The most beautiful natural sites to discover Italy

Of all the caves hidden in the cliffs of Cape Caccia, Neptune's cave is the most famous. It is one of the most beautiful sights in Alghero and one of the most precious geological wonders of the Mediterranean basin. The complexity of this vast cave, 2,500 metres long, is due to the many rooms that make it up, its vast galleries and its lakes with clear water. Among them, the 100-metre-long Lake La Marmora is one of the largest salt lakes in Europe. The part of the cave open to the public is accessible by boat from Alghero when the sea is calm. Many operators will lure you to the port. The cave can also be reached on foot from the cape by a picturesque 654-step staircase clinging to the cliffside. Count on 20 minutes with a good rhythm and think about the ascent... A visit not to be missed!

Good to know. In case of bad weather, the cave may close. So as not to travel for nothing, call the tourist office beforehand and they will give you information. Make sure you have enough cash to pay for the entrance tickets, as credit cards are not accepted. It is not easy to park near the site when it is busy. Park along the road leading to the cave as soon as possible. The site is also very crowded in the summer, and guided tours can be very crowded. Come as soon as it opens or for the last visit and, if you can, choose to visit out of season.

Smaller than Pompeii, but no less interesting, Herculaneum, founded by the Italic in the 290 th century B.C., successively passes under Roman domination from 79 BC Devastated by the eruption of Vesuvius in, the city of Hercules will remain hidden under the mud until its update. Without ever knowing the shopping fortune of its prestigious neighbor, the excellence of local crafts seems to have far exceeded its borders (marble work, cabinetmaking, sculpture). Its urban, regular and orthogonal urban plan obeys the Roman model with the right-angle streets (cardo and decumanus). The exceptional quality of conservation of the thermal baths and various residences makes the visit unavoidable.

Hiking. Today, it is no longer possible to go to the crater because an eruption is underway since July 2019. Access was free or guided, but the death of a hiker by heart attack when the volcano awoke has put on hold any approach to the volcano on foot, too close to the crater. But it is still possible to make a short one hour hike from the village to the authorized height point to observe the volcano at night and see the lava spouting. It is a magical sight! A good equipment is necessary: good shoes, sweater, flashlight and drinks. Count on one hour of ascent. The hike starts from Piscità, in the northwest of the island. After passing the beach and the last houses of the village, you cross a landscape of terraced crops up to an altitude of a hundred meters, above the observatory of the point Labronzo. At this point, following the path that turns, you come across a terrace overlooking the impressive lava slope of the Fuoco lava road. If you don't have the energy, you can book a table at the pizzeria of the Stromboli Observatory a little further up. A free shuttle service is available from the restaurant to the port, subject to reservation. This is the ideal place to observe the explosions of the 5 active craters which project, at regular intervals, huge jets of molten lava. The lava flows are always channelled through the natural path of the Sciara del Fuoco.

A site of considerable importance, south of Salerno, for the incredible conservation of its three great temples. Founded in 600 BC by the Greeks, Paestum knows its apogee between Life and the Fifth Century B.C. In 273 BC, Rome, in full expansion, conquered the city and founded a Latin law colony called Paestum.

See also the famous fresque fresco, the Diver's Tomb. Greek painting is generally known only by the texts of the classical authors, such as Pliny the Old, and by the Roman transpositions.

Not far from Ischia, located at the western end of the Gulf of Naples in the face of Fields fields, Procida is the smallest but also least known island of the three. Also rich in a superb Mediterranean biotope - beautiful beaches, beautiful fruit trees and beautiful vineyards - the island continues to live at the pace of fishing not for folklore but because it still remains one of the essential activities. Charm assured.

It is the largest and most populated island in the archipelago. The softness of its climate, its fine sandy beaches and the healing virtues of its thermal waters - linked to the volcanic origin of the island - have done much for its reputation. A very varied vegetation, laurels, lavender, oaks, acacias, pine trees and a highly cut relief, have even earned the nickname of green island in Ischia. It was definitively attached to the province of Naples in 1862.

Located in the Castello dell'Abbadia, the museum gathers the archaeological discoveries of the Site site. The park is a large ensemble dedicated to the development of what remains of the ancient city of Vulci. In addition to the Archaeological Museum, some areas can be visited, as well as tombs such as those of François (the name of his discoverer) and inscriptions.

