating it, but only by deception. Beneath it is the historical centre with Piazza Malatesta bordered by the Municipal Hall, Palazzo Giungi (18th century) and Palazzo Bedetti, in neoclassical style. The village then stretches over the hillside, halfway up the hill, or hugs the terraces. Worth a visit is the Augustinian convent with its 14th-century church, later revived in the Baroque period, and housing the Archaeological Civic Museum. The village's history doesn't end with the Middle Ages but goes back to the Villanovan civilisation: excavations, which began in 1893, led to the discovery of the necropolis of Campo del Tesoro and Fondo Lavatoio (9th century BC). In Summer especially, Verucchio attracts beach tourists who come from the coast attracted not only byexcellent cuisine, but also by important cultural events such as theFestival of ancient music, historical re-enactments and theVerucchio Festival, which in July attracts singers, groups and musicians of national and international level.

Ancient archaeology here goes hand in hand with the evolution of Christian civilization in Friuli, from the Middle Ages up to yesterday—indeed, almost up to today. It seems like an impossible synthesis, yet the evidence is undeniable. A military colony founded by the Romans in 181 BC, Aquileia became, under Augustus, the capital of Regio Venetia et Histria, effectively taking on the role of one of the main metropolis of the empire. With the advent of Christianity, it began to play a key role in evangelization, as the seat of a Patriarchate that for centuries served as the true guiding force of the Friuli region-nation. Representing the Christian side is above all the Patriarchal Basilica, which features exemplary Romanesque architecture, albeit with Gothic components, and preserves precious mosaics from the early centuries. For antiquity, on the other hand, the references are the National Archaeological Museum, which offers an initial and fundamental introduction to the history of the Roman city, and then the extensive archaeological area with the forum, the river port, several domus, and the burial ground. The importance of the ancient city, the size of the archaeological area, which is largely still buried and therefore intact, and the role of the Basilica in the spread of Christianity in Europe are at the basis of the motivations that led to the site ‘Archaeological Area of Aquileia and Patriarchal Basilica’ being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.

In the beautiful province of Teramo, on the slopes of the Corno Piccolo of the Gran Sasso massif, rises Pietracamela, a silent and exciting mountain village. Entering the village, you can immediately notices its ancient history: The stories of time are told by the houses, some of which can be dated back to the fifteenth century, the streets, views, and building details. The village guards some valuable monuments, such as the Churches of San Giovanni and San Rocco, aedicules, icons, ancient Spanish inscriptions: the traveller can stroll around admiring these small treasures, allowing himself to be moved by the stories they tell with their presence. Outside the town, nature is the real protagonist, making this area a perfect destination for those who love hiking in summer and skiing in winter.

The South Tyrolean territory is rich in natural areas, precious landscapes whose delicate environmental balance must be preserved. Therefore, the region has established numerous parks. There are seven in all, in addition to the Stelvio National Park. The task of each of them is to protect the invaluable ecosystem and make it accessible to all.

If you are looking for an eco-friendly experience and all-round immersion in nature, you are in the right place. In fact, 25% of the Campania region is occupied by protected areas, which go well with environmental and sustainable tourism. We propose a tour of the four Parks of Campania. An evocative route that will know how to enchant you, giving you landscapes that are always different and full of charm.

The territory defined in December 1922 as the Gran Paradiso National Park extends around the homonymous massif (whose peak exceeds 4000 meters) and in the past was a densely populated area. The architecture of the villages is based on the idea of the alpine house, on the Piedmontese side with constructions entirely made of wood, while on the Aosta Valley side wood is flanked by stone. The maximum splendor of this area was reached in the middle of the 1800s, when members of the House of Savoy came up to these parts to reach the hunting posts. The decision to prohibit hunting when the Park first opened was fundamental to saving the ibexes - which are its symbol - from extinction. Today, this mountain Eden, divided into five valleys where rocky environments, prairies, woods and their borders alternate, is truly within everyone's reach: thanks to the project “an Accessible Paradise”, the tourist offering of the entire protected area is able to satisfy the needs, interests and expectations of a wider range of users.

