In South Tyrol, the village of Tirolo welcomes Spring with the blossoming of the apple trees, walks, sporting activities and culinary events.

One of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Alps

High in the mountains, Dorf Tirol, near Merano has thermal baths abd is a destination for relaxing family walks or more challenging hikes. One of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Alps, the Merano High Trail (Meraner Höhenweg Trail in Dorf Tirol) is  approximately 100 kilometres long, with a total elevation gain of 5,000 metres. Whilst an experienced hiker can complete the circular route in about a week, it can also be explored in individual stages and joined at various points. One of these is located at the top station of the Alta Muta cable car, above Dorf Tirol.

ph credits: Helmuth Rier

Many different walking trails

There are numerous scenic walks and themed trails winding their way through castles, farmsteads, apple orchards and vineyards. Among the easiest walks, the Apple Trail is a must-see during the apple blossom season, as is the Wine Trail. Other options include the Falkner Promenade, the Culture Trail, the Tappeiner Promenade, the Forest Path, and the Panoramic Trail. For the more active, there is no shortage of opportunities such as Nordic walking, road cycling or mountain biking, and even paragliding.

ph credits: Thomas Rötting

Activities for children 

Younger children can have fun in the well-equipped playgrounds, such as in Burglehen Park, and with the various activities designed to stimulate curiosity and direct contact with the environment. Among the family-friendly initiatives, young and old alike are involved at the Gufyland bird rehabilitation centre, where they can learn about the world of birds of prey, their habits, conservation and rehabilitation. Tirolo’s squares and open spaces are also transformed into places for gathering and celebration, with events where music, tradition and gastronomy bring the whole town to life. Among the most eagerly awaited events, “Sapori in Piazza” on 1 May is the occasion where local producers invite visitors to sample, purchase and savour their specialitie.

ph credits: Maria Gapp

For further information: dorf-tirol.it 

In the village of Sutri, one of italy's most beautiful small towns in the province of Viterbo, “Sutri in Fiore” celebrates the beauty and identity of the Tuscia area until 31 May.

Cultural events, exhibitions and activities for all ages

Throughout the event the streets and squares of one of “Italy’s "Borghi più Belli," most beautiful small towns, will be adorned with floral displays. The programme is rich and varied, featuring cultural events, exhibitions, workshops and activities for all ages. There will also be a dedicated area showcasing local flavours, with tastings, traditional products and culinary delights. 

Wine tastings and craft workshops 

Among the events, on 2 May from 5.00 pm, “Sutri tra Rose e Rosé” will take participants on a wine tasting with the Fisar Tuscia Viterbese delegation, an experience that will be repeated the following day from 12.00 pm. Also on 3 May, in the historic centre, Kairos – Le Forme dell’Anima will welcome visitors with markets, art, wellness and magic. The following weekend will feature creative and craft workshops, as well as a walk along the Via Francigena, a European trade route that in medieval times led pilgrims from Canterbury to Rome, of which Sutri is an important stop.

More than twenty events across the various weekends

On 16 and 17 May, the focus will shift to local cuisine, with cocktail suppers, lunches in gardens, show cooking, tastings and the AperiOpera. This will followed by another weekend of art, good food and activities dedicated to discovering bees and honey production, and the event will conclude with further initiatives and a classic car exhibition, totalling more than twenty events across the various weekends.

Roman remains and Etruscan walls

Sutri is a charming village in the Tuscia region and its beating heart is the Piazza del Comune square, accessed via an ancient arch topped by a bell tower with a clock, and along characteristic narrow streets with tuff walls,  small artisan shops and ancient treasures.The ancient City of Sutri park is an archaeological site with a Roman amphitheatre entirely carved out of tuff and an Etruscan necropolis with dozens of tombs as well as Etruscan walls and a Mithraeum with mosaics and paintings from the early Christian era, later converted into a church dating from the Middle Ages. The Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is also among the perfectly preserved archaeological finds.

Tuscia in Fiore returns in May, a travelling festival celebrating spring, art and culture in the Viterbo area of Upper Lazio.  

Weekends with floral installations and cultural events

Featuring villages and historic centres across the Tuscia region it will transform them into open-air trails featuring floral installations, scenic displays and cultural events. The event takes place over several weekends, featuring slow-paced itineraries that highlight nature, the identity of places, communities, and their historical heritage. 

Artistic workshops for children

The festival is based on the contrast between local stone (peperino and tuff) and the colours of spring, showcasing small towns and villages where life moves at a slower pace. The weekends will include workshops for children on emotional painting, clay modelling and Lego creations and there will also be tastings and markets featuring local specialties, open wine cellars and workshops showcasing traditional crafts.

