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MAP: The best Italian villages to visit this year

Here are the remote Italian villages worth seeking out in 2022, according to a list compiled by one of the country's leading tourism associations.

What are the best villages to visit in Italy this year?
What are the best villages to visit in Italy this year? Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP.

A total of 270 villages across Italy have been recognised as being especially tourist-friendly this year by the Italian Touring Club (Touring Club Italiano), one of the country’s largest non-profit associations dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism throughout the territory.

‘Orange Flag’ status is awarded if a village is judged to have significant historic, cultural and environmental value, as well as for being welcoming to visitors and outsiders, according to the initiative’s website.

READ ALSO: MAP: Which regions of Italy have the most Blue Flag beaches?

Villages can apply for the status if they are located inland with no coastal stretches; have fewer than 15,000 inhabitants; have a well-preserved historic centre and a strong sense of cultural identity; demonstrate sensitivity to issues of sustainability; have a well-organised tourist reception system; and show an intention to continue to make improvements to the town.

The list is updated annually, and in 2022 three new villages gained orange flag status for the first time: Dozza in Emilia Romagna, Manciano in Tuscany, and Sasso di Castalda in Basilicata.

See below for the map and a list of the Orange Flag villages according to region:

Montepulciano in Tuscany has 'orange flag' status.

Montepulciano in Tuscany has ‘orange flag’ status. Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP.

Abruzzo – 7 villages

Civitella Alfadena, Fara San Martino, Lama dei Peligni, Opi, Palena, Roccascalegna, Scanno.

Basilicata – 6 villages

Aliano, Castelmezzano, Perticara Guard, San Severino Lucano, Sasso di Castalda, Valsinni.

Calabria – 6 villages

Bova, Civita, Gerace, Morano Calabro, Oriolo, Tavern.

Campania – 5 villages

Cerreto Sannita, Letino, Morigerati, Sant’Agata de’ Goti, Zungoli.

READ MORE: Six Italian walking holiday destinations that are perfect for spring

Emilia Romagna – 23 villages

Bagno di Romagna, Bobbio, Brisighella, Busseto, Castell’Arquato, Castelvetro di Modena, Castrocaro Terme and Terra del Sole, Dozza, Fanano, Fiumalbo, Fontanellato, Longiano, Montefiore Conca, Monteleone, Pennabilli, Pieve di Cento, Portico and San Benedetto, Premilcuore, San Leo, Sarsina, Sestola, Verucchio, Vigoleno.

Friuli Venezia Giulia – 7 villages

Andreis, Barcis, Cividale del Friuli, Frisanco, Maniago, San Vito al Tagliamento, Sappada.

Lazio – 20 villages

Arpino, Bassiano, Bolsena, Bomarzo, Calcata, Campodimele, Caprarola, Casperia, Collepardo, Fossanova, Labro, Leonessa, Nemi, San Donato Val di Comino, Sermoneta, Subiaco, Sutri, Trevignano Romano, Tuscania, Vitorchiano.

Liguria – 17 villages

Airole, Apricale, Balducco, Brugnato, Castelnuovo Magra, Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena, Dolceacqua, Perinaldo, Pigna, Pinion, Santo Stefano d’Aveto, Sassello, Seborga, Toirano, Triora, Vallebona, Varese Ligure.

Lombardy – 16 villages

Almenno San Bartolomeo, Bellano, Bienno, Castellaro Lagusello, Chiavenna, Clusone, Gardone Riviera, Gromo, Menaggio, Pizzighettone, Ponti sul Mincio, Sabbioneta, Sarnico, Solferino, Tignale, Torno.

Marche – 24 villages

Acquaviva Picena, Amandola, Camerino, Cantiano, Cingoli, Corinaldo, Frontino, Genga, Gradara, Mercatello sul Metauro, Mondavio, Montecassiano, Montelupone, Monterubbiano, Offagna, Ostra , Ripatransone, San Ginesio, Sarnano, Serra San Quirico, Staffolo, Urbisaglia, Valfornace, Visso.

Molise – 5 villages

Agnone, Ferrazzano, Frosolone, Roccamandolfi, Scapoli.

READ MORE: These are the 20 prettiest villages across Italy

San Gimignano has long been an orange flag destination.

San Gimignano has long been an orange flag destination. Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP.

Piedmont – 40 villages 

Agliè, Alagna Valsesia, Arona, Avigliana, Barolo, Bene Vagienna, Bergolo, Candelo, Canelli, Cannero Riviera, Cannobio, Castagnole delle Lanze, Cherasco, Chiusa di Pesio, Cocconato, Entracque, Fenestrelle, Fobello, Gavi, Grinzane Cavour, Guarene, La Morra, Limone Piemonte, Macugnaga, Malesco, Mergozzo, Moncalvo, Monforte d’Alba, Neive, Orta San Giulio, Ozzano Monferrato, Revello, Rosignano Monferrato, Santa Maria Maggiore, Susa, Trisobbio, Usseaux, Usseglio, Varallo, Vogogna.

Puglia – 13 villages

Alberona, Biccari, Bovino, Cisternino, Corigliano d’Otranto, Locorotondo, Oria, Orsara di Puglia, Pietramontecorvino, Rocchetta Sant’Antonio, Sant’Agata di Puglia, Specchia, Troia.

Sardinia – 7 villages

Aggius, Galtellì, Gavoi, Laconi, Oliena, Sardara, Tempio Pausania.

