ITALIAN NATIONAL TOURIST BOARD LATEST DESTINATION NEWS
AUTUMN 2022

Though every season has its unique charms, there is something particularly special about autumn in Italy. Temperatures begin to cool down, and there's a light breeze in the air, making it the perfect weather to experience the fantastic events and tourist attractions the country has to offer. From Rome and Genoa, to Cremona and Perugia, there are various cultural, spiritual, art and food attractions to choose from for every interest and budget. Below are the top reasons travellers should visit Italy in late autumn.

GIACOMO BALLA'S HOUSE, ROME
Open now until 31 December

Travellers can plunge into an atmosphere of true art at the Giacomo Balla's House and visit a place being home to one of the greatest futuristic painters. One of the leading figures of Italian Futurism, Giacomo Balla turned his home into proof of his idea that art should live in all things. Now, thanks to the MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st-Century Arts, and Rome's special superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape, with the support of the Italian culture ministry and the Bank of Italy, it is open to the public.
The amazing Futurist House of Giacomo Balla on Via Oslavia in Rome is a total work of art where the master lived and worked from 1929 until the day he died. Casa Balla, as it's called, contains wall paintings, furniture, floor tiles, carpets, cabinet handles, dishes and lights all designed by the artist and his family. Travellers can get a close-up look at Balla's vividly colourful home swirls of pattern and colour by booking to visit from now until end of December 2022.
To find more information and buy tickets please visit MAXXI website.

MONASTERIES IN EMILIA ROMAGNA
Open 8-9 October

For those looking for the key to understanding the cultural and religious history of Italy, there is a selection of monasteries to discover in Emilia Romagna region. Beautiful monasteries like the Church of San Francesco del Prato, Chiesa di San Geminiano, Abbazia di San Basilide, Monastero di S. Giovanni and others offer quiet places to reflect on your travels. Having their own unique history, there are plenty of free to visit churches to step away from the city rush and have a spiritual retreat.
To discover more please visit MONASTERI APERTI EDIZIONE 2022.

ROLLI DAYS, GENOA
Open 14-16 October

Anually Genoa, in north-western Italy, celebrates its unique heritage through an event called the 'Rolli Days'. This open-house festival, which sees some of Genoa's most aristocratic palazzos open their doors to the public this October.
Majestic palaces hide unique treasures and epic tales. Travellers can step into the shoes of an aristocrat for a day and join a time travel through their corridors and rooms. Admire the widest selection of the palaces of the Strade Nuove, which since 2006 have become part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their historical, artistic and cultural value.
For more information, please visit Rolli Days website.

SCIENCE FESTIVAL, GENOA
Open 20 oct – 1 Nov 2022

Visitors looking for a great opportunity to explore science in a new, engaging way, crossing over traditional subject boundaries, should look no further than the Science Festival in Genoa. A perfect meet for researchers, science enthusiasts, schools and families is an important appointment for the diffusion of science.
Every year the Genoa Science Festival takes inspiration from the latest and most burning issues of the day, offering a multifaceted scientific debates, absolute previews, shows and exhibitions crossing over and exploring the connections between Art & Science. The variety of events offers the public to interact with science in an enjoyable way. This year's theme is languages.
Find out more on the Science Festival website.

ROMAEUROPA FESTIVAL
Open until 20 November

 There is no better place where an impulse of hope connecting the past, present and future facilitated through the dialogue between all forms of modern art then Romaeuropa Festival. This year, the 37th edition of the Romaeuropa Festival is expected to feature a range of exciting performances around Rome. Europe, Asia, America, Oceania, and Africa meet in a spectacular programme of dance, theatre, music, cinema, meetings with artists, visual arts and leading-edge technological creativity. The sounds and artistic expression of five continents are the ingredients of an intense, aesthetic experience delivered in various venues for a period of over two months.

The central theme this year behind all the performances is a notion of art as a tool, enabling free transmission of ideas for a peaceful cultural dialogue, thus, supporting humanitarian action. Invited performers are expected to serve as spokespeople for peace, using the power of their art to spread this beautiful message. Become a part of the festival with a global mission to spend your unforgettable days in Italy.

