ROME — After a scorching summer, the desire to spend a few days away from the crowds grows.
From Lucca and Grado to Courmayeur, Merano and many other destinations across Italy, there is no shortage of choice.
An antiques fair, a walk among the autumn colours or the pleasure of a wellness break in Merano: here are some ideas for easing yourself back into city life with a stress-free getaway.
Lucca
Autumn is the ideal season to discover the wonders of Lucca and explore them at a leisurely pace. From November 27 to 29, Grand Universe Lucca and Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa are partners in the Tuscany Grand Tour, a kind of supercar itinerary through Lucca and the Garfagnana.
Courmayeur
In autumn, Courmayeur changes pace as the landscape around Mont Blanc takes on the colours of the season. Alongside the beauty of the setting, there is a calendar of events spanning sport, traditions, food and wine. October 17 is dedicated to Lo Pan Ner, the traditional black bread of the Aosta Valley. In the villages of Dolonne and La Saxe, the ovens are fired up again to demonstrate how the bread is made, with loaves available to taste and buy fresh from the oven.
Also in October, from the 24th to the 31st, the Courmayeur Sport Center hosts the WTA 125 Valle d’Aosta Ladies Open, an international women’s tennis tournament bringing some of the professional circuit’s leading players to the mountains.
Rounding out the calendar are food-focused events, including the autumn Food Market on November 1, featuring local farm produce and regional specialities, and the Castagnata d’autunno on the same day, for anyone who enjoys piping-hot roasted chestnuts.
Merano
Autumn is an opportunity to discover Merano at a slower pace, with experiences combining food and wine, local traditions, nature and wellness. The autumn programme includes an excursion along the Foiana Chestnut Trail every Wednesday from September 23 to October 28, exploring the history and traditions associated with chestnut trees. Another highlight is the Grape Festival, from October 16 to 18, featuring local culture and traditions, Alpine music, seasonal food and the traditional parade of floats and costumed bands.
Merano’s ties to wine culture are also celebrated at the Merano Wine Festival, from November 6 to 10, 2026, with Italian and international producers, tastings and cooking demonstrations.
Grado
In the picturesque setting of the Friuli Venezia Giulia lagoon, autumn offers a chance to explore Grado, known as the Golden Island, by bicycle, combining wineries, culture and wellness with sporting and food events.
Milder temperatures make it an ideal time to cycle along the Alpe Adria Cycle Route (FVG1) and the Adriatic Sea Cycle Route (FVG2), both of which cross the Grado area.
From here, Aquileia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is around 10 kilometres away, and the route continues through vineyards and countryside towards Palmanova and Clauiano. The area around Aquileia has been associated with wine for more than 2,000 years. Today that tradition lives on in the Friuli Aquileia DOC, with wines including Friulano, Malvasia, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Traminer, Refosco, Merlot and Cabernet.
The route makes it easy to combine cycling with winery visits and tastings. Back in Grado, it is time to immerse yourself in the local culture. A walk along the Diga Nazario Sauro leads to the historic centre, taking in Campo dei Patriarchi, the Basilica of Sant’Eufemia and the town’s distinctive Venetian-style lanes. On the seafront, the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology traces the island’s centuries-old relationship with the sea through artefacts recovered from the lagoon and seabed, including finds from the Roman ship Iulia Felix. The cultural itinerary is completed by the Museo Civico del Tesoro di Grado and the Museum of Fishing and Lagoon Civilisation, devoted to the traditions of the lagoon community and its casoni, the characteristic fishermen’s huts.
For those looking to relax, the Terme Marine di Grado are one of the destination’s main wellness destinations. Facilities include a Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, salt room, infrared cabin and seawater hot tub, alongside thalassotherapy, balneotherapy and inhalation treatments. The offering is complemented by the GIT Wellness Longevity Experience and the spas at local hotels. Autumn continues with a series of events in October. On October 18, the Vogadalonga is an 18-kilometre non-competitive rowing event through the lagoon. From October 23 to 25, the second edition of Le Calli di Bacco brings together 15 restaurateurs and the same number of winemakers, with tastings, cicchetti, Friuli Venezia Giulia wines and the new Mercato delle Calli.
Lignano Sabbiadoro
In autumn, a traditional seaside destination such as Lignano Sabbiadoro becomes an ideal setting for outdoor sports and activities. Lignano hosts the Campionato Autunnale della Laguna on the first three Sundays of November — November 8, 15 and 22 — a sailing regatta held over several days, with a series of races for offshore classes and an awards ceremony on Saturday, November 28.
This article was reviewed by an external translation partner