Visiting Italy does not only mean admiring its cities of art and monuments but also discovering and experiencing its natural areas. These offer a rich and complementary travel experience. They are perfect for individuals seeking peaceful moments and striving to adopt a more ecologically conscious and sustainable way of living.
Where can I find animals and natural parks in Italy?
Italy, with its varied biodiversity, offers a multitude of natural areas. Parks and reserves are ideal for wildlife enthusiasts who can experience the pristine beauty of nature. Among the most significant destinations are the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park, renowned for the presence of the Marsican brown bear. Then there is the Foreste Casentinesi National Park, where it is possible to spot deer, fallow deer, and the Apennine wolf. Meanwhile, the sea of the Egadi Islands represents the ideal habitat for Mediterranean marine life.
Animal welfare is a fundamental principle in the management of these spaces. In Italy’s parks and reserves, species live free in their natural habitat. This ensures not only the conservation of biodiversity but also an authentic and respectful experience for visitors. Spending time in nature significantly contributes to an individual’s psychological and physical well-being.
The Heron Park, Gerenzano (Varese)
The Heron Park (Parco degli Aironi) occupies an area of 99 acres and includes various ecosystems. The park is located in Gerenzano, in the province of Varese in Lombardy, about 25 km from Milan. It encompasses the lacustrine environment, the Lombardy deciduous forest, the meadow, and the agro-pastoral environment. It hosts several animal species, such as deer, fallow deer, mouflons, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and fish. The park comprises an educational farm, spacious animal enclosures, a wooded area, and a lake featuring a bird-watching station. The park also includes a children’s playground, a barbecue area, a bar-restaurant, and sports fields.
Three miles (ca. 5 km) of trails connect the various environments, providing opportunities for walking and jogging. The paths are mostly flat, suitable for all ages and the disabled. The Heron Park is freely open to all, but it is necessary to follow some simple rules for the protection of the environment and animals. For more information, visit the website parcoaironi.it.
WWF Vanzago Wood Nature Reserve, Milan
The WWF Foundation manages the WWF Vanzago Wood, which lies a few miles from Milan’s attractions. The protected area is one of the most important WWF Oases in Italy and hosts the Wildlife Recovery Center. Additionally, the WWF Vanzago Wood is actively involved in environmental education and awareness projects. Its 500 acres include the Po Forest, two lakes, wetlands, and areas designated for organic farming.
You can only visit the park by taking part in a guided tour or an organized activity. The oasis does not allow free access. Guided tours take place every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 am or 3:00 pm, without reservation. For more information, visit the website boscowwfdivanzago.it.
Pallavicino Park, Stresa
Among the places of interest in Stresa, a magnificent town on Lake Maggiore, there is Pallavicino Park. It plays a significant role in welcoming and recovering animals. Villa Pallavicino was born as an elegant private residence in 1855, and today it includes 45 acres of park where fauna and flora coexist in harmony. Since 2017, the park has consistently implemented interventions to restore and enhance animal-focused environments. Indeed, the park is home to over 50 species of mammals and birds, including some wild specimens that would not survive if released back into freedom.
Tibetan goats, sheep, llamas, alpacas, and fallow deer live freely at the Park Farm. Moreover, the park area includes the flower garden. Large trees, some of the oldest in Italy, are also present here. For more information, visit the website isoleborromee.it.
Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli Park, Pisa
The Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli Park is located very close to the historic center of Pisa. The park encompasses 57,000 acres and includes the protected marine area of the Secche della Meloria. The park includes 7 estates, the most important of which is the San Rossore Estate.
You can walk and bike on trails inside the park. The environment offers the opportunity to observe lush nature and spot animals living freely. The sectors of greatest natural value and conservation are accessible only with an environmental guide. To visit the many estates, it is advisable to consult the website parcosanrossore.org.
Orecchiella Park – San Romano in Garfagnana (LU)
The Orecchiella Park is an area of 13000 acres in the high Garfagnana, in the municipality of San Romano in Garfagnana. Immersed in nature, this complex houses a visitor center, the Natural History Museum, and the Museum of History of the Territory and Landscape. In addition, we find three State Natural Reserves: Pania di Corfino, Lamarossa, and Orecchiella. In turn, the park is included within the National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.
This territory allows observing some species of mountain animals and traversing numerous paths, on foot or on two wheels, autonomously or with an environmental guide. The area of the Visitor Center includes the museums, characteristic lakes, wildlife enclosures, and the mountain flower garden. The large beech forests are inhabited by large mammals, such as deer and wolves. This attraction can be included in a travel itinerary in Garfagnana. For more information, visit the website orecchiella.com.
Oasis Castel di Guido, Rome
With its 250 hectares, immersed in turn in the 618 acres of the Castel di Guido Agricultural Company, this is the largest LIPU Oasis in Italy. Lipu is the association for the conservation of nature, the protection of biodiversity, and the promotion of ecological culture in Italy. The environment is ideal for many species of birds. Here is also the largest herd of Marema cows in Lazio. Wild boars, foxes, badgers, hares, and the Hermann’s tortoise populate the pastures, meadows, and woods.
Two loop trails cross the main environments of the vast area. The Castel di Guido Oasis is ideal for practicing bird watching. Nearby, one can also visit the Litorale Romano State Natural Reserve, which presents various natural environments and the archaeological excavations of Ostia Antica. For more information: facebook.com/oasilipucasteldiguido.
WWF Policoro Oasis – Herakleia (MT)
The Bosco Pantano of Policoro Oasis is a Regional Natural Reserve. It extends for about 3000 acres and includes woods, Mediterranean scrub, and river environments. The WWF Oasis, occupying 52 acres, protects the last stretches of the Peninsula’s flooded coastal forests. The coastal stretch is a breeding habitat for the common sea turtle, the otter (at risk of extinction), and the monk seal. The diversity of environments means that this area is populated by over 170 species of birds, but also wolves and 2,000 species of amphibians and reptiles.
The WWF Policoro-Herakleia Oasis is also located within the Wildlife Recovery Center. This entity specializes in the care of sea turtles that get caught in fishing nets or injured by boats. The CRAS is visitable accompanied by an operator. The WWF visitor center provides all the useful indications to visit the Bosco Pantano di Policoro regional reserve. For more information, visit the website: oasiwwfpolicoro.com.
Where to see animals and natural parks in Italy Gallery
