Things to do in Italy

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.

Seaside resorts where hospitality is the watchword, a network of cities of art and small villages of inestimable value, mountain points of interest rich in history and tradition: Emilia Romagna is the land of good living, gourmet flavours, the much-loved Riviera Romagnola of relaxation and fun for all ages. A multifaceted territory waiting to be discovered.

Born in Ferrara, Giorgio Bassani (1916-2000) was actually quite low-profile, but he was highly regarded as a writer: Strega Award for "Cinque storie ferraresi" in 1956; Viareggio Award for "Il giardino dei Finzi-Contini" in 1962; Campiello Award for "L'airone" in 1968. To commemorate his work, the Giorgio Bassani Foundation was established in Ferrara in 2002. It is based in a literary venue par excellence, none other than the house of Ludovico Ariosto. Three rooms on the ground floor display a special library, with the books that once belonged to Bassani, often with his notes or with dedications by their authors, but also with objects from his everyday life. You thus enter his study room and it is as if the writer had stepped out of it for a moment, and you become acquainted with his life, portrayed in texts and images as in a sequence of memories…

The Cilento in Volo (Cilento in flight) zip line offers stunning panoramas. From the Amalfi Coast to the Cilento Coast, passing through the Gulf of Salerno, to the Archaeological Park of Paestum and the island of Capri. A unique experience, embracing the sky, land and sea. An adrenaline-filled adventure that you can experience solo, with a partner or even with your children.

It is the favourite seaside resort of the Romans, thanks to its strategic proximity to the capital: indeed, only 32 kilometres between the centre of Rome from Ostia. And to the traffic on Via Ostiense, when the warm weather arrives, many prefer to take the train. Locals call it theFreccia del Mare, and from Porta San Paolo/Piramide it reaches the coast in an hour.

We’re talking about the Lake Maggiore Zip Line, on the Piedmont shore of Lake Maggiore, in the heart of the green Intrasca Valley and the Terre Alte.

Are you ready to attend one of the most famous and most-watched sports competitions in the country? The Giro d'Italia 2023 will take place from 6 to 28 May and is full of surprises and emotions. The historic road cycling stage race, won last year by the Australian Jai Hindley, will see 176 participants divided into 22 teams face 3,489 kilometres on their bikes. The route, which is divided into 21 stages of varying difficulty, will start in Abruzzo and will end in the heart of Rome, the Eternal City. If you want to know what the stages are, who are the favourites, what the programme is and where you can follow it, you can find all the answers in this article.

Golf, often wrongly considered to be a solitary sport, is an activity that offers numerous useful incentives for the world of work: concentration, emotional control, managing frustration, strategic skills, the ability to define goals and achieve them. Contact with nature is another factor that should not be underestimated when choosing golf as a team building activity. A day immersed in nature is bound to increase the motivation and wellbeing of all participants. Italy boasts some of the most impressive golf courses in the world for team games, ideal for developing trust in one's fellow players. Here are the main ones.

The road, winding through the Mediterranean maquis and on scenic undulations along the northern coast of the island – known as Settentrionale Sicula – is the perfect route for riders tackling this stage of the Giro di Sicilia. In all, there are 199 kilometres with no major difficulties, to the delight of the sprinters who will cover the course in one go. But for those who are just bike enthusiasts, the route we are talking about here is an invitation to slow down the pace, to enjoy the lush nature and important historical traces. Watch out, however, not to be too distracted by the view: you are on a Statale road (No. 113), so keep your eyes on the road and, if you are with others, proceed in single file.

Those who love the pure adrenaline rush of a rapid descent of a rushing torrent or a mountain river in an inflatable boat know: Italy, thanks to its mountainous nature and wealth of waterways, is a rafting paradise. Not everyone knows it was in Piedmont that this relatively young sport started for our country, and not by chance: here, in Valsesia, thanks to the richness and variety of the hydrogeology, there are routes for every taste and level of difficulty. Want to come and discover it with us?

Take your time cycling along an easy route, and lose yourself in your own thoughts and in the wild, fragrant nature of the Valnerina. Follow the 28-kilometre Nera River cycle route through the Umbrian section of the valley, you won’t regret it.

