The Most Beautiful Villages to Visit in October

Between foliage, timeless atmosphere, and good food, here are the perfect towns for October weekends.

What are the villages to visit in October? The scent of laundry in the early morning gives way to the smell of grilling and wood-fired ovens at lunchtime and dinner amidst the alleys and streets of the beautiful villages of Italy.

If you want to find refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city, we recommend heading to the small towns that house an incredible artistic, cultural, and natural heritage for the coming weekends.

Here are some villages to visit in October.

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At the foot of Monte Rosa, in a beautiful plain in the Lys Valley, Gressoney-Saint-Jean has always been a popular destination for climbers, hikers, and skiers.

But it is also a precious village for its history and traditions, linked to the Alemannic population of the Walser, whom the bishop of Sion induced to colonize the valley, pushing from Valais in the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was probably founded.

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Their presence has left marks in culture, language "titsch", and in the architecture of the typical villages with stone and wood houses two stories high and "Stadel" used as warehouses.

Therefore, visit the old town of Gressoney-Saint-Jean, between the lower square named after King Umberto I and the upper square dominated by the beautiful parish church of San Giovanni Battista.

Do not miss a visit to Castel Savoia, the fairytale summer residence that Queen Margarita of Savoy had built between 1900 and 1904 in the Belvedere area with a beautiful view of Monte Rosa.

Frontino is the living room of Montefeltro. Centuries-old oaks, flowering broom, and lush nature surround this tiny medieval village in the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the historic region of Montefeltro.

Nestled in the Sasso Simone and Simoncello Natural Park, backed by Monte Carpegna, Frontino dominates the Mutino River valley from an elevation of 519 meters.

Since 2014, part of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, Frontino is the smallest municipality in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, but rich in rural architecture, such as the ancient farmhouses scattered in the countryside, often converted into hospitality establishments, and works of art.

Must-see in Frontino includes the castle, perched on a spur dominating the Mutino valley, the civic tower, and the Torrione.

Strolling through the village you will see the Assetto Museum, dedicated to the Turin artist who was a precursor to pop art, who also donated the distinctive fountain located in the northern square.

Interestingly, the parish church of Saints Peter and Paul displays a canvas from the school of Federico Barocci, the most important Urbino painter after Raphael. One of the most precious works though is the polyptych by Alvise Vivarini, which belonged to the church of the Franciscan convent of Montefiorentino, now housed in the National Gallery of Art in Urbino.

Nevertheless, there are other precious testimonies of the long history of the village, such as, in the same convent, the Oliva counts' chapel and the altarpiece by Giovanni Santi, Raphael's father, remarkable examples of Italian Renaissance.

Before climbing to the village, notice the mill of Ponte Vecchio, dating back to the 14th century. Finally, a very evocative place is the San Girolamo Monastery, built in 1500 by Don Ghisello, from the illustrious Vandini family.

Civitella Alfedena is the smallest town in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. It sits at an altitude of 1123 meters at the foot of Monte Sterpi d'Alto.

Behind the village lies the amphitheater of Camosciara, in the park's Integral Reserve Zone, while at the foot of the village extends the Lake of Barrea, easily reachable on foot.

Civitella has a very ancient history, with origins dating back to the Paleolithic. In 1870, a local archaeologist discovered inscriptions and epigraphs in a cave, shedding light on the ancient Marsi people, who inhabited the mountainous areas of Abruzzo in the first millennium BC.

Walks in the historic center among the 17th and 18th-century buildings, the 15th-century tower, and the 17th-century church of San Nicola.

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Finally, the sanctuary of Santa Lucia is a historical pilgrimage destination. Thus, the village is ideal for those who want to spend a few days in contact with the unspoiled nature of the Apennines, where the Apennine wolf has long lived.

In one of the most beautiful settings of the central Apennines, Frosolone rises between hills rich in woods, pastures, and ponds, in a landscape with bizarre shapes. It is a small village with a rural charm in Molise, with initial settlements dating back to the Megalithic period.

Explore the medieval historical center, where elegant Renaissance architectures stand out. You will then see the Baronial Palace and the Baroque church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

You can also visit the Museum of Cutting Tools, where the master artisans of Frosolone showcase the ancient art of "forging blades".

Complete your visit by wandering the neighborhood surrounding the church of San Michele Arcangelo, the oldest place of worship in Frosolone.

Just outside the village, along the road leading to the mountains, you come across the small hermitage of Sant'Egidio.

At the foot of Morgia Quadra, in an oasis of absolute peace, you will see a cottage decorated with many stones on the walls by an unaware land art author, shepherd and farmer Pasquale Paolucci.

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In the last stretch of Italy bordering Slovenia lies Muggia, a picturesque village in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Approaching the small harbor, it almost feels like entering the alleys and squares.

Climbing to the castle, you can admire the magnificent panorama of the Gulf of Trieste.

The Venetian atmosphere emerges from the architecture, as well as from the dialect, customs, and culinary traditions that tell of a shared past with the Serenissima.

Arriving from the sea, the white Istrian stones and the colorful houses of Muggia blend with the lush karst environment. Framing it are seven kilometers of coastline and a crown of hills that panoramically dominate a vast area, both Italian and Istrian.

Known as the little Venice for its quiet alleys and picturesque canals.

Of Roman origin, this Venetian stretch was populated by the influx of inhabitants from the surrounding Veneto fleeing barbarian invasions.

From Venice, it's worth visiting Chioggia and strolling among the colorful houses and the canals of San Domenico, Vena, and Lombardo.

