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Touring Club Italiano

Touring Club Italiano is a non-profit organization that has been operating in the fields of tourism, culture and the environment for over a century.

It was founded in 1894 as 'The Italian Cycling Touring Club', a private and self-financed organization, by a group of young, bright entrepreneurs from Milan. Its mission was to offer its members a network of contacts and services to learn about, discover and travel in Italy. This club, which then changed its name to the Touring Club Italiano, takes credit for having invented tourism and transformed Italy into a easy-to-reach country, thanks to the first maps, travel guides, road signs and tourism pubblications. This small organization quickly turned into a symbol of national recognition and pride, capable of accompanying and promoting changes which have radically contributed to Italian self-awareness about the national cultural heritage.

Touring Club Italiano turns 120 this year: more than 100 years of evolution and innovation pursuing the original mission and the values on which it was founded. Club Members are heart and strength of the organization: they include Junior members (a small “army” of curious, focused, informed and respectful young kids, 6 to 12) and the Young Adult members (a “tribe” of smart and active young adults, 13 to 21, willing to travel, aware and respectful of the environment and the historiacl and cultural heritage). 

  • Values and objectives

    Ever since its foundation Touring Club Italiano operates to: develop safe and sustainable tourism, promote and preserve Italy’s cultural and natural heritage, educate about countries and cultures, develop initiatives focused on accompanying travelers during their journeys to discover Italy's hidden treasures.

  • Our history

    Touring Club Italiano was founded in 1894 by a group of visionary people, passionate about cycling and traveling: back in those days, tourism didn’t really exist yet. These forward-thinking pioneers boosted the development of tourism by publishing travel guides and maps, and improving road signs. Ever since, the organization has been playing a leading role in the touristic industry.

  • Initiatives and activities

    Within the tourism industry, the organization is involved in plenty of activities: publications, special projects and campaigns. Touring Club Italiano is renowned for the luxury travel guide collection Guide Rosse (Red Guides), endorsed by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, and also for the project Bandiere Arancioni (Orange Flag Program), that selects and certifies small Italian inland towns.

