Spring is right around the corner, and as the sun sets later and later, it’s a great time to head back outdoors! What about taking a trip to Italy to enjoy the changing of the season? Not sure where to go? Check out our Top Ten destinations of the month!
Here are our Top 10 provinces, chosen from thousands of preferences by our agriturismo fans, plus a few of our own travel tips.
Off we go!
In first place for March is the province of Piacenza. If you’re planning a weekend in this area, we suggest a walk in the snow in the Apennine mountains. There are tons of places to explore while the snow still lasts, some even by night, and excursions for all ages and abilities.
If you’d like to see something out-of-the-ordinary, visit the archeological area of Lugagnano Val 'Arda and the Veleia Romana, an ancient city founded in 158 B.C. once frequented for its thermal waters. Today, Veleia Romana, also called the Pompeii of the North, attracts a bevy of tourists. Visit the entire area including the antiquarium, which contains an impressive collection of plaster casts and ancient Roman artefacts.
The province of Vicenza offers so much to do! Here you’ll find the Altopiano di Asiago, Monti Berici and Recoaro Terme where trails abound for hikers, cyclists, and anyone looking to take a nice stroll in the great outdoors. A trip to Bassano del Grappa and Marostica are a must, especially for foodies. Soak up the medieval atmosphere and don’t forget to try the grappa!
Once again we’re in Veneto - Padua, to be precise - the third province on our list. Located in the southern part of the region, Padua is much more than an art and cultural center (though you don’t want to miss the Scrovegni Chapel and its precious frescoes by Giotto). It’s also near the Colli Euganei hills, where visitors can take a rest from sightseeing and enjoy the natural surroundings or a lovely day at a spa. Among the many options, check out the wellness centers in Abano, Montegrotto, Galzignano, and Battaglia Terme.
In our fourth province, Modena, you can bask in the spring weather at Parco di Villa Gandini di Formigine, a graceful English-style garden created between 1871 and 1978 that measures 106,266 square meters!
If you’re travelling with the entire family, stop by the Museo della Figurina where you can see an exhibition devoted entirely to cartoons and TV personalities from the 1980s and 1990s. Over 3,000 works, including albums, figurines, calendars, letter seals, trading cards and Panini album covers, plus other rare pieces, all document this unforgettable period.
If the weather is favorable, why not hop on a bike and discover Turin and its royal palaces on two wheels? There are plenty of tours and easy bike paths that take you around the city to sites of great historic and architectural interest, including Castello del Valentino, Villa della Regina, the Giardini Reali, and the very famous Mole Antoneliana.
If you want to spend some time outside Turin, visit the three Lanzo valleys where rolling hills offer gorgeous spring views. Along the way, make a detour to the Sacro Monte di Belmonte in Valperga Canavese, a monastery from the 10th century with 13 chapels, each one dedicated to a stop along the Via Crucis.
Discover our farmhouses in the province of Turin!
Here are three tips on what to do in Vercelli in March:
The first: discover Vercelli’s history and landmarks. Vercelli is considered the first Celtic city in Italy, and is home to one of the oldest universities in all of Europe, dating back to the 13th century.
The second: visit Azeglio. The panorama will simply take your breath away… Lake Viverone, the Moraine hills and tiny villages that look like perfectly illustrated nativity scenes.
And finally, the third: Vercelli’s authentic local cuisine with simple country roots.
Discover our farmhouses in the province of Vercelli!
How about a weekend in the province of Milan, home to the Strada delle Abbazie? The Strada delle Abbazie is a tourist itinerary which aims to promote the area’s cultural sites, monuments, nature, food and wine. You’ll be speechless when you see the number of great things to see and do!
Along the route you’ll come across places of prayer and worship, architecture and art, that have contributed to this province’s extraordinary cultural offering. Don’t miss the Abbazia di Chiaravalle, one of Italy’s first examples of Gothic architecture dating back to 1134, the 14th-century frescoes at the Abbazia di Viboldone near San Giuliano Milanese, or the abbey at Morimondo, home to an order of Cistercian monks.
Discover our farmhouses in the province of Milan!
Next in our Top Ten picks for March is Sicily’s province of Caltanissetta!
If you’re in the area, stop by one of the loveliest natural spots in the region: the Valle dell'Imera Meridionale reserve. A trip along the Imera river bank between Mount Capodarso and Sabucina will enchant both nature and archeology enthusiasts. Go bird watching, hiking, or simply admire all the lovely sights the area has to offer.
Discover our farmhouses in the province of Caltanissetta!
We’re back in Emilia Romagna with the ninth province on our list and a mecca for foodies: Parma.
Take your taste buds on tour in this delightful province known and loved for its local cuisine. Start with a visit to the Museo del Prosciutto e dei Salumi di Parma in Langhirano, just 30 minutes outside of Padua. Then head to Zibello, the capital of Italy’s famous and most costly cold cuts: culatello. Next, move on to the hamlet of Felino where you can visit the Museo del Salame housed in the castle’s 18th-century cellars.
Discover our farmhouses in the province of Parma!
To finish our Top 10 list for March, we head back to Lombardy and the medieval marvels of Bergamo. Along with Padua, Ferrara, Lucca, and Grosseto, Bergamo’s “Citta Alta” (“Upper City) is one of just five cities in Italy whose historic center is still surrounded by intact ancient walls.
Walk up to the old historic center and admire the typical casoncello, or small family plots of land, which are scattered around the city. Travelling with the family? Stop by the Museo di Scienze Naturali where you can learn about the world of zoology, paleontology, geology, and much more.
Discover our farmhouses in the province of Bergamo!
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