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DISCOVERING ITALY
Holidays
in the open air and natural surroundings...
1.
The National Parks Top
If we
consider an ecological holiday in the open air we naturally think
about the extraordinary heritage of the national parks, a must for those who wish to discover
Italy. Breathtaking
itineraries spread throughout some twenty vast
national
parks and an infinite choice of protected areas
provide
trekking for the enthusiast with a total immersion in natural
environments of exceptional beauty.
1.1 THE ALPINE
PARKS Top
T he
first Italian national park was born
among the perpetual ice and the emerald green valley of the Alps. Founded
in 1922,
the National
Park of Gran
Paradiso
is
a former hunting
reserve that was handed over
to the State in 1919
by
the reigning
house. The park, situated in a
territory of high mountains between
Piemonte and
Val d'Aosta,
covers an area of around 70,000
hectares,
including 800
meters
of the valley and 4061
meters
of
the Gran
Paradiso
mountain
peaks. Woodlands
of larches and firs,
meadows, rocks and glaciers are the home
of a great variety of wildlife:
the
ibex, which miraculously escapeextinction
and is today the symbol of
the park, marmots, stoats, chamois and a great many species of
birds,
including
the recently reintroduced "bearded
vulture" and the golden eagle.
The environment also has numerous traces of the presence
of man,
with 300
kilometers
of mule tracks,
hunting lodges, the mines of Cogne,
villages
and mountain pastures.
For those wishing to learn more
about the park there are centers for visitors located in the
valleys,
which provide general information
including the sale of books,
guides, etc., and organize permanent
and temporary exhibitions. In the summer months these structures
also show films and organize
excursions and children's activities.
The main tourist center can be
found at Salvo Noasca (in the valley
of the river Orco) in the region of
Piemonte and is open all year round
(for information contact the Park
Tourism Office, Noasca Visitors' Center,
tel.
0124 901070); the
other centers
are open in the summer, at Christmas
and on several Sundays throughout the year. The National
Park of
Stelvio
extends
over an area
of 134,620
hectares in the heart of the Central Alps
and contains valleys
molded by the ice and water descending
from the Ortles-Cevedale Massif. This protected area is bounded to the north by the Swiss National
Park
of Engadina and to the south by the Regional Park of Adamello, in
Lombardia, which in turn directly borders the Adamello-Brenta Natural Park in
Trentino.
The
idea of protecting
this magnificent Alpine landscape
dates back to the early 1900s
and the area became a park on
April 24,1935.
In
1977
the
park was
extended to its present-day size. Here visitors can admire every
kind of Alpine
formation, from rocky peaks (Ortles,
3905
m)
to
 glaciers, from mountain
pastures to valley floors (Laces,
650
m).
The hydro-geological conditions
of the area give the
landscape its typical characteristics of ice-formed lakes and
foaming
mountain
torrents. The variety of the territory,
determined by considerable differences
in height, favors the existence
of various ecosystems, with numerous rare species of wildlife. The
upper
slopes are the habitat of the chamois,
and ibex can be seen in some
of the high valleys, while foxes, marmots and stoats are easily
spotted.
Excursions can be made to the
villages and mountain pastures,
which
are scattered throughout the valley floors and on the mountain
slopes,
or to discover the charming examples of rural and sacred
architecture,
in complete harmony with
the natural surroundings. Information on itineraries and
excursions
in the protected area can be
found in the visitors' centers. In the northwest of Piemonte, near
the Swiss border and very close to Lake Maggiore,
is
a fairly recently founded park
(1993)
with
totally different characteristics. This is the
National
Park
of
Val
Grande,
the largest natural area in Italy
and a veritable
open-air
museum of Alpine civilization.
The abandonment of such practices
as mountain grazing and deforestation
has marked the return of
the wilderness. The richness and variety
of the vegetation, with its impenetrable
woodlands and brightly colored
flowers, are one of the area's
main attractions. The rarest and most interesting botanic species
are,
without a doubt, the Alpine aquilegia
and
the Alpine tulip. The fauna
includes chamois, deer, roe deer,
badgers, martens, stone martens, hedgehogs, dormice, squirrels
and foxes. Bounded by the Ossola
Valley, Lake
Maggiore,
and the valleys
of Vigezzo, Intrasca and Cannobina, the park guarantees an
unforgettable
visit in a genuine sanctuary
of nature. Traces of man's presence
in the area range from engravings in the rocks of the Prą
Alp
at Cicogna
and
Sassoledo to military fortifications
built on the edges of the area
during the First World War. In the province
of Belluno, in Veneto,
is
the
National Park of
the
Bellunese
Dolomites,
which was founded in 1990
to
protect an area in the southern
part of the Dolomites, a territory
that is less famous, but with a
landscape of exceptionally beauty and
unspoiled nature. Situated in the high mountains, the park is
characterized
by an extremely rich and
wild natural environment, where the towns and villages are concentrated in a narrow belt around
the edge.
The Feltre and Serva
mountains
were already famous for their exceptional flora in the 18th
Century.
The rare species of plant life and
the impressive variety of landscapes
are mainly due to the park's
unusual location on the southeast
edge of the mountain range in extremely
remote areas, part of which remained
free from the ice during the coldest stretches of the Quaternary
Period
(the last ended in around 10,000-12,000
years
ago). The fauna of
the park includes chamois (around 2000
specimens),
deer (currently spreading),
roe deer and mouflons, as well
as foxes, badgers, stoats, weasels, stone martens, squirrels and
hedgehogs.
In a high mountain park such as this, there is not, of course, a
great
historical and artistic heritage. The most important place to visit
is the
Charterhouse of Vedana, which contains
a monastery; here there are shepherds'
huts and cheese factories, abandoned for decades, and the
small village
of Gena
in the valley
of
Mis.
1.2 THE
PARKS OF THE APENNINES Top
Along
the ridge of the Apennines that
runs
from the north to the south of
Italy
a network of numerous national
parks
has developed over the last decades, three of which are located in
Abruzzo,
which
represents the heart of
the
network. The oldest of these,
founded
in
1923,
is the National
Park
of
Abruzzo,
Lazio
and
Molise,
which
has played a
fundamental role in preserving some of the
most important species of large fauna in Italy, including the Marsicano
brown
bear, the chamois of
Abruzzo
and
the wolf, and is today a true
model
of the harmonious co-existence
of
environmental protection and economic growth. Visits to the park are
subject to control and selection, and there are numerous facilities
for
tourists.
The National
Park of
Majella
combines
natural (the area
boasts
an extraordinarily varied plant
life
with over
1800
species
registered)
and spiritual values. The landscape of the Majella Massif, in fact,
bears witness to the strong religious feeling of its past
inhabitants, with numerous sacred buildings including abbeys,
hermitages and sanctuaries dug in the rock. The park has many
tourist facilities and organizes frequent initiatives to encourage
tourism. The third park of
Abruzzo (which again
involves the neighbouring regions of Lazio and the Marche) is the
National Park of
Gran Sasso
and the Laga
Mountains, which, covering an area of
150,000
hectares, is one of the largest in Italy. It contains three
mountain ranges - the Gran Sasso of Italy, the Massif of Laga and the
Gemelli
Mountains, and has the highest peak of the
Apennines, the Corno Grande (2912 m), and the only
glacier in the Apennine range, the Calderone, which is the
southernmost glacier of Europe. For
lovers of local art and traditions the historical center of Isola
del Gran Sasso offers a great number of fine historical buildings.
The village of Castelli, famous for its
artistic ceramics, is a veritable concentration of art, history and
culture. From north to south ranges a series of recently founded
national parks, of which the newest is the
National Park of the Toscana-Emilia Apennines. With three quarters of its surface in
Emilia Romagna and a quarter in Toscana, the park contains in one single
protected area the
Regional Park of
Gigante,
part of the Regional Park of the Upper Valley of Parma and Cedra
(Emilia Romagna), and parts of
the Lunigiana and Garfagnana regions, which boast some of the
highest peaks of the northern Apennine ridge. The park is
characterised by dense forests and woodlands, including vast beech
woods alternated with forests of silver firs and conifers.
Stretching out between Emilia Romagna and Toscana is the National Park of the
Casentinese
Forests, Mount
Falterona and
Campigna. In the territory of Romagna the landscape is
characterized by deep, narrow valleys and mountainsides that are
partly rocky and partly covered with dense woodland; the slopes on
the Tuscan side, meanwhile, are less rugged, and scored with the
mountain torrents that flow into the River Arno. This park boasts an
extremely rich flora, while its fauna includes wolves, golden eagles
and various hoofed species. In the forests and in the very varied
natural environments there are numerous traces of the presence of
man dating back to remote times, with a number of ancient villages
and two sanctuaries of special interest, Camaldoli and
La
Verna, dedicated to St. Benedict of Norcia and St.
Francis of Assisi. Another national park strongly characterized by
its ancient European Christian imprint is the National Park of the
Sybilline
Mountains, in the heart of
Italy between
Umbria and the Marche.
Right in the center of the park is Norcia, the birthplace of St.
Benedict, the father of western monasticism. In ancient times, this
was believed to be a center of demons, sorcerers, fairies and the
prophetess Sybil, from whom the mountains take their name. The park,
which contains some of the highest peaks of the Apennine range,
boasts a number of rare wildflowers, such as the edelweiss of the
Apennines, as well as some magnificent wildlife species, for example
the golden eagle. An original feature of the area is the
a ccommodation that is provided for visitors. In 1995, in fact,
the so-called Park Houses were set up in fifteen different boroughs
to cater for tourism. With its wealth of mythological and historical
references (from the nymph Leucosia to the fated Palinuro, companion
of Aeneas in the flight from Troy; from the remains of the Greek
settlements of Elea and Paestum to the splendid Charterhouse of
Padula), the National Park of Cilento and Diano Valley stretches out
from the Tyrrhenian coast to the foot of the Campania-Basilicata
Apennines. Thanks to the beauty of its natural environments and to
its historical and artistic heritage, the park has won a place on
the Unesco Heritage of Humanity list. Also in the territory of Campania is the
National Park of
Vesuvio, a natural area of great
importance in Europe (Vesuvio is
the only active Continental volcano), in which the archaeological
and historical heritage of the area is protected. In the southern
Apennines, between Basilicata and
Calabria, is the National Park of
Pollino. The
symbol of this territory is the Bosnian pine, a tree characterized
by a cleft bark of shiny plates, which grows on the higher slopes.
