Autumn

Rocchette and Rocchettine in Sabina: the story of twin castles having opposing fates In Sabina, perched above the gorges of the Aia torrent, stand Rocchette and Rocchettine. They are twin 13th-century fortresses with differing destinies. The first is a living, inhabited village, while the second is a fascinating ghost town frozen in the 1950s. A unique place, where two parallel stories look across at each other from opposite banks of the stream. In the ghost village Rocchettine, once known as Rocca Guidonesca, is today a labyrinth of silence. Abandoned after the war, its medieval structure has remained intact. Among the ruins of houses and ancient workshops, the only building restored in the 18th century is the Church of San Lorenzo (St Lawrence). It comes to life just once a year. On the tenth of August, for the feast of the saint, the inhabitants of Rocchette arrive in procession from the neighbouring village. The twin that lives on On the opposite bank, life continues. Rocchette, the ancient Rocca Bertalda, welcomes visitors with a gate dating from 1601 and a small inhabited nucleus. Here, the houses lean directly against the medieval walls, creating a powerful atmosphere. The feel is different, but the stones tell the same origin — a time when the two fortresses controlled the trade route between Rieti and the Tiber valley. Rocchettine is freely accessible, but caution is advised among the ruins. Rocchette is an inhabited village, and can be visited all year round.

Rocca di Mezzo: the hamlet between Rocca Canterano and Mount Costasole Situated 845 metres above sea level, Rocca di Mezzo is the only hamlet of Rocca Canterano. Its name says it all: the settlement is located right between the main town and Rocca Martino. Its origins date back to the Middle Ages, with traces indicating even earlier settlements. Stone houses, terraces, and trails The narrow lanes, stone houses, and terraces overlooking the valleys of the Ruffi Mountains make a tour of the village a short yet immersive walk. The Church of St Mary of the Assumption remains one of its most recognisable landmarks. From here, trails start off across the Monti Simbruini Regional Natural Park: the connection to Rocca Canterano and the routes leading to Mount Costasole can easily be explored on foot. August in Rocca di Mezzo Every August, the village hosts the Sagra degli gnucchitti a coda de soreca (Handmade mouse-tail pasta festival), featuring outdoor communal dining and traditional costumes. During the same summer month, the patronal feast of St Roch (San Rocco) is celebrated, highlighted by the traditional ballo delle pupazze (dance of the giant papier-mâché puppets).

Poggio Catino in the Sabina Reatina: a village with two centres, and a tower from which you can see St Peter's Poggio Catino is a village in the Sabina area, 80 km from Rome, with a feature that immediately sets it apart: it is divided into two urban centres — Poggio Catino and Catino —which are about 1 km apart. Poggio Catino The historic centre winds around the Lombard Tower, a pentagonal structure 33 m tall, from which, on clear days, you can see the dome of St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Palazzo Olgiati — now the seat of the municipal administration — stands on top of Colle Moricone, next to the ancient medieval fortress, and transformed at the beginning of the 17th century by the Olgiati family into a noble residence with an arcaded loggia, frescoes, marble and stucco work. It changed hands several times until 1980, when it was purchased by the Municipality. The Church of San Rocco (St Roch) overlooks the village square, while just off the square is the Church of San Silvestro (St Sylvester), dating from 1343. Catino and surrounding area In Catino you can find the ruins of the Rocca, or Castle of Catino, and the parish Church of Sant'Eustachio (St Eustace). The Terme di Silla — Republican-era baths near the cemetery — are also worth a visit. For those who enjoy walking, the Hermitage of San Michele (St Michael)— a rock-cut sanctuary carved into a cave on Monte Tancia — can be reached with a hike of about two hours. Flavours and events The signature product of the area is Sabina DOP extra-virgin olive oil, one of the most highly regarded in Lazio. Since 2024 the village has hosted the Iris Film Festival, dedicated to independent cinema.

