While autumn in Italy is not the greatest season in some northern areas, until it snows and it’s time for skiing, it can be a fantastic time to get to know the local products.
Autumn often marks wine tasting in Italy and culinary tours, before the winter sports season begins.
In the Valtellina on the weekend, a cow festival took place at Chiareggio in the Valmalenco.
Officially called the Festa dell’Alpeggio, the festival marks the return of beasts and their carers to the town areas and stables after spending summer at high altitudes.
The festival involves adorning the cows with floral garlands (for photos see Flickr), with the best winning a prize, and taste testing local cheeses and milk, with lunch served by some of the local restaurants.
Other fall events in Italy include the Eurochocolate festival in Perugia – this is a not-to-be-missed festival of Baci Perugina, and other Italian chocolate goodies.
It starts in October.
There are also plenty of truffle festivals, perhaps the most famous being the white truffle festival, or Fiera Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco, in Piemonte.
I’ll be attending our yearly “castagnata” with friends in October, which is our chestnut roasting party.
For more tips go to Go Italy, and watch this space for more news and photos on events and autumn festivals in Italy.