The Corso del Popolo is a celebration of grand architecture and precious relics: the Town Hall, the Granary, the 13th-century San Nicolò, San Domenico and his Carpaccio, the Baroque S. Andrea, and Piazzetta Vigo with the 12th-century column topped by El gato (a lion of Saint Mark).

Don't miss the Clock Tower, once a lighthouse and lookout tower, now a museum that recounts Chioggia's history, where visitors can see the astrological clock and the bell chamber at the top.

Visit the Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of Santa Maria in heaven, and the nearby church of S. Martino, which once housed a polyptych attributed to Paolo Veneziano, now displayed in the nearby Diocesan Museum. It is interesting to take a stroll at the fish market, the characteristic fish market that runs from Tuesday to Sunday and is supplied directly by the fishermen returning from the sea early in the morning.

In the port of Chioggia, you can still admire colorful "bragozzi" boats docked at the pier. Pay attention to the skilled lace-makers, an ancient local tradition.

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Known as the "little Venice", Comacchio is a charming village nestled in the eponymous lagoon between the Po di Volano and the Po di Comacchio.

Located on the northern coast of Emilia-Romagna, this small village in the province of Ferrara enchants with its natural beauty and historical testimonies.

It was originally built by connecting 13 small islets formed at the mouth of Po di Primario with the sea via bridges.

Over the centuries, it became an important maritime hub in the Adriatic Sea and one of the key ports for trade in Emilia-Romagna. The city today retains architectural and building treasures from its glorious past, as well as characteristic canals that evoke the Venetian atmosphere.

Comacchio is situated within the Po Delta Park, so explore this magnificent nature reserve suspended between land and water.

A small jewel of the northern shore of Lake Trasimeno, Passignano is a village perched on a steep promontory sloping down towards the lake, protected by hills cultivated with vine and olive.

Throughout the centuries, Passignano has been a military outpost, a strategic stop for trade between Umbria and Tuscany, and today is part of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.

Don't miss the fortress, likely of Lombard origin, which dominates the village from above and offers beautiful views of the lake and its islands.

The fortress also houses the Museum of Boats today. Then, through what remains of the town walls, enter the historic center to visit the 16th-century church of San Rocco, with Renaissance architecture featuring an unusual double doorway.

Climbing the Niccone Highway, alongside hills of olive trees with increasingly broad views, you reach the panoramic observatory of Castel Rigone, home to the sanctuary of Maria Santissima dei Miracoli, built at the end of the 15th century, one of the masterpieces of the Umbrian Renaissance.

If you wish to further explore the hills, you can reach the locality of Quarantaia, where the remains of a Roman rustic villa dating back to the 1st and 2nd century AD were found.

Perched on a limestone hill, Posada is a village in Baronia, in northeastern Sardinia, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.

Posada is one of Sardinia's oldest centers. It was likely an Italic-Etruscan settlement (5th-4th century BC). In Roman times, everything revolved around the portus Liquidonis, present-day San Giovanni di Posada, a seaside village dominated by an Aragonese tower.

As its Latin name Pausata suggests, the town was a stopping point and a border location. Today, Posada retains its medieval charm with a maze of alleys, steps, and squares. At its center lies the parish church of Sant'Antonio Abate.

Overseeing the center is the 13th-century castle of Fava. At the foot of the village, the valley of the Posada River extends, which can be explored by kayak, recommended for nature and archaeology lovers. Around the lake of Maccheronis, bike paths wind through the Tepilora park, one of the largest and most beautiful green areas in Sardinia.

Here you can admire the pink flamingos in the San Giovanni pond or relax on the homonymous beach.

In the Isarco Valley, between Val Gardena and Val di Tires, Castelrotto rises within the Sciliar Natural Park, at the foot of Alpe di Siusi.

It is a beautiful South Tyrolean village immersed in a fairytale atmosphere, with a typically medieval layout and a rich artistic and cultural heritage.

In the historic center, you will see the neoclassical church of Saints Peter and Paul, frescoed buildings, and a Baroque bell tower from which to admire the village and the surrounding landscape.

Dominating the town are the ruins of the ancient Castelvecchio, of medieval origin, which can be reached on foot. In the village, where Ladin is still spoken, ancient traditions are passed down.

Every winter, indeed, the "farmer's wedding" takes place, a celebration that revives the ancient ritual of the inhabitants of Castelrotto up until the 1950s. Finally, Castelrotto is an excellent base for those wanting to ski on Alpe di Siusi or climb up to Marmolada.

Teggiano is one of the few villages in the province of Salerno that has preserved its fortress-like appearance.

Previously called Diano, or Rianu in the Teggians dialect, it gained importance in the Vallo di Diano particularly in the late medieval period.

In fact, the powerful Sanseverino family built the castle here and chose it as a stronghold where they could take refuge in case of danger. Today, Teggiano has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The village still retains the high medieval walls that allowed the city to defend itself from attacks by the King of Naples, Ferdinand of Aragon.

Explore, therefore, the historic center with medieval and Renaissance architectures that attracts thousands of tourists each year. Among the religious buildings, the 14th-century convent of S. Francesco and the 12th-century Diocesan Museum of S. Pietro are worth a visit.

Noteworthy is the Herb Museum, located in the center of the village and divided into different sections: natural medicine, mycology, natural herbarium, and ethnobotany. The Museum of Uses and Traditions of Vallo di Diano, on the other hand, preserves various artifacts ranging from looms to plows for oxen.

Admire the Malavolta Palace, which is currently the episcopal residence. Nature lovers interested in excursions might explore the nearby Foce Sele-Tanagro Nature Reserve.