Autumn brings truffle season in Italy, meaning weekend markets with licensed hunters selling truffles, chef demos and tasting “labs,”. Undoubtedly a highlight on the foodie calendar in Italy, you can expect truffle‑dog displays and occasional auctions. If you're finding things to do in autumn in Italy, going truffle hunting could be the most delectable option out there.
White vs black truffles in Italy 2025
White truffle
Piercing and heady flavour, think garlic, cheese rind and warm hay. It's often shaved raw over simple dishes like risotto or pasta, so the aroma leads.
- Season: mainly October to November in northern and central Italy.
- Typical prices in 2025 are around €2,100 to €3,500 per kilo for good-quality truffle. Alba’s white truffle is widely considered the most prized and is wild rather than cultivated. It currently costs on average €1,064 for 8-20 grams.
Black winter truffle
Deep, savoury and cocoa‑earthy flavour with peppery notes. Often warmed through in butter or stock, folded into eggs, sauces and poultry, shaved over hot potatoes or polenta.
- Season: broadly December to March.
- Typical prices in 2025 are around €350 to €600 per kilo, with shop/restaurant mark‑ups varying by town and quality.
Black summer/“autumn” truffle
Milder, nutty and mushroomy; much subtler than white when raw. Best infused — slice into warm butter or oil, or shave over hot dishes to coax out aroma.
- Season: late spring to early autumn, with the uncinatum “autumn” form from October to November.
Generally, the most affordable, and expect lower per‑10 g prices in rural fairs than in big‑name towns.
Main truffle fairs to visit in Italy
Alba White Truffle Fair, Piedmont
In the Langhe hills, Alba turns into a heady cloud of truffle perfume each weekend, with a serious World Market, chef masterclasses and tastings. Alba White Truffle Fair is the most international of the fairs, but still anchored by local producers and an official quality‑control desk. Highlights include guided pairings with wines Barolo and Barbaresco, plus classic dishes like tajarin with shaved white truffle.
- When/where: 11th October to 8th December
- Local tip: Beeline to the authenticity desk before buying and taste early, as afternoons get crowded.
- Eating: Book well ahead for restaurants and “food labs.” Lunch tends to be easier than dinner.
Acqualagna National White Truffle Fair , Marche
Italy’s “other” white‑truffle capital runs a central market that takes over the town, with a friendly, local feel and plenty of stalls to compare quality and price. The setting near the Furlo Gorge adds proper autumn colour. Highlights at Fiera Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco di Acqualagna include show‑cooking, themed tastings and guided truffle walks in the surrounding woods.
- Dates: 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd and 23rd November 2025
- Local tip: Tag on a stroll in the Gola del Furlo for leaf‑peeping.
San Miniato White Truffle Market, Tuscany
San Miniato’s medieval lanes wind past stalls, pop‑up counters and small piazzas pouring Tuscan wines during Mostra Mercato Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco di San Miniato. The whole hilltown buzzes, with truffle menus in nearly every osteria. Highlights: panoramic tastings and stalls championing local extra‑virgin olive oil and pecorino alongside truffle.
- When/where: 15th-16th, 22nd-23rd, 29th-30th November 2025 in Piazza Dante, San Miniato.
- Local tip: Lunch bookings are far less painful than dinner on market weekends.
- Eating: Look for tagliolini al tartufo or uovo al tegamino with shavings.
Underrated regional truffle fairs in Italy
Sant’Agata Feltria National Fair, Emilia‑Romagna
A family‑friendly atmosphere in the Montefeltro area with food courts, produce markets, and show‑and‑tell displays about truffle hunting. The pace at Fiera Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco Pregiato di Sant’Agata Feltria is gentler than the big hitters, and the prices can be kinder. Highlights: regional cheeses and honey stalls to craft your own truffle night in.
- When/where: 5th October 2025 in Sant’Agata Feltria, Montefeltro.
- Local tip: Make a loop of the market before buying to compare specimens and prices.
- Eating: Community tents dish up hearty plates at sensible prices.
Moncalvo Truffle Fair, Piedmont
Smaller than Alba and beloved locally, Moncalvo’s traditional market sits in the Monferrato hills with a mellow country‑weekend feel. The Moncalvo Truffle Fair is a good shout for browsing without the scrum. Highlights: producers from tiny villages, local barbera pours and simple plates like agnolotti with truffle.
- When/where: 19th, 25th and 26th October in Moncalvo, Monferrato
- Logistics: Combine with Asti or Casale Monferrato for broader dining and stays.
- Local tip: Prices can be keener than Alba, and it's good to check the grade, aroma and firmness.
Sant’Angelo in Vado White Truffle Market & Show, Marche
One of the longest‑running events in the Marche, Sant’Angelo in Vado White Truffle Fair features streets full of stands, showcooking, concerts and truffle‑dog demos. Highlights: weekend schedules with guided tastings and producers happy to talk terroir.
- When/where: 11th-12th, 18th-19th, 25th-26th October in Sant’Angelo in Vado (Pesaro e Urbino).
- Local tip: Time your visit for demo slots and learn how pros judge quality.
Pietralunga Truffle and White Potato Fair, Umbria
A cheerful country fair where truffle meets the prized local white potato, with stalls selling autumn preserves and cheeses. It’s small, social and good for slow browsing. Highlights: seasonal plates and producers happy to chat in the square.
- When/where: 10th to 19th October, in Pietralunga, Perugia.
- Eating: Try roasted potatoes with shaved truffle and a glass of Umbrian red.
Bagnoli Irpino Chestnut & Truffle, Campania
In the mountains of Irpinia, white truffle rubs shoulders with chestnut sweets and strong local cheeses during Sagra della Castagna e del Tartufo. It’s southern‑season flavour in one weekend. Highlights: street stalls with castagnaccio, caciocavallo and truffle‑laced panini.
- When/where: 25th and 26th October in Bagnoli Irpino, Avellino.
- Eating: Balance truffle dishes with chestnut desserts for the full Irpinia spread.
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