In Frisa (Chieti), Abruzzo, from 7 to 9 November, Abruzzo's green gold, extra virgin olive oil will be celebrated.

Celebrating the Abruzzo’s new olive oil

The New Oil Festival will include guided tastings of freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil and samplings of bruschetta and typical local dishes such as fiadoni which have a pasta casing  and cheese and egg stuffing. The gastronomic part of the event will be accompanied by guided tours and meetings with local producers who will tell the story of olive growing in Abbruzzo, while there will also be craft markets, shows and popular music. 

Sleeping in a yurt under a geodesic dome

Frisa is a small artistic town with many churches and historical buildings like the towns of Chieti and Lanciano in the hinterland and Guardiagrele which is among the Most Beautiful Small Towns in Italy network, and famous for its traditional wrought iron and embossed copper work. At Soste in Quota Glamping which is just 30 kilometres from the oil festival, you can explore the area, and spend magical nights in a yurt under the geodesic dome or in the wood-heated whirlpool and get to know the autumn flavours of Abruzzo in this glamping facility recommended Pitchup.com.

A free tourist card with discounts and benefits 

On the Adriatic coast near Chieti, the Costa dei Trabocchi is so called because of the widespread presence along the coast of trabocchi ancient fishing machines. This coast can be explored on foot, by bicycle or even on horseback, and many of the trabocchi can be visited, while other are now locations for events and even restaurants. Along the paths of the Majella National Park Soste in Quota Glamping allows you to try your hand at activities such as trekking, mountain biking or Nordic walking. The ‘Dai Trabocchi alla Maiella’ card is the free tourist card that allows you to discover the natural, cultural and gastronomic beauty of this area with exclusive discounts and benefits.

During the Christmas season, Siena prepares to welcome visitors with lights and cultural initiatives.  

Christmas lights and decorations

From 1 December to 7 January Siena Incanta will be a rich programme of events and initiatives designed to enhance the city's cultural and artistic heritage and offer engaging experiences for visitors of all ages. The Christmas lights will be switched on on 1 December for the feast of the patron Saint Ansano and will accompany visitors until 7 January. The lighting in the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will consist of artistic decorations along the main streets, creating an evocative Christmas route from the Lizza Park to the Cathedral and passing through Piazza del Campo.  

A Village with Father Christmas 

From 6 December to 6 January, the Parco della Lizza will host the Citadel of Amusement, an area with an iceskating rink that will host open-air shows, street performers and refreshment points with food trucks. The Christmas Village in Villa Rubini Manenti will be open from 13 December to 5 January, with activities dedicated to families and children: creative workshops, games and of course a chance to meet Father Christmas.  

The New Year’s Concert in Piazza del Campo

From 6 to 8 December, the traditional Mercato nel Campo market returns to Piazza del Campo, a historical commemoration of the 14th-century market, with more than 130 exhibitors including craftsmen, local producers and merchants combining culture, traditions and Sienese food and wines. The grand finale on 31 December will feature the New Year's Concert in Piazza del Campo with live music, DJ sets and light shows to celebrate the arrival of the New Year in one of Italy's most iconic squares.

The new Hotel Bella Posta, in Soprabolzano, on the Renon plateau in South Tyrol will open in spring 2026.

Totally renovated and redesigned

The latest property of the Holzner family, former owners of the Parkhotel. combines tradition, elegance and contemporary style. We wanted to create something new and authentic, a simple but well-maintained place where the hospitality is both spontaneous and contemporary. The idea is to offer a relaxed experience, far from the classic traditional hotel,- says Monica Holzner, director of the Parkhotel and creator of the new project. -The building has been totally renovated and redesigned, it is not tied to its past history but looks ahead, with a young and informal approach. The hotel, which can easily be reached from Bolzano by cable car, aims to appeal to a clientele seeking comfort, quality of experience and authenticity.

South Tyrolean and Italian cuisine and the Trust Bar

With some twenty rooms, a spa with a swimming pool, and outdoor spaces designed to enhance the seasons and with views of the Dolomites, the hotel also focuses closely on its gastronomic experience with the “Dolce Vita All Day” dining from the morning to the evening and dishes inspired by South Tyrolean and Italian cuisine. The Trust Bar has an intimate and refined lounge in which to enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine.


Guided hikes and access to the lido and the ice skating arena

Guests at the Hotel Bella Posta also benefit from the RittenCard which entitles them to unlimited use of all public transport in South Tyrol. In addition guests staying at Bella Posta will be able to participate in numerous organized guided hikes and enjoy free admission to the public swimming pools on the Renon, the lido at Lake Costalovara in summer, the Ritten Arena for ice skating in winter and ice hockey matches.