The park contains some very interesting sites for enthusiasts of
paleontology and archaeology. The two southernmost parks along the
Apennine range are situated in Calabria.
The
National Park of
Calabria, which contains the Sila range,
is virtually uninhabited and has consequently been modeled on the
large America parks, which are
crossed only by special routes equipped for tourists. Most of the
territory of the park belongs to the State. Lastly, in the extreme
south of the
region, is the
National
Park of Aspromonte, an area characterized by wild,
unspools nature, high, rocky peaks, dense forests overlooking the
sea, exceptional wildlife (this is the most southern area where the
wolf is still found) and remains of the ancient civilization of
Magna
Graecia.
1.3 THE
COASTAL AND ISLAND PARKS Top
The
network of parks and protected areas in Italy includes also the
coastal areas, the seas and the islands. A modern approach to
environmental  protection, in which the aim is to find a balance
between the activities of man and the safeguarding of the
ecosystems, has in the course of time led to the preservation of a
number of marine areas and their inclusion in protected parks. The
southernmost of these is the
National Park of the Cinque Terre,
in
Liguria. The Cinque Terre ("five
lands" or villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia,
Manarola and Riomaggiore) in the province of La Spezia are a
real miniature paradise, with steep cliffs overlooking the sea, bays
and little beaches, walls marking out terraces for the cultivation
of vineyards, characteristic Medieval towns and scenic footpaths
through rows of grapevines. The park, with its protected coastal and
marine area, was founded to conserve and promote these varied and
exceptionally beautiful natural environments that have been affected
by farming, tourism and nature itself. The seaside towns are
connected by a route known as the Sentiero Azzurro ("blue path"),
which takes around five hours to cover by foot from one end to the
other, but is well worth the effort for the beauty of this
Mediterranean setting rich in herbs and plants and the breathtaking
view of the mountains towering over the sea. The Via dei Santuari
("path of shrines"), meanwhile, is an ancient route that was once
reserved for the pilgrimages and customs of the local farming
community. Lastly, the Via dell'Amore ("path of love") offers an
extremely romantic walk along a path cut into the rock overhanging
the sea, which links the villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola.
Visitors are enchanted by this route in all seasons for the
spectacular views it offers of the charming landscape and the
striking shapes and colours of the rocks. The National Park of the
Tuscan Archipelago
includes the seven islands off the coast of
Toscana in the Tyrrhenian Sea:
Elba, Capraia, Gorgona, Pianosa,
Montecristo, Giglio and Giannutri. This was the first large marine
park to be founded in Italy, and is the vastest
protected area of the European seas. The islands of the Tuscan
Archipelago are all very different, from a geological point of view.
Capraia, for example, is a volcanic island, while Giglio and
Elba are predominantly granitic.
However, they all offer tourists enchanting landscapes and
unforgettable holidays. The Mediterranean flora represents the main
vegetation on the islands, which host colonies of sea birds,
shearwaters and gulls, including the rare black-headed gull.
Cetaceans can also be spotted. Overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea in the
region of Lazio is the
National Park of
Circeo. This is a smaller
protected area, but with very interesting characteristics. These
include the oak forest today known as Selva di Circe (the "wood of
Circe"), which is the only existing flatland oak wood in Italy; the
calcareous promontory of Circeo; the wetlands, with their four
coastal lakes; the island of Zannone, in the Pontino Archipelago,
and the abundance of wildlife and lush vegetation. There are two
parks crowning the northern coastline of Sardegna: the
National Park of the Archipelago of La Maddalena and the
National
Park of Asinara. The archipelago of
La
Maddalena is known universally as a territory of
rare beauty and exceptional naturalistic, historical and cultural
wealth. The park, including both its land and sea areas, covers an
area of over 20,000 hectares,
with as many as 180 kilometers of
coastline. It includes all the islands of the territory belonging to
La
Maddalena and is due to become an important part of
the large international marine park of the Straits of Bonifacio,
soon to be founded. The
island of Asinara, inhabited since
Neolithic times, is characterized by a remarkable historical,
environmental and legal situation and has been able to conserve its
ecosystems. In fact, due to a series of events that caused it to be
dubbed with the unattractive name of Isola del Diavolo, or "Devil's
Island"; it has been used as a quarantine station, a prison-of-war
camp in the First World War and, until a few years ago, one of the
main Italian detention centers during the period of terrorism
(1970s) and in the struggle against organized crime. This isolation,
which lasted for over a century, has given the island its special
atmosphere of charm and mystery, and has favored the conservation
of untouched and virgin areas, which are today internationally
considered a unique and priceless heritage. The last of the coastal
national parks brings us to the Adriatic
Sea. This is the
National Park of
Gargano. The promontory of
Gargano is, from a biological point of view, an "island" separated
from the rest of the Italian peninsula by the plain of the Tavoliere
delle Puglie. The park hosts an exceptional concentration of
different natural habitats, ranging from the high, rocky ridges to
the deep, hot valleys of the southern slope, from the ancient beech
groves on the mountains (although situated at much lower heights
than in other parts of Italy) to the clusters of Aleppo pines. The
wildlife of the area includes the roe deer (one of the very few
existing autochthonous groups found in Italy) and various species of
woodpecker, whose presence emphasizes the naturalistic value of the
forests, of which the
Umbra Forest deserves special
mention.
2.
THE GREENEST TOURISM
Top
"Agriturismo"
-
or
farm holidays
-
represents
a new frontier
in
"gentle", ecological and sustainable tourism. In recent years
an
increasing amount of people opt for a farm holiday in close contact
with nature, staying in country farmhouses, enjoying the
authenticity of the local products as well as the friendliness and
hospitality of their country hosts, and rediscovering the traditions
of ancient farming cultures. Farm holidays also provide the
opportunity of visiting the
surrounding
towns and appreciating more thoroughly their
artistic and
architectural heritage.
A
good example are the "wine trails", a characteristic feature
of
many Italian regions (especially Piemonte, Lombardia,
Toscana
and
Umbria),
which
lead through vineyards and
farms,
touching on places of remarkable historical
interest along the
way.
2.1 THE
MEANING OF “AGRITURISMO” Top
In
around the mid-1980s a few Italian farms decided to dedicate part of
their farm complex to accommodating guests. Initially, these
structures were chosen by nature-lovers as a place to spend a few
quiet days, but as time went on this new type of country holiday
began to gain increasing popularity, and today it is a widely
appreciated practice. Generally, it is chosen as a way to
re-establish a contact with nature and rediscover a taste for the
fruits of the earth, and to experience the simplicity of staying in
a family environment or, in any case, a setting that is less cold
and neutral than that of a hotel. "Agritourism" is the expression of
an original sensitivity, an activity that proposes a system of
cultural, as well as business, values. It is a new approach to the
rural and environmental space, capable of attracting also the
younger generations. Moreover, as the farm holiday structures are
situated in marginal areas or settings of high naturalistic
value they also contribute to the safeguarding of the territory by
promoting a type of tourism that is more responsible with regard to
the environment. The farm holiday structure is, in actual fact, a
fully working farm, where guests may stay overnight in friendly
surroundings, far from the chaos of the large cities, and, if they
wish, take part in or simply watch such activities as the harvesting
of vegetables and fruit or the tending of the
animals.
2.2 THE
MANY FACES OF FARM HOLIDAYS Top
Today
in Italy there are numerous
organized and professional farm holiday structures offering a wide
variety of activities. The more traditional types are usually farms
that provide accommodation for tourists in a family environment.
These are not necessarily equipped with recreation facilities but
tend to concentrate on involving the guests in the daily activities
of life in the countryside.
A
classier type of farm holiday, meanwhile, offers a more luxurious
and elegant hospitality in structures that frequently have great
historical value. Many offer the opportunity of tasting their own
wines and sampling specialties of Italian traditional cuisine.
Increasing numbers of farms located in areas of great naturalistic
value offer active holidays to tourists, with the practice of sports
ranging from horse-riding to swimming in the swimming pool, as well
as organizing excursions by foot and on horseback. Last but not
least, the organic farms, in which the processes and the raw
materials are all strictly natural, are where the triumph of nature
is most fully celebrated. A number of Italian farm holiday
structures are also equipped to offer hospitality to campers. In
Europe there are around one million
campers, with a "camper population" of over four million people.
Potentially unlimited, accessible all year round and scattered
throughout the whole country, the farm holiday option is an
excellent opportunity for camping tourists, who find an efficient
network of stopping places at their disposal.
2.3 REGION
BY REGION Top
In
the past few years the farm holiday structures have spread
throughout all parts of Italy. These structures
include the homesteads, or masi, of Alto Adige and Trentino, the
frasche of Friuli, the farms of Piemonte and Lombardia, the tiny,
picturesque villages of Medieval origin in the countryside of
Umbria, the farmhouses of
Toscana, Lazio and Campania, the
fortified farms of
Puglia
and those nestled among the orange and lemon groves of
Sicilia. Each
region has its own characteristic version of the "agritourism"
structure. In
Val
d'Aosta these are predominantly
resting places along routes for treks on horseback or mountain bike;
in
Piemonte tourists have the
opportunity to discover not only the great historical, artistic and
environmental heritage of the region, but also its rich gourmet
tradition. Local specialties include a wide variety of pasta and
rice dishes, as well as farm-raised chicken, rabbit and veal,
accompanied by exceptional wines, both white (Erbaluce di Caluso,
Arneis del Roero etc.) and red (Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo etc.).