A year after the victory of Francesco Bagnaia riding a Ducati, the Mugello MotoGP returns in 2023 with an edition that is full of events and ready to offer great excitement. From 9 to 11 June, the Mugello Circuit will be warming up the engines and the 2023 Italian Grand Prix will take off: the spectacle of the world championship that for three days will welcome thousands of fans, ready to cheer from the stands. 11 teams will compete on one of the most exciting tracks in the world, the Mugello racetrack, a few miles from Florence, with a total of 22 riders of the calibre of Enea Bastianini and Pecco Bagnaia for Ducati Lenovo Team, Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli for Monster Energy Yamaha or Alex Márquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio for Gresini Racing MotoGP. Tickets for the Mugello MotoGP are already on sale, but it will also be possible to follow the event on TV. Here's everything you need to know about the Italian Grand Prix 2023.

Meditation, forest bathing, tree hugging and spiritual walks are experiences all to be enjoyed in Trentino for those who love nature and wellness.

A very effective way of regaining lost well-being and unplugging from the daily grind, the only choice you have to make is to select the option that comes closest to your tastes and needs. Here are 7 ideas between nature and wellness, all in the open air, with the scent of the mountains.

Thanks to its generous nature, its extraordinary historical-artistic heritage and food-and-wine itineraries that criss-cross it far and wide, Le Marche has now established itself as the destination of choice for slow and sustainable tourism in Italy. From the Sibillini Mountains to the beaches of the Conero, here will find, even in peak season and at reasonably affordable rates, vistas and oases of peace and beauty worth exploring slowly, listening to the rhythms of nature and staying in the area's typical dwellings. Many B&Bs and agritourisms in the Marche region preserve within their walls the true spirit and traditions of an ancient region that is so closely linked to its environment. We have selected for you 5 charming destinations in Le Marche immersed in nature, for your ideal summer in Le Marche.

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.

If you think that relaxation and physical activity are an impossible combination, you should take a trip to Emilia Romagna: here you can follow an itinerary that combines nature and sport. 4 stages that mix thermal spas, a place of well-being par excellence, and cycling, to regenerate not only the body but also the mind.

The custom of exploiting the healing properties of spa waters finds its roots in the past. This is why, starting in the 1800s, several establishments of immense artistic and architectural value began to be developed in the style of the time - and are still in business today! Here are 5 historic spas in Emilia Romagna.

An enchanting natural setting of hills, vineyards and olive groves, and villages populated by villas, farmsteads and castles. This is Franciacorta, an area stretching from Brescia to Lake Iseo. We invite you to explore its landscape, famous for producing the wine of the same name and full of surprises.

Halfway between the plains and the Pre-Alps lies a land famous for its peasant dishes and renowned wines. This is Franciacorta, home of food and wine industry leaders and tours. Our suggestion is a journey to discover its flavours, among breathtaking views and picturesque villages, precious architecture and historic religious complexes. A food and wine tour that can also be cycled, with a dive into bubbles.

A small village on the border between Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta watches over one of the most beautiful agricultural landscapes in Italy: the terraced vineyards of Carema have exploited the steepest slopes of the mountain to cultivate nebbiolo grapes, used to make Carema DOC wine.

16 municipalities, 70 wineries, 150 kilometres. This is one of the oldest Wine Routes in Italy. The fascinating food and wine route winds its way through the lush vineyards of South Tyrol, from Nalles to Salorno. Taking in its unusual views with their incredible colours, you’ll visit an area full of history, culture and relaxation, naturally tasting the best wines and local delicacies.

Aosta Valley is the smallest region in Italy. Dotted with the highest peaks of the Alps such as the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, Gran Paradiso and the majestic Mont Blanc, it has great grappa distillery traditions. An ideal digestif after rich meals based on local specialities, Aosta Valley grappa is distinguished for its production quality and superb taste.

Chianti, the area of rolling hills stretching between Florence and Siena, Arezzo and the hills of Pisa, has long been considered the “heart of Tuscany”. Its splendid landscape is dotted with dense vineyards, chestnut forests, oaks and maples, attractive medieval villages, romantic castles and charming colonial farmhouses. It is also the birthplace of one of the world’s most famous red wines: Chianti.

Several opera and music festivals every year, especially in summer, pay homage to great Italian composers by staging their more and less famous works. They are naturally held in their birthplaces, thereby also providing an excuse to discover and visit them: here are the 6 most famous.

The evocative natural landscapes intertwine with a rich artistic and cultural heritage to make Teramo the ideal destination for nature lovers who want to travel back in time to discover the people and cultures that have made history in this area since the 8th century BC.