Hiking and walking trails

A starting point for numerous hiking trails and walks, Ritten is one of the main wine-growing hubs in South Tyrol. With 132 hectares of vineyard area, “Rebe” is the hiking and wine trail that winds its way through the vineyards of Signato and Santa Giustina, as far as Rencio and is a tangible symbol of the collaboration between tourism and agriculture. The trail has an altitude difference of 500m downhill and a walking time of 70 minutes.

Hosted by the Hilton Rome EUR La Lama hotel, contemporary artist Vincenzo Marsiglia’s free exhibition “Map Star La Lama,” runs in the hotel until 30 November. 

The exhibition features a four-pointed star

This is a project in which art, technology and perception interact, in a continuous redefinition of the visible. The artist centres his research on a module in the shape of a four-pointed star, Marsiglia's signature and a matrix of experimentation and vision. The resulting works are borderline between immateriality and physical presence, between optical projections, mixed reality photographs, alabaster sculptures, blown glass neon and the aid of AI in an unprecedented vision of the surrounding environment.

Rome Art week is now in its 10th edition

This dialogue between art and hospitality coincides with Rome Art Week, the major event entirely dedicated to contemporary art that this year reaches its tenth edition. Rome Art Week confirms itself as one of the most significant art appointments in the capital, with a programme dedicated to a wide audience of enthusiasts. The event covers the entire city from the suburbs to the historic centre. It is free of charge and involves a wide network of galleries, foundations, Italian and foreign institutes, academies and independent spaces, which for six days will be open to the public with events, exhibitions, performances and talks.

ItaliAbsolutely’s fam trip to Emilia Romagna and Marche hosted 40 buyers from all over the world.

Meetings with local stakeholders 

The international guests were able to appreciate first-hand the beauty and authenticity of some off the beaten path locations and meet with local stakeholders.  The variety of the products on offer and the networking sessions generated a lot of interest and new prospects for collaboration: "This fam trip with ItaliAbsolutely allowed me to get to know many places I had never been before. It was a real pleasure to take part in this tour in Emilia-Romagna and Marche, I saw many interesting things that I will share with my clients once I return, I will be sending many people here", said Armine Asatryan, of Harmony Travel and More, Los Angeles. "I’ve seen many new things that fit perfectly into my schedule. I have many Hungarian customers interested in visiting this area and now I can enrich my offer with all the places I have discovered,- said Péterné Dávid of Grosz Utazás kft, Hungary -The workshops were really interesting for us because we made contacts with local companies, from services to restaurants.”

“The visit to Gradara’s Castle was magnificent” 

The buyers were impressed by the quality of the programme, which had a particular focus on some of the destinations visited, such as San Marino, Frasassi Caves, Gradara and Pesaro. “We have many karst caves in the Czech Republic, but the Frasassi Caves are really wonderful: they are different, they have limestone formations that stimulate the imagination with their myriad shapes,” said Emil Pulka of EMMA Agency. Jenny Rosenius of Tema Toscana, Sweden, told us: "Gradara amazed me, it is a truly fascinating medieval village. The visit to the castle was magnificent, and very engaging thanks also to the actors who played roles of Dante's characters Paolo and Francesca.” "Pesaro is one of the reasons why I chose to participate in this tour. It is an incredible city, with spectacular beaches, luxury hotels for families and solutions with every comfort, even for children, a factor that I seek out and appreciate. And I sell what I like.” was the opinion of Cynthia Espinosa of Cynthia Tours Travel, Madrid.

Networking with Western Sicily at Castle Benelli

After a welcome and networking evening at Castello Benelli, with the presentation of the Distretto Turistico Sicilia Occidentale the guests then met with incoming operators, visited Ferretti Hotels properties and took part in workshops with Italian and Emilia-Romagna DMCs. The programme included networking with the participation of the city of Messina at The Regent Boutique Hotel&Spa and Toscana Promozione Turistica at Villa I Tramonti. The tour organized by APT Servizi Emilia-Romagna, led by its general manager Emanuele Burioni, included a visit to the historic centre of Rimini, and ended with a lunch offered by Collina dei Poeti, a venue for weddings and events and a wine and olive oil producing farmhouse. They also had a guided visit to the Republic of San Marino.

