During the autumn season, Italy rediscovers the pleasure of traditions: chestnuts, mushrooms, truffles, cheeses, bread just out of the oven, and new olive oil take center stage at festivals and fairs that animate small towns from north to south, allowing strolls through narrow streets and squares, meetings with producers and artisans, a rediscovery of ancient crafts, and participation in experiences tied to nature.
The 2026 calendar offers a variety of occasions to treat yourself to a weekend getaway or a trip to discover the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy.
The October Fair of Gualtieri
Until October 18, 2026, the historic center of Gualtieri, in the province of Reggio Emilia, hosts the traditional October Fair, three days dedicated to markets, shows, music, and local specialties. The program includes the Toy Exchange Market, the Handmade & Fashion Market, Gualtieri Food, and performances by street artists.
Gastronomic tradition finds space at the tavern “Alla tavola dei Bentivoglio,” in the workshops of fresh pasta with Rasdore, and in the competition “Al mé pién,” dedicated to the best filling of local tradition. Among the events are the Palio del Nocino delle Terre Basse and the concert “Music Around the River.”
Saturday and Sunday, it will be possible to visit Palazzo Bentivoglio, the collective exhibition “I Naifs del Po,” and the exhibit dedicated to Otello Sarzi and his journeys for peace in Africa and Asia in the 1970s.
The Mushrooms of Cusano Mutri
Until October 18, 2026, Cusano Mutri, in the province of Benevento, celebrates the 46th Mushroom Festival with the theme “Mushrooms. An interconnected universe” to look beyond their gastronomic value and to learn about the role of mycelium and the underground networks that contribute to the balance of forest ecosystems.
Alongside the journey through flavors and typical products, there are exhibitions, installations, meetings, and experiences dedicated to nature, science, and culture.
The New Olive Oil in Boville Ernica
On October 18, 23, 24, 25 and 31, Boville Ernica, in the province of Frosinone, hosts the XVIII edition of “Pane, Olio e Fantasia” with olive oil, bread, wine, and other Ciociarian excellences at the center of the event.
Cooking shows, masterclasses, and seminars allow for a deeper understanding of the characteristics and production techniques of olive oil, while the Slow Food Market offers the opportunity to meet the producers. Guided tours of the historic center and the Museum of Olio e dell’Olivo, strolls among olive groves, and visits to mills are also planned.
Artistic, archaeological, and educational workshops accompany activities dedicated to crafts and ancient trades. On October 31, the Boville Ernica Oil Contest concludes, while special openings of the Benedictine Monastery and musical events enrich the festival.
The Harvest Festival in Vipiteno
On October 30 and 31, Vipiteno, in the province of Bolzano, welcomes autumn with the Harvest Festival, which animates Piazza Città and marks the seasonal close of the farmers’ market. On Friday, October 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., producers from the Upper Isarco Valley offer honey, herbal teas, aromatic herbs, country bread, vegetables, and organic wines.
On Saturday 31, from 10 a.m., the square fills with cheeses, jams, craft juices, agricultural products, and local crafts: among the specialties to taste are Tirtlan stuffed with spinach or savoy cabbage, Vipiteno’s donuts, Krapfen, fresh apple juice, and roasted chestnuts, called “Keschtn.”
Bienno’s Black Bread
Sunday, October 18, Bienno, in the Camonica Valley, hosts “Lo Pan Ner – The Breads of the Alps,” a cross-border festival dedicated to black bread and the agricultural traditions of Alpine communities. During the weekend visitors can watch the lighting of ancient ovens and the various stages of bread preparation, from dough work to wood-fired baking.
The star of the event is rye, a staple cereal for mountain populations due to its ability to grow in harsh, high-altitude conditions. Tastings, children’s workshops, and guided tours complete the program.
Also to be discovered is the borough’s connection with water and old trades, told by the Mill Museum, housed in a fourteenth-century building still in operation.
Bagòss Reigns at the Table in Bagolino
On October 24 and 25, Bagolino, in the province of Brescia, dedicates a weekend to Bagòss, the emblematic cheese of the mountain town in the Val Sabbia.
The cheese, made with cow’s milk and recognizable by the yellow hue given by saffron, is showcased through demonstrations of milk processing and initiatives dedicated to the journey “from milk to table.” Tastings and traditional dishes that showcase its value are also on offer.
Chestnuts and Transhumance in Garessio
In October, Garessio, in the province of Cuneo, celebrates the Garessina Chestnut with “Autumn in Garessio 2026 – Regional Fair of the Garessina Chestnut”: chestnut roasts, markets, music, and walks accompany the discovery of a De.Co.-recognized product that for centuries sustained families.
The 18th of October also features the Transhumance Festival: a space for milking demonstrations with shepherds, markets, and a free trek among the colors of Monte Pietra Ardena. The 2026 Regional Trial Championship will also take place.
The Tartufesta in Montaione
On October 24 and 25, Montaione, in the province of Florence, hosts the 33rd edition of Tartufesta, a market fair dedicated to the white truffle of the San Miniato hills and to the territory’s typical productions.
Gastronomic stalls, tastings, cooking shows, and artisan markets illustrate the region’s specialties, from Chianti to cheeses, from cured meats to extra-virgin olive oil, up to honey, saffron, and jams. Notable initiatives include Via dei Sapori, the TartuRé route, and the Arts and Crafts market.
In San Lorenzo in Banale, the Ciuìga Celebrates 25 Years
From October 30 to November 1, San Lorenzo in Banale, in the province of Trento, celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Sagra della Ciuìga, dedicated to the distinctive sausage made with pork and white turnips, today recognized as a Slow Food Presidio.
For three days, cellars, courtyards, and alleys host markets, crafts, wine tastings and gastronomic taverns, while restaurants offer dedicated menus. The program includes folk music, mountain choirs, accordionists, bagpipers, guided tours, and walks through forests colored by foliage. The youngest visitors also have space with “The Ciuìga of the Toys” — creative workshops, puppets, animated readings, and traditional games.