This jewel near Naples, in Campania, which lets you travel back in time, has long held the record as the most visited place in the world. The archaeological area of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata is among the 58 Italian UNESCO sites in the World Heritage List. It never ceases to amaze, giving you the opportunity to explore the extent of the commercial city of Pompeii, the fewer but better-preserved remains of the ancient town of Herculaneum and the frescoes of the Villa Oplontis in Torre Annunziata, which portray the opulent lifestyle of the wealthy classes at the beginning of the Roman Empire.

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!

The Venetian Defence Works, the most extensive and innovative defensive networks built by Venice at the height of its power to protect itself from other European powers and support the expansion of the Republic. “The Venetian Works of Defence of the 16th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra – western Stato da Mar”, Italy’s 53rd UNESCO site: offer an exceptional testimony to the military culture developed by the Venetian Republic.

The smallest region of Italy, on the border with France and Switzerland, the Aosta Valley is dotted with the highest peaks of the Alps: the Matterhorn, Mount Rosa, Gran Paradiso and the majestic Mont Blanc. An ideal destination for winter sports enthusiasts, it’s time to don your skis and let your hair down! With green valleys and fairy-tale castles, the Aosta Valley is an enchanting place to visit all year round.

The Gulf of Salerno and Punta Campanella points straight from the Sorrento Peninsula towards the island of Capri. A scenic wonder including a protected marine area. At Punta, in ancient times, a temple dedicated to the Goddess Minerva paid homage to the sacredness of the place. Today it is a natural paradise where you can enjoy wandering through winding pathways, discovering the scents and scenery of the Mediterranean shrubbery, and strolling alongside the blue waters as if on the deck of a ship.

Valcamonica holds one of the largest collections of petroglyphs in the world and was the first of the Italian sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List thanks to fits timeless enchantment. The “Valley of Signs” is an unprecedented plunge into the past, and beyond. An excursion that means culture but also nature. If you head towards the north on the left side of the valley, you will come to Adamello Park. Acknowledged as a UNESCO Global Geopark, its rare geological and morphological heritage is of great scientific interest. It is home to no fewer than 1,300 different species of plants and flowers of rare beauty, numerous wild animals, both small and large, glaciers, coniferous forests and many Alpine lakes. Lastly, ski enthusiasts should put Valcamonica on their to-do list of places to visit in winter. Stopping at Ponte di Legno, you can take advantage of the fantastic slopes of the Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski area.

Villages, ancient towns, villas, Medieval castles, and archaeological ruins animate the Regional Park of the Castelli Romani, in the Province of Rome. Located in the Alban Hills, in the past the Castelli Romani were a favorite resort for the Capital's noble families as well as for Popes. 9,500 hectares of protected land, many animal species, such as badgers, martens, peregrine falcons, porcupines, and especially the wolf (a key component in the local ecosystem) also call this their habitat. Fifteen municipalities make up part of the Park of the Castelli Romani however, for an already-exhaustive window onto the area, organize a tour of just six of them, beginning with Lanuvio, a Medieval village near Velletri.

Not everyone knows that the historic centre of Bologna is not the only mesmerizing area. Indeed the city’s surroundings hide really unique places: mountain landscapes, gardens and parks to relax, cycling and trekking to keep fit. Here are some of the several places where you can immerse yourself in nature.

Also known as the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea or the City of 44 Churches, Maratea fascinates and amazes not only new visitors, but also those who return to discover new and unique places that cannot be found elsewhere in Italy.

As you go down from Pian del Re, where the first waters of the Po gather at the foot of Monviso, your gaze is caught on a strip of plains blanketed by a broad and multicoloured countryside, dotted with hamlets and villages: this is the Piedmontese herald of what, crossing the North, constitutes the largest and most populous plain in Italy: the Po Valley. This is where the king of all Italian rivers starts its long journey, which over the millennia has contributed to the growth of major civilisations, bringing about different economies and lifestyles, heritages rich in tradition, art and culture. The towns and villages are living witnesses of the past centuries that have made this land one of the richest and most culturally vibrant in Europe. The countryside recounts the antiquity and innovation of agriculture, the natural and human landscape reserves surprising traits and exciting panoramas for those who know how to look, and the cuisine expresses, with its products and dishes, excellent callings deeply linked to the local identity.