Discover where to find the Top Nature Reserves in Italy

Lo Zingaro: This 7km-long coastline, located in Italy’s beautiful island of Sicily, stretches from Castellammare del Golfo to San Vito Lo Capo. The coast is made up of rocky Mesozoic limestone for the most part and is known for its craggy cliffs and little characteristic inlets. In addition to admiring the incredible flora and fauna of the reserve, it’s also a great place for those active travellers, boasting three different hiking paths to follow, all ranging in length and difficulty: The coastal trail is the easiest, with inlets along the way where you can walk down to the little beaches and picnic tables along the course to stop for lunch. The half-coast path has great views, though it takes about 4 ½ hours to hike from the South to the North, and if you’re a truly passionate hiker, try your hand at the high path, the most difficult, which takes about 7 hours from beginning to end. Along the way enjoy the hidden coves to take a dip, not to mention to incredible species of flora and fauna to disocver. If you’re looking for a place nearby to stay, the historic and quaint village of Scopello is a great option. A truly hidden gem along the Tyrrhenian coast, rent a villa in Scopello and see everything it has to offer: food, nature, tradition and history.

Tuscan Archipelago: This covers quite a bit of area between the Tuscan coast and the island of Corsica, and is an area that dates back to the Triassic period. It is made up of seven islands, which are well worth seeing, even if you take day trips to a few: Capraia, Elba, Giannutri, Giglio, Gorgona, Montecristo and Pianosa. Quite particular of this archipelago is that all islands serve as a resting point for birds during the migration period from North to South and from South to North, especially in Gorgona, Palmaiola, Cerboli and Montecristo. If you want to catch a glimpse of the particular peregrine falcon, you may see them during the migratory period on the islands of Elba or Capraia. Each island is quite characteristic in and of itself, the largest of them being Elba. Famous for being Napolean’s haven during his exile, Elba holds a host of natural treasures in addition to its abundance of history. Its clear, crystalline waters make it a great place for beaching, not to mention the ideal spot for diving, snorkeling and other water sports. If you are an avid hiker and would like to do so surrounded by rugged, unspoiled nature and amazing waters, get to Capraia, known for its many trekking paths. Giglio is the second largest island of the archipelago and will give you a host of things to see: from sandy beaches to bustling village port towns, it is that mix of nature, history and culture. If you’re looking for the best place to stay out of the islands, try Elba or Giglio as they are the most populated and geared towards tourists. The others are best to visit by ferry during day trips, and remember, some of the islands, like Montecristo for example, have been totally closed off to tourists and are only open to be visited by researchers.

La Maddalena Archipelago: Here we find ourselves in the beautiful Sardinia, one of Italy’s islands that is in and of itself a truly amazing jewel. The Maddalena Archipelago is located in the Straits of Bonifacio between Corsica and Northeastern Sardinia and is made up of seven islands: Maddalena, Caprera, Spargi, Santo Stefano, Santa Maria, Budelli and Razzoli. This archipelago is quite particular in that it has yet to catch on as a tourist point, so it is relatively untouched by the typical hoards of summer tourists. If you go to Caprera, you fill find many seabird species like the royal seagull, cormorant and peregrine falcon, not to mention wild goats, which is where it gets its name from. Spargi is the most isolated of all the islands with no tourist facilities, but is a great place to go for the day where you can take a peaceful swim in its amazing coves and inlets. Budelli, however, is by far the most captivating of the Maddalena archipelago islands, and one you should get to immediately. It is well known for its pink sandy beaches, caused by the coral from its surrounding sea. Get to Spiaggia Rosa or Cala Piatto and Cala Cisternone for the most breathtaking shorelines. As far as lodging is concerned, staying on the main island, Maddalena, is best. It offers a wealth of things to do and is only a short boat ride from the others. 

So treat yourself to an alternative Italian vacation on your next holiday and see some of the country’s best, unspoiled nature for a truly peaceful trip. Don’t forget your camera!