October in Italy brings open days that unlock hidden palazzi, vineyard harvest weekends, and chestnut and truffle sagre in hill towns. Across the country, you’ll find plenty of October events in 2025. Food fairs and regional culture programmes, family‑friendly museum activities, seasonal markets, and lots more.
- FAI Autumn Days (Giornate FAI d’Autunno)
- Open wineries in harvest (Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia)
- Chestnut festivals (Sagre della Castagna)
- Truffle season (porcini and truffles)
- National Urban Trekking Day (Giornata Nazionale del Trekking Urbano)
- National Day of Walking (Giornate del Camminare)
- Planet Earth Week (Settimana del Pianeta Terra)
- Family at the Museum Day (F@MU)
FAI Autumn Days (Giornate FAI d’Autunno)
Think open doors, hushed courtyards and guides unlocking stories inside villas, palazzi and gardens that are usually off‑limits. It’s the closest Italy gets to a National Trust weekend, only sprinkled across hundreds of sites.
- Dates: 11th and 12 October
- Where: Nationwide, with city and small‑town listings in every region
- Booking: Many visits require advance online booking and a small donation
Open wineries in harvest (Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia)
Crates on the move, the sweet smell of must in the air, cellar doors propped open for tastings, vineyard walks and the odd grape‑stomp demo. Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia is convivial, photogenic and deliciously unhurried.
- Dates: Regional weekends across late September and October 2025 (varies by harvest)
- Where: Abruzzo, Tuscany, Piedmont, Campania, Veneto, and others
- Booking: Necessary, as many activities are ticketed with timed entries
Chestnut festivals (Sagre della Castagna)
A highlight on Italy's food festival calendar, town squares turn smoky with roasting drums during the chestnut season. Stalls pile high with the typical Italian dessert of castagnaccio and Tuscan pancakes, necci, local cheeses and new wine.
- Dates: Most Sundays in October 2025, with some flowing into early November
- Where: Widespread across Tuscany, Piedmont, Liguria, Lazio, Campania, Calabria and beyond
- Costs: Free entry in most places; pay per tasting or plate
Truffle season (porcini and truffles)
Restaurant boards switch to rich autumn menus, while market counters glisten with porcini and prized truffles. Expect pop‑up fairs, tasting benches and plenty of locals sizing up the good stuff.
- Dates: October through November 2025, depending on altitude and rainfall
- Where: Strong showings in Piedmont, Emilia‑Romagna, Umbria, Tuscany, Abruzzo and Molise
- Highlight truffle events: Alba White Truffle Fair, Mugello White Truffle, and Moncalvo Truffle Fair
- Customs: Taking fresh truffles abroad can be tricky. Sealed products are safer for travel
National Urban Trekking Day (Giornata Nazionale del Trekking Urbano)
Dozens of cities publish themed routes that stitch together backstreets, stairways and stories. During this nationwide city walks festival, expect lantern‑lit evening walks in some places and gentle family circuits in others.
- Date: 31st October 2025
- Where: Common participants include Siena, Ferrara, Bologna, Rome, Verona, Cagliari, Ancona and more
- Booking: Free or low‑cost sign‑ups
- Tips: Look for English‑led groups in larger cities, wear comfortable shoes, and bring a small torch on evening routes
National Day of Walking (Giornate del Camminare)
Local clubs map out community walks that thread through river paths, hill towns and city green belts. Italy's official day of walking is low‑key, social and a good excuse to clock a few kilometres.
- Dates: 11th and 12th October
- Where: Dozens of towns and cities nationwide
- Booking: Usually free; some groups collect small contributions
- Accessibility: Route difficulty and surfaces vary, so check descriptions of each walk
Planet Earth Week (Settimana del Pianeta Terra)
A nationwide celebration of landscapes and geology, with cave visits, guided walks, family labs, and talks that make Italy’s terrain feel like a living classroom. Settimana del Pianeta Terra is a great pick for any geoscience nerds out there.
- Dates: 5th to 12th October
- Where: over 750 locations, including universities, UNESCO Geoparks, science centres and local associations across the country
- Family‑friendly: Plenty of workshops with age guidance provided per event
- Language: Mixed with some English options in university towns
Family at the Museum Day (F@MU)
Museums across Italy run treasure hunts, creative workshops and child‑friendly tours around a shared theme. It’s a gentle way to keep culture fun for little legs and a great option for a family-friendly festival in Italy.
- Date: 12th October
- Where: Participating museums nationwide, with strong line‑ups in mid‑ to large cities
- Booking: Often required for workshops, but some activities are included with entry
- Tips: Combine with a nearby park or gelato stop to pace the day
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