Autumn

San Vito al Tagliamento is a well-serviced town of fifteen thousand inhabitants, a welcoming and supportive town, a wealth of history, art and events worth discovering. An ancient past welcomes the visitor with medieval and Renaissance architecture, with works of art and frescoes in the churches and elegant palaces. A historical centre that springs from the castle, with squares and alleyways, refined gardens and majestic parks, museums and theatres, which reveals its history and the preciousness of the past in a walk where everything is close at hand. A biennial poetry prize, an international competition for young violinists, the summer appointment with the opera in the piazza and an international contemporary art review are just some of the moments not to be missed, in a lively succession of events that augment the usual seasons of prose, classical music and jazz. Pride of place: the Antico Teatro Sociale G. G. Arrigoni.

In the upper Val di Sole, Ossana is located at the entrance to the Val di Peio, at the foot of the peaks of the Presanella group. The village is dominated by the tower of S. Michele Castle, one of the most iconic places in Val di Sole, which is striking for its imposing keep and double walls. Also worth a visit is the "House of the Frescoes", a medieval dwelling of 14th-century origin that houses 15th-century pictorial decoration, discovered in the summer of 2000 following some maintenance work on the building. During the Christmas period, Ossana becomes the site of one of the most important Trentino exhibitions of nativity scenes, set up in the most peculiar views of the village and in the corners of the houses, such as the "avvolti", the old stables, the windows on the street or the characteristic woodpiles.

Molveno is a town of just over 1,000 inhabitants and is located 40 kilometres from Trento, on the shores of the enchanting lake of the same name, surrounded by the Brenta Dolomites, in the Adamello-Brenta Natural Park. Lake Molveno, an alpine lake of natural origin, has for years been awarded the title of Italy's most beautiful lake by Legambiente and the Italian Touring Club for the quality of its water, beach and services, while the town has been awarded an Orange Flag by the Touring Club. Molveno, a coveted destination for climbers since the 19th century, is the starting point for excursions into the picturesque side valleys or to the high-altitude refuges, where you can discover Trentino cuisine. Art enthusiasts will also find something interesting here: one example is the ancient church of S. Vigilio (13th century), almost on the lake shore. The writer and poet Antonio Fogazzaro called it a 'precious pearl in a most precious casket'. And indeed it is indeed a gem, both for its physical conformation and for the activities that can be carried out here in total tranquillity.

Located in the heart of Primiero, at the end of the Pale di San Martino, Mezzano is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The beauty of Mezzano is not linked to sumptuous monuments or ancient buildings, but it is the small cobbled streets, the fountains, the traditional wooden and stone houses, and the view of the Dolomites that make this village the ideal destination for a romantic escape from the city. The village is characterised by the famous Cataste&Canzei, a permanent exhibition that embellishes the village with beautiful wooden architecture. A relaxing stroll through the village allows visitors to admire these works in the alleyways, under the doorways, in the squares, on the balconies and in the courtyards. In addition to the beauty of the village, Mezzano is also a perfect destination for sports enthusiasts. In summer, it represents the starting point for trekking routes on the marvellous Pale di San Martino, while in winter the nearby resort of San Martino di Castrozza offers over 60 km of alpine ski slopes, cross-country skiing centres at Passo Cereda, and ski-mountaineering and hiking routes with the 'graspe', the name given in these parts to snowshoes, in the environments of the Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Park.

A cosy village immersed in nature on the slopes of Cima Boai A few kilometres from Trento, just before you reach the Tonale Pass between Trentino and Lombardy, is the picturesque Vermiglio. This small mountain municipality is made up of three hamlets, which are now united as a single town: Cortina, Fraviano and Pizzano. At the northern end of the Sole Valley, on the southern slopes of the Cima Boai mountain, the village of Vermiglio is the ideal destination for a slow holiday, immersed in nature and some of the most beautiful scenery in Trentino all year round. In summer, trekking enthusiasts can take on the high-altitude mountaineering paths and little-used mule tracks. Visitors who prefer a leisurely walk can find quiet forests to explore and gentle trails leading to the Laghetti di San Leonardo lake, on the shores of which you can spend the day with the whole family. During the winter season, meanwhile, you can enjoy the 20 kilometres of cross-country skiing tracks, as well as plenty of trails for snowshoeing with friends and the well-equipped La Bruscadela snow park, which has a tubing and airboarding track, a sledge and bobsleigh run and a ski conveyor belt to take you up the slope.

