Nature and parks in Italy

The unique and fascinating waterfall Cascata del Varone is located 3 km north of the town of Riva. Over more than 20,000 years, water from Lake Tenno has carved a gorge almost 70 metres deep into the mountain itself, where the water falls from 98 metres. An unusual and exciting visit, where you will discover both the mountain and the waterfall from the inside and outside by paths, stairs and bridges. Due to the special microclimate of the gorge, it has been possible to create a small botanical garden, which you will pass through during your visit.

The mountain is of volcanic origin and the only one of its kind in Tuscany. The 1738-metre-high mountain lies in an older limestone and sandstone area. It has a particular and varied flora and fauna. The mountain is covered with deciduous trees, especially chestnut trees. All around the mountain are huge lava blocks, ejected from the volcano during eruptions in the past, which give the area a very special character. On the way up the mountain there are various food stalls and souvenir shops. Monte Amiata is a great place to ski in winter.

Visit the beautiful waterfall in Cavalese and get up close to the large amounts of water.

Sirmione, at the very tip of the Benaco peninsula, which is located at the southernmost end of Lake Garda. Visit the Catullus Grottoes and the ruins of one of the largest Roman villas in the north of Italy. The famous villa is said to have belonged to the Roman poet, Caius Valerius Catullus, and it was here that he wrote some of his beautiful poems about, among other things, the influence that the beautiful place had on him. Take a walk along the beautiful paths and smell the cypresses, olive trees and magnolias that adorn the area.

Named after the river that runs through the park, the Mincio, this beautiful and green 'nature spot' is a sought-after place to relax, enjoy nature, or be brave and take the bike ride from Mantua - Peschiera, along the river Mincio, it must be said that there is also asphalt as a surface on parts of the stretch.

The park is rich in architectural and artistic works, and here Santa Maria delle Grazie with its unique style should certainly be mentioned, as well as the hunting lodge at Bosco della Fontana. There are many adventures waiting for you in this large park, so be sure to bring the kids.

Along the Vella Versa area, one of the most prestigious wine production sites in Oltrepo, you can visit Santa Maria della Versa, where the sparkling wine Spumante is grown. Around the farm you will find several other vineyards and wineries worth visiting, some of the most famous being Canneto Pavese, Montù Beccaria and Montescano. From Santa Maria della Versa you can also visit the town of Montalto Pavese and its beautiful castle.

Not far from Santa Maria della Versa are several other places worth visiting, one of them being Casteggio, which annually organises a prestigious wine festival and is generally considered an important place for Italian red wine production.

On the outskirts of Casteggio we recommend a visit to the churches of St. Cuore and St. Peter the Apostle, as well as Certosa Cantu and its archaeological museum. Not far away you can visit Torricella Verzate and the parochial church with its 14 small chapels. You can finish your tour in Cigognola, where you can visit the town's 1000-year-old tower.

Located in the heart of the Italian Alps, you will find Stelvio National Park. Stelvio is definitely worth a visit for nature lovers, and the national park offers fantastic hikes, a botanical garden, a ski area and the Baita del Parco visitor centre.

The botanical garden, Rezia, was founded in 1979 and is the newest alpine botanical garden in Italy. Here you can discover more than 2500 different species of flora divided into several small sections that reflect the environment in which the species belong. For those interested in botany, this garden is worth a visit.

The newly built visitor centre, Baita del Parco, is just a few kilometres from Santa Caterina. Here you will get an overview of both the human and natural aspects of the Stelvio National Park. Here you can learn all about the history of the national park, its flora and fauna, its landscapes and its inhabitants.

In the beautiful valley area, just behind the unmistakable alpine mountain, Monte Bondone, you will find a magnificent landscape where romantic castles, charming villages and idyllic lakes seem to be strewn with loose hand. This is where Vino Santo Passito wine is produced, as well as various types of Grappa and a wide range of other products.

Established in 1988, the park is a protected area covering some 54,000 hectares in the Emilia-Romagna region. The park includes several municipalities such as Cervia , Ravenna and Alford in the province of Ravenna and the municipalities of Argenta , Ostellato , Comacchio , Codigoro , Goro and Mesola in the province of Ferrara . The park is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List of sites of conservation value.

