Autumn

Nothing strikes you more, strolling through the narrow streets of Roseto Capo Spulico, than the splendid sea that stands out in front of the town, blue, clear and sparkling. Here the climate is always mild and it seems that the name of the village derives precisely from the roses, whose blossoming, thanks to these ideal conditions, embellishes the village all year round. An ancient village, Roseto was born in the 10th century and reached its maximum splendour in 1200, a period in which the Castrum Petrae Roseti was built, which today houses the town hall and the Museum of Rural Civilisation; in addition to the Castle, other traces of the medieval past can be found along the coast in the remains of the watchtower, known as the Capo Spulico or Torre Spaccata tower.

The history of Diamante is one that has been intertwined with the sea since its origins: the protagonist was in fact the hamlet of Cirella, probably founded by the Greeks, which became a very important trading centre thanks to its port. Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the heart of the Riviera dei Cedri, Diamante's link with the sea is still very strong, due to the wonder of its beaches, enhanced by volcanic cliffs and enchanting inlets, but above all due to the history that has always united them. The town is also famous as the 'town of murals': there are over 150 works of art that can be admired on the walls of the town, on which poets, writers, artists and revolutionaries have left their mark. For this reason, Diamante is the largest open-air museum in Italy, to be explored by letting yourself be carried away by its magic.

Sutera is a village that encompasses beauty, art and... legends. The town welcomes us with the scenic belvedere of Piazza Sant'Agata, the Church of the same name, the ruins of the 15th-century Palazzo Salamone, and the Church of Maria SS. del Carmelo. Very special is the Rabato, a district founded by the Arabs around 860 AD. The Rabato had the classic characteristics of an Arab village: narrow alleys, terraces, houses with plaster walls: today many of these features have been buried by various layers of construction, but looking at the neighbourhood from the top of the mountain, something still reminds one of that period. After exploring other parts of the village, it remains to see the 'rocca diviscata o jacca - cleft rock', a hillock where the rock is separated into two by a gap, and tradition has it that this occurred with Jesus' last breath on the cross.

The city's history as an urban settlement began in the 11th century, after the triumphal arrival of Roger d 'Altavilla – in Old French, Jarl Roger de Hauteville – the grand comte who had driven the Saracens out of Sicily. Today, the event is re-enacted in the annual Palio dei Normanni, one of the first events of its kind to originate in southern Italy: the spectacular, medieval-style festivities, with hundreds of costumed figures, are held over three days in mid-August. The historical domination following the Norman era left its mark in the city with the imposing four-sided bulk and massive angular towers of the Aragonese castle, built in the late 14th century. Architectural activity became to increase around three centuries later, with the construction and renovation of churches, monastic complexes and civil buildings: St. Peter's with its precious coffered ceiling, the City Palace with its wrought-iron balconies, St Rocco with its beautiful sculpted portal, and the almost twin churches of St Ignatius and St Anne, with their monumental façades. From the top of the hill, an upland of the Erei Mountains, the Cathedral dominates the entire town. It too is a 17th-century reconstruction, although the Gothic-Catalan structure of the bell tower of the previous church can still be seen. Visit Palazzo Trigona City and Territorial Museum, part of the cultural exhibition system that includes the UNESCO site for which Piazza Armerina is world famous: the nearby Villa Romana del Casale. Curiosity for archaeology should not, however, cancel out that for nature: not far away, to the north, is the Floristella Grottacalda Mining Park.

Located 450 m above sea level in the heart of the National Park and within the Raganello Gorge Nature Reserve, Civita is one of the most beautiful villages in Calabria and is part of the circuit of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy and the Orange Flag. Rising around the year 1000, it owes its origins to the people of Cassano all'Ionio who, fleeing Saracen raids, took up residence here. Abandoned following the earthquake of 1465, it was colonised by Albanian settlers around 1471. Civita is today a treasure chest of Arbëreshe culture, whose customs and traditions it preserves. Known as the "village among the rocks", or the "village of the Devil's Bridge" because of its striking medieval stone construction, Civita is nestled in a verdant valley surrounded by wooded mountains, in a breathtaking natural setting. Numerous traces of the past can be found in the village: intersecting alleyways, narrow streets, two-storey stone houses and the characteristic anthropomorphic or talking houses, the so-called "Kodra houses" (after the Albanian artist Ibrahim Kodra who discovered them), small dwellings with small windows, chimney and chimney pots, whose façade resembles a human face, and the characteristic chimney pots, small works of art that kept bad luck away. Village life revolves around the "gjitonia" (neighbourhood), a strong social identity governed by mutual aid and a spirit of belonging. Civita boasts a rich heritage of religious buildings including the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Baroque style (16th century) where the Byzantine liturgical rite is in force, the 16th century Chapel of Santa Maria della Consolazione and that dedicated to Sant'Antonio. Not to be missed is the impressive 36-metre-long Devil's Bridge, which crosses the Raganello stream in a single arch.