Lying in the Tesino basin, on the southern slopes of Mount Silana in the heart of Valsugana, the village of Pieve Tesino is famous for being the birthplace of the famous statesman Alcide De Gasperi, founding father of the European Union. The village, in addition to its welcoming centre, is known as a starting point for excursions and walks. To the north, in fact, stands the granite massif of Cima D'Asta (2847m), a sought-after destination for mountaineers and mountain enthusiasts who walk the famous 'Alta Via del Granito'. What profoundly marked the history of Pieve and Tesino were the wandering street vendors who, with their artistic prints, reached the most disparate corners of the world, setting up shops and also becoming publishers. Today, the "Per Via, Museo Tesino delle Stampe e dell'Ambulantato" collects the testimonies of that epic.

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 Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo was established in 1923 to protect nature and to save certain wild animals from extinction. It’s in the heart of the central Apennines between the Abruzzi, Lazio and Molise and its some 50,000 hectares are home to 25 towns. The scenery here is characterized by mountain chains, karst phenomena, rivers (including the Sangro River) and streams. It’s the ideal place to spend pleasant days in close contact with nature and to admire uncontaminated landscapes, rich flora and varied fauna. It is here that certain species such as the Marsican brown bear (40 bears), golden eagle, Apennine wolf, deer, otter and chamois have found refuge and their habitat amongst remote valleys and inaccessible mountains.

Geocaching is a kind of treasure hunt: the participants, armed with GPS devices, go in search of geocaches, containers of various sizes and types, hidden in the most remote places. Originally conceived as a game, the experience has turned into an opportunity to extend the holiday mood. Perhaps in nature reserves, places where you can take refuge from the summer heat and appreciate the beauty of the outdoors. But how does a treasure hunt work? Let's find out together.

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.

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!

In the heart of the town, at the foot of Monte Rosa, a special event recalls the Walser culture of these areas and the ancient links with the German-speaking lands. During the period of festivities for the patron Saint John, the Bierfest brings to Gressoney-Saint-Jean the famous beer produced in the brewery of Baron Beck Peccoz, a resident of Gressoney who emigrated many years ago to the town of Kühbach, in Germany. Approximately 15,000 litres of lager arrive in Gressoney-Saint-Jean in a single large barrel, in order to preserve its inherent qualities, and it is opened during the day on which the celebrations begin. The beer festival also features gastronomy, thanks to an attentive catering service. Every evening, the dinners in the pavilion are entertained by folk music, as well as by classics and international music hits. The religious celebrations begin on the evening of 23 June, with the fires of San Giovanni (Saint-Jean or Sankt Johanz): all the local districts, one by one, light huge bonfires and the night is filled with evocative lights while locals and visitors celebrate with typical snacks called "spisie". On 24 June, the Patron's feast day, a scenic procession takes place after mass, with the participants dressed in beautiful traditional Walser costumes, while the conscripts, youth approaching adulthood, carry the statue of the saint. A special blessing is then given to the children, which is still deeply appreciated today.

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).

Have you reached this earthly paradise? Then make yourself comfortable and examine the cheese menu, firstly with Fontina, the queen of Valle d'Aosta products. You will be able to recognise it by its sweet flavour and straw-yellow colour, paler in the cheeses produced in winter, when the cows are fed with hay, and deeper in summer production. These are followed by delicacies such as Gressoney toma cheese, salignon, reblec, brossa, seras and goat cheeses, each with its own story to tell. Listen and taste them all. Go on to classics such as Valdostana-style chops, polenta concia and ”soupe valpellineintze” (Valpellina-style soup); venison, chamois in salmì (in “civet”), trout, “carbonade”, a beef stew, and fondue, a single dish made with cheese, melted in a dedicated pot, to be consumed hot, are also excellent. Enjoy sausages, such as Vallee d'Aoste jambon de Bosses, a specially matured ham, Boudin with a refined taste, Saouseusse, seasoned minced meat, Lard d'Arnad, soft lard, Teuteun, salted beef udder, Motzetta, aromatic dried meat. The Alpine microclimate is the joy of apples, which develop intense flavours here. Try the Red and Gold delicious, Jonagold and Renetta: raw or cooked, they are sweet and versatile, the basis of smoothies, sweet or savoury jams, to be served with fine dishes. Last but not least, desserts and wines. For the first courses, try the tegole, torcettini - typical regional biscuits - and the blanc manger alla valdostana with cream; for the second courses, place of honour to all, such as the whites Muller-Thurgau and Pinot noir (vinified in white) and the reds Pinot noir, Gamay, Torrette, Nus Rouge. Had too much to eat? Here's a shot of Genepì, a digestive made from alpine herbs, artemisia.

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.

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.

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.

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).