Spring

Snow, lakes and medieval villages The province of Biella offers unforgettable experiences for all tastes, from the snow-covered slopes of Bielmonte to historic villages, nature reserves, hill-top sanctuaries, castles, and food and wine delights, with polenta concia being the most popular dish. Biella lies at the foot of the Alps and is medieval at heart: the historic centre of Piazzo is located on a rocky ridge that looms over the rest of the town, which was later built and named Biella Piano. Don’t miss the Romanesque baptistery of St John the Baptist in Piazza Duomo, where you can also find St Stephen’s Cathedral. The most beautiful church, however, is the Renaissance basilica of St Sebastian. The cloister of the adjacent monastery houses the Museum of the Biella Territory. Near Biella is Ricetto di Candelo, a still intact, walled medieval walled village. Towards the Biellese Alps you can find the Sanctuary of Oropa on the Sacro Monte, where the locals venerate the Black Madonna. To be surrounded by nature, we recommend visiting the Parco Burcina Natural Reserve or Oasi Zegna, true natural paradises. Lake Viverone, the third largest lake in Piedmont, also offers beautiful walks and views. History buffs, meanwhile, should head to Masino Castle, the former residence of the Counts of Valperga.

There are many ways to experience the beauty of the Gargano National Park, which encapsulates the very essence of nature and its relationship with humans. There is something almost sacred about this place, which you will sense as you walk through the forests, surrounded by tall trees and breathing in the sea air. This is a place for every season and every preference. Here you can visit historic villages, rural abbeys and churches, explore the rocks and hills, admire the landscape and fabulous sunsets, or dive into the cobalt blue waters of the coastal caves. The park is accessible to pedestrians, horses, bicycles, motorbikes and off-road vehicles. There are several visitor centres, at Monte Sant'Arcangelo, San Marco in Lamis, San Nicandro Garganico, Manfredonia and Lesina, and one of them should be your first port of call if you want more information about the natural environment, hiking trails, mountain bike rentals or details of guided tours. The Park was established in 1995, in an area of 121,000 hectares covering much of the coastline, the top of the headland and the Umbra Forest, as well as the Maritime Reserve of the Tremiti Islands archipelago. The craggy coast is distinctive with its white limestone rock and the forests are populated by beech, yew and holm oak, some of them reaching monumental heights and proportions. The undergrowth is inhabited by foxes, wild boar, wolves and roe deer. The inland area is a nesting site for many birds of prey, while 80 varieties of orchid add splashes of colour to the brown earth.

A wind home on Lake Garda On the north-eastern side of Lake Garda, the Fraglia della Vela Malcesine windsurfing and sailing school has been forging fans of the lake and sport since 1947, both at a competitive level and purely for fun. Sailing requires patience, it gives coordination and makes you aware of the spaces around you, giving you great ability to concentrate but also to organise. Windsurfing is the sport of freedom par excellence, where the body learns balance combined with strength, and water, wind and nature do the rest. The area is considered "the house of the wind" and lends itself perfectly to training. Two types of winds blow on Lake Garda: the Pelèr which comes from the north, blows in the morning and becomes more intense on the Brescian shores of the lake, and the Ora from the south, which reaches 14, 15 knots creating a wave that is never too excessive. At Faglia della Valle, the winds are guaranteed and they alternate, creating the ideal conditions for all types of training. The lessons are in groups or individual, aimed at adults, children from the age of 6, and the disabled, always in total safety. The entire nautical base is free of architectural barriers.

Among villages, nature and water sports There are countless ways to enjoy a holiday on the shores of Lake Garda. This stretch of water – the largest in Italy – between Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino-South Tyrol stretches between high mountains and green plains, making its way among villages steeped in history, ancient ruins and castles, and places where you can enjoy outdoor sports and marvel at breathtaking views. You can treat yourself to a stroll through some of the most beautiful and popular villages in Italy, such as Sirmione, with its Scaligero Castle and the Grottoes of Catullus, and Desenzano, with its splendid Roman villa featuring colourful mosaics. In Peschiera del Garda, you can explore a fortress town surrounded by water, while in Limone del Garda it feels as though time stands still. Impressive, eccentric and bursting with history and art, the Vittoriale degli Italiani, a villa-monument once home to Italian poet Gabriele d’Annunzio, is a must-see in Gardone Riviera. For children, as well as adults, looking for entertainment, the Gardaland amusement park is the perfect solution. The lake is also a paradise for water sports enthusiasts: from kitesurfing and windsurfing to canyoning and diving, it is impossible to ever get bored!

