The 10 Best Destinations for Sustainable Tourism in Italy

“We travel because we love the world, so we should do our best to protect the planet. Greater awareness of our planet’s problems has led to a recent increase in destinations offering a type of eco-friendly and sustainable tourism, which has a less harmful effect on areas popular with visitors. Preserving the native flora and fauna, respecting the culture and traditions of local people and adapting to the pace of life in your chosen destination are at the heart of this type of travel. With an abundance of green countryside, excellent cuisine and great connections, Italy is one of the best places for this type of ‘slow‘, rather than mass-tourism, holiday. Read on for the 10 best places for sustainable tourism in Italy. You’ll discover there are many destinations to choose from.

### 1. Itria Valley

For once, instead of discovering Puglia’s sea and coast, we are turning our attention inland, to the area known as the Itria Valley. Here, visitors can enjoy the Murgia plateau, an area with hills rich in Mediterranean scrub vegetation and age-old olive fields. Staying in a farmhouse or a traditional Apulian dry stone hut – a trullo – complete with conical roof, is the perfect way to fully appreciate and enjoy this area.

Trulli in Puglia (CC BY-SA 2.0, by agamennone_75, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Province_of_Taranto#/media/File:Tretrulli.jpg)
### 2. Mont Avic

Sustainable tourism also means staying in hotels and lodgings that respect the environment by creating as little pollution as possible. The Aosta Valley (Val d’Aosta) has a variety of this type of accommodation and the Mont Avic area, in particular, is perfect for those wanting to immerse themselves in nature. There are plenty of places to stay in Mont Avic! Near Mont Avic Natural Park is the equally beautiful Gran Paradiso National Park. ### 3. Val di Vara

‘Behind’ the city of La Spezia is the area known as Val di Vara, a perfect place for a responsible holiday and to immerse yourself in nature. Setting out from Varese Ligure, you can discover this heavily wooded area and walk one of its many pathways. Not far from here are the well-known Cinque Terre. In recent years, this area has started providing facilities with the EU Ecolabel, a mark of environmental quality created by the European Union to promote ecotourism.Book a hotel in La Spezia for access to this beautiful region!

### 4. Palazzo Adriano Mountains and Sosio Valley

Visitors to Sicily can have a responsible holiday by staying somewhere no longer under Mafia control. Various ‘antipizzo‘ (opposed to protection money) tours are available; these benefit local business people and hoteliers. Another option is to dive into nature in the region’s interior. In the province of Palermo, the Sosio Valley park offers unforgettable walks and a touch of history; there is a geological site here that dates back to the Paleozoic Era.### 5. Gran Bosco Natural Park, Salbertrand

Fir trees, pines and larches extend throughout more than three thousand hectares of forest, where you will also find roe deer, marmots and other animals. The Salbertrand Natural Park in Piemonte deserves to be much better known! And the possibility of sleeping in one of the area’s campsites makes this place all the more special.

Salbertand (CC-BY SA 4.0, by Erikaporreca, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Parco_naturale_del_Gran_Bosco_di_Salbertrand?uselang=it#/media/File:Veduta_del_Granbosco_in_autunno.jpg )

### 6. Sennes

The Trentino Alto Adige region is the very symbol of sustainable tourism in Italy, with places worth discovering in every corner. The province of Bolzano, in particular, can be singled out for its unspoilt locations. In the villages of Sennes or Laces, for example, you can sleep in a mountain hut (malga) – a local traditional cottage – and there is plenty of locally-sourced carbon-neutral (obviously) produce to try. Cheeses, speck (smoked, cured ham) and other delicacies can be sampled right there in the mountain refuges, which are only suitable for those who already have some mountaineering experience.### 7. Pantelleria

Lost in the Mediterranean between Sicily and Tunisia and untouched for centuries, the island of Pantelleria is ideal for those wanting sustainable tourism. And what is more, staying in a dammuso – a stone house typical of this area – will make your holiday even more original and unique. At the Benikulà grotto is an open-air natural spa, well worth a visit.### 8. Navelli

On the subject of good food, the Abruzzo region has no need to envy the rest of Italy. On the contrary. The town of Navelli, in the province of L’Aquila, is particularly well known for its special chickpeas and saffron. Staying here, surrounded by green hills and with Gran Sasso in the distance, is ideal for those wanting a relaxing holiday.

Navelli (CC BY-SA 4.0, by Ziegler175, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Navelli?uselang=it#/media/File:AbrNavelli2.jpg )

### 9. Pollino National Park

With organised tours that involve the local people and local traditions, as well as programmes for schoolchildren, Pollino National Park, in Calabria, has become known as an interesting destination for sustainable tourism in Italy. Trekking, mountain biking and other sporting activities are just some of the possibilities to be explored in this geopark.### 10. Lake Maggiore

From slow tourism to ‘slow lake’ is but a short step. In recent years, towns near Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta have focused on providing responsible holidays, with excellent results. Promotion of the local area, a sustainable tourist industry, the layout of paths and trails all contribute to making this an outstanding area. It is an excellent example of how tourism in Italy can respect history and the environment.”