Autumn has arrived and even if a bit of rain and melancholy push us to close ourselves inside the house, we cannot miss the wonderful places where we can admire the autumn foliage. Whether it’s for a trip out of town or for a weekend, it will be wonderful to walk around to discover the thousand shades of the ever-changing foliage of the trees. Maybe picking chestnuts or mushrooms, admiring lakes and streams or finding hot spas in the middle of a forest.
And you don’t have to go to Central Park in New York or Japan to get lost among gigantic trees and carpets of colorful leaves. But behind the house, we can find enchanting woods to enjoy the autumn landscape.
Here’s what foliage is, its benefits and 5 spectacular places in Italy where you can see and contemplate foliage in autumn.
What is foliage and its benefits
The term, of French origin, indicates the phenomenon of the infinite colors and shades that tree leaves take on in autumn, before falling from the tree. The bright green given by the chlorophyll gradually gives way to pale green, bright yellow, ocher, and in some cases to orange or rusty or vermilion red, and finally to the brown of the dry leaf. Depending on the type of tree, from beech to rhododendron to oak, the leaves about to fall draw dream landscapes, as if painted by the magical hand of a painter.
Contemplating the foliage, walking in company or alone, brings enormous psychophysical benefits. The mind relaxes, forgetting stress, and focuses on the present. The body moves in harmony with nature. These spirit-refreshing walks are ideal for all ages, alone or with the family.
At the foot of the Dolomites is Lake Tovel
At the foot of the Dolomites, from the second half of September until the end of October, it is possible to admire the foliage of Lake Tovel, in the Val di Non. Giant tree trunks dating back to 1089 AD are submerged in the depths of the lake. Tovel is also famous for the phenomenon of red waters in summer, which unfortunately has no longer occurred since 1964. Around the lake and among the ever green fir trees, the larches gradually turn yellow and red. Reflecting on the surface of the lake, the forest tinges the landscape with autumn colors and offers excellent opportunities for artful photos.
You can reach the lake starting from Tuenno, until you reach a car park (for a fee). The path around the lake is easily accessible even with strollers and for this reason it is also an ideal place for families. In addition to the incredible spectacle of nature, it will be possible to surprise the sculptures of the artists of Brenta Wood Art on the trunks of pines, firs and larches.
The Umbrian hills and the Clitunno valley
The Umbrian hills are rich in woods and vineyards which in autumn are enchanting with their colorful vegetation. From Montefalco to Gubbio, from Assisi to Spoleto, there are many paths to follow to savor the beauty of the foliage of central Italy. And right near Spoleto, we find a wonderful place like the Clitunno Springs, where in autumn the foliage turns yellow, orange, red, reflecting in the waters of the river source. It was a place dear to the ancient Romans, where they worshiped the god Jupiter Clitunno and was once home to sumptuous villas. Today the park is home to a small Corinthian temple from the 4th century AD, which has become a church and has been proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2011.
In Lazio the Manziana forest
Lazio offers many enchanting woods where you can see the foliage in autumn but certainly a few kilometers from Rome the most popular is the Manziana woods. Among chestnut trees, centuries-old oaks and wild maples, it will be possible to enjoy quiet walks exploring numerous paths. A rarity for an Italian forest is the wonderful white birch forest. For those who love seeing water, even in autumn, the Manziana caldera will amaze, a mirror of hot sulphurous water, with whirlpools and small geysers, a survivor of prehistoric volcanic landscapes. The natural monument of the Manziana caldera can be reached from Bracciano.
In Lazio, the Old Beech Forest of Soriano del Cimino
Located in Lazio, the Soriano nel Cimino beech forest is a fascinating place to admire the autumn foliage, this forest, immersed in the Cimini Mountains, is known for its centuries-old beech forests which, in autumn, are tinged with golden, orange and red shades, creating a unique natural spectacle. The monumental oaks and beech trees of Soriano, which reach imposing heights, design a landscape that seems to have come out of a fairy tale.
The Faggeta di Soriano is easily accessible and offers numerous paths that allow peaceful walks, ideal for families and nature lovers. During autumn, the undergrowth is rich in mushrooms and chestnuts, and visitors can enjoy the silence and peace that characterize this place. The contrast between the persistent green of the evergreens and the warm shades of the falling leaves makes the Soriano Faggeta a perfect destination to immerse yourself in the autumnal beauty of Lazio.
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The Umbrian Forest in Puglia
In the heart of the Gargano, the Umbra Forest is a true natural treasure, with extensive beech forests which, in autumn, transform into a carpet of golden, orange and red shades. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this forest is also home to thousand-year-old oaks, maples and yews, offering shaded paths ideal for a walk immersed in autumn colours. Walking here allows you to breathe the fresh air of the forest and admire one of the most evocative landscapes in southern Italy.
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Puglia – Italy (@nick_abbrey)In Basilicata the Pollino Park
Going south, in Basilicata in the Pollino Park, we find countless views where we can contemplate a foliage with a thousand changing colours: the yellow of the beech forest and the red of the maples, in the midst of the ever green pines. The ideal place to go looking for mushrooms, find precious truffles and collect chestnuts. In fact, it is possible to do these routes accompanied by local guides, and then taste the gastronomic specialties of the area at the village festivals. Like the aubergines and PDO beans from Rotonda or the “mischiglio” flour pasta made from chickpeas and broad beans, typical of Chiaromonte. While in Picerno, the most demanding palates cannot miss the tasting of good Lucanian soppressata accompanied by a good wine. For those who love adventure, you can go and discover the Lucanian Dolomites, where the wild wooded vegetation of maples, oaks and chestnut trees is interspersed between the cliffs and mountain gorges.
Etna in Sicily
Sicily, from the Nebrodi to the Madonie, offers many woods where you can enjoy the autumn season. In Piano Battaglia, in the Madonie, there is one of the most beautiful beech forests in Europe. While in the Ficuzza forest, near Palermo, it is possible to walk among holm oaks, chestnut trees, cork trees and oaks which are tinged with the warm colors of fire, from yellow to orange.
However, for an unforgettable experience and provided that the large volcano allows it, we recommend visiting the Etna woods. For those who love trekking and volcanic landscapes, Etna, in Sicily, offers the possibility of taking long walks at high altitude and catching a glimpse of the spectacular autumn foliage. Among beech forests and birch forests aetnensis, one cannot help but be stunned by the vermilion red of the leaves, in contrast with the black volcanic earth. All from the top of the highest active volcano in the Eurasian area. From Zafferana Etnea it is possible to reach Acqua Rocca degli Zappini and observe the beech forests, also present in Timpa Rossa. While on Mount Sartorius you can admire the yellow birch trees among the craters of the volcano.
These are just some of the hundreds of Italian woods where you can enjoy the spectacle of autumn foliage. To be enraptured by nature as it unfolds, relax your soul and experience a special day in company.
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