Towns inside a nature park
Inside the boundary of a regional nature park.
42 lists
The 7 best beach towns inside a nature park in PugliaPuglian beaches where the sand runs into protected dune pinewood rather than a seafront strip: clean bathing water, Aleppo pines, watchtowers and limestone towns behind them, from the Ionian shore of the Salento to the olive plain below Ostuni.
The 6 best towns inside a nature park in the province of AnconaRegional nature parks cover a surprising share of the province of Ancona, from the limestone gorges of the Esino valley to the white cliffs of Monte Conero. These are the towns that sit inside the park boundaries, where the walking starts at the edge of town.
The 8 best towns inside a nature park in the province of BresciaTowns in the province of Brescia that sit inside a regional nature park, from the terraces above Lake Garda to the stone villages under the Adamello glacier. Olive groves, rock carvings, high pasture and lake water, with fewer visitors than the southern shore.
The best towns inside a nature park in the province of RomaTowns inside the regional nature parks of the province of Roma, from the crater lakes of the Castelli Romani to the beech woods above the Aniene and the volcanic shores of Lake Bracciano. Where to eat porchetta, walk chestnut trees and swim in fresh water within reach of the capital.
The best hidden towns inside a nature park in the province of RomaSix smaller towns in the province of Roma that sit inside regional nature parks, from volcanic lake rims in the Castelli Romani to the beech woods and limestone gorges above the Aniene valley.
The best hidden towns inside a nature park in the province of PerugiaTowns in the province of Perugia that sit inside Umbria's regional nature parks, from the reed beds of Lake Trasimeno to the beech woods of Monte Cucco and the olive terraces above the Tiber valley. Smaller places, with the parks beginning at the edge of the walls.
The best towns inside a nature park in VenetoSeven Veneto towns that sit inside a regional or national nature park, from the volcanic hills of the Colli Euganei to the Po Delta lagoons, the river Sile and the Dolomite peaks above Ampezzo.
The best towns inside a nature park in BasilicataSix Basilicata towns that sit inside regional nature parks, from the sandstone spires of the Lucanian Dolomites to the oak woods of Accettura and the waterfalls below San Fele.
The 9 best towns inside a nature park in MarcheNine Marche towns that sit inside a regional nature park, from the limestone gorges above the Esino to the white cliffs of the Conero and the beech woods below Monte Carpegna.
The best towns inside a nature park in PiemontePiemonte's regional nature parks run from beech and fir forest in the Maritime Alps to lake shore, marsh and Alpine glacier terrain, and towns sit inside their boundaries. These are the smaller places, with the walking, the parish churches and the mountain kitchens that come with them.
The 6 best hidden towns inside a nature park in ToscanaSix smaller Tuscan towns that sit inside a regional nature park, from the marble ridges of the Apuane above Seravezza and Stazzema to the wooded mining hills behind Massa Marittima, Campiglia Marittima and Suvereto.
The best hidden towns inside a nature park in Emilia-RomagnaSmall towns inside Emilia-Romagna's regional nature parks, from the chestnut woods of the Modenese Apennines to the gypsum ridges above Faenza and the sandstone hills of the Montefeltro. Sulphur springs, wild boar, pecorino and marked trails that begin at the edge of the houses.
The best small towns inside a nature park in LazioSmall Lazio towns that sit inside regional nature parks, from tufa outcrops above the Treja gorge to beech woods in the Lucretili and the volcanic rim above Lake Nemi. Where to go for chestnut woods, park footpaths and stone villages within reach of Rome.
The best small towns inside a nature park in PiemonteSmall Piemontese towns that sit inside regional nature parks, from the larch woods of the Val Chisone to the beech forests above the Valle Pesio. Stone and slate villages with marked trails starting at the edge of the last house.
The best small towns inside a nature park in LombardiaSmall Lombard towns that lie inside regional nature parks, from the limestone walls of the Orobie and the rock carvings of Valcamonica to the terraces above Lake Garda. Stone villages, protected valleys and walking that starts at the edge of the houses.