Blue lakes of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines Nestled in the green Tuscan-Emilian Apennines is the small village of Cerreto Laghi. Belonging to the municipality of Collagna, the village owes its name to the presence of small lakes scattered throughout the surrounding area, which interrupt the dense Apennine vegetation with stretches of water. Cerreto Laghi is the perfect place to relax and immerse yourself in long hikes, whether on foot, mountain bike or horseback. Numerous itineraries branch out from the village, such as the Monte Alto walk, the path leading to Cima Belfiore or the one leading to the source of the Secchia river. Although it is less famous than the ski resorts dotting the Alps, Cerreto Laghi has over time become an important reference point for winter sports enthusiasts in central-northern Italy thanks to its four ski lifts and more than 25 kilometres of ski slopes.

Like those of Bolsena, Bracciano and the Castelli Romani, Lake Vico is also of volcanic origin, but in this case the waters are surrounded by secluded green shores. The elevation is about 500 metres above sea level over an area of 12 square kilometres with a perimeter of about 18 kilometres, much less than in ancient times when the waters surrounded the Monte Venere which today rises some distance from the northern shore. Its waters, which the authorities claim are safe for swimming, can reach a depth of 45 metres and are home to pike, perch and whitefish. The fauna includes martens, foxes, weasels and wildcats as well as badgers and porcupines, and waterfowl such as the great crested grebe. Among the flora are some fifteen species of wild orchids. The Vico basin lies on the slopes of Monti Cimini with their hazel groves and forests of oak, chestnut and beech trees, up to the almost 1,000-metre altitude of Monte Fogliano. The entire area has been protected since 1982 under the name of Lake Vico Nature Reserve: are more than four thousand hectares traversed by footpaths, yet still largely intact with no urban areas, few well-equipped lidos and a single small tourist area on the southern shore, between scattered traces of remote settlement since the Palaeolithic period. The main settlement for Lake Vico is Caprarola, which until the early 1500s when the Farnese dynasty bought it from Pope Julius II, was simply a village. Today it is cited in all architectural history textbooks for the originality of the Palazzo Farnese curated in the second half of that century by Jacopo Barozzi known as the Vignola.

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.

To pedal along this itinerary is to experience a duel between your head and your heart. The former requires you to keep your eyes on the tarmac, the latter to lift your gaze; towards the hills, the fortifications and the terraces that will enchant you. Three sceneries in one Wide and sandy beaches, interspersed with cliffs and long stretches of rock: we are on the Riviera dei Fiori, in western Liguria, where the hills covered by Mediterranean scrub run down to the sea. The scenery changes radically in the Alte Langhe, the Piedmont hills on the border with Liguria devoted to viticulture. Here the slopes are harsher, but always enchanting in their changing dress each season: green in spring-summer, snow-white in winter, yellow-orange with the autumn foliage. Lastly, the province of Cuneo, lying in the Upper Tanaro Valley, a natural environment that is still uncontaminated, with dense forests of oak, chestnut, beech and pine trees, where the lines on the horizon become more vertical. These are the walls of the Ligurian Alps and, further in the distance, those of the Alpine Arc. Riding your bike from Western Liguria to Piedmont The Riviera dei Fiori and the Piedmont hills. The Tyrrhenian Sea and the Alpine Arc that enraptures the eye and soothes the mind. It is hard to imagine a richer itinerary than this, winding along the roads of the 13th stage of the Giro d’Italia 2022. In addition to the natural heritage, there are historical, artistic and spiritual highlights; as well as an invitation to all cyclists: look up. Don’t limit yourself to the climbs (one actually) on your bike, but also take advantage of the towers, aerostats and domes. From above, this area will appear even more marvellous.