Visitors may also spend their holidays exploring the nine "wine
routes" (Langhe, Monferrato, Colli Tortonesi, Canavese, Pinerolese,
Freisa di Chieri, Coste della Sesia, the Novara Hills and the
Saluzzo Hills), among the vineyards and the great naturalistic and
cultural attractions. A holiday "with the farmers", in total
relaxation or perhaps lending a hand in the grape or olive harvest
-this is what guests are offered in the farm holiday structures in
Liguria,
which
are numerous and scattered throughout the region, especially in the
valleys and the ancient villages of the entroterra, or hinterland.
Accommodation may range from comfortable private rooms in the
owner's house to flats or independent country cottages rented on a
weekly basis. Visitors may also purchase the farms' own products
-excellent wines, such as the fragrant Rossese di Dolceacqua of
Ponente or the prized Cinqueterre Sciacchetrą of Levante; the famous
olives of Taggia, home-made jams, honey, olive oil, pickled
aubergines, tomatoes and vegetables, etc. The cuisine varies from
place to place, with a few elements in common - olive oil,
vegetables, the typical flat bread known as focaccia and the
internationally renowned basil sauce pesto.
Lombardia
offers a wide variety of "agritourism" structures, ranging from very
simple and basic farmhouses to refined country relais, from
structures concentrating on educational tourism to organic-producing
farms, where guests can enjoy tasty home-made "risotto", soups,
stews, salami and cheeses, accompanied by excellent red, white and
sparkling wines. For lovers of wine a good place to begin is in the
hills of Oltrepņ Pavese. In fact, from Stradella, Brani, Casteggio,
Canneto, Rovescala there are numerous trails leading through the
enchanting surrounding countryside with its rich wine production
(red wines include Barbera, Bonarda and Cabernet Sauvignon, and
white wines include Malvasia, Riesling, Moscato and Pinot Grigio).
In the area of Oltrepņ Itinerando ("Trailing") is an initiative
established by the farm holiday structures in co-operation with
various local organizations, which gives tourists the opportunity to
explore places that are characterized by their great artistic and
architectural heritage (castles, churches and architectural works),
their rich natural resources (natural reserves and botanic gardens)
and their high quality farm products and local gourmet specialities.
In addition to hospitality in farm holiday structures, Itinerando
organises guided tours with sampling of local products in the farms
and wine-making establishments, cookery courses, etc. The "Wine and
Farm Product
Route of the Province of
Sondrio" also
passes through a charming landscape of vineyards lined up on
terraces under the sun. The area of Valtellina, nestled between the
foothills of the Orobic and Rhaetian mountain ranges, is one of the
most important natural itineraries of wines and local products in
Lombardia. In
Trentino-Alto Adige
"agritourism" is
by no means a new concept, but has its origins in the Medieval
religious convents offering accomodation and in the refuges for
pilgrims and wayfarers. Forty years ago the farm holiday structures
of Trentino began to accommodate tourists in the traditional masi,
typical local country homes. Today the region is a good example of
well-organised "agritourism", and appreciated for its courtesy
towards guests, the combination of tradition and modem facilities, a
strong characterisation and an excellent quality-price ratio. Along
the roads that wind through the green Euganei Hills, in
Veneto,
among woodlands and
vineyards that line the hills, are numerous farm holiday structures
where visitors can find hospitality and, if they wish, take
advantage of the modern thermal centers in the area for indulging in
their own wellbeing.
Friuli-Venezia
Giulia
is another region that
offers farm holidays for connoisseurs and gourmets; these structures
are concentrated mainly around the lagoons and in the grape-growing
hill areas, and offer quiet, refined holidays with high quality food
and wine. The "agritourism" of
Emilia Romagna
has for the past few
years represented a good alternative to the highly popular tourism
of the Adriatic coast and places great emphasis on the variety of
the local gastronomy. From the valley areas of Comacchio to the
hills of Piacenza a number of farms offer
hospitality and entice the palate with fresh pasta dishes of ancient
tradition. Along the "Wine and Farm Product Route of the Imola
Hills" are wine-making establishments where high-quality products
can be enjoyed.
Toscana
is a
region famous for its cities of art, its great historical heritage
and celebrated characters, its landscapes, Medieval villages and
farms nestled among olive groves, cypress trees and vineyards, in a
unique and striking natural environment. Here "agritourism" has had
the wisdom to propitiate the now consolidated integration of all
these aspects, emphasized in part by the "wine route" that links
cities and remote farms, long established wine shops and village
wine cellars. In the areas of Maremma and Chianti in particular,
there are many promotional events. One of these is the Cantine
Aperte ("Open Cellars") event, lasting from May to June, during
which the local producers invite the tourists to visit their cellars
and sample their rare wines. The "agritourism" of
Toscana is
extremely varied, adapting every possible county structure to cater
for guests, from plainly rustic cottages to modern houses, and for
the elite villas and castles equipped with
swimming
pools and golf courses, and offering long rides on horseback through
the hills of Chianti. In
Umbria
the
farm holiday structure fits perfectly in the extraordinary setting
of historical and artistic cities, proposing interesting itineraries
on the theme of the region's increasingly appreciated gastronomy.
Every year, on the last Sunday of May, the Cantine Aperte ("Open
Cellars") event is held, when a great number of farms prepare an
"open day" for visitors, with excellent wines, local specialities,
music and art.
In the
Marche
"agritourism" is closely related to an economy originating from an
ancient metayage tradition. Those travelling through the local
countryside, therefore, may find hospitality in the old manor houses
or holdings, where visitors are always welcomed with kindness and
generosity. In
Lazio
the area that excels for its
farm holiday structures is the
province of Viterbo, where the farms offer
high-quality and varied hospitality and tourist facilities in an
environment rich in historical and archaeological remains,
traditions and landscapes of great beauty. To promote both the local
products and the artistic and monumental heritage of the area the
"Wine
Route of Upper
Tuscia" was established, linking a series of farms
producing wine, olive oil and other particularly prized products, as
well as, naturally, a number of excellent farm holiday structures.
In
Campania
the best "agritourism" farms
are concentrated in the coastal area, in perfect continuity with the
well-known tourist/seaside tradition of the region which, thanks to
the magnificent views offered by the local landscapes, guarantees
unforgettable holidays.
There
are also many farm holiday structures throughout the region of
Abruzzo,
which are capable of meeting
a wide variety of demands. The activities offered include horse
riding, guided walking tours, excursions on rented bicycles, fishing
and courses in handicrafts and cooking with farm local products.
Some structures are equipped with facilities such as tennis courts,
swimming pools or archery fields, and accommodation is often offered
concurrently with the main cultural and folklore festivals. An
important sector of activity is education, with the organization of
educational day trips to the farms for school groups. In
Molise, as in Puglia,
"
agritourism" represents above all gourmet pleasures, with the farms
alternating the typical fish dishes of the coast with the meat-based
dishes of the countryside. Here also there are many possibilities
for trekking and horse riding excursions. The "agritourism"
structures offered by the regions of
Basilicata and
Calabria,
although less widespread than in other parts of the country, are
nevertheless also of high quality. In
Sicilia
these structures, which in
recent years have undergone a remarkable growth, have an ancient
charm, as everything that characterizes the island, from the natural
environment to the archaeological heritage, from the cities to the
tiniest coastal or mountain villages. The local cuisine, with its
pasta dishes, meat and fish specialties, vegetables, desserts and
wines, is truly exceptional. Likewise in
Sardegna
the farm holiday
is the ideal choice for those who wish to stay away from the more
commercialized tourist resorts and seek
a close contact with nature
and a glimpse into the mysterious life of the farmer, herdsman and
fisherman.
3. Under
a starry sky
Top
The
strong and exuberating sensation of the sea, the warm and reassuring
embrace of the surrounding greenery, the total silence of the
mountains at night, cradled in an atmosphere filled with peace
-
this
is camping, a holiday under the stars,
en
plain air.
Even when the
structures are modern and well
equipped, as are hundreds of Italian campgrounds, one feels just as
strongly the adventurous spirit of "open air" tourism, constantly in
search of a new landscape, a new horizon, a new
dream.
3.1 CAMPING
IN ITALY Top
In
the 1950s and '60s camping was practiced mainly by solitary
nature-lovers with an adventurous, and sometimes reckless spirit,
who, as they moved from one place to another, created alternative,
off-the-beaten-track tourist routes. Subsequently, when families
discovered that camping could be an interesting and fun idea for
holidays, camping equipment began to be sold at an increasingly
widespread level, with modern and well-equipped tents and also
caravans, which were designed to cater more and more for the demand
of comfort and travel. Today in Italy there are
innumerable campgrounds capable of meeting the needs of tourists who
choose this type of holiday. As well as providing a place to stay
the night the structures, especially on the coasts, around the lakes
and in the mountain valleys, offer facilities for catering
(restaurants, bars, cafeterias, etc.), recreation (discos, dance
halls etc.) and sports. With its extraordinary natural environments,
its strong traditions and great historical heritage,
Italy is a popular
destination for many tourists. Camping provides the possibility of
moving around easily from place to place on one's chosen route, at
prices that are cheaper than those of hotels. Those wishing to go
camping in the various regions of Italy may choose from among the
most efficient structures and plan a made-to-measure holiday by
visiting the Website of the largest Italian campers' association, Federcampeggio, Via Vittorio Emanuele 11, 50041 Calenzano (FI), tel.
055 882391, fax 055 8825918;
www.federcampeggio.it.
The site includes addresses of all the campgrounds, as well as the
possibility to buy on-line a complete guide to Italian campgrounds,
which is mailed to the purchaser's address. Very useful information
may also be obtained from the Federazione delle Associazioni
Italiane dei Complessi Turistici. all'Aria Aperta ("Federation of
Italian Open Air Tourist Complex Associations") or FAITA, Via degli
Scipioni 153,00192 Roma, tel. 06 32111043, fax 06 3200830;
www.faita.it).
