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National parks in Italy
Italy has 26 national parks in this guide. The oldest is Gran Paradiso National Park (1922); the largest is Pollino National Park (1,926 km²).
Cinque Terre National ParkVernazzaFive cliff-side terraced towns linked by coastal trails in Liguria, northern ItalyCoastHistoryBest Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Gran Paradiso National ParkGran ParadisoGlaciated peaks, alpine meadows and ibex country in the Graian Alps of northwest ItalyMountainsGlaciersMeadowsBest Jun–Sep
Pollino National ParkBosnian pineBeech forests, ancient pines and river gorges in southern Italy's Pollino massifMountainsForestRiversBest May–Oct
Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National ParkMonti della MetaBeech forests and Apennine peaks, home to the Marsican brown bear, in central ItalyMountainsForestLakesBest May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National ParkCampo ImperatoreRocky massif, high pastures and beech woods in Abruzzo, central ItalyMountainsGlaciersMeadowsBest Jun–Sep
Stelvio National ParkHigh Alpine valleys and mountains across two regions of northeast ItalyMountainsBest Jun–Sep
Val Grande National ParkVal GrandeForested wilderness of unpopulated valleys between Lake Maggiore and the Ossola in PiedmontMountainsForestRiversBest May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National ParkPaestumCoast, karst caves and mountains with Greek ruins in Campania, southern ItalyCoastMountainsCavesBest May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Gargano National ParkForesta UmbraAncient beech woods, wetlands and the Tremiti Islands in Apulia, southern ItalyForestWetlandsIslandsBest Apr–Jun, Sep
Circeo National ParkPromontory of CirceoCoastal forest, dunes and salt lakes on Italy's Lazio plainForestWetlandsDunesBest Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona, Campigna National ParkSasso FratinoAncient beech and fir forests along the Apennine ridge between Romagna and TuscanyForestMountainsWaterfallsBest May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Maiella National ParkMonte AmaroLimestone massif crowned by Monte Amaro in Abruzzo, central ItalyMountainsForestKarstBest Jun–Sep
Sila National ParkMt. Botte DonatoMountain plateau in Calabria split into Sila Grande, Piccola and GrecaMountainsBest May–Oct
Sibillini Mountains National ParkMountain national park spanning the Marche and Umbria regions of central ItalyMountainsBest May–Oct
Dolomiti Bellunesi National ParkAlpi FeltrineAlpine ranges, karst rock and deep canyons in Belluno, VenetoMountainsKarstRiversBest Jun–Sep
Vesuvius National ParkVesuviusActive volcano and its ancient crater Monte Somma near NaplesVolcanicHistoryBest Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Aspromonte National ParkMontaltoForested Apennine summits close to the sea in Calabria, southern ItalyMountainsForestCoastBest May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Alta Murgia National ParkCastel del MonteKarst plateau of grass steppe, sinkholes and castles in Puglia, southern ItalyKarstMeadowsCavesBest Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National ParkPietra di BismantovaForest ridges, high grasslands and lakes between Tuscany and Emilia in northern ItalyMountainsLakesForestBest Jun–Sep
Arcipelago Toscano National ParkMonte CapanneSeven Mediterranean islands and surrounding sea off western Tuscany, ItalyIslandsCoastMountainsBest May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Matese National ParkMatese lakeLimestone peaks and the Matese lake across 52 municipalities in ItalyMountainsLakesKarstBest May–Oct
Arcipelago di La Maddalena National ParkBudelliGranite islands and sea around La Maddalena off northern SardiniaIslandsCoastBest May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Asinara National ParkFormer quarantine and prison island, now a national park, in SardiniaIslandsHistoryBest May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Gennargentu National ParkPunta La MarmoraMountains and coastline on Sardinia's east coast, from Gennargentu to the Bay of OroseiMountainsCoastForestBest May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Pantelleria National ParkNational park covering most of the island of Pantelleria in ItalyIslandsBest May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Appennino Lucano - Val d'Agri - Lagonegrese National ParkAgri RiverApennine mountains and the Agri River valley in Basilicata, southern ItalyMountainsRiversForestBest May–Jun, Sep–Oct