What’s going on in Italy this autumn

There’s a lot going on in Italy this autumn, or Fall, for our many US readers. It’s a time to celebrate the new harvest and the land and people that produce it.

Combine a house viewing trip with time exploring the places and events the locals enjoy, and you’ll discover the real Italy. A country that surprises and at the same time makes you feel at home.

I have lived in Italy over seventeen years, and love this time of year. As the temperatures and tourist numbers start to get less, those of us with homes here enjoy the privilege of tasting the new harvest at food and wine festivals, trips to the cities, and quiet walks in the countryside, villages and along deserted beaches.

Experience community life

With the cooler Autumn temperatures, you can get out and about more, and you don’t need to spend much money. The historic centres (Centro Storico) of many towns and villages are like open air museums. At this time of year, I recommend searching out the towns where the Italians choose to live, and experience the community atmosphere. Even walking around residential streets you can come across craftsmen, small shops and cafes.

What’s going on?

Events tend to centre around religious or historical events, tradition and food. For example, we went to a Medieval Festival at a nearby town, and saw a concert, sword fighting knights, crafts, a medieval encampment, and a fire show, all for free, and even found free parking. We have also, tasted local produce of the Autumn season at Food Festivals, called “Sagra”.

Autumn walks

To experience all the colours of Autumn, look out for guided walks to waterfalls, golden vineyards, and through forests where you will find all the warm tones of the season on display. In Umbria, six trails take you through the Marmore Falls Park, with gorgeous views, caves, rivers and stunning waterfalls. 

Autumn offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, and discover the rich cultural heritage of the country. National parks organise activities such as guided wildlife observation tours, star gazing events, fossil discovery days, as well as workshops and exhibitions.

Special train journeys

Olive oil train

A special autumn train called the “Espresso Assisi: Frantoi Aperti Edition”, takes passengers to the heart of Umbria’s land of olive oil. Departing from Rome every Sunday from 19^th October to 16^th November, the train travels to Terni, Spoleto, Foligno, Spello, Assisi, Perugia, up to Arezzo.

During the journey you can taste Umbrian Extra virgin olive oil, and at various locations you can join a tour to olive mills. There are also exhibitions, music, stories and walks. (A discount is possible through the Treni Turistici Italiani website.)

Christmas market train

From 30November until 4January the Assisi Espresso becomes the Christmas Market Train. It will make the same stops, but passengers will be treated to a festive atmosphere in the carriages, with Christmas music and gifts. Plus, you will be taken to festive towns, where you can visit Christmas markets, taste roasted chestnuts and mulled wine, and see nativity scenes.

Italian train journeys

Italy not only encourages “Slow Food”, it also invites you to travel slowly around the regions to discover extraordinary places and experience local life. Amazing train journeys around Italy include places that can’t be reached by road.

Suggested train journeys include:

• The stunning mountain scenery of the Bernina Express.
• The Ferrovia Circumetnea up the Mount Etna Volcano.
• The narrow-gauge train which takes you from Bolzano to the Renon plateau.
• The sunny train journey from Bari to the cave dwellings of Matera.
• The line through the coastal villages of the Cinque Terre.  

A Sagra

In Italy a food festival is called a “Sagra”. They are organised by the community to celebrate a new harvest or a local food product. In the Autumn this might include chestnuts, white truffles, grapes, mushrooms, pumpkins, olive oil, wild boar and chocolate.

Chestnut Festivals (Sagre della Castagna)

When the aroma of nutty smoke begins to waft around the streets, you know chestnut season has begun and there will be a man with a roasting drum nearby. The local market will also have stalls piled high with chestnuts, and they appear at food Sagre, showcasing local produce.

Autumn Truffles

A highlight of a Foodies Italian calendar is the Autumn truffle season. White truffles (tartufi Bianchi) are found from October through to November, depending on altitude and rainfall. The best regions to try them are Umbria, Tuscany and Piedmont, plus parts of, Emilia-Romagna, Le Marche and Abruzzo.

At truffle festivals you may even get the opportunity to try a little taster. At these events, expert chefs often demonstrate how to use the truffles in local dishes. Some events even have truffle‑dog displays or offer truffle hunting experiences into the forest with a guide.

Truffle Fairs in Italy this autumn

• Alba White Truffle Fair, in the Langhe hills of Piedmont is the most international of the fairs.
• “Fiera Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco” in Acqualagna, Marche, includes show‑cooking, themed tastings and guided truffle walks in the surrounding woods.
• “Mostra Mercato Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco” in San Miniato, Tuscany includes truffle tastings alongside local extra‑virgin olive oil and pecorino.
• Pietralunga Truffle and White Potato Fair, Umbria.

Wine Tasting

Grapes are generally harvested (Vendemmia) in Italy between mid-September and late October. If you hope to buy a property with a vineyard, it’s a good idea to volunteer to help with a harvest to learn the procedure of picking, pressing and bottling.

In Italy this Autumn there are many wineries open to visitors, some of which offer tours with wine tasting. Between 4-12 November there is “Cantine Aperte”, when wineries across the country open their cellars for tastings.

Once the hard work of picking grapes is over, people begin to celebrate the new wine (vino novello) Often these wine festivals take place around the Feast of Saint Martin (San Martino), on 11 November.

