Lifestyle in Italy

November is a wonderful month for a short break in Italy.

High above Amalfi and Atrani, one village offers a different view of the coast: chestnut woods, terraced lemon groves, stone stairways and medieval churches, rather than traffic-filled waterfronts.Set at around 400 to 450 metres in the Monti Lattari, it is described as the oldest settlement on the A

Typical Italian autumn desserts come from a centuries-old tradition built around simple ingredients such as chestnuts, grapes, grape must, walnuts and figs. These ingredients become small regional masterpieces, with recipes handed down through generations and often tied to local festivals, grape harvests and the wider harvest season. Here are 10 typical autumn desserts to try in Italy.

There is a corner of Italy where theatre was never a luxury reserved for a few, but a collective project funded by the community. Across historic towns and provincial cities in Marche, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna, ten historic theatres tell an extraordinary story. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, families, nobles and institutions joined forces, rather like a condominium association, to build cultural spaces open to all. On 26 July 2026, this group of theatres was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Italy now has 62 UNESCO sites, retaining its position at the top of the global ranking.

Rome in a day can feel like a whistle-stop tour, but a well-planned route makes the big sights manageable. Stay longer, and there is time for quieter neighbourhoods, ancient roads, galleries and proper Roman meals.Rome is enormous, busy and not especially kind to rushed itineraries.

Without spending a cent, you can leave Rome and reach Tuscia or southern Lazio on selected days. The schedule includes 18 free tourist trains on the Rome-Viterbo and Rome-Cassino routes through December 10, 2026, with connections designed for major regional routes. The route to Viterbo also includes dedicated buses to Civita di Bagnoregio, Bolsena, and the Mandela area. Seats must be booked in advance through Trenitalia channels, and tickets with a reserved seat are issued for €0.

Central Italy holds a wealth of flavours that few other parts of the country can match.

Tucked into the high mountains of Friuli Venezia Giulia, one small village has earned the nickname “the city of clocks”.

Over time, the Italian home has not changed shape by chance. Homes built during the economic boom years, for instance, were designed for often larger families. Today, they need to adapt to smaller households, people living alone, couples without children and new ways of working.

Few experiences offer the same thrill as finding a porcini mushroom hidden among the leaves of a forest. Boletus edulis and its "cousins" represent a coveted trophy for millions of enthusiasts who set out every year at dawn. But where can you pick porcini mushrooms in Italy? From north to south of the peninsula, here's the best time to find them and the rules to follow before entering the woods.

It may seem unlikely, but there is no need to cross the ocean to find hills glowing with red and orange. In Italy, autumn lights up the woods like an open-air gallery, with shades changing hour by hour.

Why visit the thermal baths now? Crisp air makes the warm water feel even more comforting, autumn colours alter the scenery, and the summer crowds give way to a slower pace. Across Italy, natural pools and historic spa resorts become welcoming autumn retreats, with benefits for the respiratory system and skin. The choice comes down to the setting: untamed nature or full-service comfort.

Piazza Vittorio Veneto is Turin's largest square, spanning over 38,000 square meters—enough to accommodate five regulation soccer fields, yet always bustling with people. In Turin, it's simply called Piazza Vittorio, and residents are keen to keep it simple: this square is part of the city's daily life, not just a postcard to show off to tourists.

Veneto and the Aeolian Islands have been named among Lonely Planet’s 50 Best Places to Go in 2027. One opens up Italy beyond Venice; the other puts Sicily’s volcanic coast firmly in view.

High above Lake Mezzola in Lombardy, a small stone village sits at the end of a steep mountain path.

The famous chocolate festival returns to Perugia’s city centre from 14 to 23 November 2025, under the theme “The Festival Among the Clouds”. There’s no better way to enjoy this Umbrian city than by taking part in tastings, workshops, and shows, while also soaking up its historic charm and stunning views. Here’s what you need to know about Eurochocolate 2025.

Falling asleep thousands of metres above sea level, with the stars seemingly close enough to touch and dawn turning the surrounding peaks pink, is possible. Italy’s highest mountain refuges provide a full immersion in high-altitude terrain, among glaciers, rocky faces and extraordinary views. But which shelters hold the altitude records in Italy? Here are the country’s five highest refuges, their stories and the key details for reaching them.

Described as “the Mozart of mushrooms” by the celebrated composer Gioachino Rossini, the white truffle is among the most prized and sought-after ingredients in Italian cooking. It grows underground, cannot be easily cultivated, and has an unmistakable aroma that brings to mind fresh garlic, aged cheese and damp woodland. Its scent has won over some of the world’s most exclusive kitchens.

Tucked beside Verona Cathedral, the Biblioteca Capitolare is a quiet counterpoint to the city’s better-trodden sights.

Perched on a tuff spur in the province of Viterbo, Civita di Bagnoregio is one of the most photographed and beloved villages in Italy. Nicknamed "the dying city" due to the erosion slowly wearing away the cliff on which it stands, this small medieval wonder has captivated not only tourists but also world-famous directors and screenwriters.

A small mountain community in central Sardinia has been identified as a new Blue Zones candidate after researchers documented exceptional survival rates among its oldest residents.

Tuscany really does have a medieval village that reappears at irregular intervals from the bottom of a lake. Tuscany’s Atlantis is not a legend. It is Fabbriche di Careggine, beneath the waters of Lake Vagli in Garfagnana. It last resurfaced in 1994, drawing more than one million visitors.

A vast Roman arena built for around 60,000 spectators sits in Campania rather than Rome, with a maze of underground passages beneath its floor.

In the Val di Merse, southwest of Siena, an ancient abbey stands in open countryside with no roof above its Gothic nave.

Tuscan autumn occupies that golden zone where everything balances out: temperatures are mild, the days are still bright, accommodation prices are more affordable, and the village streets are finally accessible without crowds. It's also the perfect time to explore the Val d'Orcia, which turns ochre and brown; the Garfagnana reveals its chestnut groves, and the natural hot springs of Maremma invite you to soak in the crisp autumn air.