Autumn

The second largest and most important city in South Tyrol, Merano lies along the banks of the Passeirio river, a few metres before its confluence with the Adige, in a wide and sunny alpine basin. And it is its almost Mediterranean climate, despite its Alpine geography, that has made its fortune: already in the 19th century, the city was known as a fashionable destination, a favourite holiday resort of the Habsburg aristocracy and upper middle class. With its thermal baths and grand hotels assuring a relaxing stay, the town also offers a host of opportunities for fun, entertainment and even betting: including a casino and racecourse. The almost immediate success of Merano as a destination required train links from Vienna and Budapest, to meet the demands of wealthy travellers. Today's Merano presents itself as a resort that, while retaining the allure of its prestigious past, has been able to adapt to contemporary tourism as an ideal destination for lovers of haute cuisine, wine, culture and music, wellness and sports. Strolling along the town's main shopping streets, Corso della Libertà and Via dei Portici, you can see some of the beautiful historic buildings of Merano. Outside the train station, you walk past the Puccini theatre and the Kurhaus (home to cultural and food and wine events) until you reach the elegant, elaborately-decorated Cathedral of St Nicholas, whose bell tower watches over the city. Just a few steps further on, you are surrounded by lush and verdant nature, as you walk along the banks of the River Passirio or through the botanical gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle. If you're willing to go even higher, you can reach the panoramic walks that cut across the slopes of Mount Benedict, before heading back down to the old town for a visit to the stately castle of the House of Hapsburg.

The jazz centre of Sardinia On the slopes of the Limbara, in the mountainous heart of Gallura, lies the small town of Berchidda. A place rich in history and cultural events, set in the rugged landscapes of the Sardinian hinterland. The village’s Art Nouveau houses and buildings wind up its steep streets in a crescent shape. The town is home to numerous buildings of religious interest, such as the 17th-century Church of the Rosary and the bucolic churches of St Catherine and St Andrew. Near the village, 500 metres above sea level, stands the Montacuto Castle, built in the 11th century. Those who prefer to wander through the Mediterranean scrubland will be amazed by the beauty of the Monte Limbara State Forest, with its paths through beech forests and its “Stazzu”, ancient shelters for shepherds and animals during transhumance. Breathe in the pure air rich with scent of myrtle and juniper and admire the characteristic cork oaks up close. Berchidda remains a reference point for music lovers. Every year, the international jazz music festival, Time in Jazz, is held. Created by trumpeter Paolo Fresu, the event welcomes musicians, artists and fans from all over the world. During the Christmas festivities, on the other hand, do not miss the Notte de Chelu (“celestial night” in Sardinian), during which each of the town’s eight districts creates and displays its own nativity scene.

Drena is a mountain village that rises halfway between Lake Garda and Lake Cavedine. Already inhabited in prehistoric times and shaped through Roman and medieval influences, this area retains traces of its long history in the numerous historic gates carved in stone, towers, arches and curious, irregular-looking alleyways, over which stands Drena Castle, whose crenellated tower seems to watch over the village from its heights. A short distance from Drena are the 'Marocche', expanses of boulders formed by a series of landslides during the last Ice Age. This landscape, with its barren, almost lunar charm, is criss-crossed by an extensive network of paths that take visitors on a journey back in time. The thousand-year-old chestnut groves that grow around the village provide the raw material for the famous Drena marrons, the flagship of the gastronomic tradition of this beautiful village. The neighbouring village of Brailais certainly worth a visit: a hamlet whose stone houses, leaning against each other, are home to a population of just 10 inhabitants. For sports enthusiasts, then, the via ferrata Rio Sallagoni offers an adventurous route up to Drena Castle, passing over sheer cliffs with breathtaking views of the valley below.

In the heart of Carnia, Ravascletto and Mount Zoncolan, in winter, offer comfortable ski-lifts, sunny slopes suitable for every need and splendid itineraries for ski mountaineering and snowshoeing. In summer, it is an ideal destination for nature excursions, trips to the malga, on horseback, by bicycle or motorbike to discover enchanted forests and silent peaks. Among the most popular destinations are the Zoncolan, a well-known stage of the Giro d'Italia, and the Panoramica delle Vette, an evocative route immersed in the beauty of the high mountains with breathtaking views. The locality is also known for its excellent cuisine, presented to guests at the end of August on the occasion of the 'Fiesta tas Corts'; houses and courtyards open up to discover flavours and ancient traditions. Ravascletto boasts the nomination of Borgo Autentico d'Italia (Authentic Village of Italy) also thanks to its splendid hamlets that have maintained intact numerous examples of ancient Carnic houses.

