Autumn

Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club In a spectacular position, on a tufa bank at the junction of two streams, with tall, narrow houses often equipped with external stairs that are almost poised on the rock: this is Vitorchiano, an ancient village in Tuscia, a loyal ally of Rome. This is also evidenced by the coat of arms with the inscription S.P.Q.R. and the Wolf symbol above the doors and windows. It is worth taking a walk in the medieval quarter, between crenellated walls with 14th-century towers. Among the narrow streets, small squares open up, such as the one where the House of the Podestà and the Municipal Palace are located, with an archive inside with precious parchments dating back to the 13th century, with a refined fountain decorated with the symbols of the Evangelists in the centre. A short distance from the centre is the Church of San Nicola, which houses frescoes of the Viterbo school, including the grandiose scene of the Last Judgement and the Glory of Christ in the apse, and the Madonna of San Nicola, the oldest, which is said to protect young married couples. On a lookout point above the village is a six-metre high statue of an enormous moai, the only one existing in the world outside Easter Island. The local stone on which Vitorchiano rests is very similar to that of the island, so much so that eleven Rapani craftsmen came with axes and sharp stones to carve a 30-ton block of peperino!

Sea, nature and culture are at the heart of the soul of Porto Sant'Elpidio, a historic maritime village that has been able to enhance its beauty and its propensity for hospitality. The marvellous beaches, the pine forest overlooking the sea, and the cycle path for those who love active tourism make the village the ideal place for those who wish to lose themselves in the beauty of the sea and the landscape. But the village also offers theatre and music festivals, such as "Theatres of the World" and the International Children's Theatre Festival held in July at the Teatro delle Api.

Discovering traces of the Great War Asiago is renowned for Nordic skiing, hiking, mountain biking and dairy products. At the heart of the Sette Comuni plateau, the village lies on the border between Veneto and Trentino. Its best-known monument is the Military Memorial, one of the main military ossuaries of the First World War, where the bodies of 54,000 fallen soldiers rest. If you don’t have time to visit the various high-altitude open-air museums, we recommend stopping by the Museum of the Great War in Canove di Roana, open from June to September. You can enjoy gentle and spectacular hikes along the upper part of the mule track along Monte Cengio, named “La Granatiera” in honour of the unit that fought against the Austro-Hungarian advance on this mountain in spring 1916 by building tunnels, water cisterns, depots and gunboats. To enjoy pleasant walks or bike rides, we recommend the Trail that runs along the old Asiago train track, stretching from Millepini Park to Tresché Conca. You can enjoy splendid views of all the villages on the plateau. If you are looking for adventure, don’t miss the Acropark Laghetto Roana theme park, with its cable car over the Lonaba lake and six trails suitable for all ages. Other activities include hikes to the Voragine di Stonhaus, orienteering lessons and rock climbing.

Militello Val di Catania has been chosen as the most important village of Italy in 2025 by the tv program called "Borgo dei Borghi. Famous for being one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, Militello is fascinating for its monumental route that was partly rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693. Infact the town is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List among the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto. The historical centre is a mix of art and beauty with more than twenty churches and noble palaces, such as the former Abbey of San Benedetto, the third most important Benedictine monastery in Sicily, and the Church of Santa Maria la Vetere (1090), located in a valley of scenic and archaeological interest. In the surrounding countryside there are corners of paradise such as the Oxena waterfalls. Among the culinary specialities: cassatelle della zia monaca, mostarda di fichidindia celebrated in october with the Sagra of the same name, 'scacciate' of wild vegetables and blood oranges.

Its favourable position, at the foot of the Montefeltro hills, not far from San Marino, makes Morciano di Romagna the reference centre of the Conca area. A stroll through its centre reveals a 19th-century atmosphere, characterized by urban rigour and chequered streets. The presence of the river has always influenced the surrounding area where, over time, many mills have sprung up, making the area particularly well-known for the production of flour and thus pasta. Many mills were also built in Morciano, and today several of great historical interest remain, including the Casarola Mill, the Malatesta Mill, and the Valle Mill. Every year, in March, the important San Gregorio fair is held to celebrate the arrival of spring.

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.

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!

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. The organic area 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.

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.

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.

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?

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.