Thanks to its 70,000 hectares, the Sibillini Mountains National Park (between Umbria and the Marche regions) is a true treasure trove of biodiversity due to the alternating presence of wetlands in the valleys, and thick forests and wonderful plateaus such as that of Castelluccio di Norcia, famous for the flowering of lentils. There are many charming villages nestled in a unique landscape that changes according to the seasons at the various altitudes. In fact, there are many peaks in this area that are beyond 2000 meters of altitude above sea level and among them there are Mount Sibilla Mountain, Mount Bove Mountain and the Redentore Peak.

Bathed by two seas, the Tyrrhenian to the west and the Ionian to the east, very different in terms of landscape, beaches and coastal colours, Basilicata enchants with its small, picturesque villages over 1,000 metres above sea level, woods and forests covering the mountains, a landscape characterised by unspoilt nature that goes hand in hand with a prestigious history: all in one, small region with attractions for all tastes.

In the midst of a great geological and landscape range, between desert areas with volcanic rocks and dense, green forests, stands His Highness Mount Etna, or Muncibbeddu in Sicilian, Mongibello. A symbol of Sicily across the world, it is the largest active volcano in Europe, as well as one of the highest in the world, and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2013.

Matera, a rare jewel of Basilicata, is an enchanting miracle of time. Visiting this Lucanian city is like reliving a glorious past. It resembles a small and delightful nativity scene, which is why it is known as 'the second Bethlehem', providing a backdrop for films such as Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Gospel according to St. Matthew and Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.

The history of the city of Cosenza is linked by a double thread with the ancient people of the Bruzi, a lineage known for its belligerent spirit but also for its excellent skills in agriculture and in the cultivation of the land. The fruits? Excellent products, primarily oil and wine. It is therefore not surprising why the Wine and Flavors Route is dedicated to this town, a 52-kilometre itinerary, suitable for everyone and accessible in every season of the year. The route crosses Calabria, from the Crati Valley to that of Savuto, in 4 stages of great suggestion.

.Immersed in scenery that is beautiful in all seasons, allow yourself to be transported to an experience with an emphasis on taste and health. The cuisine on offer is more than just zero km: in true agritourisms, more than 60 per cent of the produce must in fact be home-grown, or come from farms and agri-food companies in the same Territorial Development System. So here are 7 green agritourisms in Campania where you can partake in a simple, yet surprising, delicacy.

An ideal territory for cyclists, who between one ride and another can refresh themselves between crescentines with the "cunza", borlengo and a glass of Lambrusco.

Ancona is made up of sea and hills. It seems that in ancient Greek "ankón" meant "elbow", and here the landscape of the coast is really like an elbow drawn from the hill of the Cathedral and the hilly parks of Cardeto and Passetto. In the middle is the city, with the sea horizon facing Dalmatia, ships and cranes along the docks, grandiose historical buildings, mysterious sculptural reliefs, imposing signs of the ancient Roman civilization, and beaches on the slopes of the parks. Spending a day of leisure in the large port city of the central Adriatic means making discoveries. Choosing two wheels is advisable, but not with a push bike: we are in a city of unevenness, not all of us have the strength of a cycling champion in our legs. There is no shortage of places to rent a scooter. You can get to Ancona by motorway, by the very long Adriatic road 16 or by rail. If you want, there is also an airport. The ideal thing would be to arrive in the most natural way: by ship, because you would get the taste of the place in the most panoramic and naturally slow way. Follow the manoeuvres, watch the tyres throw, get in line to disembark and finally begin to discover.

There, everyone can make a tailor-made bike experience, either following the wake of the great champions, or choosing a not too testing ride, even with the whole family. The grand finale of Tirreno-Adriatico, the cycling race that runs across the Italian peninsula from sea to sea, unfolds in a scenery imbued with blooming and salty scents. The itinerary begins on the hills overlooking the sea and ends along the coast. A slower-running course in the first half, owning to the ups and downs that can test your quadriceps and lungs a faster-running route in the second half along the straight stretches that favour an upping pace. Here is a short guide to pick the fittest one for you.