A natural terrace on the Costa degli Dei The coasts of Calabria are renowned around the world and the Costa degli Dei (Coast of the Gods) is one of the most visited places in Italy during the summer. Countless natural gems contribute to the great popularity of this area, stretching from Pizzo Calabro to Nicotera. The most noteworthy include the Capo Vaticano coastline, which is overlooked by the village of Ricadi, perched on a picturesque promontory that offers magical views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. In Capo Vaticano, you can relax on the free, pristine beaches or explore the many villages and residences that offer guests comfort and entertainment. Visitors who want to discover more about the area can head to the Mu.Ri, the Civic Museum of the Municipality of Ricadi, which is divided into five exhibition centres located throughout the territory: the Museum of the Sea in Capo Vaticano, the Onion Museum in Capo Vaticano, the Tower Museum in Torre Marrana di Brivadi, the Museum of Peasant Art in Ricadi and the Anthropological and Palaeontological Museum in Santa Domenica. Be sure not to miss the panoramic path along Capo Vaticano, a walking trail 100 metres above sea level. You can climb up to the lighthouse and stop on its natural terrace to enjoy the splendour of the Calabrian coastline, from the beaches of Grotticelle to the small Bay of S. Maria.

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 Pollino National Park extends from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Ionian Sea, covering an area of almost 200,000 hectares and is one of the GeoParks protected by UNESCO. It is located between Basilicata and Calabria. It is a heterogeneous structure, from the Piani di Campolongo, Novacco, and Lanzo, to Piani del Pollino, home to the Argentino and Abatemarco rivers, the Lao and Raganello gorges, and the streams of Peschiera and Frido. The whole area of Pollino is formed by the Massifs of Pollino and Orsomarso. The mountain range, which is part of thesouthern Apennines, can boast the highest peaks in southern Italy, covered with snow for a long period of the year, starting in November and ending in May, when the snow melts. The peaks of the Park reach an altitude of 2,200 metres above sea level. The natural area consists of dolomitic rocks, limestone ramparts, fault walls, cliffs, very deep gorges, and also plateaus, meadows and high altitude pastures. One of the "green" symbols of the Park is certainly the Loricato Pine, called "living fossil" or "dinosaur of the trees" by many, due to the ability of this type of conifer to resist and thrive in difficult environments, at altitudes above 1000 metres, and in isolated areas, where other types of trees cannot survive.

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.

Every Sunday from October 27th until December 1, Piazza Cisterna comes alive with Autunno Ragalnese: markets featuring typical products, local crafts, and delicious specialties. Don’t miss: Sausage, Caliceddi and Wine Fair Finale with the Nocellara dell’Etna Olive Oil Fair Fun for the whole family: every Sunday, kids’ entertainment and themed workshops from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Come and enjoy the colors and flavors of Etna!

Sogliano al Rubicone is ready to welcome travellers, food and wine tourists and simple lovers of good food for the 50th Sogliano PDO Fossa Cheese Fair. The Fair will be on the Sundays of 23, 30 November and 7 December 2025 and has now become a renowned event at a national level because over time it has been able to promote and renew the fascinating history of Fossa Cheese. In addition to the renowned cheese, considered a small treasure since the eighteenth century, the Fair will be the perfect opportunity to taste and buy other typical Sogliano products such as Savòr, Saba, Montetiffi clay baking trays (ideal for cooking piadina), honey, cured meats, etc. But there will also be other food and wine excellences, such as wines and cheeses, from different regions of Italy. In particular, we would like to point out: “5 Ristoranti in Piazza”: five Sogliano restaurateurs offer 5 menus based on Fossa Cheese (and more), to be enjoyed in a large heated and covered area “E Zir dal Fosi”: Tasting itinerary based on fossa cheese and pairing with wines at the 5 "Fosse" present in the historic center of Sogliano al Rubicone, in collaboration with the “Consorzio dei Vini di Romagna”. As usual, the traditional lunch/refreshment will not be missed in the premises of the Pro Loco of Sogliano. Many side events will accompany the gastronomic content of the fair: theatrical, musical and recreational shows, conferences, concerts, workshops, an area dedicated to children and entertainment with shows and ancient games.