Lastly, the Website
www.campeggi.com,
an official guide to campgrounds in Italy sponsored by FAITA and
Federcampeggio, contains a. list of campgrounds of all the regions
of Italy.
As
well as camping in tents, the past few years have seen a great
increase in the popularity of campers and motor homes, which today
involve a large part of the population of "roving tourism". The
attraction of camper tourism offers the possibility of travelling
around easily from one place to another and at all times of the
year, of making contact with others and exploring a great variety of
environments, including natural or historical/artistic settings off
the main tourist routes. Italy has a close network
of service areas especially equipped for campers, often situated in
small towns. Tourists wishing to travel in Italy by camper may visit the Website
www.camperonline.it,
which provides information on how to prepare for the journey, the
various places to visit in Italy, the camper service
areas and campgrounds.
4.
On
foot across Italy
Top
A century ago one
writer gave the following advice to his readers: "If you want to see
the world do not go in a carriage, for carriages are too fast; go on
foot". Another wrote, "To learn one must walk". Today it may seem out
of place to talk about moving slowly in an age characterized by high
speed, but these words, tinged with experience and wisdom, reveal a
profound truth. True knowledge of a land, explored in all the depth
of its natural and cultural aspects, is only really possible if we
travel at the same pace of nature. Man tends to be too fast and,
unfortunately, too superficial.
4.1 WALKING
IN ITALY Top
Every
year a greater number of people choose walking holidays in
Italy. This may consist
of one or two weeks of six or seven hours of walking per day through
the warm and fragrant Mediterranean countryside (e.g. Sardegna, and
various regions of Southern Italy) staying in family-run guest
houses or small farm holiday structures, or trekking through the
valleys of the Italian Alps or Apennines, sometimes with no more
than a tent for shelter. This type of holiday represents a way of
entering into direct contact with the nature and history of a place,
and restoring the harmony and balancing rhythms of our body. A
journey on foot in Italy also provides an opportunity to
learn the history of the less well-known aspects of
Italy, of villages and
valleys, hills and mountains far from the beaten tracks, thus making
contact with the life and working activities of the country
folk.
4.2 THE
SENTIERO ITALIA Top
For those at the intersections
and the starting points of each stage), assistance points and
emergency help on the part of the
Corpo Nazionale di Soccorso Alpino
e Speleologico ("National Corps for Mountain and Cave Rescue"). For
information: Club Alpino Italiano, Via Petrella 19, 20124 Milano,
tel. 02 2057231, fax 02 205723201;
www.cai.it.se
opting for a trekking holiday in Italy, the Sentiero
Italia is the most suitable route. Over six thousand kilometers
long, it covers the entire peninsula beginning from the south, from
Sardegna and Sicilia, passing
through Calabria and moving
northwards up the Apennine ridge to arrive finally at Trieste in the
far north of the country. There are 350 stages of the Italy Trail,
linking mainly smaller towns that operate as "starting points" for
paths leading into the mountains and that are themselves places of
great cultural and historical value. The Sentiero Italia was
inaugurated on February 12,1995 with the trekking event known as
Camminaitalia, in which a group of excursionists set off from Santa
Teresa di Gallura to cross on foot Sardegna, Sicilia, the Apennines and the Alps, and
arrived eight months and 6166 kilometers
later in Trieste. The trail includes both
easy walks and hard climbs; thanks to the numerous "stations" along
the way that break up the trail into daily stages, the Sentiero is
able to offer for the most part accommodation facilities of low
environmental impact. Above all, however, there are three elements
in particular that characterize the Sentiero Italia throughout the
country: the regularity of the signs marking the route (small
red-and-white flags and information signpost
4.3 MOUNTAIN
TRAILS Top
For
walking enthusiasts Italy offers a great
variety of trails through natural environments of breathtaking
beauty and villages rich in ancient history and tradition. The
Val d'Aosta, a region situated at the foot of
the eastern side o f Mount
Blanc, is an immense
natural reserve (National Park of Gran Paradiso, Regional Park
of Mount Avic) where visitors are ensured a direct and close contact
with nature.
Through
the valley across the paths of Via Francigena, the Alte Vie 1 and 2
and the track of tours around
the large Alpine massifs. The paths lead through wild areas
characterized by numerous specimens of Alpine flora, including very
rare species. A short distance from the peaks -which are of a height
exceeding 4000 meters - are the
very popular target
for mountain-climbers -Mount Blanc, Monte Rosa,
the Matterhorn, Gran Paradiso and many others (information can be
found in the official Website of the Val d'Aosta:
www.regione.vda.it).
In Piemonte the mountains occupy almost half of the territory and
separate the region from France and Switzerland, though
without isolating it. The ancient routes, which date all the way
back to the days of Hannibal,
represent the thread that links Piemonte with these countries that are so
similar in both history and customs. The mountain ranges of
Argentera, Monviso, Gran Paradiso and Monte Rosa, scattered with
fortresses, abbeys and ancient villages, are also areas where
mountaineering and skiing may be practiced (info:
www.piemonteweb.it).
Of all the protected itineraries in Liguria well represented is
without doubt the Alta Via of the Ligurian Mountains, as it embraces
the entire arc of the region and connects the two ends of the
riviera along the Tyrrhenian-Po watershed, from Ventimiglia to
Ceparana. This is an ideal trail for those wanting to discover the
Ligurian hinterland without having to approach the habitual haunts
of mass tourism, and to explore the valuable treasures of Mediterranean and mountain environments that
are surprisingly close together. Solitary peaks and
densely-populated valleys, rocky crags and grassy expanses,
impenetrable woodlands and neat vineyards - the landscapes of the
mountain areas of Lombardia are
lively and varied, and the trekking routes are many. From
Valsassina, above the lake of Como, with the mountain peaks of
Grigne, to Valchiavenna and Spluga Valley; from the valleys of
Masino and Malenco, near the Bernina mountain range, to Valtellina;
from Valcamonica, above the lake of Iseo, to the National Park of
Stelvio, with the Ortles-Cevedale Massif (for information:
www.regione.lombardia.it).
It is difficult to say which are the most beautiful walks in the
Dolomite Mountains of Trentino-Alto
Adige. An intricate network of paths offers a great variety of
itineraries catering to all types of visitors. Without a doubt,
walkers will appreciate the paths of the Catinaccio (Rosengarten),
the mountain that symbolizes the region and the Dolomites
themselves, a true pearl set in the valleys of Tires, Ega and Fassa.
Every summer, the Falzarego-Lagazuoi area hosts an increasingly
large number of mountain enthusiasts. The area's extraordinary
landscapes, along with a wealth of historical remains (in the First
World War, for example, this was the site of several bloody
battles), lend the area its great charm. The accommodation
facilities are well-known for their efficiency - lifts allow
tourists to reach quickly the higher places from where to begin
their walks, while the refuges and refreshment points make it
possible to undertake even difficult excursions without worry,
offering also the possibility of overnight stays. Villages such as
Castelrotto, Siusi and Fič allo Sciliar are ideal starting points
for walks in the Natural Park of Sciliar which, along with the
protected area of the Siusi Alps, is a paradise for mountain lovers
(for information:
www.dolomiti.org).
In Veneto visitors can enjoy
splendid walks in the
Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites,
from the lower valley grasslands all the way up to the rocky
mountain faces and the snowfields. The park joins on the northern
side the Alto Adige
park of Fanes, Sennes and Braies to
form a vast protected area in the heart of the Dolomites. Excursions
of particular interest include those along the "vie ferrate" or
"iron ways" and the paths rigged out with equipment, some of which
incorporate the remains of First World War communication routes. In
the mountain ranges of Lagazuoi, Tofana and Cristallo there are
working lifts that take excursionists and mountaineers up to the
higher trails, while on the road leading to the accesses to the
Croda Rossa there is a bus service (for information: Park Offices
and Management, Via del Parco 1, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo, tel. 0463
2206;
www.dolomitiparco.com).
In Friuli-Venezia Giulia guided
tours and open-air activities are organized in the Regional Natural Park of the Friuli Dolomites, an area that
extends between the eastern slope of the Piave Valley and the southern slope of the
Tagliamento Valley. Walkers are advised to
follow the main paths of the park, after first obtaining information
from the tourist centers or the main office (tel. 0427 87333). To
the south, between the high peaks of the Gran Sasso, Majella and
Velino mountains and the golden coastline, the nature of Abruzzo
offers a great variety of landscapes, which may be enjoyed at all
times of the year.
Due
to excellent organization of the national and regional parks and to
the great network of reserves and protected areas run by
environmental associations the nature of Abruzzo is today well
looked after, and with its many trekking routes and its
accommodation facilities the region is well able to cater to
excursionists (for information:
www.regione.abruzzo.it).
4.4 Alpine
and Apennine refuges Top
There
are over 700 bivouacs and assistance points scattered throughout the
Italian mountains. T he refuges are structures that are conveniently
located, organized and managed to offer rest, refreshment and the
possibility of staying overnight, and are equipped with all
necessary facilities. Some operate as small hotels; usually these
are open to the public only during the summer months. Most of the
refuges of the Club Alpino Italiano ("Italian Mountaineering Club")
and many of the private structures have a room with a separate
entrance reserved for makeshift accommodation during the winter
season and when the refuge is closed. The network of mountain
refuges is mainly run by the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), an
association that was founded in 1863 and today boasts over 300,000
members in around 480 branches scattered throughout all parts of
Italy. These branches run
the refuges, bivouacs and assistance points; information may be
obtained from the main branch of the CAI, in Milan (see
paragraph above on the Sentiero Italia).
The
assistance points, set up in existing buildings and equipped with
rescue services, are situated in places where there would also be a
need for a refuge, but, for a variety of reasons, would prove
impossible to run. These places offer rest to trekkers and climbers
and are furnished with basic, but indispensable, gear for overnight
stays and, in case of need, simple cooking and heating facilities.