A living room with a Mitteleuropean flavour, immersed in greenery and ready to tell a story that goes back more than nine centuries. This is how Gradisca d'Isonzo presents itself to visitors, a noble town that, especially from the 16th century onwards, assumed a key role in the defence system set up by the Republic of Venice against the Turkish invasions. In fact, the Serenissima fortified it powerfully, so much so that the historic centre of Gradisca was enclosed in 1479 by a mighty city wall. Gradisca's significant architectural heritage grew with particular momentum under the princes of Eggenberg, between the 17th and 18th centuries. The four centuries of Habsburg influence left a strong historical imprint, which today is combined with a distinct commercial and cultural liveliness. There are many restaurants and eateries, including the regional wine shop 'La Serenissima' where you can taste the best wines of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

A trip to Gropparello, the beating heart of the Vezzeno Valley Between the Chero and Riglio streams, 30 km from Piacenza, lies the small municipality of Gropparello, which is easily accessible by car along a scenic road through the hills of the Vezzeno Valley. The landscape is characterised by vineyards and woods that lead you to the village, which is home to a castle and towers. The area has a very mild climate, meaning you can visit all year round, but during autumn it takes on a particularly unique charm thanks to the warm colours of the leaves that fill the surrounding forests. What a beautiful castle! The Gropparello Castle dates back to the 8th century and is famous for its strategic position that has made it unassailable over the centuries. Built on the top of a steep cliff to defend the route into the valley, today this fortress enchants all who visit. After fifteen years of neglect, the castle was bought in 1994 by its current owners, who, in addition to making it their home, have turned it into a place that anyone can visit to appreciate local history and art. With the Castle being Gropparello's main attraction, this small town in the Piacenza area is the perfect destination for family-friendly holidays. In fact, numerous activities are organised to involve even the youngest children and there are various different itineraries you can choose from, based on age group. A jam-packed calendar of events Gropparello is as small as it is full of life. Almost every month the Castle team organises themed parties, festivals and events. Most promote local products and activities with the aim of raising awareness of local traditions and customs. The Fairytale Park is the ideal destination for nature walks and picnics. It has earned itself the title of an “emotional park”, due to the frequent historical re-enactments that are organised, during which you will find yourself catapulted into a fantasy world bursting with knights and magical creatures. The Corsa dei Carretti takes place in early spring to kick-start the season. This activity challenges participating teams to speed down the steep road from the castle in carts. The Festa dell'Allegria (Festival of Happiness) combines fun, music and sport and lasts for several days during the month of June. This charming event also offers you the opportunity to savour local specialities with food and wine tastings. The Festa dell’Uva (Grape Festival) is held in September during harvest time. Children can take part in the crushing of the grapes, which always attracts plenty of eager participants. The Bersani Nativity Scenes–life-size–run from 8 December to 6 January and are set up along the village streets of Bersani. Splendid paintings also adorn the walls and doors of the houses: from Sleeping Beauty to Snow White, you can admire depictions of the most famous fairy tales. Of course, it is a magical place to visit at other times of the year too. Finally, the Strada dei Vini e dei Sapori dei Colli Piacentini (Wine and Flavours Route of the Piacenza Hills) association promotes and organises tours to discover the food and wine delights of the area. Sport and adventure Unmissable outdoor activities in the area include the horseback riding, surrounded by the enchanting landscapes of the Gropparello area. For the sportier visitors, there are trekking and mountain biking trails galore, with a variety of difficulty levels. One of the easiest trails is the Rio Rosello Trail, a round trip that takes about an hour and a half and offers breathtaking views of the watercourse that will accompany you throughout your walk. The path is strewn with small fossils that often emerge from the water. An alternative walk leads to the Riglio Waterfalls, which are small but impressive. Accommodation If you have always wanted to spend a night in a castle, you can do just that in Gropparello by booking the suite at the Torre del Barbagianni. This gives you the unique opportunity to stay in the village for a few more hours and delight your palate with typical local dishes: from game to mushrooms, from wines to cheeses, the area offers a broad choice of delicious products. We recommend pisarei e faso, chisolini, tortelli alla piacentina and bortellina, all paired with a fantastic local wine. A local peculiarity is the fact that they eat so many snacks that these often replace dinner! Around Gropparello Boredom is not an option! Nearby, you can find other small villages, castles and bell towers that make the landscape even more impressive. These include the Castle of Montechino, the castles of Tavasca and Veggiola, now converted into villas, and the Castle of Sariano. Undeniable beauty!

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.

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.

The fifth edition of Wineland, the event dedicated to Calabrian food and wine excellence, returns to Crotone. From 26 to 28 December 2025, the city centre will be transformed into a large stage of taste, where you can discover and taste selected wines, typical products and delicacies of the local tradition. Three days to celebrate the richness of the territory, meet producers and sommeliers, and let yourself be captivated by the authentic flavours of Calabria. A unique opportunity to toast together to the beauty of the territory and the passion for good food and good wine.

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.

The chestnut finds its ideal habitat here thanks to the temperate climatic conditions, exposure to the sun and the chemical and physical composition of the soil: Marroni del Monfenera PGI chestnuts are the tastiest. We’re here on the slopes of Monfenera, in the foothills of Grappa and Montello in the province of Treviso, where miracles happen.

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?