Tickets and programme can be found on the Romaeuropa Festival website.

FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC AND ART, ROME
Open 12-16 November

For true fans of classical music with an extraordinary atmosphere, Italy offers the Festival of Sacred Music and Art. An impressive music festival is held by The Fund for Sacred Art and Music (Fondazione pro Musica e Arte Sacra) since 2002. This is a place where music meets architecture and the most famous masterpieces of sacred music are performed in the extraordinary settings of Rome's Patriarchal Basilicas.

Every year, the festival hosts best philharmonic orchestras in the world, bands, choirs and soloists performing classic music with cathedral music characters. The events that are held for four days in mid-November attract many music lovers from all over the world. The aim of the festival is to sensitize the public to the activities of the Foundation for Sacred Music and Art, which raises funds for the restoration of religious artefacts and buildings that belong to all mankind.

To find out the program and read more about the Foundation, visit the Foundation website.

EUROCHOCOLATE, PERUGIA
Open 14-23 October

For those with a sweet tooth, a visit to the EuroChocolate festival is a must-visit spot. The 'EuroChocolate' is an annual chocolate festival that takes place in Perugia, the capital of the Umbria region in central Italy. The festival has been held since 1993 and is the biggest chocolate festival in Europe. It draws nearly one million tourists and Italian natives each year.

Italy's most well-known chocolate company Perugina, known for their Baci, is represented along with a number of other famous chocolate brands such as Lindt, Milka and Caffarel. The EuroChocolate offers many snack and souvenir options such as chocolate covered bananas, chocolate liqueur, chocolate molds, and chocolate bricks. With lots of activities on the agenda including experimental chocolate tastings, street performances, and chocolate sculpting or even a chocolate day spa appointment, there is certainly something for everyone this October.

To find out more about a chocolate event, please visit EuroChocolate website.

FESTA DEL TORRONE, CREMONA
Open 12-20 November

Another attraction for those with a sweet tooth is the Cremona's Nougat Festival. A small, elegant and well-kept city in the fertile Po Valley, Cremona dedicates nine days every year to its local Christmas sweet, nougat. Being a home to nougat (Torrone in Italian), the town celebrates it during The Torrone Festival (Nougat Festival) this November.

During the Nougat Festival the whole historic centre is animated for 9 days by dozens of stands where it is possible to taste the nougat in a thousand forms: from gourmet recipes to walking ice cream, from preparations with pistachios, chocolate, coffee, limoncello to more savoury recipes.

To discover more please visit the festival's website.

INTERNATIONAL TRUFFLE FAIR, ALBA
Open 8 October-4 December

Welcome the 92nd edition of the popular month-long festival - The White Truffle Festival. It is one of the largest truffle festivals in Italy. From the 8 of October until the 4 of December, treasure hunters search underground for white truffles. The festival will offer many homemade and traditional truffle dishes as well as tastings of the famous Barbera and Barbaresco wines.

Despite the event revolves around the truffle, presented in all its forms, the fair is not just limited to this. There are art exhibitions, theatre performances, concerts, medieval representations such as the Palio degli Asini, historical and folkloristic commemorations, cinema festival activities for children and much more, which each year attract thousands of visitors from around the world.

Find out the program here.

CHESTNUT FAIR, CUNEO
Open 14-16 October

A must-event for every gourmet and for anyone who wants to experience a weekend immersed in the genuine food heritage and atmosphere of Cuneo is the National Chestnut Fair in Cuneo.
Considered one of the most important food festivals in Italy, the fair “Made in Granda” (“the Big province”, as the Cuneo province is called) is a 3-days lively event invading the main squares and the streets of the historic town centre, with autumn fragrances, colours and flavours.