There are several visitor centres in the park where tours and activities are organised and it is certainly an exciting trip in the beautiful area, which also has a rich wildlife and is well suited for amateur photographers who want to take home the perfect 'shot'.

Valle Camonica offers not only unspoilt nature, for the valley is also rich in history and relics of ancient civilisations. In the valley you can find traces of settlements dating back to 8000-9000 BC. In the valley, for example, you can see ancient monuments from the Camuna culture, which have been passed down through a series of rock carvings recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The presence of a large number of churches, monasteries and sanctuaries is also striking in the area, making the valley a popular tourist destination for those interested in art and religion.

Some obvious places to visit are the many beautiful nature parks in the area. For example, visit the 'Riserva Naturale Boschi del Giovetti di Palline'. Here you'll find exciting geological formations that you can learn more about at the park's visitor centre, or you can simply venture out into the beautiful green landscape.

Parco dell'Adamello is a huge nature park covering over 510 square kilometres. The park is home to Italy's largest glacier and everywhere the peaks of the Alps loom on the horizon.

You'll find this beautiful protected nature area in the south-west of the Livorno mountains. The reserve covers 115 hectares on the west coast of northern Italy, offering both rugged, untamed cliffs on the coast and vast hilly woodlands further inland. Obviously, an ideal area for hiking. The park's highest point is Montaccio, which reaches almost 250 metres above sea level.

This stunning biogenetic nature reserve stretches for 15 kilometres and features long strings of dunes covered in vegetation that wind from the beach to the interior of the coastal strip. A little further inland are some of Italy's most beautiful forests, rich in varied vegetation. The area is absolutely perfect for hiking.

This archaeological nature park covers an area of 450 hectares with unique examples of mining dating back to the Etruscan era to the present day. On the guided tour you will get an exciting insight into the secrets of the underground passages, see some of the impressive special mining machines, go on a unique train ride through the beautiful landscape and see the ruins of the beautiful medieval mining village, Rocca San Silvestro.

This coastal nature reserve is one of Tuscany's most beautiful, with 120 hectares of protected and varied surroundings. The woodlands include oak, juniper, myrtle and pine and are home to pheasants, hares, weasels and foxes. With its many paths through the dense vegetation, the park is suitable for both walking and cycling.

The ancient Via Francigena, which linked northern and southern Europe in the Middle Ages, cuts through the town and you can walk the Gambassi - San Gimignano route. And in general there are opportunities for more breathtaking walks in the city. For example, take the 2km walk along the city walls around the old town. On this walk you can enjoy the stunning views over the surrounding hilly landscape and the Elsa Valley. The path also passes the main town gates: Porta San Giovanni in the south, Porta Quercecchio in the west, Porta San Matteo in the north and Porta San Jacopo and Porta delle Fonti in the east. Porta delle Fonti is named after the springs located a short distance from the gate.

Collalbo is the main village in the Ritten area and a true paradise for hikers and nature lovers. Situated on the high plateau of the Ritten mountain, more than a kilometre above sea level, the area offers a fantastic base for active holidays in the heart of beautiful nature. One of the most popular hiking routes takes you past the area's Earth Pyramids, the pilgrimage church of Maria Saal, the spa town of Bad Siess and back to Collalbo through beautiful larch and spruce forests.

These picturesque, sparse earth pyramids stretch across several areas of the Dolomites and tower above the surrounding landscapes. The Ritten area around Bolzano is home to some of the highest in Europe and offers a very special sight. The earth pyramids are formed by erosion and are more than 30 metres high in some places. They were formed during the recent ice age and are thought to be more than 25,000 years old! The precious rock formations are constantly changing due to erosion by wind and rain and are actually a phenomenon rarely seen before. Experience the Rittner Earth Pyramids on a hiking or activity holiday in Tyrol!

A breathtaking panoramic view awaits you at the top of the Ritten mountain in South Tyrol! With numerous hiking trails in summer and versatile skiing activities in winter, a trip up to the Rittner Horn is simply a must, whatever the season. Austrian mountaineer Ludwig Purtscheller, wrote back in the 1800s that "if you want to see the whole of Tyrol in one view, you must climb these heights", in direct reference to the Rittner Horn. However, you don't have to climb the mountain in the traditional sense, you can just enjoy the beautiful ride on the mountain railway.