1 Gran Paradiso National Park
Together with Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo, Gran Paradiso is the oldest national park in Italy, established back in 1922. It straddles the border between Italy and France. Gran Paradiso’s peak is the only summit entirely on Italian soil that rises above 4000 meters.
2 Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park
3 Pollino National Park
Pollino National Park is Italy’s largest, covering 385,130 hectares across Potenza and Matera (Basilicata), and Cosenza (Calabria). Named after the Pollino massif in the Southern Apennines, the park encompasses the range’s highest peaks, many rising above 2,000 meters. For further details, see our article on Pollino National Park.
4 Asinara National Park
The Asinara National Park was created in November 1997 and perfectly matches the boundaries of Asinara Island, under the municipality of Porto Torres, province of Sassari, in Sardinia. Highlights include the former prison complex, the Austro-Hungarian ossuary, and the turtle hospital.
5 Sila National Park
6 Cinque Terre National Park
The Cinque Terre National Park is a protected area in Liguria, in the province of La Spezia. It became a national park in 1999 and includes three of the Cinque Terre villages: Riomaggiore, Vernazza, and Monterosso, plus parts of Levanto and La Spezia. Learn more by reading our article about exploring Cinque Terre on the Via dell’Amore.
7 Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo
Like Gran Paradiso, Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo was also founded in 1922. Most of its territory is in the province of L’Aquila in Abruzzo, with parts reaching into Frosinone (Lazio) and Isernia (Molise). For additional details on the park.
8 Stelvio National Park
Established in 1935, Stelvio National Park is among the oldest protected areas in Italy. Stretching between Lombardy and Trentino Alto Adige, it borders the Swiss National Park to the north and the Adamello-Brenta Provincial Park and Adamello Regional Park to the south, forming a vast protected landscape.
9 La Maddalena Archipelago National Park
The La Maddalena Archipelago National Park is a geomarine park established in 1994, with 78% of its territory being marine. Located in the province of Olbia–Tempio, it includes all the islands and islets under the municipality of La Maddalena, in Sardinia.
10 Tuscan Archipelago National Park
The Tuscan Archipelago National Park was established in 1996 and includes all the islands off the coast of Tuscany. It covers 16,856 hectares of land and 56,766 hectares of sea. Notable islands are Isola del Giglio, Isola d’Elba, and Isola di Capraia.
