In Italy there are 25 national parks. Our country offers different peculiarities for each of them. Mountainous national parks, marine & coastal national parks and activities for teens and adults. Hiking trails are at the top of the list together with rafting and mountain biking and other healthy sporting activities. For those who want just relax with their families, to take a walk, while admiring some beautiful gifts of nature, is the best option.
Mountainous national parks in Italy…and more than that
Soaking up all the beauties and enjoying the silent mountains is a godsend. Skiing is a popular activity in the winter and probably, if you are looking for quiet places and time for peace, ski-slopes are not the best idea.
Most of Italian national parks are mountainous parks with an altitude over 1000m. Among these, Sibillini mountain National Park.
Sibillini mountain National Park was established in 1993 and is located across the regions of Marche and Umbria.
The other mountain national parks in Italy
- Pollino (Basilicata and Calabria regions)
- Sila (Calabria region)
- Stelvio (Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol regions)
- Val Grande (Piedmont region)
- Vesuvius (Campania)
- Majella (Abruzzo)
- Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga (Marche, Abruzzo, Lazio: in our cover image you can appreciate a view of Assergi)
- Gran Paradiso (Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont)
- Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park
- Appennino Lucano – Val d’Agri – Lagonegrese (Basilicata region)
- Dolomiti Bellunesi (Veneto)
- Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona, and Campigna (Emilia Romagna, Tuscany)
- Gennargentu (Sardinia)
- Aspromonte (Calabria)
- Appennino Tosco-Emiliano (Tuscany, Emilia Romagna)
In this list there are both high mountains parks like the Stelvio and the Gran Paradiso National Park and some others less “rocky”. In these wide peaked area, you can discover the wonderful world of the high mountains. But at the same time ridges, forests, grasslands, rare animals and plants.
The biodiversity heritage of many of these parks is important not only at a European, but also at a world level. Try visiting the Majella National Park in central Italy with its peculiar wilderness features or take a photo of the wolf, the peregrine, the eagle owl in the Aspromonte Park and imagine having a view of the crater on the top of the Mount Vesuvius. This is simply breathtaking.
If you love taking pictures, to forget your camera would be a serious mistake. But this is almost impossible.
What if dizzy heights do not suit you
Italian national parks are not just high mountains. Forests, caves, islands: Apulia and Gargano national park are waiting for you. Actually you can easily plan daily excursions for instance to Vesuvius or Sila or even breath clean air staying in a city like Naples. Here is the beauty: there’s really a little something for everyone.
Gargano National Park
Talking about those who do not love mountains and hills, they have plenty of options. Isola di Pantelleria (Sicily), Circeo (Lazio), Tuscan Archipelago, Cinque Terre (Liguria), Asinara (Sardinia), Archipelago of la Maddalena (Sardinia) and last but not least the Alta Murgia National park (Apulia) are made for those who prefer different views.
Biodiversity is the right word to use when you visit these extraordinary places. Where you can see the sky merging with the sea and with the green of the forests. Hectares of sea and lands protect us. For our pleasure and future.
Alta Murgia National Park
The best is yet to come
Beyond words and the beauty of the National Parks, in Italy there is the most important thing. What to do when you are surrounded by the green hills, by an unbelievable blue sea, by sublime and terrific peaks?
Are you a family? Spend time together in nature because this is one of the best thing of your entire life! First of all, pack a picnic and go! Watch wildlife while teaching your children to take photos, be a junior ranger, ride horseback and sing songs at the top of your voices!
Enjoy easy hikes or hike to high mountains lakes (read also our article about best lakes of Italy), watch wildlife, raft a river, go mountain biking, climb a peak, go backpacking and fishing! Consider the idea of spending time with a Park naturalist. You cannot imagine how many things he/she could teach and explain you!
In conclusion do not forget your time on the road. Plan some stops at scenic overlooks, organize some games if you are with your children, choose the right music and get ready for surprises.