Sicily – 1 village

Petralia Sottana

Tuscany – 40 villages

Abetone Cutigliano, Anghiari, Barberino Tavarnelle, Barga, Casale Marittimo, Casciana Terme Lari, Casale d’Elsa, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina, Castiglion Fiorentino, Certaldo, Cetona, Chiusi, Collodi, Fosdinovo, Lucignano, Manciano, Massa Marittima, Montalcino, Montecarlo, Montefollonico, Montepulciano, Monteriggioni, Murlo, Peccioli, Pienza, Pitigliano, Pomarance, Radda in Chianti, Radicofani, San Casciano dei Bagni, San Gimignano, Santa Fiora, Sarteano, Sorano, Suvereto, Trequanda, Vicopisano, Vinci, Volterra. 

Trentino Alto Adige – 8 villages

Ala, Caderzone Terme, Campo Tures/Sand in Taufers, Ledro, Levico Terme, Molveno, Tenno, Vipiteno/Sterzing.

Umbria – 10 villages

Bevagna, Città della Pieve, Montefalco, Montone, Nocera Umbra, Norcia, Panicale, Spello, Trevi, Vallo di Nera.

Val d’Aosta – 3 villages

Etroubles, Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Introd.

Veneto – 12 villages

Arquà Petrarca, Asolo, Borgo Valbelluna, Cison di Valmarino, Follina, Malcesine, Marostica, Montagnana, Portobuffolè, Rocca Pietore, Soave, Valeggio sul Mincio.

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ROME

What’s on in Rome: Eight events not to miss this autumn

From a 'gnocchi' fair to a three-week-long jazz festival, there's a lot to look forward to in Rome over the coming months.

What's on in Rome: Eight events not to miss this autumn

Romaeuropa Festival – September 4th to November 17th

Running from Wednesday, September 4th, to Sunday, November 17th, the 39th edition of the Romaeuropa Festival will feature over 700 artists and performers from all over the globe, including the likes of South African dancer and choreographer Robyn Orlin and musicians Alva Noto and Christian Fennesz.

The stages are set over various locations across the city, including the MAXXI art gallery and Teatro Argentina. 

Find out more details on prices, times, and locations on the festival’s official website.

Gnocchi fair – September 13th to September 15th

Celebrating its 15th year, the Sagra degli Gnocchi a Castelnuovo di Porto is one you shouldn’t miss if you are a fan of the potato-based pasta.

The town where the sagra is held (Castelnuovo di Porto) is a 20-minute drive north from the Rome city centre.

View the full programme here.

READ ALSO: Sagra: The best Italian food festivals to visit in September 2024

Gnocchi are a Roman favourite. Photo by Neilson Barnard / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.

Borgo diVino – September 13th to September 15th

Set on the same dates as the gnocchi festival in Castelnuovo di Porto, the Borgo diVino fair transforms lakeside town Nemi, southeast of Rome, into a paradise for wine lovers, who can expect to find (and sample) wines from all Italian regions.

A food area will be set up where attendees will be able to try dishes typical of the local area to accompany their wine with.

The event is free of charge to enter but a personal wine tasting tour will cost you 18 euros. You can purchase the tickets for the tasting directly at the stands or online.

Tevere Day – October 7th to October 13th

Though the name says ‘day’, this is a week-long, city-wide event dedicated to Rome’s River Tiber, which offers tours along the fiume, historical talks and a number of entertainment opportunities, including music performances and art displays.

Performing acts include neighbourhood brass band La Banda Cecafumo and Ukulele trio, Ukus In Fabula.

All the details can be found on the event’s official website.

Rome Film Fest – October 16th to October 27th 

The 19th edition of the Rome Film Fest will run from October 16th to October 27th in Parioli’s Parco della Musica Auditorium.

The festival will kick off with Berlinguer. La Grande Ambizione, starring Italian actor Elio Germano as the titular character of the former Italian politician.

This year’s edition will also pay homage to the deceased actor Marcello Mastroianni, who starred in the classic 1960 film La Dolce Vita.

The full programme for the event, which saw the likes of Monica Bellucci and Tim Burton last year, has yet to be released.

Tickets can be bought online from October 9th.

Italian actress Monica Bellucci partner Tim Burton at last year’s Rome Film Festival. Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP.

EurHop Roma Beer Festival – October 18th to October 20th

The EurHop Roma Beer Festival will return to the Salone delle Fontane, in Rome’s EUR district, on October 18th, offering participants a chance to sample 800 different types of beer from all around the world.

The selection of the participating breweries, among the best Italian and international ones, will be made by Trastevere-based pub Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà. Each attendee gets a beer glass to fill up at one of the 85 stands. 

Tickets cost nine euros apiece and can be purchased online.

READ ALSO: 15 typical Roman foods you need to try at least once

Rome Jazz Festival – November 1st to November 23rd

The 48th edition of the Roma Jazz Festival will be back at the Parco della Musica Auditorium in November.

A star-studded lineup of jazz musicians and bands from all around the globe, including Lakecia Benjamin and Bill Evans & The VansBand All Stars, are set to take the stage this year.

Further details about the scheduled shows and tickets can be found on the festival’s official website.

Roma Arte in Nuvola – November 22nd to November 24th

Held in the Nuvola building, in Rome’s EUR area, Roma Arte in Nuvola displays a collection of contemporary art by leading international artists.

The programme for the 2024 edition hasn’t been announced yet, but past editions have included works from some 150 national and international galleries. 

Updates can be found on the official website.

Do you have an autumn event in Rome that you’d like us to highlight? Let us know in the comments section below.

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