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  • Majella Mountains, Abruzzo
  • Pederu Valley, South Tyrol
  • Herbs’ Pass, South Tyrol.
  • Fodara Vedla, South Tyrol. Mountain huts at the Fodara Vedla shelter, which can be reached from the Pederu shelter, in South Tyrol (in the province of Bolzano).
  • Shrine of Saint Mary, Queen of Anglona, Basilicata. This shrine, located in the town of Tursi (in the province of Matera), a solitary building within the gullies, is the only remain of the ancient city of Anglona, dating back to the 16th century. Its Romanesque style gate is marvelous.
  • Tursi, Basilicata (in the province of Matera). Panoramically located at the edge of a valley, Tursi is the birth town of Albino Pierro, one of the most renowned poets of the 20th century
  • San Giovanni in Fiore, Calabria. On the sidelines of the Sila national park, the town of San Giovanni in Fiore is known for having been the birthplace of Gioacchino da Fiore, one of the most renowned philosophers of the Middle Ages. Both the Abbey and the ethnographic museum, containing tens of typical artifacts, are valuable landmarks.
  • Sila National Park, Calabria. The Sila Mountains habitat is similar to the Alps or Scandinavian habitat. The Fallistro Giants, century-old larches that can reach up to 45 meters in height, are particularly important and striking.
  • Paestum, Campania. The Doric Temples in Paestum, in the province of Salerno, are amongst the best preserved in the world, and amongst the top examples of the architecture of the Magna Graecia (name of the coastal areas of Southern Italy that were extensively colonized by Greek settlers in the 8th century BC).
  • San Leo, Emilia Romagna. Bordering with the region of the Marche, in the province of Rimini, the town of San Leo is located in a beautiful area, and is known for its fortress, originally a fort then a maximum security prison from the 16th century to 1906.
  • Vigoleno, Emilia Romagna. The Vigoleno Castle is an impressive fortified complex, located in the province of Piacenza bordering the province of Parma. Almost perfectly intact, it is an example of a rare and beautiful fortified medieval village.
  • Appia Antica, Lazio. Located at the skirts of Rome, the Via Appia Antica is perhaps the most fascinating of the many Roman roads in Italy. The original paving stone is mostly preserved throughout, and sculptures and mausoleums rest under the Maritime pines on the sides of the street.
  • Palmarola Island, Lazio. Italy has several minor Archipelagos. The Pontine islands, off the coast of Lazio, are a vacation destination for most people residing in Rome. The main island is Ponza while Palmarola is almost uninhabited.
  • Genoa, Liguria. Via Garibaldi is one of the main streets in downtown Genoa and one of the most important ones from an architectural point of view. It has marvelous buildings, - included in the appropriate Rolli - some of which have a distinctive style based on architect Galeazzo Alessi’s whim.
  • Genoa, Liguria. Via Garibaldi is one of the main streets in downtown Genoa and one of the most important ones from an architectural point of view. It has marvelous buildings, - included in the appropriate Rolli - some of which have a distinctive style based on architect Galeazzo Alessi’s whim.
  • Bormio, Lombardy. The town of Bormio, located in the Alps in the region of Lombardy, bordering the Valtelline valley, is well known for its skiing facilities and hot springs. The Bagni Vecchi spa, also used by the ancient Romans, is a must see.
  • Lake Varese, Lombardy. Among the many lakes found in the Alps and the Padan plain, the Lake Varese distinguishes itself from the others due to its small size, its fine environment and the biking trail that surrounds it entirely.
  • Milan, Lombardy. The Duomo cathedral of Milan, dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente, is one of the finest gothic monuments in Italy. The lighting system inside of the large stained windows of the apse is the most recent installation.
  • Urbino, Marche. Desired by Federico di Montefeltro, the Papal Palace in Urbino, located in the northern part of the Marche region, is one of the greatest accomplishments of the Italian Renaissance. Built in only five years, from 1470 to 1475, the palace nowadays houses the National Gallery of the Marche.
  • Alberobello, Puglia. The traditional dry stone huts with a conical roof, known as trulli, are among the best known symbols of Puglia or of southern Italy in general. Originally their purpose was to maintain an adequate internal temperature.
  • Locorotondo, Puglia. Located in the province of Bari, near Alberobello, this town does not attract as many visitors as its neighboring town; however, it is known for its round and compact layout which is quite picturesque. Recently some groups of homes in the town have been turned into hotels.
  • Alghero, Sardinia. This town lies in the province of Sassari, in northwestern Sardinia. Its homes face the Catalan fortress. This is the only city in Sardinia to have maintained Catalan traditions and dialect (Catalonia is an autonomous province of Spain, comprising Barcelona) as a reminder of Catalan dominium in the 15th century.
  • Bosa, Sardinia. The river Temo is one the few rivers in the island that is navigable. The town is located in the province of Oristano, a few kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea. The Malaspina castle is its most majestic monument.
  • Coghinas River, Sardinia. Not many are familiar with the inlands in this region, which is mostly known for its beaches and clear-blue sea. The Coghinas River, which flows into the province of Olbia-Tempio, is heaven on earth.
  • Taormina, Sicily. Taormina has always been a must see destination for tourists. It has a beautiful Greek theater that is still used for plays and performances, and an incomparable view of the Etna, the largest active volcano in Italy and the highest peak in Southern Italy (3329 meters).
  • Madonie, Sicily. The inland of this island, which is the largest in the Mediterranean, boasts forests, mountains, hills, and horizon-less fields. The corn fields are green during the spring and turn golden yellow from the beginning of June.
  • Modica, Sicily. Located in the south-west corner of the island, the town of Modica, like its neighboring towns, Ragusa, Ibla and Noto, was completely destroyed by an earthquake in the 17th century and was then rebuilt in the Baroque style (the photo shows the duomo of San Pietro). Modica is also known for its production of chocolate.
