From North to South there are over 20 National Parks in Italy which cover about 10% of the land surface, about 140 regional parks and the many marine protected areas, nature reserves and several other protected areas.
Below is a list of some of the most popular Italian National Parks from where you can enjoy an eco-friendly stay combining active sports activities and relaxation. A full index and description of each such park in Italy can be found in the site of the Federation of Italian National Parks.
We start in Abruzzo and heighboring Le Marche.
Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo
The Abruzzo National Park is probably the biggest park in central Italy and it is famous for his 'guests' such the wolf, the bear (l'orso marsicano), the royal eagle, the chamois and the lynxs
www.parcoabruzzo.it/
Parco Nazionale della Majella, Abruzzo
The park is rich of findings of Paleolithic age.
www.parcomajella.it/
Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini, Le Marche
The Mount Sibillini Park of 70 thousand hectars cover part of the Umbria and Le Marche regions. Interesting hamlets and abbey to visit such Farfa, Norcia, Visso, Amendola and Amandola
Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano, Tuscany
This is the biggest marine park in Europe and includes all the Tuscan Islands from the biggest such Elba and Giglio to the smallest ones like l'isola dei topi (the rats island)
www.isoleditoscana.it
Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre, Liguria
In province of La Spezia, the Park of Cinque Terre is only 4.300 hectares and goes from the seaside up to the hills. The 5 'borghi', or hamlets, of Cinque Terre are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare.
www.parconazionale5terre.it/
Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi, Veneto
An area of outstanding landscape and wildlife which is also an Unesco site
www.dolomitipark.it/
Parco Regionale della Maddalena, Sardinia
Over 60 archipelago islands, of which the Maddalena one is the biggest, many islets, create a picturesque scenery of sea, sands and rocks
www.lamaddalenapark.it
Parco Nazionale del Cilento e Vallo di Diano, Campania
The park is part of the Unesco sites called MAB, Man and Biosphere, which means that the ecosystem has a high level of sustainability.
www.cilentoediano.it
Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio, Campania
The park of the Mount Vesuvio area presents important paleontological sites, as well as a great resource of flora and fauna
www.vesuviopark.it/
Parco del Gargano, Puglia
The park covers the so called spur of the boot in the area of northern Puglia province of Foggia, and includes the Tremiti islands.
www.parcogargano.it/web/gargano/guida
Parco del Pollino, Calabria
The park covers part of Basilicata and part Calabria mountains where there are also the Sila and the Aspromonte parks, the symbol is the pino lauricato and hosts about 56 municipalities.
www.parcopollino.it/
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