Things to do in Italy, Italy: The Best National Parks

A protected mountain wilderness area high above Lake Garda.

The National Park of the Casentino Forests, Monte Falterona and Campigna covers an area of about 36,000 hectares (about 15,000 acres), equally divided between Emilia Romagna and Tuscany, including territory from the provinces of Forlì-Cesena, Arezzo and Florence. From a naturalist viewpoint, the Park stands out as one of the most prized forest areas in Europe. At the heart of the park are the Foreste Demaniali Casentinesi [State Casentino forests], within which can be found the Riserva Naturale Integrale (Integral Nature Reserve) of Sasso Fratino, founded in 1959. The territory also has towns and villages rich in history and artistic and architectural heritage, which present themselves to the visitor in a wonderful natural frame, rich in flora and fauna, including the most important population of the Apennine wolf, as well as the exceptional presence of five species of ungulates (mammals with hooves): wild boar, roe deer, fallow deer, common deer, and mouflon (mountain sheep).Inside the park there are two points of great interest and spiritual importance: the Sanctuary of La Verna and the Hermitage of Camaldoli. The protected area can be visited by pleasant excursions on foot, mountain bike, horseback or, in winter, on cross-country skis along a path network of approximately 600 kilometres.

La Maddalena Archipelago National Park is a geomarine protected area consisting of a group of islands situated in the north-east of the coast of Gallura, in the stretch of sea between Sardinia and Corsica known as Bocche di Bonifacio. These islands – except for La Maddalena Island housing the homonymous town and characterized by a significant human presence – are entirely deserted or scattered with small human settlements, like in Caprera and Santa Maria Islands.

The Regional Park of Maremma is located in southern Tuscany. It's a protected wildlife area that stretches from Principina a mare to Talamone. The Park includes many wild beaches like Cala di forno and Collelungo.