A visit to Gradara’s Museum and meeting hoteliers in Pesaro

In Gradara in the Marche region the buyers were welcomed by Luca Baroni, director of the Marche Nord museum network, and they visited the castle. Then it was the turn of the coastal city of Pesaro, with an overnight in the Nautilus Family Hotel by Lindbergh Hotels. A UNESCO  Creative City of Music, Pesaro is the birthplace of the composer Gioacchino Rossini, and has a seaside tradition and numerous cycle paths. At lunch in the Polo Restaurant in Pesaro, the travel agents met with the president of the Pesaro Hoteliers' Association, Marco Filippetti, and the owners of several local hotels.

 

Genga and the Frasassi Caves were much appreciated

The final stop of the fam trip was the area of Genga and the Frasassi Caves, presented by the marketing manager Sara Bonacucina. During their stay, the guests were welcomed at the Hotel Le Grotte and the Hotel Terme di Frasassi and they then visited the cave complex.  The programme also included a visit to the Romanesque Benedictine Abbey of San Vittore delle Chiuse and the Speleo-paleontological and Archaeological Museum before arriving in Pierosara, a picturesque village overlooking the Frasassi and Rossa gorges, the neoclassical Valadier Temple, and the ancient hermitage of Santa Maria Infra Saxa. They then visited the Genga Museum of Art History which gave them an engaging perspective on the entire experience.

Thanking our Emilia Romagna and Marche partners

We would also like to thank, in alphabetical order: Amare Italia, Arcadia Tour Operator & DMC, Avire Viaggi, Bologna Welcome Incoming Travel Agency, Cesenatico Holidays, Egocentro/Atitur-Firmatour, Fair Winds Tour/Keys of Italy, Giratlantide, Incoming Gradara, Life in Tour by IF Imola Faenza Tourism Company, Modenatur Incoming Tour Operator & DMC, Parma Welcome Travel, Positive Tours, Promhotels Tour Operator Incoming & DMC, Ravenna Incoming & Visitors Bureau, San Marino Welcome DMC, Sognare Insieme Viaggi, Somewhere Tours, Studiowiki and Visit Rimini. Special thanks go to the GoOpti transfer service, responsible for all the transfers.

The Festa dell’Uva in Vo’, Veneto, is a vibrant celebration of the grape harvest, featuring a weekend of wine tastings, traditional dishes, and local events. Visitors can enjoy live music, parades of grape-decorated floats, and guided tours of local wineries. Just 30 km from Padua, this unique autumn event offers a chance to discover the winemaking soul of the Euganean Hills.

Read the article: Vo', food, wine and art at the 74th Grape Festival in Veneto

The Giostra della Quintana pageant in Foligno, Umbria, now in its 80th edition, takes Foligno in the province of Perugia back in history to the 17th century.

This year the joust is on 13 and 14 September 

This palio is one of the most structured historical chivalric pageants in Italy, and is held twice a year, in June and September. This year the challenge was on 13 and 14 June, and the Rematch sill be on 13 and 14 September. The two days are divided into the “Corteo” or procession and the “Giostra” or joust. The Corteo represents the scenic and spectacular synthesis of the entire event, whil the following day, in reduced form, it accompanies the districts to the Campo de li Giochi playing field. The evening before the Joust, more than 600 participants in baroque costumes take Foligno back to the past, parading through the city streets in costumes inspired by Spanish fashions between 1580 and 1620.

Side events from markets to banquets and music   

The Giostra della Quintana is the most compelling and difficult ring joust held in Italy and indeed it is known as the “Olympics” of equestrian competitions. The event involves the ten city districts in a regulated equestrian tournament and, with its district subdivision, it extends to the entire city with historical taverns, costumes, themed menus and shows. The symbol of Foligno's Giostra della Quintana is the statue placed in the centre of the Campo de li Giochi representing the God Mars, known to many as Quintanone.  During the festivities Foligno is enveloped in a 17th-century atmosphere, with many thematic side events like the ancient Fiera dei Soprastanti, the large market that has been held in Foligno since the 15th century. There is also a themed culinary competition that takes place between the ten city districts, consisting of a sumptuous Baroque banquet, with music, period instruments and historical dances.

Shops, museums and restaurants stay open late

The Baroque Night held in the historic palazzi of Foligno features musical concerts and the squares the scene of Baroque performances, with dancers, living statues, musicians and acrobats. It is celebrated on the night between Saturday and Sunday of the first week of the September edition of the Joust. On this occasion, the taverns of the Quintana Jousting districts, as well as the city's shops, restaurants and museums remain open until late at night with games, shows and music.