Along this route from Trentino to Veneto everything is shaped by nature: the landscape, art, trades, and city planning; even the pace of your pedal strokes – brisk but easy– is dictated by it, so as to let you feel the breeze from the hills and the scent of wine cellars All the shades of green Enclosed between the Lagorai chain to the north and the Vicentine Pre-Alps to the south, Valsugana is a paradise of centuries-old forests, thermal springs, hills planted with vineyards and meadows dotted with farmsteads. Here, eco-sustainability is the first commandment: at the centre of the tourism model are the health of the environment and the wellbeing of the people inhabiting the area. It is a philosophy that extends to the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, a Unesco World Heritage Site: impervious hills, embroidered with parallel rows of vines, a symbol of the perfect symbiosis between man – with his wealth of knowledge – and nature with its resources. Finally, the lower Veneto plain, an area rich in water resources, including the Piave, Sile and Livenza rivers. A cycling route through Valdobbiadene From Valsugana, a valley-model of eco-sustainability, to Treviso, rolling through the hills of Valdobbiadene with its fine vineyards. Here we tell you about an easy-to-ride wavy itinerary, inspired by stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia 2022. What can you expect? A land in which the climbs are not impressive, but other special effects are. It turns into works of art, leaves room to man and his agricultural tools, and heat puffs from its belly. In short, it becomes a friend, even for you who are about to ride across it

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 you're looking for a complete wellness experience for your summer, the best advice is to reach the thermal waters, with their healing and regenerating properties, and enjoy sunbathing, relaxing by the pool, the leisure and sport offered by Terme di Abano e Montegrotto. Located at the foot of the Euganean Hills, they are equipped with numerous services and offer the possibility of ideal treatments for the summer period. The entire Euganean area is full of recreational, cultural and natural attractions, perfect for a visit, by boat along the waterways, or by bike along the cycle paths at the foot of the hills. There are many things to do during the holiday period in the Euganean territory: here are some things absolutely not to be missed.

A romantic getaway for couples immersed in the fumes of thermal spa waters is ideal for an intimate break. The Wellness Valley of Emilia Romagna has many treatments and rituals in the offering for two people. Enjoy being pampered for a few hours or even entire days: here are some unmissable venues set among cities of art, sea and mountains.

Italy is dotted with enchanting villages, each one worthy of a visit and packed with history. We recommend starting from Preci, of mediaeval origin, and from here embark on a two-wheel route through the heart of Umbria, through Valnerina, and then push on to Piana di Castelluccio. A cycling route about 50 kilometres, to be covered in two days, surrounded by unspoilt nature.

For cycling enthusiasts, the valley is a veritable open-air gymnasium. Noted for being Italy's first Gravel Destination, its main itineraries are ready to offer the best to gravel enthusiasts. Alpine Gravel, as the name suggests, offers unique routes that connect the valley with the forests and the Alps, along trails with views that are hard to forget. Little asphalt, lots of gravel or alpine terrain, all between 650 and 2200 metres above sea level. It is more technical, more high-performance and more spectacular than the paths you'd normally ride. Five factors make these routes unique: considerable variation in altitude (from 970 m D+). considerable gradient (with sections up to 21%); alpine surface (may be loose or stony). portage (it's not Alpine Gravel if you don't have to dismount at least once); technical descents (on steep and alpine terrain). Obviously, the use of a gravel bike, with min. 38 mm tyres, will be necessary. Once you're on the saddle, you're ready to discover Val di Sole BikeLand!

Walking along the Via del Giovane is not just to immerse yourself in a route with strong religious ties, but also to let yourself be embraced by sumptuous age-old beech and chestnut forests and then open your eyes to the horizon over the vast hills of the Pollino National Park. We are in the part of the Pollino overlooking the Tyrrhenian coast, composed of hills above the Crati valley, dotted with ancient churches, sanctuaries and monasteries. The 49-kilometre route is certified by the Italian Touring Club and is part of the longer Trail of St Francis of Paola (247 km), the hermit saint and founder of the Order of Minims. For Francis, it was a journey marked by restlessness, during which he felt the fire of a vocation and the desire to dedicate his life to religion but at the same time the uncertainty of not knowing how to do it. The first stage, that of enlightenment, is the small ancient inland town of San Marco Argentano, at about 420 metres above sea level. From here you reach Cerzeto, a municipality of Italo-Albanian ethnicity, language and culture, and then head towards the Tyrrhenian Sea, crossing the coastal chain until the extremely striking arrival at the Sanctuary of San Francesco di Paola. The route is almost entirely on a dirt track, with no hazardous points.