A children's village and art exhibitions

The first weekend of the month features Villa S. Giovanni in Tuscia, from 1 to 3 May, offering visitors the chance to watch egg pasta being made by hand in the square. Bassano in Teverina, one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Small Towns, welcomes guests to its artistic centre on the 9th and 10th, enhanced this year by a new addition: the children’s village. On 16 and 17 May, the historic centre of Viterbo will be a hub of creativity and art, featuring impromptu painting sessions, art exhibitions, a photography competition and a singer-songwriter festival at the foot of the Casa della Bella Galliana. 

A wine festival and nature trails

Home to Europe’s largest wine museum, Castiglione in Teverina will bring the Tuscia in Fiore month to a close on the weekend of 23 and 24. In August, the town also hosts the Wine Festival, one of the most charming in central Italy, an opportunity to celebrate the wines of the Colli del Tevere in taverns through tastings and in the streets with artistic and musical performances. Just an hour from Fiumicino and Rome, and on the border with Tuscany and Umbria, Tuscia is also an ideal destination for day trips combining visits to villages, food and wine experiences, with walking nature trails.

Lazio is once again hosting the Wakeboard World Championships from 3 to 8 August.

Lazio's largest artificial lake

The competition will take place at Lago del Salto, which previously hosted the 2022 World Championships. Lazio’s largest artificial lake and Borgo San Pietro will be the nerve centre of the event, welcoming athletes from over 30 nations and enthusiasts from all over the world.

Sport as a powerful driver for tourism  

The region thus becomes an international sporting hub and a promotional opportunity for the whole of the Rieti area to showcase the natural heritage of the lake and its surroundings.  This ia “an example of how to promote sport through a major event which can also serve as a powerful driver for tourism  as well as environmental and cultural promotion across the entire region,” said the minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi.

The World Gliding Championships in 2027

The event is also part of a vision for sport that is increasingly focused on environmental sustainability and the protection of lake ecosystems, encouraging the mindful use of natural spaces and highlighting the value of Lake Salto as an environmental resource for the region. In addition to the Wakeboard World Championships, the Rieti area will host the U18 European Athletics Championships, scheduled for July, and the World Gliding Championships in 2027.

Iconic sites and charming villages

The natural landscape is enhanced by lakes such as Salto, Turano, Lungo and Ripasottile, rivers such as the Velino and mountains such as Terminillo, as well as the plain surrounded by the iconic sites associated with St Francis and the surrounding villages. Just over an hour from Rome, Rieti, the capital of Sabina, boasts a historical and archaeological heritage that is revealed in the underground tours of Rieti, as well as in the sections of the city walls and the bridge over the river that are still visible today. Among the medieval landmarks, the Cathedral with its 14th-century baptistery, now home to the Diocesan Museum, the Church of San Francesco, the Papal Palace and the Town Hall housing the Civic Museum. The Renaissance influence is found in the Vecchiarelli  Palace and Prefettura Palace, while one of the most iconic landmarks is the Teatro Flavio Vespasiano, an elegant 19th-century building.

With the arrival of spring, outdoor experiences inland and along the coast offer a range of exciting options.

Madonie Park, recently recognized a UNESCO Geopark

The variety of options stretches across mountainous areas as well as inland and coastal stretches. The Madonie Park, recently recognized as a UNESCO Geopark, is the area with the greatest biodiversity in Sicily, as well as one of the richest in the entire Mediterranean Basin. It is a short mountain range located in the northern part of the island, within the metropolitan city of Palermo. 

Trekking and mountain biking trails

With views stretching from the Tyrrhenian Sea to Mount Etna, the network of trails in the Madonie area offers trekking, mountain biking, routes through small towns and villages and themed itineraries such as the Way of the Marian Shrines or the Brigands’ Trail. There is no shortage of adrenaline-fuelled options, including climbing, adventure parks and excursions to the Tiberio Gorges. 

Water sports, bird watching and hot-air balloons

In Central Sicily, between Enna and Caltanissetta, a less well-known but equally varied offering takes shape. The landscape here consists of plateaus, lakes and villages, offering everything from birdwatching in the Pergusa Nature Reserve to water sports on Lake Nicoletti. The range of activities is rounded off by hot-air balloon flights over the badlands and paragliding. Alongside these activities, there are opportunities linked to local traditions, such as trekking with donkeys and transhumance.