The bivouacs are simple constructions located at fairly high
altitudes and in very isolated places; they are usually used by
those who need a place to shelter for the night before or after a
long climb. The shelters are open and unattended; it is rarely
necessary to ask for a key to enter.
4.5 Birdwatching Top
Birdwatching
is an activity that can be practiced by anyone and in the most
varied natural environments.
 In the mountain regions, the national
parks of Gran Paradiso and Stelvio
are the home of many species of birds. With a little luck it is even
possible to spot the very rare bearded vulture, which has recently
returned to the Alps thanks to an international re-introduction
programme that culminated with the first nesting in
Italy after around 70
years of absence from the country. The coastal areas are also
suitable for birdwatching, especially for those spending their
holidays in Sardegna, Sicilia or one of the many islands.
In August, in fact, all the islands of the Mediterranean host perching birds and shore
birds preparing to migrate to African regions for the Winter. The
lagoons and marshes of Sardegna (Cabras, Santa Gilla and
Molentargius) and Sicilia (Vendicari and the
swamplands of Longarini) are resting places for various types of
sandpipers, avocets and flamingoes. The island of San
Pietro, in Sardegna, hosts one of the
largest
colonies
of the species known as Eleonora's falcon in the entire
Mediterranean region. The migration of birds of prey is an
extraordinary sight. The best periods are spring, in the months of
April and May, and late summer from August to September. The main
route of Spring migration leads through the Straits of Messina,
although sightings are also possible in Liguria, especially at Arenzano, near
Genoa; in the Marche, on Mount San Bartolo near Pesaro and on the promontory of Conero; in
Lazio, at Circeo; in Puglia, on the
cape of Otranto; and from all the small islands of
the Tyrrhenian Sea. In autumn the
birds of prey are also concentrated in other places, such as on the
hills of
Treviso, in Veneto, and in the western valleys of
Piemonte. To enjoy the experience
of birdwatching all that is needed is a set of inconspicuous
clothing, good binoculars, a pocket handbook for identifying the
species and a good deal of patience as you begin to "hunt out" your
"prey". There are various organizations that promote birdwatching in
Italy, as well as guide
services for accompanying tourists in the national parks and
regional reserves. The most active of these include the Italian
Society for the Protection of Birds, which runs around 60 oases
dedicated specifically to birdwatching and equipped with structures
and facilities such as huts, trackways and guides (for information:
LIPU, Via Trento 49, 43100 Parma, tel. 0521 273043, fax 0521 273419;
www.lipu.it).
4.6 In
the cities of art Top
Italy
is a veritable open-air museum, with a cultural and artistic
heritage such as no other country in the world can boast. Visiting
the cities of art on foot means taking an original journey through
time. In the historical centers of northern and central
Italy stand impressive
Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals, erected after the year 1000, while
in the southern regions the ancient religious architecture is
frequently an interesting interpretation of Byzantine, Arabic and
Norman elements.
All
cities contain works by great Renaissance artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Masaccio, Botticelli, Piero della
Francesca, Mantegna, Donatello, Raffaello, Antonello da Messina,
Bramante, Correggio, Tintoretto and Giorgione.
The
Renaissance period, with its creative spirit, left its mark
predominantly on the cities of Florence, Rome,
Venice, Milan, Naples and other smaller towns in
many Italian regions. The splendor of Baroque architecture can be
seen throughout the country, especially in the South -in the
grandeur of the buildings and the richly decorated churches of
Naples in Campania, and of Catania, Agrigento, Ragusa and Noto in Sicilia. The
great archaeological wealth of the country, meanwhile, includes the
unique and fascinating Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, one of the most magnificent
testimonies of the ancient Greek civilization in Sicilia, or the mysteries of Pompei and
Herculaneum in Campania, or
of the Etruscan civilization around Tuscia, in
Lazio.
Moreover,
there are around 3000 museums scattered throughout the country
housing numerous archaeological and artistic finds, representing a
historical and cultural heritage of enormous
value.
5. Italy
on horseback
Top
Horseriding
tourism in Italy is becoming
increasingly popular as an alternative way to travel around in the
open air and in the natural environment. Horse riding is generally
practiced in company with others, for the sake of sharing together
the beauty of the green Italian routes and overcoming more easily
the difficulties that riding can involve. In many regions there are
riding centers for tourists, which offer riders the possibility of
spending their holidays either with their own horses or with those
belonging to the center.
5.1 Horsering
holidays Top
Mountains,
woodlands and beautiful coastal and hill landscapes - there can be
no better setting for a horseriding excursion, or for riding lessons
for adults and children alike (the horseriding centers have ponies
and horses especially trained for carrying children). The
Federazione Italiana Turismo Equestre ("Italian Horseriding Tourism
Federation"), an associate of the Italian National Olympic Committee
(one of the main promoters of horseriding tourism), has defined a
close network of itineraries throughout the whole country, in
co-operation especially with the organizations in charge of the
parks, the WWF and the forest wardens. There is an amazing number of
trails, from those that follow the ancient Roman consular roads or
the rough tracks made by wanderers or pilgrims of bygone days (such
as Via Francigena, which led from the regions of France and
descended through Italy in the direction of Rome) to routes
associated with gourmet specialities (the Tour of Chianti or that of
Prosecco), trails of particular naturalistic value (the trail
upstream along the Tiber riverbank or around Sicilia) or the
historical itinerary to discover the castles of Friuli. In Maremma,
 in the south of Toscana, there is a network of
itineraries extending for a total of around 500
kilometers, with varying degrees of difficulty
and broken up into stages by resting stations equipped for
horseriding tourists. Riders may also choose from among a series of
excursions, led by environmental guides, which aim to discover the
true essence of the Tuscan countryside, from the hills to the sea.
The Alta Via of the
Ligurian Mountains is particularly
suited to excursions on horseback, as it boasts a wide variety of
routes with more frequent stops during the day. The farm holiday
structures and riding centers scattered throughout the hinterland
provide the operating bases essential for long rides in complete
freedom and safety. Frequently, horseriding tourism is proposed as a
recreation activity by the more well-organised and well-equipped
farm holiday structures, where it is possible not only to hire the
horse, but also receiving training from riding instructors and
obtaining informations from friendly guides.
 6.
Cycling
holidays Top
In the cultural,
almost philosophical, evolution that is changing our concept of
holidays, transforming them from simple amusement and relaxation to
an involving rediscovery of essential values, the bicycle has become
the absolute protagonist. Italy boasts a great
wealth of itineraries and small towns to be discovered and developed
-
a veritable
paradise for cycling tourists. In recent years there have been an
increasing number of initiatives throughout the country to introduce
new cycling routes in contact with nature and traditions, and to
discover the extraordinary artistic heritage of villages and cities
alike.
6.1 Planning
the trip Top
Before
setting off on a cycling holiday it is important to make
preparations. The most essential tool (apart from a bicycle!) is a
good map, in order to reach your chosen destination as easily as
possible. For trips in Italy the planning of the route must take
into account the characteristics of the territory: the landscapes
(choose itineraries which will take you through an interesting
natural setting), the historical, artistic and architectural value
of the area (include historical towns and cities of art in your
route), the folklore and gourmet traditions (leave room on your
itinerary to allow yourself be "tempted" by detours along the "wine
routes" to discover the numerous other local products. As well as
the map, useful indications are provided along the cycling routes
way by signposts and, of course, directions given by the local
people. Nevertheless, cyclists should remember that bicycles are not
allowed to travel on motorways and clearways (similar to motorways
but without tolls). Cyclists are obliged to respect the same traffic
regulations as motorists.
Bicycles
must be fitted with a front white or yellow electric light and a
rear red light and reflector, as well as reflectors on the pedals
and the sides of the wheels. The basic road safety code must be
observed: keep to the right, pay extra attention at crossroads and
on corners and take care on uneven or wet road
surfaces.
6.2 The
bicycle by plane, train and ship Top
After
procuring the proper equipment and planning the trip, the next step
is to find out about the means of transportation available for
travelling to Italy with a bicycle. For
those arriving from afar it is often essential to travel by
airplane. Most airline c ompanies accept the transport of bicycles;
some provide free of charge or sell special boxes in which to pack
the bicycle, while others require that it is partially dismantled
and placed in special bags. It is advisable to find out from the
airline companies or consult their Websites before purchasing
tickets. More widely popular is the bicycle + train combination. In
Italy on many local and
regional trains, on some inter-regional trains bearing a special
symbol, on all the so-called "green" trains and, during weekends and
holidays, on many others also, bicycles may be carried on the same
train as the owner, in the wagon marked with the blue bicycle logo.
On "green" trains and those that do not require a special wagon the
bicycle may be stood where there is space, being careful not to
disturb the other passengers. For transportation by train a
supplement is asked (payable at the ticket office); this may be 4 or
5 euro, according to the type of train used. The supplement ticket
must be punched before mounting the train and is valid for 24 hours.
The official train timetable (which may be purchased from any
newspaper kiosk in Italy and is also found
on the Website
www.trenitalia.com)
gives all the necessary information regarding the transportation of
bicycles by train. On all trains, however, bicycles may be carried
if they are considered part of the owner's luggage, i.e. enclosed in
a bag. Transportation by ship, meanwhile (e.g. when travelling to
Sardegna or Sicilia), is also fairly simple.
Bicycles may be brought on board either mounted or dismantled,
placed in a large bag and carried on as luggage. Some ferry
companies offer bicycle transportation free of charge, while others
charge a fee ranging from 10 to 15 euro.
6.3 Cycling
routes Top
Some
of the most pleasant itineraries for cycling tourists are certainly
those along the "wine routes", which are promoted by the Federazione
Italiana Amici della Bicicletta ("Italian Friends of the Bicycle
Association"), or FIAB, and the Movimento Turismo del Vino ("Wine
Tourism Movement"). For information:
www.fiab-onlus.it ;
www.movimentoturismovino.it ).
