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Of all the times to visit Italy, I always recommend that people visit in the fall. There are a few reasons for that: the weather isn’t as meltingly hot, there aren’t as many tourist crowds, and fall is prime season for enjoying the bountiful harvest.
Beyond those obvious reasons, though, there’s something that I love about Italy in the fall. Maybe it’s that fall is the new year for fashion and no nationality dresses better overall than the Italians. But in a region as food-crazy as Emilia-Romagna, fall is about food festivals, and lots of them.
The first time I visited Emilia-Romagna in October, two years ago, it was cold — far colder than England at the time. I cursed myself for not bringing a winter jacket, instead needing to resort to my not-stylish-nor-passable-in-Italy-whatsoever fleece. At least it was black.
This time around, I lucked out majorly — the weather was fantastic. Though I was dreading having to buy a coat I would only need for two weeks, I never had to wear anything heavier than a blazer with a scarf, and some days were so warm, I could go jacket-free.
As a result, I had a wonderful time, and that is reflected in my photos. Here is the best of autumn in Emilia-Romagna.
Is there anything better than a crisp autumn day with a bright blue sky?
Especially when it looks so good against those yellow leaves.
In Bologna, the centerpieces change seasonally. Summer’s fresh flowers get replaced by various gourds in the fall. (And yes, my blogger friends and I did the smartphone challenge, putting our phones underneath the gourd to make sure we’d actually talk to each other.)
Fall, of course, is truffle season. Look at the size of that black truffle!
Lea the dog was our fearless truffle-hunter. She was rewarded with cheese. A dog after my own heart.
On Sundays in October, the town of Sant’Agata Feltria turns into a giant truffle festival.
Here you’ll find people of all ages joining in the fun.
And truffles worth hundreds of dollars. This one was the biggest one I saw anywhere.
Vendors who swear up and down that their product — in this case, honey — is the very best!
And fresh produce, bright and colorful at this time of year.
You’ll find bearded cheese-loving hipsters…
Along with bearded mushroom-loving hipsters…
And the odd crowd of Scotsmen. (I asked these local guys why they dressed up as Scotsmen for the truffle festival. “Perche no?” one of them told me. Why not, indeed! Makes perfect sense!)
Tartufesta, the truffle festival in the town of Sasso Marconi, offered up something different — craft beer.
But the most entertaining thing was watching this man roast his skillet of chestnuts!
But if you’d rather get away from the festival crowds, the fall is a wonderful time to enjoy the great outdoors. Take a stroll through the Emilia-Romagna countryside with your friends and it looks like something out of the Renaissance.
Alternately, take a ride with your best friend!
Sometimes those gray fall days are just as beautiful as their blue-skyed counterparts.
And when paired with a trail through a forest, it takes on a spooky effect.
Until you meet the creature that dwells in this forest…
THIS. CAT. This is probably the closest I’ve ever been to kidnapping someone’s pet. This cat looks like a more portly version of Grumpy Cat (actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ate Grumpy Cat), but it was wonderfully sweet and wanted lots of cuddles and scratches. I LOVE YOU, FAT KITTY!
Fall means it’s time to taste the newest vintage at your local winery or agriturismo, which I did at Isola del Sasso. And by that, I mean all of the wines. I mean, any winery owner will encourage you to sampling everything they have…
Which leads to the end of a typical autumn evening in Emilia-Romagna — after a multi-course meal served over the span of several hours, the restaurant offering only one dinner seating, a few bottles of every single wine poured for the table, finishing up just before midnight with a final glass of white enjoyed outdoors beneath a full moon. Perfection.
Planning a Trip to Italy:
- What NOT to Do in Italy
- Solo Female Travel in Italy: Is it Safe?
- Ultimate Guide to Driving in Italy
- How to Stay at an Agriturismo in Italy
- 40 Italy Landmarks to Experience Once In Your Lifetime
- 30 Stunning Mediterranean Islands To Visit In Your Lifetime
- 30 Italian Cities To Visit Once In Your Lifetime
Cool Places in Southern Italy:
- Tropea, Italy: A Spectacularly Situated Beach Town
- The Stunning Trulli of Alberobello, Italy
- 16 Fun Things To Do In Sorrento
Cool Places in Sicily:
- 22 Best Places to Visit in Sicily
- The Joys and Challenges of Traveling in Sicily
- Where to Go in Eastern Sicily
- 23 Fun Things to Do in Palermo, Sicily
- Complete Guide to the Aeolian Islands, Sicily
- Aci Trezza: A Laid-Back Coastal Town in Sicily
- Visiting Sicily in the Winter: Worth it or not?
- 30 Iconic Dishes To Try In Sicily
Cool Places in Northern Italy:
- Three Weeks in Northern Italy: An Itinerary
- Parma, Italy: A Colorful, Artsy, Delicious Town
- Where to Stay in Rome: Best Neighborhoods and Accommodation
- Three Days in the Dolomites: A South Tyrol Getaway
- Best Day Trips from Florence, Italy
- The Immaculate, Bursting Mosaics of Ravenna, Italy
- 25 Best Food Experiences in Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Which photo is your favorite?