The best small towns inside a nature park in LiguriaLiguria's regional nature parks cover beech forest, chestnut woods, slate gorges and headlands of pine falling straight into the sea. These are the smaller towns that sit inside their boundaries, from the Beigua ridge to the Aveto valley and the Portofino promontory.
The 6 best towns inside a nature park in the province of GenovaIn the province of Genova the regional parks run from Aveto's beech woods and pastures down to the Portofino headland, where holm oak and Mediterranean scrub drop straight into the sea. Slate and rough stone houses, focaccia, chestnut flour and mushrooms, and marked paths that climb from the water to the ridge.
The best towns inside a nature park in the province of PalermoInland from the Tyrrhenian coast, the Madonie rise into beech woods, limestone pasture and stone villages where manna is still tapped from ash trees and the cheese counters sell aged pecorino siciliano. These are the towns of the province of Palermo that sit inside a regional nature park.
The best small towns inside a nature park in SiciliaInland Sicilia rises into beech forest, manna ash and high stone villages, where the parks of the Madonie, the Nebrodi and Etna keep towns of sandstone and lava rock within walking distance of chestnut woods and mountain pasture. These are the smaller places inside those protected boundaries, with provola cheese, wild fennel and a cooler summer than the coast.
The best hill towns inside a nature park in PugliaInland Puglia rises off the coastal plain into limestone ridges, oak scrub and the deep ravines of the gravine, and these towns sit in the middle of protected parkland, with whitewashed streets, grilled bombette and roads that empty out by mid-afternoon.
The 7 best towns with a serious restaurant that sit inside a nature park in the province of PerugiaIn the province of Perugia, protected hills and lake shores hold towns that cook at a level worth planning a day around, from Trasimeno carp and lake tench to torta al testo, black celery and Umbrian olive oil pressed within sight of the table.
The best towns inside a nature park that eat well in the province of NapoliVolcanic tuff, lemon terraces and the Monti Lattari ridge give the province of Napoli two very different protected landscapes, and the tables inside them cook accordingly: fried fish and Falanghina above the Campi Flegrei craters, provolone del monaco and pasta with walnuts on the Sorrentine hills.
The 9 best towns inside a nature park that you can reach by train in SiciliaSicilian nature parks reach right up to the edge of the towns inside them: manna ash and beech on the Madonie, lava terraces and pistachio on Etna, sulphur-coloured hills above the Belice. These are the parks you can get to by rail, no hire car needed.
The 6 best coastal towns inside a nature park in ToscanaTuscan coast where umbrella pine, dune and macchia are protected land: the sea at Piombino, Pisa's river mouth at San Rossore, the marble hills above Seravezza. Towns that sit on the water and inside a regional nature park at the same time.
The best towns inside a nature park that you can reach by train in LombardiaLombardia's regional parks run from the Po floodplain to the shores of the prealpine lakes, and the railway reaches into them. These are the towns where you can step off a train and be inside protected country by the end of the platform.
The best towns inside a nature park that have a serious restaurant in LazioLazio's regional parks run from volcanic lake craters to coastal dunes and tufa gorges, and inside their boundaries are towns with kitchens the strictest guides bother to list. Porchetta, lake fish, buffalo mozzarella and Tyrrhenian red prawns, eaten within park limits.
The best towns inside a nature park that eat well in Emilia-RomagnaEmilia-Romagna's regional nature parks run from the Apennine ridge down to the pine woods and salt pans of the Adriatic, and the towns inside them keep tables a dining guide has singled out. Sandstone hill villages, chestnut woods, salt-cured pork and pasta rolled by hand.
The best towns with a serious restaurant that sit inside a nature park in PugliaPuglia's protected country, the dune woods, the Murgia grassland and the trulli-studded pastures of the Itria Valley, keeps some of the region's most serious kitchens within its boundaries. These are towns where a nature park map and a restaurant booking belong on the same trip.
The best towns inside a nature park that eat well in LiguriaLiguria's regional nature parks run from the chestnut woods of the Val Bormida down to the pine ridges above the Golfo dei Poeti, and the towns inside them keep serious kitchens: anchovies from the gulf, pesto pounded with Pra basil, wild mushrooms and rabbit cooked with olives. These are the protected-landscape towns where a guide-listed table sits within walking distance of the trailhead.