Montopoli di Sabina: a village waiting to be discovered, history and good fare Montopoli di Sabina overlooks a hill in the Nazzano Tevere-Farfa Regional Nature Reserve. As far back as Roman times, the village was chosen for the healthiness of its territory, and numerous villas were built there. Gates, towers and a triangular square Entry to the old town is via Porta Romana or the Renaissance-style Porta Maggiore. The Ugonesca Tower has been in place since the year 1000, and the Piazza Comunale has an unusual triangular shape, featuring an octagonal fountain. Squares, frescoes and narrow alleyways One square bears the name of the humanist Pietro Oddi, born and raised here around 1425. The Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli (St Mary of the Angels), a former Franciscan convent, preserves mid-17th-century frescoes attributed to Vincenzo Manenti. For the romantically inclined, there is the "vicolo baciadonne" (kiss-the-ladies alley): a very narrow passage between Piazzetta Montecavallo and Piazza Campo di Fiori. Bocchignano, a village within a village The hamlet of Bocchignano is home to Castello Bucciniano, a castle with three defensive walls and three natural moats. At Christmas, a Travelling Medieval Nativity Scene comes to life here, and between late May and early June the village hosts the Sabina Jazz Festival. Sabine flavours and local festivals The Wild Asparagus Festival takes place on 25 April each year, while the feast of Archangel St Michael falls from 20 to 29 September — and includes the ever-present Fried Pizza Festival. Typical local products include olive oil — of renowned quality since the times of Numa Pompilius — wine, wild asparagus, aromatic herbs, egg pasta, omelettes and snails.

Stipes in Ascrea: the village of the Cathars overlooking Lake Turano At 860 metres a.s.l. in the Turano Valley, Stipes is a hamlet of the municipality of Ascrea that overlooks Lake Turano and its dam from above. The name is of Latin origin, but the village's beginnings remain partly uncertain. The most fascinating hypothesis suggests it was founded between the 12th and 13th centuries by heretics fleeing ecclesiastical persecution. This theory is supported by several clues: one of the most common surnames among the inhabitants is Patarini, and the Treccani dictionary confirms that "Patarini" was the original name of the Cathar movement. From the Cesarini family to truffles In the 15th century, Stipes was a fief of the Cesarini family, and later of the Cesarini Sforza family until the feudal system was abolished in the 18th century. Few elements of the past remain: some ruins of the old fortress, the parish church of San Giovanni Battista (St John the Baptist), and Palazzo Turchetti. The economy has always been linked to the land and dairy farming. The truffle is one of the local specialties. Expert truffle hunters live and work here, searching for the tuber in the Apennine forests that cover the territory.

Medieval Village of Greccio: the castrum overlooking the Holy Valley The medieval village of Greccio sits at an altitude of 705 metres on a rocky bastion on the slopes of Monte Lacerone, overlooking the Valle Santa (Holy Valley) near Rieti. It preserves the layout of a medieval castrum, complete with walls, towers, and a castle at its highest point. From fortress to village The first records of battles with neighbouring communities date back to the 11th century, the founding period of the castrum Greciae. Around 1100, the village experienced a growth in population due to people coming from Rocca Alatri. In 1242, it was destroyed by the troops of Frederick II of Swabia. A second major plundering occurred in 1799 at the hands of Napoleonic forces. The current name "Greccio" first appeared around 1720. What remains today Surviving elements of the original defensive system include the ruins of the 11th-century castle and the Bell Tower, built in the 17th century on the remains of one of the six towers that once guarded the defensive walls. At the summit of the hill lies the Church of San Michele Arcangelo (Archangel St Michael), housing 16th-century works and an anonymous 18th-century canvas on the high altar. At the foot of the village is the Church of Santa Maria del Giglio (St Mary of the Lily), noted for its intricate stucco work. In the heart of the village stands the Small Chapel of St Francis, built on the spot where, according to tradition, the Saint announced to the locals his intention to retire to a hermitage. The main square is graced by a 16th-century fountain.

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.