For an entire weekend, from November 7th to 9th, 2025, the historic centre of Gemona del Friuli will become a meeting place for all those who love cheese. But not only that. The event "Gemona, Cheese... and Surroundings," now in its 24th edition, was mainly created to highlight the important dairy production of local dairies, but over the years it has become a showcase for many producers from outside the region. There will be numerous "food and wine stands" offering tastings of various specialties, accompanied by regional and Italian wines; an opportunity to rediscover traditional products, but also a chance to discover new ones and appreciate the dairy specialties of the guest regions. The event takes place alongside the Thanksgiving Festival, which traditionally marks the end of the agricultural year.

In June, the weekends in Breme become tastier to celebrate the “Dolcissima”, a red onion which has been produced in Breme for generations and now bears the De.Co mark (municipal denomination of origin). This gastronomic event started out as a small local event and over the years has become a real reference point for gastronauts and chefs from Italy and beyond, in search of new inspiration. Each year, the festival aims to promote a small but precious product from the area's short supply chain. It does so by embracing the culinary tradition of the Lomellina Valley, with its generous recipes: the “dolcissima” is the queen of the menus prepared for the occasion and is paired with tripe, typical stews, grilled meats and the ever-present omelette, the true must of the festival!

It is 'the learned', because in 1088 it saw the birth of the first university in the western world, which still today attracts students from around the world. It is 'the red' because of the characteristic colour of its roofs, visible from the top of its medieval towers. And it is 'the fat' – you just try to resist the temptation of a sandwich stuffed with fresh mortadella or a dish of piping hot lasagna!

Of all the types of journey, opting for a route that follows the tasting stops has its reasons. Savouring the typical dishes of an area will accomplish a twofold mission: to satisfy the palate and get to know the traditions of the area. A food and wine itinerary in the Aosta Valley is this and much more. Mountain flavours, treasured traditions, the finest ingredients: the typical products of the Aosta Valley are worth the journey, and at the first taste you will understand why.

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.

A sort of an uncharted territory in regards to mass tourism, Molise, which lies between the regions of Abruzzo and Apulia, is a region that hosts numerous art treasures, breathtaking natural sceneries, and thousand-year-old traditions. A very characteristic aspect of Molise is its network of tratturi, the ancient grassy paths of transhumance from the pre-Roman Era up to only a few centuries ago, our ancestors traveled these trails, driving their animal herds from season to season. Livestock transhumance, the principal mainstay of the Southern peasant, was (and is still, in some cases) based on a very rigorous journey from the cool mountain pastures of Abruzzo in autumn, to the hot and humid Apulian Plateaus (where they reverse direction in summer).

These are the magnificent scenery of the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato, where the great Italian wines of Piedmont, Barolo and Barbaresco, are produced. This jewel of Piedmont with its seductive landscapes has become part of the World Heritage List of Unesco.

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.

The Tuscan countryside around Siena takes in spas as well as excellent food and wine with these five delightful cycling routes through picture postcard nature. The spectacular countryside around Siena, in Tuscany, offers slow rides immersed in nature with the bouquet of wines and truffles, natural spas and very old villages still pervaded by the presence of the ancient Etruscans. Here are five essential itineraries for a truly complete sensory experience. These enchanting landscapes will also welcome stages of the Giro d'Italia 2023.

A farmer on his way back from the fields, an ancient Roman on a road heading North, a never-forgotten champion holding the handlebar with all his might. What about you? Who are you dreaming to be? The hinterland in Le Marche plays the main role in the second to last stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, the coast-to-coast race in which the cycling top contenders face off. The itinerary we are describing in these lines, however, lends itself to the (perhaps down-scaled) effort of the cycling enthusiasts. The merit goes to its mild slopes, immersed in the woods or surrounded by sunflower fields, its artistic richness and its wide culinary offer. Who among you, once off the bike, can say ‘no’ to a dish of cold cuts paired with some Vernaccia?