THE COLOURS OF AUTUMN IN TUSCANY
Autumn in Tuscany is a magical time of year and it’s one of the best seasons to visit this magnificent region. It’s a time when you can enjoy the warm colours of the changing landscape, long country walks and visits to medieval towns. Enchanting places like Volterra, Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano, Montepulciano and Cortona await you in areas where you can also add a day of relaxation and a regenerating soak under the cooler autumn sun at one of the luxurious thermal spas.
The impact of the beauty as you drive through the countryside of the Chianti Region will astound you and added stops at estate vineyards, quaint towns and local trattorias will be sure to satisfy the rest of your senses. Off the beaten path, you can discover areas like Garfagnana, Val d’Orcia, the forests and villages of Mount Amiata, the scenic national park in Casentino, Camaldoli, Mount Penna and the picturesque La Verna sanctuary. The list goes on…….
Autumn is also the busiest season for harvesting and gathering the natural treasures of the land; grapes, chestnuts, porcini mushrooms, truffles, fruit and vegetables all find their way from the vineyards, woods and gardens to the Tuscan table. The grape harvest brings the first bottles of Vino Novella (Novella Wine) which both locals and visitors like sipping while munching on a few roasted chestnuts! The seasonal cuisine is excellent and celebrated not only in all of the kitchens of Tuscany but also at various food festivals throughout the region. The following list includes a few of the popular ones but there are many to choose from:
-Vivo d’Orcia has a colourful festival in traditional costume which includes a friendly lumberjack competition of log cutting and more.
-Camigliano has a rooster festival which includes a not to be missed antique game called druzzola and other traditional medieval games, along with a scrumptious selection of local dishes.
–A steam locomotive starting in Pistoia can take you to a chestnut festival in the town of Marradi.
–You can indulge in mushrooms and wild berries in Palazzuolo Sul Senio.
-Garfagnana celebrates with a mushroom and chestnut festival.
Another famous autumn event in Tuscany is L’Eroica, a historic bike race in the Chianti area. For more details please click under our experiences; Biking Tours.
If you want to step out of Tuscany, last but certainly not least, is the Eurochocolate Festival in Perugia which is the biggest chocolate tasting celebration if all of Europe! This event attracts thousands of visitors every year and booking accommodation, transportation and tickets well in advance is fundamental.
Save time, remove the stress of driving and the frustration of finding parking during your holiday or day trip. Contact Tuscany Travelist and we’ll provide you with an estimate for your transporatation and information about upcoming cultural festivals, events and markets. Please remember that advance reservations are necessary for many of the more popular festivals and events.