Especially in occasion of the Cantine Aperte ("Open Cellar") events
in May and during the Autumn grape harvest bicycle trips are
organized along special routes, mainly on secondary roads with
little traffic and, where possible, on protected cycling
paths.
The
aim is to bring tourists and visitors by bicycle to wine-making
farms throughout the country, to learn about and sample the wines
and typical local products, visit the wine-making plants and enjoy
the promotional cultural events. The pilot project was launched in
Puglia, although similar
initiatives are being set up throughout the country. Another project
launched for the same purpose, involving the cycling tourism
associations, the Italian WWF and the Parks Federation, has led to
the creation of cycling routes within the main Italian national
parks, from Stelvio to Abruzzo (info:
www.fiab-onlus.it;
www.wwf.it;
www.parks.it).
On a more general scale, the great European network of cycling
routes, known as Eurovelo, includes a well-established network of
cycle tracks in Italy. There are three
itineraries (a stretch of the Mediterranean Route, from Cadice to
Athens; the ancient Via Francigena track, from London to Rome, and a
part of the Middle Europe Route, from Cape North to Malta) that
cross Italy with evocative cycle tracks covering the whole peninsula
(for information:
www.eurovelo.org).
Last but not least are the so-called "greenways" - hundreds of
kilometers of trails along the banks of rivers, canals and disused
railways, as well as ancient historical tracks and mountain paths.
These routes bring cycling tourists in contact with the most varied
surroundings, in full respect of the environment and its
integrity.
6.4 Accomodation
alternatives Top
Those
who practice cycling tourism generally tend to choose different
types of accommodation to that offered by hotels. The most popular
choice is camping - it is not difficult, in fact, especially when
travelling in groups, to carry a tent and stop for the night in
campgrounds or specially-equipped areas reserved for such occasions.
In Italy there are hundreds
of camping facilities spread throughout all regions of the country.
Information may be obtained from good guidebooks, from Internet
(especially useful is the Website
www.campeggi.com),
or from the following associations: Federcampeggio, Via Vittorio
Emanuele 11, 50041 Calenzano (FI), tel. 055 882391, fax 055 882591
FAITA, Via degli Scipioni 153, 00192 Roma, tel. 06 32111043, fax 06
3200830;
www.faita.it.
For
those who prefer to sleep with a roof over their heads the Youth
Hostel organisation offers accommodation at very low prices. Most of
these are part of the Associazione Italiana Alberghi per
la
Gioventł or AIG ("Italian Youth Hostel
Association") and require a special membership card, which costs 15
euro (there is no age limit for membership). Booking may be done
through the Website
www.ostellionline.org.
The network of farm holiday structures, which covers the whole
country, provides an ideal accommodation solution for cycling
tourists and offers the chance to sample typical Italian wines and specialities of the local gourmet traditions. The structures are
members of organizations: Turismo Verde (
www.turismoverde.it ) ,
Agriturist (www.agriturist.it)
and Terranostra (www.terranostra.it),
which are supervised by national farmers' associations. Bed &
Breakfast accommodation costs slightly more than youth hostels but
also offers a generally higher quality service; this type of
hospitality is becoming increasingly widespread in
Italy. A number of hotel
networks (especially in the region of Emilia Romagna) offer special
low-price deals for cycling tourists. In addition, a few years ago
the FIAB founded a cycling enthusiasts' association, named
Ospitabici, whose aim is to offer hospitality to fellow cyclists,
especially those coming from abroad, during their journey. Ospitabici is part of a European-wide organisation that provides
accommodation services and facilities for members of associations
related to the ECF, or European Cyclists' Federation. The list
contains some fifty addresses in Italy, all of which
guarantee friendliness and competence (
www.fiab-onlus.it/ospitabi.htm ) .
Lastly, Sen/as, an international nonprofit association with
approximately 1500 members in Italy and thousands
throughout the world, offers free hospitality to cyclists (
www.servas.it ).
7. Waterways
Top
7.1 Sailing Top
Whether
it is the advertisements that make us all feel like virtual sailors
or the recollections of great international races like
America's Cup, the fact
remains that sailing, once a sport reserved for devotees of the sea,
has today become an extremely popular sport. It is an activity that
appeals to all tastes, from the more adventurous to the more refined
 and leisurely; the number of tourists opting for a sailing holiday,
in fact, is continually increasing.
The
sailing population ranges in age from twenty-five to sixty and is
extremely varied, including families with small children, groups of
friends, and even solitary sailors. Those who embark alone
may
choose
the "cabin charter" formula, which consists of a rented cabin and
the possibility of making friends with the other guests, The price,
which naturally varies according to the route, includes a crew
consisting of a skipper,
a
seaman and a hostess. There are basically three alternatives for
renting the boat. The "bareboat" formula is the ideal solution for
those who have a good sailing background and are able to put
together their own crew, as it provides only the
boat. The "boat with skipper"
formula is suitable for those with little or no sailing experience,
as the skipper is an expert sailor with a perfect knowledge of the
sailing area and the chosen craft. The "fleet" option consists in
the renting of the boat for a pre-arranged
route. This is recommended for those facing their first experience
as skipper, as it provides the possibility of sailing in freedom,
but at the same time with the reassurance of knowing that other
boats are near at hand. On one of the boats of the fleet, in fact,
there is a crew of professional sailors, which guides the maneuvers
and is always ready to intervene in case of emergency. Each of the
boats, therefore, is free to sail independently, at a short distance
from the others, and in the evening joins up with the rest of the
fleet. Lastly, those who are not satisfied with merely spending a
holiday on a boat, but wish to learn the techniques of sailing, may
enrol in one of the many specialized sailing schools (the Website
www.velanet.it
gives a complete list of sailing schools in
Italy).
The
various opportunities for sailing holidays are managed in all the
coastal regions of Italy by Italian sailing clubs, sports societies
and innumerable travel agencies (Federazione Italiana Vela, "Italian
Sailing Federation", Piazza Borgo Pila 40,16129 Genova, tel. 010
544541, fax 010 592864;
www.federvela.it).
Those wishing to organize a sailing holiday in Italian seas can find
useful information in the Coastguard Website (www.guardiacostiera.it).
7.2 ON RIVERS AND LAKES Top
 For
centuries, rivers and canals have been important tools of
communication, veritable "water highways" for the transportation of
people or goods.
Today
the pursuit of new initiatives for promoting tourism has led to
the
re-launching of river navigation as an alternative holiday idea. The
number of river tourism enthusiasts who choose to spend a day or
more sailing along Italian rivers, in fact, is today over 500,000.
According to the most recent statistics Italy has
2,237
kilometers of waterways.
These
are mostly concentrated in Lombardia, where 50% of the navigable rivers of
the entire country are located, representing a thousand kilometers
of rivers, lakes and canals, with 50 tourist river
ports.
To
sail down one of the main navigable rivers of
Italy means discovering a
heritage of great historical, artistic, environmental and economic
value. The river offering the best opportunities is the Po, the
longest river in the country, which originates on the mountain of Monviso, in Piemonte, and crosses the
entire northern part of Italy from west to, where it flows
into the Adriatic Sea. There are at
least three large ferries on this river that offer regular cruises
from Venice to Cremona: the
motor ship Venezia (accommodating 102 passengers in 52 well-furnished
cabins), belonging to a Swiss shipping company (www.venicecruises.com;
www.rmt.ch),
the Michelangelo and the Casanova (deilmann-kreuzfahrten.de).
Every year many people choose to spend their holidays on this river.
Besides Venice, the other
destinations proposed are Ferrara,
Cremona and Mantua (with bus trips to Parma, Verona
and Padua). In various travel agencies
it is possible to rent houseboats, which are genuine floating
houses, and which can be sailed without the need for a sailing
license. There is also a growing interest on the part of tourists
for day cruises on the River Po between Mantua and the lagoon of Veneto. The
Po is also navigable in the stretch that crosses the plain of
Piemonte; in Turin there are two
boats, named Valentino and Valentina, which offer a one-hour cruise
up the river from the historical center of the city to Moncalieri. In
Lombardia, another traditional
waterway is enjoying a comeback. This is the Navigli, the ancient
network of canals that were used predominantly for transporting
goods. A few years ago a service was set up for tourists on the
Naviglio Grande ("Large Canal"), offering cruises on the Viscontea,
a boat with solar panels that glides silently (thanks to an electric
engine) over the waters of the canal.
Veneto
also offers a number of internal waterway cruises. There are
currently six stretches accessible for tourists - from the
canal of Padua to the mouth of the canal of
Battaglia
Terme. Cruises are available from Brenta
by modern motorship (60,000 passengers per year) and on the River
Piave by waterbus, which covers the last stretch of the river from
Noventa to the outlet. In Lazio cruises are run on the River Tiber,
from Rome (Castel Giubileo) to Ostia
Antica, with boats that are becoming an interesting tourist
attraction for the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city.
Lake navigation, meanwhile, is an ancient and well-rooted tradition
in Italy. In
1826-27,
in fact, the years when the steam engine
became popular, the first main shipping lines were established on
the three largest lakes of northern Italy (the lakes Maggiore, Como and
Garda). Today the company that runs the service (which was recently
extended to include also the
lake of Iseo) has a fleet of 89
vessels, including ferries, motorships and hydrofoils, with a total
capacity of approximately 30,000 passengers, as well as four
shipyards equipped with structures and modern technological plants
for the construction and maintenance of the boats. According to
statistics, around eight million passengers and 650,000 vehicles are
transported every year. Besides the shipping line service, however,
there are a number of real cruises (including night-time cruises)
offered on the lakes (for information: Navigazione Laghi, Via
Ariosto 21, 20145 Milan, tel. 02 4676101, fax 02
46761059;
navigazionelaghi.it).