Florence's monuments are well known, but one of its particularities is often forgotten: its peasant culture and its countryside at the city's gates. Just a few kilometres away from Piazza della Signoria, you can already be on the hills with centuries-old olive trees. There stands the Fattoria di Maiano, five kilometres from the city centre. Rich in history, its estate, built at the beginning of the 15th century, extends over many hectares and dominates the city. The estate includes the former quarries from which the "Serena" stone was extracted for Florentine Renaissance buildings; today they are partially reforested. One of them has been transformed into a small lake, the "laghetto delle colonne" with its "Tea House": a surreal image, a fable postcard.

Today, the Fattoria di Maiano offers the opportunity to discover its terroir: the paths through the woods with its botanical zone, the lake, the olive trees and the farm animals. A visit to the press is also planned. The tour can be done on foot, by bicycle or also at night in a 4x4. A special experience, the discovery of a countryside and its tradition just a stone's throw from a Renaissance civilisation. As a bonus, this place produces one of the best olive oils in Tuscany, exclusively organic, awarded with various prizes (you can buy it at the fattoria's point of sale). To complete this setting, the farm restaurant offers the opportunity to discover the Florentine culinary tradition.

The natural reserve allows to explore in peace and tranquility the fauna and flora of the gorges of sagittarius. Hiking trails have been designed to make the most of this natural setting. The reserve also contains a botanical garden where you can rposer and picnic on the edge of the creek. 

Perda Liana is one of Sardinia's most attractive geomorphological formations. Its resemblance to the peaks of Monument Valley or Devil's Tower is quite striking. It's a natural monument in the shape of a large vertical tower, known as a tacco (heel). With its impressive height of 1,293 metres, it is one of the island's best-known natural monuments, due to the strangeness of its elegant, slender form. Erosion has gradually isolated the "tower" and shaped its base. At its highest point, the "tower" is around 100 m wide, with vertical walls some 50 m high. Its base is shaped like a truncated cone. In the Ogliastra region, the Perda Liana tower is one of the most important remnants of the erosion of an extensive limestone cover dating from the Jurassic period. Not only did it dominate this part of the island for tens of millions of years, but above all, being visible from a great distance, it provided a landmark for people travelling through this mountainous region. It is thought to have been a gathering place for peoples since the dawn of time. Perla Liana remains a place of mystery, fantasy and legend. It rises from the earth like a giant finger reaching for the sky, in the midst of a wild and sparsely inhabited nature. Perda Liana has to be earned, and the road is winding, but this monument is one of our top picks for hikes between Ogliastra and Barbagia.

This 20 km-long limestone bastion, stretching north-south between Siniscola and Galtelli, is also known as the Sardinian Dolomites. It is characterized by vertical slopes carved by deep gorges, whose limestone whiteness can be seen from afar, hence the name "white mountain". The massif is criss-crossed by trekking itineraries that are the heirs of the charcoal-burning trails. It is a protected area for both flora and fauna. The view of the nearby sea, at an altitude of over 900 m, is breathtaking.

The beach of Piscinas could be a corner of Africa venté by the mistral on Costa Verde of Sardinia. Sand dunes on the beach are more than 50 m high and are surrounded by green vegetation. Until the 1950 s, the beach was the place of loading of the mining operation in Montevecchio (Cagliari). Near the charming hotel Le Dune, built in the former mining depot, now national monument, we can still see rails with rusty trolleys. The beach is about 25 km from Arbus. Very extensive, it is never too crowded, even in August.

By train. Take the Circumvesuviana (Central Station, Piazza Garibaldi in Naples) in the direction of Sorrento. Stop at Ercolano station (Herculaneum). Vesuvio Express bus from the station to the volcano (frequent departures, 20 minutes, 10 €).

By bus.From Pompeii, daily departures from Piazza Anfiteatro with the EAV bus company

In the car. By the A3 motorway, exit Torre del Greco or Ercolano. Then follow Vesuvio (13 km). Parking at quota 800: 5 €. From there, bus shuttles (2 € round trip) to the ticket office at quota 1000, 20 minutes walk from the crater.

The tourist office is about a hundred metres from the Ercolano station. Departure by bus to the volcano. Allow 20 minutes of ascent to reach the crater. Once at the top, take a look at the abyss. In good weather, also enjoy the panoramic view of the gulfs of Naples and Sorrento. The descent into the ashes has a somewhat lunar side. Very beautiful.