10 easy bike routes to discover some of the beauties of Lombardy, cycling with the family: from the Mincio cycle path to the Villoresi cycle path in Monza, among embankments, canals, vineyards, rice fields and walled cities.

The Ciclovia della Bassa Parmense (Lower Parma Cycle Path) is a cycle tourism route that links Parma with Busseto. Also known as the Food Valley Bike, it covers the splendid territory from the ducal city, also defined as the Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy, to the places much loved by Giuseppe Verdi, travelling through and rediscovering anarea rich in culture, nature, traditions and gastronomy. Suitable for cyclists of all ages, the route runs for about 70 km on a flat route that skirts the majestic Po River several times. The Food Valley Bike App, a handy digital guide, provides all useful information on the route and the two themes that make up the itinerary: the Pasta Route and the Salumi Route.

Cycling through the heart of the Comacchio Valleys in search of memorable natural scenery, the itinerary lasts just one day but you will remember it for a lifetime! From the Sacca di Goro and the millenary Pomposa Abbey to the Lidi Ferraresi, through oases and nature reserves, to reach the town of the infamous Trepponti.

Visiting Campania by paraglider or hang-glider is like nothing you could have imagined and yet harbours unforgettable emotions. In fact, for free-flying enthusiasts, who love to take to the skies and explore the Italian landscapes from above, exclusively aboard unpowered aircraft such as hang-gliders or paragliders, the varied territory of Campania is an air park that offers formidable panoramas, whether maritime or mountainous. Those who are new to the sport can find an opportunity here to indulge in a baptism of the air in a two-seater aircraft, driven by the expert hands of a professional pilot.

Soar through the sky surrounded by nature, enjoying breathtaking views of mountains and valleys, seas and lakes, quaint villages and islands, as you glide along steel cables in complete safety, all harnessed up and protected: six spectacular zip lines for an unforgettable, adrenaline-filled experience.

If you know by heart the unforgettable exploits of cycling champion Marco Pantani, you've probably already heard of Campo Imperatore. Just in Abruzzo, “il Pirata” flew in 1999 towards the first of his four stage victories of that Giro d 'Italia. Campo Imperatore is mainly known for its ski area, among the best known and equipped in central Italy. The town of Abruzzo is today a point of reference also for bicycle tourists. In addition to having cable cars, chairlifts and cranks, in fact, Campo Imperatore has a long tradition as a stage venue for the main cycling stage races, which have always attracted a festive crowd of cycling enthusiasts and which still today, in spring and summer, welcomes a constant flow of cyclists and bikepackers, arriving from Italy and abroad.

Practised on a roller board of various sizes, skateboarding is not just an extreme sporting activity, but a real lifestyle. It makes use of benches, steps and handrails, as well as specially designed spaces such as skateparks. Rome, between one archaeological site and another, is home to numerous spots, but two locations deserve special attention: the Bunker Skatepark and The Spot Skatepark Ostia. Let's find out together.

Flying over the mountainous landscape of the Veneto Pre-Alps is a spectacular sight, to then glide over the hills of the Veneto foothills, with its hilltop villages, cities of art, and the valleys of the Brenta and Piave rivers. Thanks to its natural updrafts, the climate, the accessibility of the take-off and landing areas and the still scarcely urbanised nature, the area lends itself very well to this pursuit. The Grappa massif, a mecca for free flight, located between the provinces of Vicenza, Belluno and Treviso, is the ideal place for hang-gliding and paragliding.

What does it take to soar through the blue sky aboard a hang glider? Naturally, a hill or a slope where to launch and then take off from with favourable currents, suitable weather conditions, a good dose of courage and the irrepressible desire, which man has cradled since the dawn of time, to observe the world from above. If you are looking for the place where all these conditions come together to create the perfect free flight experience, welcome to Umbria, where you will also have the opportunity to explore one of Italy's sweetest and most prized natural and artistic landscapes from a different point of view (from above). Umbria offers several flight centres for beginners and experts where you can experience the thrill of tandem flying with an experienced pilot for the first time, or get personally involved if you are already good, surrounded by enchanting natural scenery.