With the arrival of autumn in Italy, woodlands turn shades of yellow, red and orange, creating scenic settings for hikes and walks in the open air. It is a good time to admire autumn foliage, follow panoramic trails and take in the season’s strongest colours.
Across forests, mountains and valleys, Italy has plenty of places for an immersive break among centuries-old trees, woodland scents and photogenic views. But where are the best places to see the foliage?
Here are five woodlands to visit in Italy in autumn, perfect for trekking, day trips, and leisurely walks among nature's colours.
Stelvio National Park
Founded in 1935, Stelvio National Park is one of Italy’s oldest protected areas and one of the best places to enjoy autumn foliage in the Alps. The Italian national park stretches across South Tyrol, Trentino and Lombardy, taking in the provinces of Bolzano, Trento, Brescia and Sondrio, over an area of more than 134,000 hectares.
The area includes an extraordinary variety of environments, with valley floors at around 600 metres and peaks reaching 4,000 metres above sea level. In autumn, Stelvio’s woods take on golden, yellow, orange and brown tones, while streams and waterways run through the scenery, creating particularly lovely views.
The park’s trails are well suited to hikes, panoramic walks and nature trekking. While walking, it is possible to spot some of the Alps’ most characteristic wildlife: red deer, chamois, Alpine ibex, roe deer, marmots, stoats, badgers, foxes, mountain hares and eagles.
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Val Vigezzo
Set between Lake Maggiore and the Swiss Alps, in northern Piedmont, Val Vigezzo is one of the most atmospheric places to admire autumn foliage in Italy. Its woods, made up of oak, maple, beech, chestnut, fir and larch trees, become a palette of yellow, orange, red and coppery shades in autumn.
A good way to see the valley from a different perspective is aboard the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway, the scenic train linking Domodossola with Locarno in Switzerland. The route runs through valleys, woodland and Alpine villages, with wide views over Piedmont’s autumn scenery.
The train journey suits a day trip, a scenic itinerary or a weekend among nature and mountains, particularly during the period when the foliage is at its most intense.
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Sibillini Mountains National Park
Set between Umbria and Marche, Sibillini Mountains National Park is one of the most appealing places to admire autumn foliage in Italy. The park includes numerous mountains over 2,000 metres high, alongside beech and maple woods, high-altitude meadows, limestone ridges and gorges crossed by clear streams.
In autumn, the scenery changes completely. Forests turn yellow, orange and red, standing out against the rocky slopes and wide pastures of the park. Numerous trails make it possible to explore the area through panoramic hikes, trekking routes and walks in nature.
The Sibillini area is also home to historic villages and places connected with ancient tales and traditions. One of the most notable is the legend of the Apennine Sibyl, linked to the Sibyl’s cave and the mysterious atmosphere that has long surrounded these mountains. It is a fitting setting for combining nature, foliage, villages and folklore between Umbria and Marche.
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Foresta Umbra
In the heart of the Gargano, in the province of Foggia, the Foresta Umbra nature reserve is a good place for an autumn hike. Beech trees, maples and oaks, including centuries-old specimens, take on red and yellow tones here, creating dreamlike woodland scenery.
To make the most of the foliage, follow one of the many marked trails, take in the scent of the forest and listen to the leaves underfoot. The reserve also has monumental old trees, including the Zeppino dello Scorzone, a 700-year-old Aleppo pine overlooking the road between Peschici and San Menaio.
The walk can begin at the Visitor Centre’s Natural History Museum, where there is information on what lies along the trails in this remarkable park.
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Sila National Park
In the heart of Calabria, Sila National Park is one of the most evocative places to experience nature and autumn foliage in southern Italy. The protected area extends across the provinces of Cosenza, Catanzaro and Crotone, with extensive woodland, plateaus, lakes and trails in a landscape that still feels largely untouched.
Walking and cycling routes provide plenty of opportunities to explore Sila’s biodiversity and spot the species that live in the area. The Apennine wolf is among the park’s emblematic animals, alongside numerous other species of Calabrian wildlife.
After a woodland walk, a stop at a rifugio — a mountain refuge — provides the chance to sample local products and dishes from Calabrian cuisine. Sila National Park brings together trekking, autumn scenery, local food and nature tourism in Calabria.
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