10 Best National Parks In Italy - Updated 2024

Shivam
Shivam 
Updated
| 4 min read

Italy is one of the most famous countries in the world. The stunning beaches, incredible cuisine, natural beauty, uncountable archaeological sites and national parks make it an enchanting place for travellers. The national parks of Italy are located in various geographic regions. These national parks provide visitors with the opportunity to understand the significance of preserving plants and animals, as well as the chance to go skiing, hiking and viewing wildlife. One of the most significant roles of the national parks in Italy is the conservation of flora and fauna. Here’s a detailed list of the best national parks in Italy that you must visit.

1. Cinque Terre National Park (from USD 65.0)

Cinque Terre National Park was established with the goal to preserve the elements of the extraordinary environment in which nature and the work of man unite in balance. It is stretched over an area of 4,300 acres (1,740.1 hectares). The park amazes visitors with magnificent views of the Mediterranean coastline. It is known for its remarkable beauty and is a work of art. The landscape of Cinque Terre National Park is created by rocks of various ages and origin and it is the natural habitat for many species.

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Florence to Cinque Terre Hiking Day Trip with Boat Ride

Duration: 13 hours

6719 reviews

2. Gargano National Park (from USD 174.0)

Located in the province of Foggia, Gargano National Park is one of the biggest parks in the entire peninsula. It is spread over an area of 296,526.5 acres (120,000 hectares). Gargano offers a complete package of nature to its visitors. There is no need to choose between the mountains and the sea or between natural or cultural activities. The natural beauty and the variety of flora and fauna in Gargano National Park draw travellers from all over the globe.

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Gargano Trekking Excursion from Bari or Foggia

Duration: 8 hours

3. Stelvio National Park

Stelvio National Park Mountains
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user GianoM used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Located in the heart of the Central Alps, Stelvio National Park is home to many species. It has protected the flora and fauna of an enormous area situated between the Autonomous Province of Trento and Bolzano and the Region of Lombardy. Stelvio National Park offers many activities in nature, which are an amazing opportunity to discover the primary features of one of the biggest national parks in Italy.

The Trentino sector of the park offers endless activities, like walks to learn about its flora, fauna and history, several interactive activities for the kids, and theme-based evenings.

Stelvio National Park

Address: Via Alberto de Simoni, 42, 23032 Bormio SO, Italy

Website: Stelvio National Park

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4. Pollino National Park

Pollino National Park
Source: Needpix

Stretched over 1,925 kilometres (1,196.1 miles), Pollino National Park is the largest of its kind in Italy. It is a safe haven for many rare plants and animal species and the scenic beauty of the place is mesmerizing. The Grotte Delle Ninfe is a natural thermal pool that is worth visiting. The water is rich in minerals and the mud is great for skin treatments.

The most fascinating activity in the park is strolling through the paths that lead to the tops of Serra di Crispo, Dolcedorme, and Gole del Raganello.

Pollino National Park

Website: Pollino National Park

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5. National Park of Abruzzo (from USD 1.0)

Located in the heart of the central Apennines, between Abruzzi, Molise and Lazio, the National Park of Abruzzo is home to 25 towns and endangered wildlife. It is spread over 123,552.7 acres (50,000 hectares) of land. It is an excellent area to spend some lovely days in close contact with nature. The unspoilt nature and rich flora and fauna are enchanting. The National Park of Abruzzo has various protected various, like the Marsican brown bear, Apennine wolf, golden eagle, chamois deer, and otter.

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Rome to Abruzzo National Park Shepherd Tour with Cheese Making

Duration: 10 to 11 hours

1 review

6. Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park

Piz di Sagron, Gruppo del Cimonega, Parco nazionale Dolomiti Bellunesi
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Paperoga 1956 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Located in the magnificent region of the Southeastern Alps, this park is surrounded by spectacular natural landscapes and unique species of plants and animals. The chamois is the most important mammal in the park. Visitors can also see other varieties of species, like hedgehogs, deer, squirrels, beech martens, mouflon, foxes, ermines, weasels, badgers and Alpine hares.

The park also constitutes various famous mountain resorts. There is a small picnic area near Pian d'Avena, which is the ideal place for hikes.

Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park

Address: Dolomiti Bellunesi, Belluno BL, Italy

Website: Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park

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7. Val Grande National Park

Val Grande dalla Bocchetta di Scaredi
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Lichinga used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Val Grande is the largest national park in Europe and the unspoilt nature with beautiful and mysterious places among dense wood and canyons makes it the most beautiful. The forests and landscapes are varied and rich. You can find a variety of trees here, like ash, turkey oak, black and white alder, yews, fir trees, white poplar and willows.

Among the fauna, you can find animals like deer, chamois, roe deer, badgers, fox, weasels, eagles and the eagle-owl. The natural heritage of this place makes it enchanting.

Val Grande National Park

Address: 28801 Cossogno, Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Italy

Website: Val Grande National Park

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8. Aspromonte National Park

Lago Costantino (Parco Nazionale dell'Aspromonte) - San Luca (Reggio Calabria) - Italy - 10 May 2009
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Jacopo Werther used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Aspromonte National Park offers incredible natural beauty and it is home to a diverse array of plants and animals. Unique birds, like the golden eagle, eagle-owl and the black woodpecker live here. You can find a variety of interesting species of trees, as well, like citrus fruit, chestnut trees, olives, ash, holm oak, mastic, Neapolitan alders, strawberry trees and maples.

Aspromonte National Park is a fascinating place to explore, not only because of its flora and fauna and magnificent landscapes, but also because of its archaeological and historical significance.

Aspromonte National Park

Address: Via Aurora, 89057 Santo Stefano in Aspromonte RC, Italy

Website: Aspromonte National Park

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9. Gran Paradiso National Park

Gran Paradiso National Park
Source: Needpix

Gran Paradiso National Park is fascinating and peaceful. It is surrounded by magnificent mountains, valleys, streams, alpine pastures, lakes, glaciers, stark ridges and flower-strewn meadows. The natural beauty of the park is its primary attraction. You can find various animals here, like ibex, ermine, golden eagles, weasels and hares. The most famous activities in Gran Paradiso National Park are hiking, cross-country skiing and climbing. If you love mountains, this is the best place to hike and bike.

Gran Paradiso National Park

Website: Gran Paradiso National Park

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10. Asinara National Park (from USD 402.0)

Located on the northwestern tip of Sardinia, Asinara National Park has an extraordinary environment and the wild, unspoilt and beautiful nature of the Sardinian islands amazes visitors in every way. It is a home for many endangered species and the famous albino donkey.

You can get involved in a lot of activities here, like fishing, trekking, horseback riding and bicycle tours. You can fish with the local fishermen and can take a trekking tour by bicycle. It is possible to enjoy a horseback ride to the central area of the island, beginning from the equestrian centre of Campo Perd.

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Cagliari: Amazing Asinara Island National Park

Duration: 14 to 16 hours

Head for a wild visit today!

These national parks provide visitors with the opportunity to understand the significance of preserving plants and animals, as well as the chance to go skiing, hiking and viewing wildlife. Make sure to visit these national parks whenever you are planning to visit Italy. The experience will be worth it.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Hi, my name is Shivam Pandey, and I’m a certified freelance content writer from New Delhi, India. I specialize in writing on travel, technology, lifestyle, etc.

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