Coastal trekking and kitesurfing

On the western side, nature trails meet the sea. The Zingaro Nature Reserve is one of the main destinations for coastal trekking, whilst the area between Monte Cofano and the Trapani coast continues to attract hikers and cyclists. The rocky cliffs of Castelluzzo are the perfect choice for climbing, whilst the Stagnone Lagoon in Marsala is an international hotspot for kitesurfing. Many CAI trails have been restored and the Elimos Segesta Greenway, a cycle and footpath along an old railway line, has been reactivated. 

With over 5,000 kilometres of walks and trails, Sicily offers a wealth of walsk and trails to explore in spring.

Mount Etna is a UNESCO site

There are many natural, historical and cultural attractions that extend beyond the summer seaside, providing authentic and sustainable experiences, from mountains and coastlines to quiet villages and breathtaking landscapes. Sicily is home to four regional parks, ranging from the Nebrodi and Madonie Parks – ideal settings for trekking and cycle tourism – to volcanic landscapes featuring Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. This UNESCO site is unique in its variety of experiences and landscapes: at an altitude of over 3,000 metres, the volcano is snow-capped for several months of the year, offering the chance to ski on its northern slopes. The volcano also offers opportunities for trekking, cable car and jeep excursions, and contrasting landscapes of lava, woodland and snow.

Two fascinating religious routes

Set against this backdrop is a network of trails criss-crossing the entire island: between the Madonie mountains and the Tyrrhenian coast, the Via dei Frati The Way of the Friars - Visit Sicily, 166 kilometres long and comprising five stages, winds its way through sanctuaries and medieval villages; Moving inland, the Way of St James Way of St James in Sicily - Visit Sicily is the route that follows in the footsteps of one of the saint passing through art cities and rural landscapes in six stages. 

There is also a Sicily by Water trail

The Magna Via Francigena The Magna Via Francigena - Visit Sicily connects Palermo to Agrigento for 180 kilomtres that can be covered on foot or by bicycle, on a journey through thirteen municipalities that brings together archaeological, artistic and natural sites. And last, but by no means least, Sicily by Water Sicily by water: a nature trail through canyons, rivers, and springs - Visit Sicily showcases routes through canyons, springs and river environments.

Trails and paths for all levels of walkers

The Alcantara River Park Alcantara River Park, with the famous Alcantara Gorges, offers unique canyon scenery surrounded by basalt columns and "gurne," small circular pools formed by river erosion where it is still possible to spot kingfishers and brown trout. The Pantalica Nature Reserve Pantalica Nature Reserve, Anapo Valley, and Cava Grande Stream - Sicily Region - ORBS Portal, in the Syracuse area, is a UNESCO site combining nature and archaeology, featuring trails through canyons, an old railway line and a 13th-century BC necropolis dotted with over 5,000 "grotticella" grotto tombs. For further information on the trails and paths: visitsicily.info and the regional web map of the routes.

With the arrival of spring, outdoor experiences inland and along the coast offer a range of exciting options.

Madonie Park, recently recognized a UNESCO Geopark

The variety of options stretches across mountainous areas as well as inland and coastal stretches. The Madonie Park, recently recognized as a UNESCO Geopark, is the area with the greatest biodiversity in Sicily, as well as one of the richest in the entire Mediterranean Basin. It is a short mountain range located in the northern part of the island, within the metropolitan city of Palermo. 

Trekking and mountain biking trails

With views stretching from the Tyrrhenian Sea to Mount Etna, the network of trails in the Madonie area offers trekking, mountain biking, routes through small towns and villages and themed itineraries such as the Way of the Marian Shrines or the Brigands’ Trail. There is no shortage of adrenaline-fuelled options, including climbing, adventure parks and excursions to the Tiberio Gorges. 

Water sports, bird watching and hot-air balloons

In Central Sicily, between Enna and Caltanissetta, a less well-known but equally varied offering takes shape. The landscape here consists of plateaus, lakes and villages, offering everything from birdwatching in the Pergusa Nature Reserve to water sports on Lake Nicoletti. The range of activities is rounded off by hot-air balloon flights over the badlands and paragliding. Alongside these activities, there are opportunities linked to local traditions, such as trekking with donkeys and transhumance.

Coastal trekking and kitesurfing

On the western side, nature trails meet the sea. The Zingaro Nature Reserve is one of the main destinations for coastal trekking, whilst the area between Monte Cofano and the Trapani coast continues to attract hikers and cyclists. The rocky cliffs of Castelluzzo are the perfect choice for climbing, whilst the Stagnone Lagoon in Marsala is an international hotspot for kitesurfing. Many CAI trails have been restored and the Elimos Segesta Greenway, a cycle and footpath along an old railway line, has been reactivated.