7.3 Tourism
and adventure Top
One
way of enjoying the rivers and torrents of Italy that combines
tourism, sport and adventure is to practice some of the specialized
sports that cater to the demands of tourist structures while
frequently consisting in a real adventure. The most popular sport of
this "alternative tourism" is kayaking -an ideal and ecological way
to discover torrents, rivers, lakes and coastlines in direct contact
with nature. After learning the necessary basic techniques the kayak
offers a wide choice of safe activities, including long-distance
races, riverside camping and kayaking on the lakes. Due to the great
adaptability of the kayak campgrounds, holiday villages and tour
operators throughout Italy propose initiatives
and organize courses and excursions. Information can be obtained
from the Federazione Italiana Canoa Turistica ("Italian Touristic
Canoeing Federation"), which includes all the associations operating
in the sector (Via Francesca 17, 25037 Pontoglio, BS;
www.canoa.org).
For those who prefer more extreme sports, meanwhile, an activity
that is perhaps more to their taste is rafting. A sport that is
practiced mainly in Alpine areas, rafting consists in descending
rapidly-flowing torrents with rubber dinghies holding from around 4
to 12 people, which are virtually unsinkable as they are made of
separate compartments. The essential equipment (life jacket, wetsuit
in neoprene, safety helmet and paddle) may also be hired. The
Associazione Italiana Rafting ("Italian Rafting Association", Neyran
85/E, 11020 Brissogne, AO;
www.airaf.it)
includes all the sports societies and the 25 rafting organizations
in Italy that offer
facilities for
practicing this activity. In many tourist towns in
the Alps there are clubs and
societies that organize courses of canyoning and hydrospeed.
Canyoning (or river trekking) consists in following the descent of a
torrent on foot, crossing fords, rapids and pools, swimming in
springs that meander down between rocky gorges, etc. - frequently
with the aid of ropes and mountain-climbing equipment (www.canyoning.it).
Hydrospeed, which is still fairly unknown among the general public,
is a more reckless sport. Protected by a water bobsleigh and a
thermal wetsuit and wearing flippers, hydrospeed enthusiasts allow
themselves to be carried by the current while performing daring
manoeuvres as they go. On the Dora Baltea, in the Val d'Aosta, expert
guides accompany tourists on this sporting adventure (www.progettoestremo.com).
7.4 FISHING
HOLIDAYS Top
In
recent years in Italy new ways of
interpreting tourist hospitality have been developed. One of the
most original of these is called "pescaturismo", or "fishing
tourism", and is dedicated to the discovery of the seas and the most
beautiful coasts. The
 aim, in fact, is to involve tourists in the
activities associated with world professional fishing, while
offering the opportunity to admire spectacular landscapes and learn
about the history and traditions of the seafaring population. This
is a world rich in culture, with a lifestyle characterized by a
fascinating blend of flavors and smells, legends and nature. There
are already many co-operatives of fishermen that cater to this type
of tourist hospitality. The most active, which offer extremely
interesting holidays, are part of the Consorzio PEI Turismo con i
Pescatori ("PEI Tourism with the Fishermen Union", Via Nazionale
243, 00184 Roma, tel. 06 46204701, fax 06 46204723-24;
www.legapesca.it).
Italy also has a very
close network of lakes for fishing as a sport. These are organized
and managed by associations belonging to the Federazione Italiana
Pesca Sportiva ("Italian Fishing Federation", Viale Tiziano 70,00196
Roma, tel. 06 36858290, fax 06 36858630;
www.fipsas.it),
which is also in charge of granting permission and
licenses.
8. Flying
in Italy
Top
To
think about the inborn dream of flying, the dream of Icarus,
in this ultra-technological age where just a few hours' flight
on board a jet can bring us across from one continent to
another, may seem somewhat rhetoric and naive. And yet the
desire to fly remains one of the deepest dreams in
the heart of man. To glide silently through the air, to see
things from a
completely
different perspective and in a totally different way -this
is the adventure of free flying,
a fantastic way to discover
the Italian landscape.
8.1 AIRBORNE
SPORTS Top
A
flying holiday in Italy is a holiday that
can become an unforgettable adventure. The most well known method of
gliding is by hang-glider. Used generally in mountains and hills
overlooking the sea, but also in mountain valleys, the hang-glider
makes it possible to fly without the aid of an engine. To set it
flying it is attached to a small plane, which takes off from a slope
facing in the right direction and having the right exposure to the
wind. When the craft is released it must use the air currents rising
from the sun-warmed earth and the air movement caused by the wind
against the mountain or hillside to try to remain airborne for as
long as possible before gliding down to land in a set point
(information may be obtained from the Union Roma national
hang-gliding school:
www.parapendio-deltaplano.it).
The paraglider is an evolution of the parachute, with the difference
that, instead of jumping from a plane, the flier takes off, usually
from a gentle slope, once the "sail" is sufficiently swelled with
air. For this sport special parachutes are used, whose shape makes
it possible to
 maneuver and guide the craft. The sails weigh
5-7
kg, have a surface of 20-30 square
meters and are controlled and directed by
means of two brakes. In spite of its simplicity and manageability
the paraglide offers great performance, remaining airborne for
several hours and covering very long
distances.
Some
of the most popular areas where paragliding can be practiced, with
the support of professional instructors, include: Canazei
(Trentino), Monte Cucco (Umbria),
Monte Grappa (Veneto) and Laveno (Lombardia):
www.parapendio.com.
Whatever environment one chooses for the holidays, whether seaside,
countryside or mountains, it is not difficult to find specialized
schools that are recognized by the Federazione Italiana Volo Libero
("Italian Free Flying Federation", Via Salbertrand 50, 10146 Torino,
tel. 011 744991, fax 011 752846;
www.fivl.it),
which can realize the dream of flying in a fun yet safe way.
Youngsters aged at least 16 and with the permission of their parents
and adults in a good state of health may obtain a certificate of
free flying (required by Italian law), enabling them to fly with the
hang-glider or paraglide. The quickest way to try out the sport is
by flying with a pilot qualified to fly the two-man
version.
It
is also possible to fly with two other more traditional means - the
glider and the parachute. Although a normal holiday is not long
enough to learn these particular sports, which require fairly long
training courses and special licences, they may be practiced by
those already in possession of the necessary license through one of
the specialized structures operating in the country (www.scuoladiparacadutismo.it).
Beginners,
meanwhile, are allowed to practice jumps of flights together with an
instructor. There are many gliding clubs in Italy, which are
associated with the Federazione Italiana Volo a Vela ("Italian
Gliding Federation", Viale Porta Vercellina 2, 20123 Milano, tel. 02
48003325;
www.fiw.it);
many of these also include parachuting schools. One of the latest
flying trends is, in actual fact, the rediscovery of an ancient
invention - the hot-air balloon.
This
is a wonderful way to admire the Italian landscapes, sailing over
treetops, rivers and lakes, floating gently in the air without
polluting and in complete safety. The shape, size and color of the
balloons may vary, but the supporting structure and the functioning
systems are always the same. The balloon is made up of a basket for
passengers, one or two burners and a covering that is filled with
hot air.
The
wicker basket holds up to six people and is strong, flexible and
compact. Inside the basic instruments are an altimeter, a
thermometer, a variometer, which indicates the speed of ascent and
descent, and a radio. The balloon itself is made of nylon or
polyester, treated to resist heat and the sun's rays. It cannot be
controlled like an ordinary aircraft, but is completely at the mercy
of the wind and the air currents; the passengers know where they
leave the earth, but not where they will touch down again. For this
reason passengers are always followed by a vehicle that is in
constant contact by radio and picks up the passengers and equipment
after landing. Few people, due to the high costs, can afford to buy
a hot-air balloon, but anyone can go for a ride. In many regions of
Italy (the
Val d'Aosta, Lombardia, Piemonte, Veneto and Umbria) there are centers where
balloon rides accompanied by expert fliers are offered at reasonable
costs (www.scuoladiparacadutismo.it).
9. In
the depths of the earth
Top
Caves
are a unique environment, luminous and magical. They
represent
a world that is little-known
-
a
world of sandy
beaches,
dunes, waterfalls, fast-flowing rivers, lakes of
crystal-clear
water and magnificent calcareous formations, which in Italy presents
a whole range of truly marvelous opportunities for the
nature-loving tourist. The complexity and richness and Italy's
geological history have created an
infinite
variety
of underground caves and caverns. Apart from the innumerable
itineraries
reserved for more experienced speleologists, in
Italy
several very large caves are open to the public, which
are
famous throughout the world for their beauty.
9.1 BOSSEA Top
The
cave of Bossea is situated in the karst area of
Artesinara-Mondolč, in Piemonte.
The processes of formation and modelling are still fully active
today, and the action of the running and dripping water has created
a natural environment of exceptional beauty. The deeper part of the
grotto contains a series of huge halls characterized by steep and
rugged rocks, thundering waterfalls and crystal-clear pools. The
upper part, meanwhile, is made up of a deep and picturesque canyon,
through which flow the waters of the torrent, and a complex of
tunnels decorated by exquisite concretions. For those wishing
to
explore
the cave the Scientific Station, in co-operation with the
Associazione Culturale EKYČ of Fontane ("EKYČ Cultural
Association"), has created an itinerary of great naturalistic (and
also cultural) value, which crosses the entire area from the refuge
of Balma (1883
m) to the
cave of Bossea (836
m).
How
to arrive: from the Turin-Savona motorway turn off at Mondovi and
follow the indications for Villanova Mondovi, turning left towards
Frabosa Soprana and continuing in the direction of Fontane. After a
short distance on the right the cave reception building will become
visible.
9.2 TOIRANO Top
A
few kilometers fro the Ligurian coast is one of the most beautiful
caves of karst origin in Italy, a true
calcareous.
gem
set in the heart of the Ligurian mountains. An entrance adorned with
ancient stalagmites and stalactites leads to the most well-known
caves of Basura, Colombo and Santa Lucia Inferiore.
