Italy’s Best National Parks

8
Aug
2017
Italy Best National Parks

Italy is already known as one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Add to that a list of 25 national parks to visit and the tourism is set to flourish. These national parks make up for 5% of the country’s total land and are a great place for excursions in nature, especially hiking. Here we have a list of a few of the 25 national parks in Italy that you can visit on your next trip.

National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise

Parco Nazionale dAbruzzo

Founded in 1922, this park runs through 3 provinces – Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise. The park preserves and is home to the endangered species of the Italian wolf, Marsican brown bear, and Abruzzo chamois. Visitors can do multiple activities on their visit like trekking, of course, and canoeing, skiing, cycling and horse riding.

Alta Murgia National Park

Parco Nazionale dellAlta Murgia

The Alta Murgia Park lies in Southern Italy and was established in 2004. It is protected on the southern-west border by the canyon of Gravina in Puglia and stretches from the Adriatic coast to the uplands of Lucania. Over centuries, the park has been shaped by erosion and is home to a diverse range of animals and plants.

Cinque Terre National Park

Parco-Nazionale delle Cinque Terre

Officiated in 1999, the Cinque Terre National Park is the smallest national park in the country. Most famous here is the hiking trail that goes through five towns – Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare. Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a big hit among the tourists.

Arcipelago Toscano National Park

Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano

This national park is a part of Tuscany in the Tuscan Archipelago. The majority of the park is water and it is also the largest marine park in Europe. The park covers the seven main islands in the archipelago and several minor ones. The highest point in the park is Mount Capanne on the island of Elba.

Pollino National Park

Parco Nazionale del Pollino

The Pollino National Park in Basilicata and Calabria was established in 1993 and is the largest natural park in Italy. The highest peak here is the Pollino Massif which is completely covered in snow in the winters. It is also home to Bosnian Pine (symbol of the park) which is now found only in a few remaining areas in the country.

Gran Paradiso National Park

Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso

Established in 1922, the Gran Paradiso National park is located in the Graian Alps, between the Aosta Valley and Piedmont regions. The park saved and is home to ibex – a mountain goat species which went almost extinct. The park has mountains, glaciers, rocks, and grasslands, all of which make up the perfect setting for an excursion in nature.