This is a Blog Ville campaign, created and managed by iambassador in partnership with the Emilia-Romagna tourism board. AdventurousKate.com maintains full editorial control of the content published on this site.
Autumn in Emilia-Romagna sounds heavenly! Lately, I’ve become convinced lover of traveling in Europe in fall — fewer crowds, cheaper accommodation, better light for photography. But this post adds a whole new aspect to all the autumn advantages: Food!! It looks mind-blowingly delicious! I’m so going to make a trip to Emilia-Romagna happen in the fall of 2014!
Oh my goodness, I love these photos in the market! There is something wonderful about capturing a place like that- some where everyone ends up going in their daily lives – that helps readers really get the feel of it.
And, of course, I am jealous of your truffle-sniffing dog, that could be a sound monetary investment.
Which photo is my favorite? THE CAT. Of course it’s the cat.
You are making a very convincing case for Emilia-Romagna…now I really want to go!!
Oh my god, how expensive that bazar is?
4€ for a kg of apple?!
Wow, those are quality porcini mushrooms. Once again, this post is total food p00rn for me, and there’s always that appeal of Italy, but people wearing actual clothes, LAYERS even, is a bit disconcerting for me. That’s what 10 months in Russia are for 🙂
Great photos ! I will be trying Emilia Romagna in winter, this january, with a weekend in Bologna and Modena. Hope to experience the gastronomy and dolce vita !
All the photographs are interesting and beautiful. I agree autumn is the best time to visit any place. I am sure Romagna is even more charming during this season.
I love everything about Italy and have visited several times but have yet to make it to this region. I’ll definitely have to add it to my list! Love the pics too!
My favourite photo is the one of the giant truffle, because I just want to get involved in that!
On another note, though – I agree that Italy in Autumn is lovely. I visited Verona in October and took a day trip to Sirmione on Lake Garda. It was so peaceful there, and surprisingly cheap outside of the peak season! I’d definitely revisit Italy at that time of year (Emilia Romagna perhaps?). It also suits my ridiculously fair skin to avoid the height of summer!
I’ve only ever visited Italy in the spring and summer, and now you’ve totally convinced me that I’m missing out big time. Would love to take a trip there in the autumn!
I couldn’t stop staring at the photo of the wine glass! Such perfect light. Ahhh now to dream up a way to get to Italy this year!
Emilia-Romagna is STUNNING! But Oh. My. God. That cat is perfect! :’)
Oh yes, Italiaaaaaa!
I really like Italy. I especially like your market photos. I love going to the local markets of new places. You get to see so much of the culture in their food, presentation and what the people are like.
And for a fact, pretty much anywhere in Europe, in the autumn, is gold.
Nice one!
This is a great post 🙂 I really like to visit place at, let’s say unusual, times. It is less crowded with tourists and you experience the destination in a totally different ways.
I’d really love to make it here- so many places are best in the Fall. PS that is one fluffy cute cat!
Thank you for reaffirming my love for Italy…
These posts just make me want to eat cheese and search for truffles. Well done.
I love the last photo – the lighting is perfect! Traveling in the fall is my favorite time of year to visit anywhere. I like watching the colors change to the vibrant yellows and oranges.
Great pictures! Seems like not only the food was fantastic but you had some great adventures as well. Love the truffle finding dog!!!
First of all, LOVE the cat! Poor thing needs some strong diet pills, but overweight pets are always adorable. I’m yet to visit Emilia Romagna, but you’re doing a great job of persuading me I have to go.
Okay, that gourd is spectacular. Can’t take my eyes off the colours in that photo.
I’ve always dreamed of visiting Italy in the fall. You captured it beautifully, thanks for sharing.
Happy travels 🙂
My favorite photos are a tie between the fat cat (hilarious) and the big gourd!
Love your blog!! I also agree with you! fall is my favorite time of year in Italy too! I am glad that SOMEONE agrees with me! My husband is Italian and of course he HATES fall because it means the summer is over! The end of summer is like death for an Italian. Anyway…..once again…love your blog!
That is so cool! The only time I’ve been to Italy was during the heat wave of summer 2003! SO boiling! We could barely drag ourselves around the Vatican before retreating back to the haven of our air conditioned hotel room. But your photos look gorgeous! I’d love to go truffle hunting!
I’ve only ever been to this part of Italy in the summer but would love to see it in Autumn, when it’s less crowded and a little cooler! And I’ve heard it’s a great time for food festivals – would love to go to that truffle festival one year.
The photographs especially are amazing…they do justice to the place and the moment. The cat is probably the highlight of the story and a great reason to visit Emilia-Romagna any time of the year. I will be heading to Bologna in autumn and hope to discover an equally charming Italy…
Sure like grumpy the cat,I don’t think he’s hurting for food.
NO matter where you travel you always see cats.
What do you think of heading to this region in November?