The end of summer is the right time in the Aosta Valley to enjoy foliage, castles and vineyard experiences.

Forests and lakes, and spotting ibexes, deer and eagles

Autumn is the season of foliage. And one of the most striking corners to explore it are the Val Ferret and Lake Arpy, at the foot of Mont Blanc, the woods of Valsavarenche in the Gran Paradiso National Park, the beech forests of Fontainemore and the lakes of the Mont Avic Natural Park.  In October, the Gran Paradiso National Park is tinged in autumn hues, ibexes and chamois descend the valley, and marmots and eagles are easily spotted. 

A perfect time of year for visiting castles

At this time of year, far from the summer crowds, the castles in the Aosta Valley can be visited at a different pace.   They include the famous Castle of Fénis, the Castle of Issogne with its pomegranate fountain, entrance decorated with fine lunettes and fully furnished interior. The recently restored Castle of Aymavilles, in 19th-century Baroque style, is also worth visiting. September marks the season of the grape harvest in Valle d'Aosta, but Italy's smallest region has much more than just wine tastings to offer. The high-altitude vineyards of Morgex and La Salle in the Mont Blanc valley - they are among the highest in Europe – offer a unique context for wine tourism experiences and discovering the excellent Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle wine. 

Ph credits Enrico Romanzi

Ph credits Enrico Romanzi

Ph credits Enrico Romanzi

Castello Fénis - ph credits Raffaella Gobbo

Châtelard  La Salle - ph credits Enrico Romanzi

Val Ferret Courmayeur - ph credits Enrico Romanzi

Grandes Jorasses da Petosan di La Thuile -
​ph credits foto Enrico Romanzi

Grapes in Autumn - ph credits Enrico Romanzi

Blu Lake and Cervino in Autumn - ph credits Enrico Romanzi

Valle dei Principi Gressoney-Saint-Jean
ph credits Daniele Camisasca

Vineyards and Aymavilles Castle - ph credits Enrico Romanzi

Vine trekking and guided cellar visits

Local wineries offer immersive activities such as trekking between the rows of vines, cellar visits and guided itineraries. Among the more dynamic proposals, the Climbing Park Balteo combines via ferrata walks with tastings of typical local products.  The Climbing Park consists of a via ferrata and three crags, specifically intended for those taking their first steps in rock climbing. 

A cycle tour of vineyards and wine cellars

For an active approach to the area, the Tour of the Cellars is a cycling itinerary of medium difficulty through the vineyards and wine cellars of the towns of Villeneuve, Aymavilles, Gressan, Jovençan, Aosta, Sarre and Saint-Pierre, with the possibility of visiting the area's wine cellars by prior booking. The Booking Valle d'Aosta portal is the tool for booking stays managed directly by the Regional Tourism Office and has a list of accommodation facilities in Valle d'Aosta (hotels, RTAs, B&Bs, farm holiday establishments and apartments). It is possible to book online without intermediaries and without any booking fee, selecting according to the area or type of experience desired in the Aosta Valley.

In Italy’s northern Veneto region, the Belluno Dolomites welcome hikers and cyclists.

Challenging trails and vie ferrate

The area has over 200 kilometres of well-marked trails, relaxing walking paths, challenging trails and via ferrate. Then there is the famous Tre Cime tour, from Misurina up to the Malga Maraia which has wonderful views of the Marmarole and Cadini di Misurina.

Cable cars and chairlifts

From Taiarezze, in Auronzo, a cable car takes you to the Monte Agudo refuge, at an altitude of 1,573 metres. The refuge is the starting point for the walk to the Pian dei Buoi plateau, at an altitude of about 1,750 metres.  Another panoramic walk is the one that connects the Col de Varda Refuge, which can be reached by chairlift, to the Città di Carpi Refuge. 

Some important precautions

The Consorzio Turistico Tre Cime Dolomiti recommends experiencing the mountains in safety and with common sense, respecting the territory and bearing in mind some important precautions. It is good practice, before and during an excursion, to check the weather conditions. If there is a threat of bad weather the Consortium suggests descending immediately. If you find yourself unable to continue, the advice is to find shelter and crouch down with your feet together, insulating yourself from the ground with your rucksack or dry branches. 

Consorzio Tre Cime ph credits Nicola Bombassei

Always bring the right equipment

It is also essential to have the right equipment: a waterproof jacket, water and snacks, a first aid kit, a power bank, an offline GPS app and of course suitable boots. Ideally, you should then share the route with other people, or at least let someone tell you the route you intend to take.

