Those already looking for their autumn escape should look no further than northern Italy’s Emilia Romagna region.
From picturesque valleys and little-known towns to truffle and wine festivals, the bucolic region of Emilia Romagna offers a delightful blend of outdoor adventures, castle hopping and mouthwatering events for the ultimate autumn break.
READ: Set Sail on a Unique Private Charter
Pianello Val Tidone (Piacenza)
Nestled between Emilia Romagna and the neighbouring region of Lombardy, Pianello Val Tidone beckons with its rolling hills, castles, historic treasures and vineyards. Pianello Val Tidone’s wine production is a draw particularly during autumn. The cool climate of the season makes it an ideal time to explore vineyards and taste local wines. These can be enjoyed together with the typical Piacenza cuisine, including picùla ad caval (minced horse meat cooked with vegetables) and cotechino (cooked salami).
Beyond food, visitors can explore the Tidone Footpath, a scenic 69km trail along Tidone Brook, where rows of vineyards yield tasty wines like Gutturnio, Ortugo and Malvasia. Pianello Val Tidone is 30km away from the city of Piacenza.
Casentinesi Forests National Park (Romagna)
Visitors can breathe deeply the air of autumn when walking along the paths of this captivating national park. Casentinesi Forests National Park pans 228 kilometres and straddles the Apennine watershed between Emilia Romagna and Tuscany. Within this vast protected area, visitors can encounter age-old forests, mystical sanctuaries, waterfalls and a great number of trails to set their foot in.
READ: These Are Asia’s Top Scuba Diving Spots
The best period to visit the national park is between the end of October and the beginning of November, where thousands of yellow, red, orange and golden tones will colour the landscape. Casentinesi Forests National Park is 70km away from the city of Ravenna.
The Land of Castles
Located between Bologna and Modena, the Terra dei Castelli (“Land of Castles”) is a captivating union of charming small towns nestled amid scenic countryside. It comprises eight ‘communes’ or municipalities (including Vignola, Spilamberto and Montalbano) – each of them with its own unique character, architecture and cuisine but with a common denominator: castles.
From Castelvetro di Modena to Zocca, these ancient fortifications are worth a visit as they tell tales of bygone eras; and their beauty comes even more alive with the autumnal red and orange tones. The well-known Lambrusco Grasparossa wine is produced in this region.
READ: An Ode to the Archipelago
Valtidone Wine Fest – Val Tidone (1-22 September 2024)
The Valtidone Wine Fest is an annual celebration of wine held in the Val Tidone hills, nestled between Liguria, Lombardy and Piedmont. The festival highlights local gastronomic traditions and features wine tasting sessions, paired with traditional gastronomic delights from the region.
The 2024 edition of the festival will focus on the towns of Borgonovo, Ziano, Alta Val Tidone and Pianello. In Borgonovo, for example, visitors can try the ‘Ortrugo & Chisola’ sparkling white wine with focaccia coi ciccioli (focaccia-style flatbread studded with crunchy pork cracklings); while Pianello will be presenting sparkling products from 25 wineries – wines for all tastes.
READ: Tequilaria Bar Opens at Iconic Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
Verdi Festival – Parma (21 September – 21 October 2024)
Verdi Festival celebrates all things Giuseppe Verdi, one of the most brilliant operatic composers of the nineteenth century. The festival will take place in Parma and Busseto where Verdi was born) and will feature a wide number of operas, concerts, installations and performances. This year’s edition, under the theme “Power and Politics” will see Macbeth (in French) being played at the iconic Regio Theatre of Parma. Verdi Festival will kick off with the Verdi Street Parade on 21 September, which will bring the joyous and cheerful spirit of Verdi to the streets of Parma – a key date not to be missed for all opera enthusiasts.
Eel Festival – Comacchio (28-29 September, 5-6 & 12-13 October 2024)
The Sagra dell’Anguilla (Eel Festival) is an annual celebration dedicated to eels and their culinary versatility. The festival spans over three weekends in autumn, where visitors will be able to enjoy a rich variety of dishes featuring eel and other seafood. From traditional recipes passed down through generations to modern interpretations, the festival adds to the charm of the town of Comacchio, known as the “little Venice” due to its vast network of canals.
READ: Family Fun Under the Sanya Sun
Programme highlights include tastings of eel-based and sea fish dishes; wine pairings; show cooking and masterclasses from skilled chefs and sommeliers; markets; and guided tours.
Truffle Fair – Casumaro (1-3 & 8-10 November 2024)
This centenarian festival takes place every November in Casumaro, a charming village near Cento (Ferrara) – and spans six days dedicated to the sought-after truffle. The fair offers a delightful blend between gastronomy and tradition, where authentic truffle experts prepare a wide variety of dishes featuring real truffles, including tagliolini with truffle, and sliced beef with porcini mushrooms and truffle; and many other truffle-infused dishes. Alongside the tartufo (truffle in Italian), visitors will find other local delights from Ferrara, like saffron, as well as music, exhibitions and gatherings.
For more Destination stories click here.
