6 Natural Wonders To Explore In Italy

Italy is all about pizza, pasta and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, right? It goes without saying that Italian ice-cream is the best in the world and the wine, well, say no more. Considering all of those, it’s easy enough to see why Italy is such a popular place to visit. You don’t even need to be a connoisseur of fine food to appreciate its gastronomic offerings. Yes, Italian food tastes amazing, there’s really no arguing with that, and the tower is one of the country’s most famous landmarks, but what sets Italy apart as a country to visit are its incredible natural wonders.

From where its rugged alpine border connects with neighboring Switzerland to the tip of its boot-shaped coastline, Italy is one hundred and sixteen thousand square miles of awesome things to marvel at. Stunning rock formations, which could have been carved by the hands of the mythical Roman gods of old, rub shoulders with pristine mountain lakes and fiery volcanoes. Italy really is a natural wonder in itself which you just can’t miss out on exploring. If you haven’t already got a ticket to go, what are you waiting for?

Check out these 6 natural wonders in Italy and before you can learn to say ciao, you’ll have purchased your flight and be standing in the check-in queue at the airport.

# Lago di Garda, Northern Italy

Lago di Garda or Lake Garda, measuring thirty-two miles from shore to shore at its longest point and covering a surface area of one hundred and forty-three square miles, is the biggest freshwater lake in Italy. Its super clear waters are surrounded by stunning mountains, its hundred miles of shoreline decorated with picturesque towns, villages and pristine beaches, plus it’s dotted with islands whose fascinating histories can be traced back to pirate times. The impressive combination of lake scenery, historical monuments, and the areas superb microclimate have made Lake Garda one of Italy’s favorite places to take a chill out vacation.

# Cascate del Mulino, Saturnia, Italy

Vacations are meant to be therapeutic, and in Italy, that becomes literally true if you visit the Cascate del Mulino in the Italian town of Saturnia. There, an underground water source, which is heated geothermally, breaks through to the surface and the steaming, sulfur-impregnated water trickles gently down in graduating cascades to fill depressions in the rocks forming the pools of a natural spa. The waters, which maintain a steady 37ºC in the higher pools then cool as they run their course over the falls, are said to be beneficial to respiratory ailments as well as incredibly relaxing.

# Mount Etna, Sicily

The island of Sicily is where Italy’s most active volcano, Mount Etna is. Believe it, this volcano doesn’t steam it smokes – constantly. Yes, it really is that hot even in winter, when the peak can be covered with snow, it carries on emitting a steady stream of dark and dramatic, venomous clouds. At almost eleven thousand feet high, it looms over the town of Catania and is the highest volcano anywhere in Europe. Its last major eruption was in 2017 and its been continuously grumbling ever since.

# Arcipelago di La Maddalena (Maddalena Archipelago), Sardinia

As far as island paradises go, the Archipelago di La Maddalena ticks all the right boxes to classify as perfect. This group of over fifty islands and islets, in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north-east coast of Sardinia, are so idyllic they take the definition of the word to a whole new level. Surrounded by incredibly clear, crystalline waters, the shorelines of the islands boast some of the most beautiful and pristine beaches in all of Italy.

Even though Isola Maddalena is the largest of the islands, if you could drag yourself off Spalmatore beach for long enough, you could probably walk the twelve miles of road which run around its coastline. If that sounds too strenuous, then ride the local bus to discover all the hidden bays and stunning beaches like Monte Rena. Caprera, the second largest island in the chain, not only has impeccable beaches like the ones at Due Mari, but is covered with pine forests which are great for hiking.

# Val d’Orcia, Tuscany, Italy

The Val d’Orcia, in the Tuscany region of Italy, is the rural heart of the country. To drive the Strada di Valoresi, a road lined either side with regimental cypress, from La Foce to Monticchiello is like driving through an agricultural time capsule. The road winds its way through the verdant, rolling hillsides of the valley. Covered with vineyards and olive groves, this scenic view has remained unchanged for centuries and will continue to be untouched by progress as it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

# The Dolomite Mountain Range, North-east Italy

Everyone and everything shows its age at some time. Italy’s age is no more apparent than it is in the Dolomite Mountain Range. Formed of rock dating back to the Triassic age, yes, this part of Italy really was around a few hundred million years ago, but considering that fact, it’s wearing well.

The entire area is a UNESCO World Heritage site and encompasses several stunning national parks including Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park and Dolomiti d’Ampezzo Natural Park. The highest mountain, of all the craggy peaks, is the Marmolada at the height of almost eleven thousand feet, but the most easily recognized are the three forbidding peaks of the Tre Cime de Lavaredo.