Italian countryside

The image of Etna puffing away reminds us of how vibrant Italy's subsoil is. But the surprise lies in the numbers: there are around seventy volcanoes across the peninsula and its islands, and many can be reached on foot. Not all, however, are within hiking distance: some lie at prohibitive depths, others have appeared and disappeared in the space of a few weeks, leaving behind disputes and legends.

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.

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

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.

Walking through an autumn forest is like immersing yourself in poetry: nature, whose colors fade from gold to brick red and offer the scents of mushrooms and chestnuts, gently falls asleep in a silent, enveloping atmosphere...

Stone walls, exposed beams, a private garden, and silence as a soundtrack. For many, it's a lifelong dream, often postponed for fear of overspending or requiring a complete renovation. Yet today, there are farmhouses and rustic properties for sale on the market starting from €43,000, in good condition, located in some of Italy's most beautiful areas. From Caltanissetta to Frosinone, from Calabria to inland Tuscany to the hills of Piedmont, the opportunities abound.

As soon as the temperatures drop and the woods turn red, orange, and gold, the perfect atmosphere is created for discovering the most beautiful nature trails. But what are the 6 best hikes to do in Italy this fall? From the Dolomites to the Calabrian Sila, you can explore Alpine ridges, lakeside trails, or mule tracks in the southern Apennines during the autumn months.

Autumn is the best season for stargazing in Italy. The nights are getting longer, the air becomes drier and clearer, and light pollution is less of a problem in more remote areas. From the Alps to the islands, Italy is home to observatories, astronomical parks, and plateaus where the Milky Way is once again visible to the naked eye. Here, then, are some of the best places to see the stars in autumn in Italy.

Copper-coloured leaves, trails free of summer crowds and crisp air that makes walking a pleasure: autumn is when Italy’s long-distance walking routes are at their best.

If the beach isn't your style, Italy's mountains offer a wonderfully atmospheric alternative, especially as autumn begins to paint the landscape in warm colours. There's nothing more charming than a countryside hideaway where you can unwind with loved ones and escape the pace of everyday life.

There is a point on the approach to Civita di Bagnoregio when the modern world rather abruptly falls away. A long pedestrian bridge crosses a deep valley towards a cluster of honey-coloured stone houses, seemingly detached from the rest of Lazio. At a distance it looks almost too neat to be real.

As the muggy heat eases but the days remain bright, a warm outdoor soak feels particularly welcome. Italy has free thermal springs, natural pools and waterfalls where access is free all year round. September makes the experience even better, with fewer people than during peak season and temperatures that make it easy to stay in the water for a while. Here are four well-known spots, along with a few useful details for planning the day.

A mountain bivouac is a small shelter, usually unmanned, intended to provide a safe roof for hikers and mountaineers at high altitude. Unlike a staffed mountain hut, there is no host to welcome visitors and no hot menu. A bivouac is basic and spartan and, for many people, one of the most authentic experiences the mountains can provide. Here is what a bivouac is and what to expect.

Italy has more than 7,400 kilometres of coastline, yet every summer millions of people end up on the same beaches, at the same stabilimenti — beach clubs — and in the same resorts. A short distance from the best-trodden routes, there are lesser-known seaside towns where beaches can still be qui

Nature lovers looking for a summer outing that is a bit different may find these hidden spots a pleasant surprise. Often little-known but full of character, they suit anyone keen to explore somewhere more authentic.

August is holiday time for many people, but for others it is also a chance to view a few properties and gather information ahead of a future purchase. According to data from the REMAX Italia Research Centre, property sales in mountain locations reach their peak in the months between December an

As cities turn into ovens and tropical nights become the norm, more and more Italians are looking uphill.

More than 14,000 hectares of public land are returning to the agricultural market, with a formula aimed at changing the balance of power in the Italian countryside. ISMEA has launched the ninth edition of the Banca Nazionale delle Terre Agricole (BTA) for 2026, auctioning arable land throughout Italy and offering subsidized financing for those under 41. The most concrete innovation is the combination of repayment terms of up to 30 years and interest discounts linked to an insurance policy, designed to encourage generational turnover.

Walking among stone walls, towers rising above the hills, and cobbled lanes that seem frozen in time is an experience Italy does particularly well. The most beautiful medieval villages in Italy tell the story of an era shaped by castles, Romanesque churches and communities perched high up for protection, places that have since become popular travel destinations.

Can a small cup of coffee change the fate of a borgo, a historic village? In Sardinia, three young women have turned an everyday gesture into a collective invitation to put down roots again in places many had stopped believing in.

There is only one place in the country that can claim the title of Italy’s only car-free town. No traffic lights, no engines idling, no delivery vans edging through narrow lanes.

Italy isn't just about great art cities and famous villages: there's another geography made up of tiny towns where the houses can be counted on one hand and life flows very quietly. These are the smallest villages in Italy, places where it only takes a few minutes to walk through the entire town. In these tiny villages with very few inhabitants, every house has a story, every alley holds a memory, and every elder is a sort of living archive of traditions, dialects, and legends.

Milan and the big lakes tend to steal the spotlight. But Lombardy has far more up its sleeve. Beyond the headline names, there’s a patchwork of villages with castles rising straight out of the water, footpaths clinging to cliffs between mountains and lakes, grand villas with vast gardens, and old-school spa towns where slowing down feels natural. Explore lesser-known yet unmissable villages in Lombardy that deserve a spot on your holiday wish list.

The editors of the German outdoor Trekking magazine asked readers to vote for their favourite hiking trails and regions across Europe. Around 35,000 votes were cast, and the top destinations can now display the coveted Trekking Award 2026 title.