Consorzio Tre Cime

High-altitude cycle paths 

The Tre Cime cycle path, one of the most suggestive in the Dolomites, links Lake Auronzo to Lake Misurina on a 30-kilometre route through the woods and clearings of Pra Longo, Somadida and Valbona.  There is also a 7-km-long circular route that allows you to cycle along the  Misurina and Antorno lakes, starting from the Col De Varda ski lifts. With an altitude difference of just over 170 metres, this route is easy and suitable for everyone. 

Michelangelo's secret room is a treasure hidden under the New Sacristy of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in the centre Florence.

Visits are strictly limited to 15 minutes

Containing charcoal drawings attributed to Michelangelo, and discovered in 1975, the room has only recently been opened to the public. It can only be visited by appointment and with a maximum of four people per group. The visits, lasting a maximum of 15 minutes, take place at specific times four days a week, from Wednesday to Saturday and on Mondays.  Measuring just ten metres by three, the little room was probably Michelangelo's refuge in 1530, during a period of high political tension that forced the Maestro to hide there for weeks or, perhaps, months.  The room's environmental conditions have remained unchanged for centuries, contributing to the conservation of the drawings. For this reason access was for decades reserved exclusively for scholars. Only after lengthy studies and monitoring was it possible to open the room to the public, with a calibrated route to ensure the protection of the works and the safety of visitors.

On the walls sketches and drawings by Michelangelo

On the walls there are 76 charcoal sketches depicting classical and mythological figures, anatomical studies of humans and animals, bodies in torsion, as well as afterthoughts on works already completed, new ideas and even a hypothetical self-portrait of the artist. These include the depiction of a face reminiscent of the David, and the hands of the Creation of Adam, which Michelangelo would paint years later in the Sistine Chapel.  Michelangelo’s room is under the Sacristy in the Basilica of San Lorenzo where the Museo delle Cappelle Medicee represents one of the most significant monumental complexes of the Italian Renaissance. Consisting of two funerary chapels of the Medici family, the museum includes the New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo in both architecture and sculpture, and the Chapel of the Princes, a mausoleum of polychrome marble, symbol of the Medici power. The underground crypts complete the exhibition itinerary.

Hotel Botticelli is close to art and shopping

In the centre of Florence, just a few steps from Piazza del Duomo and the major Florentine attractions, Hotel Botticelli welcomes its guests in an ancient Renaissance palace, for a 4-star stay with historical vibes. The hotel is close to the famous Uffizi Museum art gallery which contains the largest existing collection of works by Raphael and Botticelli.  Dating back to the 13th century, the Basilica di Santa Croce, a few minutes from the hotel, is one of the largest Franciscan churches in Italy and houses, among others, works by Giotto. The Basilica is also the burial place of personalities such as Galilei, Foscolo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli. Just around the corner from the hotel, the Mercato Centrale has food stalls with typical Tuscan products while, along the adjacent narrow streets there are numerous leather goods, handicrafts, clothing and souvenir outlets.

The Traditional Autumn Festival in Tirolo, South Tyrol, celebrates events and the area’s cultural heritage.

Decorated floats and marching bands

With typical flavours of the period, from wine, to apples, to chestnuts, this year's edition of the auturmn festival is set for the weekend of 13-14 September. The celebrations will begin on the Saturday evening with a torchlight procession through the streets of the little town. This will be followed by music and dancing in the Event Park, adjacent to the office of the Tyrol Tourism Association. The climax of the event will take place on Sunday, with a parade through the old centre, featuring decorated floats and marching bands, and with the participation of local associations.

An Alpine landscape dotted with fortresses, churches and castles

Tyrol Castle, now home to the South Tyrol Museum of History and Culture, dates back to the 12th century. Of crucial importance for the history of the area - to which it gives its name - the museum has a permanent exhibition with archaeological finds and contemporary works. In June and July every year the Knights' Hall hosts musical evenings with Italian and international artists.

Flight demonstrations in the Bird Rescue Centre

A short distance away we find Fontana Castle, built in 1250, a fortification which was the residence of the American poet Ezra Pound and today houses the South Tyrol Agricultural Museum and cultural centre. The Bird Rescue Centre in Castle Tyrol is dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured birds of prey and wild birds, with flight demonstrations taking place twice daily from the end of March to the beginning of November.

The Earth Pyramids are millenary clay formations

Nearby we find the Earth Pyramids, clay formations originating from millennia of erosion in the Rio della Muta gorge, near Castel Tirolo, and in the Finele valley, near Caines. Located on the slopes of the Muta, the Cesta Hochmuth is a viewing platform offering views of Merano and the Adige Valley. Its basket-like structure recalls local farming traditions and provides information about the mountain peaks and the history of farming at high altitudes.