The Fair is a unique showcase of the excellent food and wine products and ancient tradition of the land with hundreds of producers coming from all over Italy and Europe. That means not only chestnut, the first Cuneo's PGI product, but a great festival that makes quality its flag, where the best certified products are presented to visitors with delightful tastings and workshops. A wide space is given to crafts, shows and concert, cultural and tourism initiatives. This year is the 23rdt edition of the National Chestnut Fair in Cuneo. In addition to food stands, the fair offers arts and crafts, workshops, cultural activities, exhibitions, shows and concerts.

For more information, please visit the fair's website.

WHITE TRUFFLE FAIR, ACQUALAGNA
Open 23 October-13 November

 Those who are looking for new Italian tastes, every autumn, the town of Acqualagna, in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino (Marche region), turns into the capital of white truffle hosting the National White Truffle Fair. The main square of the town hosts the stands of fresh truffle dealers as well as over a hundred of stands, where travellers can buy local quality products such as cured meats, wine, honey and cheese. The town has been recognized as the “Capital of Taste”, thanks to its quality products, tradition, history and authentic flavours.

The program includes guided tasting, cooking shows, cooking competitions featuring celebrities, exhibitions, and book launch events. Acqualagna's annual National White Truffle Fair is one of the most important fairs in Italy as white truffle is the most valuable on the market in terms of its nutritional properties and price.

To find more about the fair, please visit the website.

FRANTOI APERTI (OPEN HOUSE AT THE OIL MILLS), UMBRIA REGION
Open 29 October- 27 November

Travellers looking for a unique opportunity to discover how precious extra virgin olive oil is made, definitely need to plan the Open House at the Oil Mills tour. Frantois Aperti is a festival held every year. For about a month visitors have the opportunity to visit Umbria, its medieval villages, grinders, farms, small museums, take part in traditional music concerts, play popular games, discover and experience the true taste of extra Umbrian olive oil and other Umbrian products, make walks through olive trees through castles, abbeys, truffles, farms, mills, trees.

This tour offers 4 fabulous, not-to-be-missed weekends for rediscovering a truly one-of-a-kind product, olive oil. Loads of events along with entertainment and cultural initiatives will be hosted throughout Umbria along the Oil Dop Road during the extended edition of Open House at the Oil Mills.

For more information, see the program on Frantois Aperti website.

WHERE TO STAY: NEW HOTELS AUTUMN 2022

PALAZZO RIPETTA (5*), ROME
To be open in October 2022

Surrounded by a magical atmosphere, here the elegance of yesteryear meets contemporary luxury, history blends with modernity, the classic with innovation. In this superb setting, unparalleled in the world, you will find Palazzo Ripetta, a magnificent independent 5-star hotel. The enchanted place where elegance and style meet Italian hospitality.

To find out more, visit the hotel's website.

BOUTIQUE HOTEL PALAZZO TAFURI, NARDO (Puglia)

 A luxurious, elegant, and charming Boutique Hotel at the heart of Nardò, a beautiful baroque town in Salento. Originally built in the early 18th century, the Palazzo has been spectacularly refurbished, keeping the historic beauty of the building yet offering all the comforts of a luxurious Boutique Hotel. It offers 17 suites and rooms, each one unique, elegantly marrying historic beauty with modern sophistication.

To find out more, visit the hotel's website.

LORELEI SORRENTO (5*)

The Hotel Lorelei et Londres in Sorrento has a history that stretches back 100 years, offering a captivating character that charms guests from the moment you arrive. The hotel sits on the site of ancient Roman ruins, and fragments of a villa and aqueduct dating from the Imperial age are still visible, carefully preserved and displayed inside the property. Perched above Sorrento with a sweeping view over the bay, Hotel Lorelei et Londres was once a vibrant gathering place for traveling artists, intellectuals, and writers making a turn through Sorrento as part of the Grand Tour. This delightfully romantic oasis perfectly blends historic allure with modern hospitality and service for contemporary guests who want to feel the pull of the past.

To find out more, visit the hotel's website.

CONTACT
For media enquiries, please contact FINN Partners at italypr@finnpartners.com.