Best Food Cities

Autumn is a great time to go sightseeing, shopping, and eat out in one of Italy’s exciting cities. According to Taste Atlas Awards, six out of the top 10 food cities in the world are in Italy [1]. The top spot went to Naples with its iconic traditional pizzerias and trattorias.

The Pizza Margherita was particularly highly rated, because frankly this is the home of pizza and the ingredients are authentic and of the region. Once you experience a fresh pizza base, topped  with San Marzano tomatoes from the plains of Mount Vesuvius, Mozzarella from the milk of local cows and water buffalo, fresh basil, and extra virgin olive oil, you’ll never want a supermarket pizza again.

City restaurants

In 2nd, 3rd and 4th place were Milan, Bologna and Florence. At these fine cities Risotto alla Milanese, Tagliatelle al ragu alla Bolognese and Bistecca alla Fiorentina topped their “must try” lists.

Rome took 6th place, with the city’s restaurants being praised for their Carbonara, Cacio Pepe, Pasta alla gricia and Tiramisu. Then in 9th position was Turin, where you should try the local pasta dish “Agnolotti”, which is rectangular parcels stuffed with meat. Other Italian cities in the Top 50 were Genoa (13th), Ferarra (19th), Catania (21^st), Venice (23^rd), Palermo (31^st), and Bari (41^st).

Festival of Ice Cream

In the Autumn, many cafes switch off their ice cream freezers and display cakes instead. However, from November 7th to 10th, Palermo on Sicily hosts “Sherbeth”, the International Festival of Artisan Gelato. This delicious event celebrates the quality and creativity of artisanal ice cream from around the world.

Walk through History

Visit Villas, Castles and Gardens

Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI), is the equivalent of the UK’s National Trust. They acquire properties like villas and castles, to preserve them and make them accessible to the public. If you enjoy exploring hidden palaces, secret gardens and seldom-opened sites then you’ll love being in Italy for the FAI Autumn Days. In 2025, it was on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October, at sites in around 360 cities.

Types of places that opened their doors included historic homes and palaces, churches, parks and gardens, art collections, theatres and villages. In Tuscany you could visit medieval abbeys and elegant villas. In Umbria palazzi, monasteries and gardens. See the FAI website for other opening dates.  

Museums

Many museums in Italy this Autumn are organising workshops to encourage people to visit on Autumn weekends. At the Museum Day (F@MU) on the 12 October, museums across the country ran treasure hunts, creative workshops and child‑friendly tours.

Autumn is a good time to visit the most popular museums and art galleries. Having visited Florence and Rome in the Autumn, I recommend buying tickets for the earliest time slot you can, then going on one of the hop-on-and-off tourist buses to visit the outdoor sights. 

The Passage of Commodus

While in Rome, how amazing would it be to walk along the underground passage once used by Emperor Commodus to reach the imperial box in the Colosseum. Well, from 27^th October 2025, if you visit the Colosseum with a “full experience” ticket, you can do just that.

Although the passage was named after Commodus (180-192 AD), who was a big fan of gladiatorial combat, the passage was actually built over one thousand nine hundred years ago. They reckon it was sometime between the reigns of Domitian (81-96 AD) and Trajan (98-117 AD). 

Walk the old streets

On the 31 October is National Urban Trekking Day (Giornata Nazionale del Trekking Urbano). Several cities offer themed walks around alleyways, and hidden corners, to introduce the history and atmosphere of days gone by.

Some are candlelit evening tours, while others are family routes with story tellers. Cities such as Siena, Ferrara, Bologna, Rome, Verona, Cagliari, and Ancona usually get involved in this great community event.

Run through the city

The cooler Autumn weather encourages many people to dig out their trainers and go for a run. Some are getting in training for running events such as the Chianti Classico Eco-marathon. City marathons held in Italy this Autumn include Venice Marathon (26 October, 2025), or there is a scenic half marathon at Lake Maggiore (9 November, 2025). The Verona Run is on 16 November, 2025 and the Florence Marathon is 30 November, 2025. See also, “8 Sports that can lead to a healthy lifestyle in Italy”.

Stroll the Antiques Markets

Once a month my local town, like many others, holds an Antiques market. It’s a pleasant Sunday morning stroll along the tree lined avenue with Autumn leaves. After looking at all the interesting old things and trying to work out what some were used for, we sit outside a café with a cappuccino.   

The oldest and largest Antiques market in Italy is in Arezzo. Founded in 1968 it was the first event of its kind to be held regularly, each month. Every first Sunday of the month and on the preceding Saturday, the historic centre of Arezzo welcomes hundreds of stall holders selling furniture, paintings, antique books and prints, toys, porcelain and bri-a-brac, on the scenic Piazza Grande and surrounding streets.

Summary

To make the most of a trip to Italy this Autumn, go where the locals go. The best authentic events and places to visit aren’t always advertised on the internet, so ask around and look out for posters. The taste of fresh produce, the aroma of cooking wafting through the streets at lunch time, and the atmosphere of a community coming together in the piazza for a festival, is something to experience.    

[1] Source: tasteatlas reports that this data relates to 17,073 cities in their database, based on 477,287 valid food ratings.