The 7 best towns inside a nature park that you can reach by train in Emilia-RomagnaEmilia-Romagna's protected landscapes run from the pine forest and salt pans of the Adriatic edge up through cherry orchards, chalk ridges and the oak woods of the Taro valley, and the regional railway reaches into all of them. Towns where the park begins at the end of the platform, and the food is gypsum-cellar formaggio, prosciutto and sour cherries.
The 7 best towns inside a nature park that have a serious restaurant in ToscanaTuscan towns that sit inside a protected park and still set a serious table, from the pine forest and dunes of the Maremma coast to the hot springs under Monte Pisano. Wild boar, Bolgheri reds, cinta senese and sea bass, cooked by kitchens the strictest guides bother to list.
The best towns inside a nature park that have a serious restaurant in LiguriaLiguria's regional nature parks run from the Monte di Portofino headland to the Magra river flats and the beech woods of the Val Bormida, and inside their boundaries are towns where the kitchens are held to guide-level standards. Park walking, sea or river below, and a table worth booking at the end of it.
The best towns inside a nature park that eat well in SiciliaInside Sicilia's regional nature parks, on the flanks of Etna, the Madonie and the Nebrodi, are towns where the cooking runs to manna, wild fennel, mountain pork and Nerello Mascalese, and where a dining guide has named a table worth sitting down at.
The best towns inside a nature park that you can reach by train in ToscanaTuscan nature parks run from the marble ridges of the Apuane to the pine forests and dunes of the coast, and these towns sit inside them with a station or a regular bus at the bottom of the hill.
The best hill towns inside a nature park in LazioInland Lazio piles its towns onto tufa spurs and limestone ridges inside protected parkland, where beech woods, chestnut groves and volcanic lakes start at the last house. Expect porchetta, sheep's cheese, olive oil from the Sabine slopes and walking that begins in the piazza.
The best coastal towns inside a nature park within 90 minutes of PisaNorth of Pisa the coast runs into protected land: the Migliarino pinewoods, the Magra river mouth, the marble ridges of the Apuane meeting the sea. These are the towns on that shore where the park boundary and the beach are the same line.
The prettiest villages inside a nature park within 90 minutes of RomaWithin easy reach of Rome, volcanic lake rims, beech woods and tufa gorges are protected as regional parks, and inside their boundaries stand villages that have passed Italy's national assessment of its most beautiful small towns. Wild strawberries, park-lake fish, chestnut woods and stone streets, all within a morning's drive of the capital.
The best small towns inside a nature park that eat well in LiguriaLiguria's regional nature parks run from the sea cliffs of Portofino and Porto Venere to the chestnut woods of the Beigua and the upper Bormida valley, and the towns inside them keep kitchens worth planning a day around. Ligurian cooking at its most local: basil, anchovy, chickpea flour, wild herbs and river trout.
The prettiest villages inside a nature park within 90 minutes of SalernoVillages inside Campania's regional parks, all within an easy drive of Salerno, where lemon terraces, chestnut woods and hand-painted ceramics sit under protected hills. Stone houses, mountain beech forest and a coastline of fjord-cut inlets, in places the coach tours pass by.
The prettiest villages inside a nature park in SiciliaInside Sicily's regional nature parks, on the flanks of Etna and along the ridges of the Madonie and Nebrodi, stand villages of dark lava stone and pale limestone where chestnut woods, sheep cheese and mountain air replace the coastal heat. These are the ones that have passed the national assessment of Italy's most beautiful villages.
The prettiest villages inside a nature park within 90 minutes of PerugiaUmbrian villages of pink limestone and brick that sit inside protected parkland, within an easy drive of Perugia: olive terraces, lake reeds, Apennine beech woods, torta al testo and lentils, and streets built for walking slowly.
The prettiest villages inside a nature park in LiguriaInland Liguria is chestnut woods, slate doorframes and stone villages standing inside regional nature parks, from the Ligurian Alps behind Imperia to the Vara valley and the Magra estuary. These are the villages that have passed the national assessment of Italy's most beautiful borghi, with a park boundary drawn around them.