The first, which is also known as the Strega, or "Witch" grotto, is
reached from the western slope of the large valley of
Vero, at a
height of 194
meters above sea level. This cave has only
partially been explored and offers evocative underground views of
calcareous columns and small lakes. The cave of
Basura is
connected to that of Santa Lucia Inferiore by a 120-meter-long
tunnel, which was opened in 1967. It is famous for having preserved
over the ages the bones and footprints of prehistoric animals, and
also evidence of the passage of man, such as charcoal, remains of
torches and the prints of hands and feet on the clay-covered walls
of the so-called Hall of Mysteries. These finds are believed to have
been left by the prehistoric community that inhabited the grottos,
and probably refer to initiation rites, since most of the prints are
of children. All the prints, nevertheless, date back to around
14,300 years ago. The caves of Toirano are "active", as the water
that continually flows through them causes perpetual transformation.
A constant temperature of 16 °C guarantees the
conservation of the environment. How to arrive: along the A10
Savona-Ventimiglia motorway, leaving at Pietra Ligure; take the
clearway 1 Aurelia to Loano and then follow the road up towards
Toirano; from here follow the indications for the
caves.
Visiting
hours: daily from 9.00
to
12.00
a.m. and from 2.00
to
5.00 p.m.
Information:
tel. 0182 98062.
9.3 BORGIO
VEREZZI Top
With
their moon-like landscapes tinged with colour the caves of Borgio
Verezzi, in Liguria, are every bit as
evocative as those of Toirano. It is the colours, in fact, that
distinguish them from the latter -the reds and yellows created by
the ferrous minerals mixed with the rainwater that filters through
the earth and the rocks. A special feature of these caves are the
so-called "spaghetti" stalactites, named for their thread-like
formations, which are able to vibrate with the sound waves; others
have a drapery appearance, like those of Manto di San Martino.
Especially worth looking out for are the pools of filtered rainwater
and other
formations
such as the Waterfall, the Bust of Pope John, the Lantern, the
Camel, the Samurai and the Pagoda. The caves, which extend for a
distance of five kilometers, are inhabited by very unusual species,
which are perfectly adapted to life in total darkness. These include
troglobes, tiny transparent creatures without eyes or wings, which
are able to live only in underground environments. The route open to
the public, which was created in 1970, is around
800
meters in length. How to arrive: along the A10
motorway as far as Finale Ligure, and then following the clearway 1
Aurelia towards Ventimiglia; after around three kilometers the road
arrives at Borgio Verezzi. From here take the clearway
490
in the direction of Melogno; the road to the
grottos is near the turn for Gorra. By train: on the
Genoa-Ventimiglia line as far as Finale Ligure, from where there is
a bus service to Borgio Verezzi (Finale Ligure-Andora line).
Visiting hours: October to April, from 9.00 to 11.35 a.m. and
from 2.35 to 5.35 p.m.; May to September, from 9.00 to
12.00
a.m. and from 3.00 to 6.00 p.m.; the visit
lasts a little more than an hour.
Information:
www.comune.borgio-verezzi.sv.it.
9.4 ANTRO
DELLA CORCHIA Top
This
cave was discovered in 1841 by a geologist from Levigliani named
Giuseppe Simi. In 1983 a group of
speleologists demonstrated that this enormous underground structure
reaches a total depth of 1210 m. The cave is
currently the deepest in Italy and the tenth
deepest in the world. The entrance of the Antro is situated at a
distance of over two kilometers from the Tuscan village of Levigliani, which extends over an
orographic terrace, at a height of 600 m beneath the towering
rock walls on the south side of
Mount Corchia (1678 m) in the
Apuane mountains. The opening through which visitors enter the
grotto was made from an old mine. The most characteristic forms of
the Antro, especially in the part open to the public, are
concretions hanging from the ceiling, such as cylindrical or conic
stalactites; others were formed by the dripping of water onto the
cave floor, like the stalagmites and spray concretions. There are
also magnificent columns formed by the fusion of stalactites and
stalagmites, as well as the underwater concretions known as "cave
pearls". How to arrive: along the A12 Sestri Levante-Livorno,
turning off at Versilia and following the indications for Seravezza
(around 5
kilometers). From here continue in the
direction of Castelnuovo Garfagnana as far as Levigliani (around
12
kilometers after Seravezza). From Garfagnana
follow directions for Castelnuovo, and from here carry on towards
Arni-Versilia.
Visiting
hours: see the Website. Information:
www.antrocorchia.it.
9.5 GROTTA
DEL VENTO (“WIND CAVE”) Top
Situated
in the center of the Natural Park of the Apuane Mountains, the Wind
Cave is divided
into three parts with clearly differentiated morphological
characteristics. The initial stretch is basically
 flat with a great
quantity of calcareous concretions; the second, which begins with a
deep abyss and continues in a gentle downward slope, is partly
crossed by an underground river, and the third part is characterized
by the presence of large vertical potholes. The grotto takes its
name from the strong current of air that passes through it between
two openings situated at different heights. Well-made paths allow
visitors to admire comfortably all the floodlit marvels of the
underground world, from stalactites and stalagmites to multicoloured
flows, from alabaster draperies to pools encrusted with crystals,
from underground streams to the strange shapes moulded by erosion.
Visitors are accompanied through the cave by expert speleologist
guides, and may choose from three different routes. The first (one
hour) is on fairly flat ground and is lined almost everywhere with
splendid calcareous concretions; the second (two hours), includes
the first and adds the spectacular sight of
huge
underground halls crossed by a small river, and the third (three
hours) consists of a complete visit of the whole
cave.
How
to arrive; from Milan the best way is
by the A1 motorway and turn off onto the A15 near Parma; leave
the motorway at Aulla and follow the directions. From Turin take the A21 motorway and turn off near
Alessandria onto the A26 towards
Voltri; take the A10 in the direction of Genoa and then the A12 as far as Massa. From
here take the road to Colle San Carlo and follow the indications.
From Florence take the A11 motorway to
Altopascio, and from here take the roads to Porcari, Marlia and
Ponte a Moriano, then follow the indications. Visiting hours: open
daily all year round (except Christmas): for visiting hours consult
the Website. Information: tel. 0583 722024, fax 0583 722053;
www.grottadelvento.com.
9.6 FRASASSI Top
The
caves of Frasassi are an impressive subterranean labyrinth that
stretches out for 13 kilometers, of
which only one is open to the public. The entrance to this fantastic
underground world hidden beneath Mount Vallemontagnana, in the region of the
Marche, is through a tunnel
extending for over 200 meters, created in
1971. From the initial hall the route leads to the most evocative
points - Niagara Falls, the Abyss of Ancona, the Giants, the Hall of
2000, the Obelisk, the Hall of the Birthday Candles, the Hall of
Infinity, the Organ and the Hall of the Bear. The Abyss of Ancona,
which is one of the largest hollows in Europe and probably in the whole world,
measures 200
meters in height, 180 m in length
and 120
m in width - a space, in fact, large enough to
contain the Duomo of Milan. Enormous blocks of stone form the
background of this spectacular cave, in which the attention of
visitors is immediately caught by the sight of a group of
20-meter-high stalagmites dominating one side of the hall and
fittingly known as the Giants. The path passes alongside these
majestic concretions and then moves on to the impressive Niagara Falls
and the Dead Tree, a stalagmite with a branching effect on the upper
part caused by changes in the direction of the dripping. Following
on, visitors are met with another breathtaking
scenario.
This
is the Crystallized Lake, a mirror of light blue
water with a bed of calcite crystals which, emerging, have formed a
series of little islands. From here, steps lead up to an upper level
from where it is possible to glimpse on the top of the Abyss of
Ancona a ray of light. This is a well-known point to speleologists,
as it represents the first ever entrance to the cave by the explorer
who originally discovered the fabulous subterranean world of
Frasassi in 1971.
How
to arrive: along the Al 4 motorway, turning off at Ancona Nord and
taking the Ancona-Rome clearway. Frasassi is situated around
50
km further on, in the direction of
Rome. By
train: on the Ancona-Rome line as far as the station of Genga, from
where a shuttle bus takes passengers to the caves. Visiting hours:
from March to July and from September to October, daily from 9.30 to
11.00
a.m., from 12.30 to 3.00 p.m. and from 4.30 to
6.00 p.m.; in August from 8.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. with
visits every 10 minutes.
Information:
tel. 0732 90090,0732 90780, 0732 972000;
www.cadnet.marche.it.
9.7 CASTELLANA Top
In
Puglia, in the province of
Bari, beneath
the plateau of the Murge mountains, is the large grotto complex of
Castellana, which was discovered in 1938, and subsequently explored
and made accessible to the public with guided tours and a working
system of lifts. The caves of Castellana mark the course of an
ancient underground river, and are characterised by a series of
tunnels that open unexpectedly onto spectacular caverns and halls
displaying a fine collection of magnificent and multiform stalactite
and stalagmite concretions. Visits are conducted by guides along two
different
 routes -the first, of around one kilometer and taking
roughly an hour, leads as far as the Cavern of the Precipice, while
the other is a complete tour as far as the White
Cave, extending
for a total of around three kilometers and taking roughly two hours.
Access to the caves is by a simple flight of steps, while the ascent
inside is made possible by a couple of fast and safe lifts. Near the
caves is the "Franco Anelli"
Spelaeological
Museum, dedicated to the
explorer who first discovered the underground complex. Here visitors
have the opportunity to learn more about the origins of the caves,
the environmental characteristics that caused their formation, the
life form that has developed inside them extending into their most
remote recesses, and the use that man has made of the caves over the
ages. How to arrive: from Bari along
main road no.16 towards Conversano; from Taranto along
the A14 motorway, leaving at Gioia del Colle and heading towards
Putignano. By train: from Bari on the Ferrovie del Sud-Est as
far as Castellana Grotte. Visiting hours: open all year round, with
frequency of visits differing according to season (from March 15th
to October 15th, from December 26th to January 6th). Opening hours
are from 8.30
a.m. to 7.00 p.m.; closing time is between
6.30 and 7.30 p.m. From the end of July to the end of August
night-time visits are also possible.
Information:
tel. 080 4998211, fax 080 4998219;
www.grottedicastellana.it
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