Castles and blooming apple trees in spring

The area’s ecclesiastical heritage includes the churches of San Pietro and San Ruperto, while noble residences such as Castel d'Aura and Castel Thurnstein complete the historical context. And looking towards the beginning of next year, the blooming of the apple trees is an important seasonal event for spring tourism.

Fiesole’s Festival with historical enactments, music and garden tours.

The Estate Fiesolana in Tuscany with historic enactments, festivals garden tours, music, theatre, dance and cinema under the stars will run until 11 September.

In Fiesole’s Roman Theatre close to Florence 

The village of Fiesole is 10 kilometres from Florence, a small Etruscan town perched above the capital, among the Tuscan hills. The festival, now in its 78th edition, finds its fulcrum in the Roman Theatre, built in the 1st century B.C., which will host concerts ranging from classical music to jazz, prose and dance performances, themed evenings and a selected open-air film festival.

FH55 shuttle buses to and from the city

The FH55 Hotels Group will provide a free shuttle service, running 7 days a week until 31 October, which will allow guests of the Villa Fiesole Hotel to easily reach the centre of Florence, and those staying in the Calzaiuoli Hotel to go to the Villa Fiesole for a gourmet meal at the Serrae Villa Fiesole Michelin restaurant. Housed in two historic palazzi, both properties are elegantly styled 4* boutique hotels where period charm meets modern comfort, in the city and in the hills.

Guided tours of a Medici garden

To complete the cultural offer, the historic Garden of Villa La Quiete in Florence has recently reopened to the public. Closely linked to Medicean history, this 18th-century garden can be visited with guided tours lasting one hour, at a cost of €5. The visit also includes a tour of the frescoed rooms, the Church of the Holy Trinity, the 17th-century pharmacy and works by masters such as Botticelli and Ghirlandaio.

One of the world’s oldest botanical gardens

The Giardino dei Semplici in Florence is another green oasis in the city. One of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, it is rich in centuries-old trees, flowers, rare, tropical, carnivorous and poisonous plants which are housed in large greenhouses dating back to the 19th century.  The garden has been at the service of the community since the 15th century, when Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici made it available to medical students, and today it offers families and children a wide range of sensorial and cognitive paths to learn about nature.

For 60 years Leohotels Ischia has owned a collection of thermal wellness and leisure 4--star and 5-star hotels on the island of Ischia.

The 4-star Continental Terme opened in 1966

Ischia is the largest volcanic island in the Gulf of Naples and a favourite destination for leisure and wellness holidays.  The Continental Terme, which opened in 1966, is a 4-star property set in a large park with 220 rooms in low Mediterranean-style buildings, 5 thermal pools fed by the Tifeo spring, and a Thermal Centre with specialist treatments and therapies. There are also 12 conference rooms seating up to 400 people, equipped with advanced technology as well as two bars and the Sapori Restaurant which serves typical Ischian cuisine. 

The 4-star Continental Mare overlooks the sea at Cafiero Bay

The Continental Mare is a 4-star hotel overlooking the sea at Cafiero Bay, and has 55 Mediterranean-style rooms and suites. The hotel has two thermal pools: the Bio Pool at 30°C and the Panoramic Pool. A small spa is also available for guests, as well as the possibility of sea-view massages on the hotel’s terraces. The culinary proposals bring to the table local specialties made with fresh, healthy and genuine ingredients.

Moresco Hotel&Spa

The Moresco Hotel&Spa, the group's first 5-star

The Moresco Hotel&Spa, the group's first 5-star, has 63 rooms and suites, and is located in the most exclusive area of the island. In addition to patios, gardens and thermal water pools, the hotel's spa offers a wide range of treatments ranging from mud and thermal baths to vinotherapy and holistic and therapeutic massages and guests can enjoy the cuisine in the La Pergola Restaurant.

Excelsior Belvedere Hotel & Spa

The Excelsior Belvedere Hotel & Spa has a private beach

The Excelsior Belvedere Hotel & Spa, with all the charm of a noble Mediterranean residence faces the sea and has gardens and terraces in a centuries-old park and 78 rooms and suites with sea and hill views. Guests have access to a fully equipped private beach, several thermal pools and the Oil + Spa, which offers treatments combining the mineral salts of thermal waters with the benefits of essential oils. The hotel boasts three bars, including the Americano which is the island's first American bar. The Belvedere Restaurant offers a refined menu based on local ingredients, as well as local wines and it is also open to non-residents.  For information: www.excelsiorbelvedere.it