The ideal time of year to experience this region, where the landscape is painted in shades of red and gold, and where a wealth of events blend sport, slow tourism, culture, and fine food
Autumn in Upper Piedmont is the season of colours, movement, and outdoor discovery — the perfect moment to embrace the land as it transforms into a palette of crimson and gold, hosting events that bring together sport, slow tourism, culture, and gastronomy. This region becomes a true green laboratory of sustainable tourism, thanks to initiatives promoted by SustainEvents, the Interreg Italy–Switzerland project led in Italy by the Chamber of Commerce Monte Rosa Laghi Alto Piemonte.
The journey into Upper Piedmont’s natural beauty begins aboard the famous Treno del Foliage® (Foliage Train), which runs from 11 October to 16 November along the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway between Domodossola and Locarno. Fifty-two kilometres of colourful forests and alpine valleys unfold before travellers’ eyes like a living painting in constant transformation. An experience also praised by The New York Times and The Guardian, who named it as one of Europe’s unmissable autumn adventures.
This immersion in the woods with their autumn colours continues across the blue waters of Lake Maggiore, where on 9 November the Lago Maggiore Marathon will take place, running from Arona to Verbania Pallanza. The classic 42-kilometre route follows one of the most scenic courses in all of Italy.
The dialogue between season, people, and nature also extends to taste with Taste Alto Piemonte, organised by the Consorzio Tutela Nebbioli Alto Piemonte, scheduled for 9-10 November at the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées in Stresa. Local wines and artisanal products tell the story of a landscape shaped by nature and the Alps.
Each event adds its own note to a collective story celebrating the region — promoting mindful, sustainable, and responsible tourism built on the strength of the local communities and their ability to preserve and renew their traditions.
