From Piedmont to Valtellina: 10 destinations featuring autumn colours, walking trails and traditions

The woods are changing colour, the air is growing cooler and the mountains are slowly entering a new season. This is the time when the larch trees burst into warm colours, the vineyards take on a coppery hue and the footpaths invite you to discover the landscape at a different pace, taking in panoramic views, villages and culinary stops along the way. From Piedmont to the Aosta Valley, right through to Valtellina, autumn offers plenty of opportunities to explore regions that reveal their true character during this transitional season: walks through beech woods and rocky cliffs, ancient abbeys and castles, trails amongst terraced vineyards, museums that recount the history of the Alps, and culinary traditions linked to life at high altitude. From the Oasi Zegna to the valleys at the foot of Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, via Roero, the Langhe, Val di Susa and Livigno, here are ten itineraries to experience the mountains beyond the ski season, featuring hikes, cultural experiences and local flavours.