Autumn

Leverano stands in the Ionic-Salentine hinterland, surrounded by expanses of vineyards and olive groves. The heart of the village is characterised by its narrow streets paved with ancient cobblestones, which lead to its elegant churches and to the symbol of the area's history: among the town's small houses stands the 28-metre-high Tower of Frederick II, built at the behest of the Swabian emperor to protect the coast from pirate attacks. The tower was abandoned for a long time, but in the mid-19th century, thanks to the efforts of some Salento scholars, it was renovated and restored to its former glory.

Ischitella is a village that rises on the Gargano promontory, overlooking the sea, to which it has always entwined its history and traditions. From the village, the view sweeps across the wide open space of the sea, touching the Tremiti Islands and even reaching the Croatian coast. The village, in its most historical part, is as if divided in two: while the Terra Vecchia quarter has narrow streets and terraced houses reminiscent of the medieval past, the Rione Ponte district recounts the style of the 18th century, with its elegant and regular lines. It was an ancient fortress, Ischitella, that had to defend itself from attacks coming from the sea, and today the gates to the centre and the castle remain of these fortifications. Finally, splendid is the Lago di Varano, a lagoon that is now protected thanks to the establishment of a nature reserve.

Faeto is the highest village in the Daunia hills, is located on the border between Puglia and Campania, on the slopes of Mount Chilone, surrounded by beech forests. Together with Celle di San Vito, it represents the only Franco-Provençal island in the region and the origins of its particular linguistic identity can be traced back to the 13th century, the era of Saracens and paladins, when a garrison of Provençal soldiers stopped in nearby Lucera, leaving a deep imprint on the local language as the legacy of this interweaving. The peculiarity of the local language is contrasted by the silence of the nature that guards the village: Faeto offers a 150-hectare forest of beeches, oaks, turkey oaks and broad-leaved trees, where, while strolling, one can come across splendid windmills.

Celle di San Vito is the smallest town in Puglia in terms of number of inhabitants. It is a village immersed in nature, surrounded by large expanses of green: beech, oak, ash, pine, poplar and willow forests are the area's natural treasure, a treasure chest where you can encounter splendid animals such as foxes and squirrels. But what most distinguishes Celle from the surrounding area is the presence of an ancient language, the result of the stay of the French soldiers of Charles of Anjou near the village in the 13th century. This encounter has meant that the beautiful sounds of Franco-Provençal speech can still be heard in the village today: together with Faeto, in fact, Celle San Vito is the only Franco-Provençal minority in Apulia. A language that becomes wealth, a legacy of sounds and cadences that enchant like an ancient melody.

Land of the roe deer The Nebrodi Mountains constitute that portion of Appennino Siculo that falls mainly in the province of Messina. The highest peak is Mount Soro, with its 1847 meters. From here you can enjoy an unparalleled view that embraces the Aeolian Mountains, the King's Greenhouse, Mount Etna, the Peloritan Mountains, the Erei Mountains and the Madonie Mountains. A real joy for the eyes. The vegetation is lush – with verdant forests, lakes and dizzying waterfalls - and the summer weather is not overly hot. The Parco dei Nebrodi is a must-see. The ancient Greeks called thisarea "the land of roe deer" and it is precisely from nebros, roe deer, that the name of the park derives. Hiking enthusiasts here will find trails that they will remember for a long time. For example, the Rocche del Crasto trek, which starts from San Marco d 'Alunzio and extends for about 10 kilometers, touching prestigious natural attractions such as the Catafurco Waterfall, the Mistretta Falls, the Bosco della Tassita, Monte Soro, Lake Biviere and Lake Maulazzo. Nature, finally, here goes hand in hand with art, history and folklore. Among the villages to visit there are definitely Bronte, Randazzo, Raccuja and the medieval village of Novara di Sicilia.

Walking suspended in time, between majestic trees and endangered species The Bosco di Malabotta is one of the oldest and most evocative natural attractions in Sicily. Entering this oasis of biodiversity in the province of Messina you will find beeches, maples, holm oaks, willows, chestnuts and other beautiful trees. The atmosphere here is really refreshing. Train well before departure: inside the forest you walk a lot, from 5 to 15 kilometers. The effort, however, will be well rewarded. You will come across many free animals such as goats, cows, black pigs and, if you are lucky, even foxes. Also to be admired along the streams are the Sicilian trout, an endangered fish species. Among the most renowned routes there is undoubtedly the Path of the Patriarchs, characterized by centuries-old wrecks of oak trees. You can also admire an oak tree with a royal bearing, able to reach 40 meters in height. There are also panoramic points with views of Etna and the Alcantara Valley. Another curiosity: the Malabotta Forest contains one of the most mysterious sites in the region. These are the Rocks of Argimusco, known as the "Stonehenge of Sicily". Once through the woods, you can complete the itinerary with a visit to the historic center and the castle of Montalbano Elicona.

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!

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.

This traditional, prized vegetable comes to us directly from the tables of antiquity. The white asparagus of Cimadolmo PGI was once eaten by the Ancient Egyptians and Romans. Recent cultivation dates back a century and a half and is predominantly focused in Veneto. Only the young shoots, called turions, are boiled, becoming the main ingredient, or side dish of choice, in traditional dishes that are nothing short of exquisite.

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.