Sunday, October 4, 2026 will mark the return of the Orange Treasure Hunt, the event organized by the Italian Touring Club that invites participants to explore some of Italy’s most evocative small towns through a blend of play, history, and traditions. The seventh edition will bring together more than 100 towns bearing the Orange Flag, from north to south, ready to welcome thousands of participants.
The initiative is designed for adults and children and offers an original way to discover the identity of the territories and the local communities. Among the 2026 novelties there are some visits dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of his death.
How the Orange Treasure Hunt Works
The Orange Treasure Hunt will take place concurrently in more than 100 towns certified with the Orange Flag by the Touring Club Italiano. In each location, teams will face a route structured into six stages, following clues and overcoming challenges tied to the history, traditions, culture, and distinctive features of the territory.
There is no single national itinerary: each village has, in fact, built its own treasure hunt starting from the characteristics that make it unique. The routes span from gastronomy to music, from local history to outdoor activities, transforming squares, museums, trails, and symbolic places into true game stops.
The 2026 edition also introduces a passport for the Orange Treasure Hunt, handed out at the end of the route and designed to be stamped across the different editions of the event. An exclusive backpack is also reserved for the registered teams.
To participate, you must form a team and register on the dedicated Orange Flag Treasure site for the initiative. Places are limited and a participation contribution is required to support the Touring Club Italiano’s projects aimed at enhancing Italy’s small towns and interior areas.
From Saint Francis’s Treasures to Local Flavors
Among the more distinctive proposals for 2026 are those dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, commemorating the 800-year anniversary of the saint’s death—which will take place precisely on Sunday, October 4.
In Taverna, in Calabria, the entire itinerary will be devoted to him with the treasure hunt titled “In Saint Francis’s Footsteps in Taverna”, while in Sarnano, in the Marche region, the route will touch places and activities linked to his figure.
Great attention will also be given to the youngest participants. In Gavoi, in Sardinia, there is planned a junior hunt inside the spaces of the Porcu Satta House Museum, following the trail of Donna Rosina. In Casale Marittimo, in Tuscany, children will be able to take part in experiential workshops and a watercolor lesson dedicated to the Etruscan Warrior Prince.
For those who love local flavors, in Dozza, near Bologna, the route will be accompanied by stands and workshops focusing on fresh pasta, piadina, and Albana wine, while in Corigliano d’Otranto, in Puglia, tastings of typical products will also be offered.
There will also be itineraries dedicated to music, such as the one in Portico and San Benedetto, in the province of Forlì-Cesena, devoted to the band tradition, with stories and curiosities. In Frontone, in the Marche, exercise sessions, meditation, and walking routes are planned, while in Sasso di Castalda, in Basilicata, the hunt will lead to the discovery of a hidden path.
Consult the full program on the official site dedicated to the event.