  • Palermo, Sicily. The Palatine Chapel located inside the Palazzo Reale of Palermo, palace of the Norman kings, has three apses, was dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and was sanctified in the year 1140. The dome, the transept, and apses are decorated with Byzantine mosaics, among the most important in Italy.
  • Regaleali Vineyards, Sicily. Every region in Italy can pride itself of its food and wines. Even Sicily is covered by vineyards, as these hills in the province of Palermo, home to one of the most famous wineries of the island.
  • Villa Romana del Casale, Sicily. The Roman villa, built in the 4th century, contains the most beautiful collection of mosaics in Italy. It is located near the city of Piazza Armerina, in the province of Enna. It has been recently restored making it more pleasant to visit.
  • Zingaro Nature Reserve, Sicily. This natural reserve stretches along the southern coast of the Mediterranean, from Palermo to Trapani and is known for its clear blue sea beaches. It can only be visited by foot.
  • Pisa, Tuscany. Universally known for its leaning tower, Pisa holds other Romanesque marvels, among which the magnificent duomo, which began to be built in the year 106, and inside of which is the renowned pulpit, masterpiece by Giovanni Pisano.
  • San Galgano, Tuscany. All that is left of the great Cistercian abbey, dating back to the thirteenth century and located at about thirty kilometers from Siena, are nothing more than ruins. Only its walls remain, rising isolated in the countryside.
  • Rovereto, South Tyrol. The city of Rovereto, in the Adige valley, deserves to be visited, among other reasons, mainly because it is home to one of the most important museums of modern and contemporary art in Italy: the Mart, designed by Botta and Andreolli and inaugurated in 2002.
  • Val Veny, Valle d'Aosta. Located at the base of the Monte Bianco, the Val Veny is one of the most beautiful valleys of the Alps. The end of the valley can only be visited by foot and hikers’ favorite destination are the Miage lake, the Elisabetta refuge and the col de la Seigne, bordering France.
  • Pelmo Mountain, Veneto. The Pelmo (3168 meters) is one of the most beautiful mountains in the Dolomites. It is known for the shape of the corrie formed by the glacier between the two peaks, for which it is nicknamed by the locals as "il trono del Padreterno" (the throne of God). It stands alone in the province of Belluno.
  • Venice, Veneto. The Canal Grande is the main canal in Venice. Roughly 3800 meters long, it separates the city’s historic downtown tracing an upside down “S”, and has magnificent buildings dating back to the 12th and 18th centuries along its entire length.
  • Venice, Veneto. The campanile di S. Marco (St. Mark’s bell tower) and the palazzo Ducale (Ducal Palace) are the best known monuments in Venice. The bell tower is 98 meters high, and was built in the year 1513. After collapsing in the year 1902, it was rebuilt the following decade remaining faithful to the original.
  • Venice, Veneto. One of the many views that make Venice a one-of-a-kind city in the world. The historic downtown of the city rises in the center of the lagoon by the same name, on one hundred and eighteen little islands, strengthened throughout the centuries by wooden support structures that allowed its urbanization.
  • Vicenza, Venice. The teatro Olimpico di Vicenza (Olympic theater of Vicenza) was designed by the Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio in the year 1580. It is the first and oldest theater of modern times. Its unique wooden and plaster scenes provide great illusory perspective.
  • Florence, Tuscany. The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, ordinarily called the Duomo of Florence, overlooking the piazza. Famous are the bell tower, begun by Giotto, and the dome, the largest masonry ever built, designed by Brunelleschi.
  • Rome, Lazio. The Colosseum, originally known as Anfiteatro Flavio or simply as Amphitheatrum, is the largest amphitheatre in the world and one of the symbols of the capital and of Italy itself. Inaugurated in the year 80 A.D. , it was able to host between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators.
  • Agrigento, Sicily. The Temple of Concord is one of the most remarkable sacred buildings of the classical era of the Greek world (440 b.c. - 430 b.c. ). It is located in the archaeological area of the Valley of the Temples, which corresponds to the site of ancient Akragas, founded by Greek settlers in 580 B.C.
  • Florence, Tuscany. Made of marble (410 cm tall - 517 cm with base) by Michelangelo Buonarroti between 1501 and 1504 and preserved in the Galleria dell'Accademia, the David is one of the symbols of the Renaissance, as well as of Florence and Italy abroad.
  • Rome, Lazio. The Baroque Trevi fountain was inaugurated in 1735 and is one of the most famous fountains in the world. A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain while facing away, they are ensured a return to Rome.
  • Positano, Campania. The Amalfi Coast, which takes its name from the town of Amalfi, is a stretch of coast renowned worldwide for its scenic beauty. Positano is one of the most characteristic towns and a destination for the international jet set.
  • Milan, Lombardy. The famous Scala is one of the most important theaters in the world. Designed by Piermarini and inaugurated in 1778 with a tragedy by Antonio Salieri, it recently underwent a major restoration. It can accommodate approximately 2,000 spectators.
  • Val d'Orcia, Tuscany. It is one of the more classic and popular landscapes of Tuscany: green countryside with small patches of cypress trees. With their gentle and undulating hills, the provinces of Siena and Grosseto remain among the most scenic of the entire country.
  • Venice, Veneto. Until the advent of motorized vessels, gondolas were the most appropriate boats for transporting people in Venice due to their manoeuverability and speed. Today they are used primarily for tourism, but also for sports and traditions (notable the famous historical Regatta).
  • Vernazza, Liguria. One of the favorite destinations for American and Australian tourists, the Cinque Terre are five villages on a rugged portion of coast on the west Italian Riviera. Vernazza, overlooked by the Doria’s castle-tower, is one of the most scenic ones.