Autumn

A few minutes from the sunny beaches of the Ionian coast of Basilicata, lying between the mouths of the Bradano and Basento rivers, the ancient city of Metaponto was founded around the eighth century BC. A small group of Greeks from the Peloponnese, in search of new land to populate, chose this fertile territory strategically positioned in the centre of the Ionian coastline. Those were the days of Magna Graecia, a time when the coasts of southern Italy saw flourishing trading cities built and developed by settlers from the eastern Mediterranean. Metapontum, like many other cities of Magna Graecia, was endowed by its inhabitants with places of aggregation and exchange, but also of ritual and devotion. There were fascinating columned temples dedicated to the pagan gods, a theatre, streets, houses, shops and everything needed to make the settlement one of the main Mediterranean ports of antiquity. The millenary remains in the archaeological park are today the main tourist attraction of Metapontum, which can also count on the beautiful beaches of the Ionian coast and on an archaeological museum of great value.

Craco has the timeless charm of a ghost town. Abandoned in 1963 after a landslide, the last in a series of landslides that began at the end of the 19th century, Craco Vecchia is a spectacular village of mediaeval origin. It stands on the watershed between the valleys of the Agri and Salandrella-Cavone rivers, on top of a cliff immersed in the landscape of the Calanchi. Before its ruin, the village had a flourishing past linked, according to tradition, to the Templars. Today, Craco Vecchia is a collection of ruins, dilapidated and yet fascinating, where the almost surreal silence is interrupted only by the attentive steps of visitors on the uneven ground, protected by the obligatory protective helmets. You will come upon ancient churches, such as the Mother Church of San Nicola and the Madonna della Stella church, and noble palaces, from palazzo Carbone to palazzo Grossi, from palazzo Cammarota to palazzo Maronna. Once you arrive, you will feel like you are on a film set. It is no coincidence that Craco was chosen as the location for some iconic films, such as Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" and Francesco Rosi's "Cristo si è fermato a Eboli".

Surrounded by an endless series of viewpoints, mountain streams and rocky cliffs, the municipality of Pietrapertosa is the highest in Basilicata and reaches 1,020 metres above sea level. Over the centuries, the houses, churches and squares of this small town have become one with the local rock on which their foundations rest. Landscape and architecture incorporate each other and form visual glimpses and atmospheres of a living nativity scene, somewhat natural and somewhat artificial. Before leaving Pietrapertosa, a visit to the adjacent village of Castelmezzano, equally enchanting, is strongly recommended. Even better if, to reach Castelmezzano, one decides to follow the route of "The Angel's Flight", open in fine weather. Clinging to a secure steel cable, "The Angel's Flight" crosses the gorges and woods dividing Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano and allows you to observe the area from a new and adrenaline-filled viewpoint: the rocks that make up the enchanted landscape of the Lucanian Little Dolomites seem to take on ever-new and changing shapes.

Deep canyons surround the territory of Castelmezzano, a small village in the centre of the harsh and wild landscape of the Gallipoli Cognato Piccole Dolomiti Lucane Regional Park. Over the centuries, the courageous inhabitants of Castelmezzano have managed to connect the houses of the village, clinging to the stone, by means of steps, intricate alleys and shady passages. Today, Castelmezzano offers a very charming urban setting for travellers, who should not forget to visit the town's surroundings as well. Pietrapertosa, for example, is another beautiful village immersed in nature, connected to Castelmezzano by hiking trails and carriage roads. The more daring can travel between Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa using another, decidedly more adrenalin-pumping means of transport. This would be "The Angel's Flight", a system of downhill pulleys that, in fine weather, connects the two towns by means of a steel cable.

The village of Accettura is located in the centre of the protected area of the Gallipoli Cognato Piccole Dolomiti Lucane Regional Park, in the heart of the Basilicata region. Ancient aristocratic buildings overlook the narrow alleys of Accettura, on which the parish church dedicated to St Nicholas stands out.Every spring the town welcomes the ancestral celebrations and tree cults of theMaggio di Accettura celebration. These are rural rituals that celebrate the plant union between a holly top grafted into the bark of a large hill tree: a "wedding" that reinforces the close relationship that binds the local community with the lush and fertile nature of Basilicata. To learn more about the practices involved in Maggio di Accettura, we recommend visiting the Museum of Tree Cults, at the foot of the rocky peaks of the Piccole Dolomiti Lucane. In the municipality of Accettura there is also the Lucania Outdoor Park, an adventure park created among the large trunks of a forest known as the Montepiano forest. The route of the Lucania Outdoor Park develops along undulating walkways, pulleys and lianas, which make it an interesting attraction for families.

A town in the Salento region, Nardò caresses the Ionian Sea with the hamlets of Santa Maria al Bagno, Santa Caterina and Sant'Isidoro. The town centre is embellished by splendid Baroque architecture, while in the surrounding countryside it is the masserie (farms) that shape the land, and the olives that give it its flavour. Along the coast, where part of the territory is included in the Park of Portoselvaggio and Palude del Capitano, imposing watchtowers peer out over the sea, as if still searching for the ancient enemies that came from there. And it is still the sea that today tells its story and its beauty with the aquarium that has been set up in Santa Maria al Bagno, a place where everyone can listen to the vicissitudes of the sea and how they have over time forged the soul of Nardò and... its destiny.

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.

Following last year’s success, Best Wine Stars is back. This tasting event will once again provide the city of Milan with exciting opportunities for in-depth exploration for experts and enthusiasts in the wine and spirits sector. The majestic Palazzo del Ghiaccio, a splendid Art Nouveau building, will host the over 200 selected wineries for three consecutive days, allowing visitors to enjoy an exclusive experience, discovering new market trends, social media strategies and emerging technologies. It is an unmissable opportunity for total immersion in the culture of wine and spirits, thanks to the history and uniqueness of every individual product. Brand-new for this edition will be the organic area, where visitors will be able to taste excellent organic and natural wines. As in previous editions, the Best Wine Stars Awards will be presented, which are renowned prizes awarded to the winning companies.

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!

A land of motors and taste, Modena is a city that offers many possibilities for visiting. Magnificent architectural works that have become UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a lively cultural life and a tasty culinary tradition make Modena a place you can visit all year round. Are you already in the mood to discover these wonders?

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!

Internationally-acclaimed, San Daniele ham - which is a PDO product (Protected Denomination of Origin) - stands out from other Italian ham for its unique processing, which doesn’t involve removing the trotter. As for the origin of the raw material (the legs), it’s essential they only come from pigs bred in one of the 11 northern and central regions of Italy (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Lazio, the Abruzzi, the Marches, Umbria and Molise).

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.

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 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).

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?

If in doubt, we certainly recommend a visit here, with its patchwork of small vineyards that carpet the hillsides and valleys of the area, dotted with the precious vines that have been cultivated for centuries with hard work and passion, which can even make teetotallers jump out of their skin with enthusiasm.

The Prosecco hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, in the province of Treviso, represent an ancient world that has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. Choosing the Prosecco Hills as a destination means admiring small vineyards on narrow grassy terraces called “ciglioni”, beautiful hill ridges, medieval villages and hamlets, forests and cultivations. A rugged but enchanting terrain, long shaped and adapted by man, who has nevertheless thoroughly respected its nature, resulting in a distinctive chequered landscape characterised by rows of vines parallel and vertical to the slope. A destination full of beauty and overwhelming flavours accompanied by good drink.