Ten mountain parks you can also discover in winter

It is the oldest National Park in Italy, which, together with that of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, has just turned one hundred years old: an extraordinary universe of biodiversity divided in half between the provinces of Aosta and Turin. In winter, you can explore it above all with snowshoes: there are numerous excursions you can make independently or in the company of a guide, both in the valleys of Valle d'Aosta (Rhêmes Valley, Valsavarenche, Cogne Valley) and those of Piedmont (starting from Ceresole Reale). If you're lucky, in the shadow of Gran Paradiso, the only fully Italian four-thousand-metre peak, you can see ibexes and chamois, which often descend to low altitudes during the cold season to find food and shelter, and the flight of the bearded vulture, the majestic bird of prey that was successfully reintroduced a few decades ago.

There are 70,000 hectares of mountains, forests and valleys protected by the Bergamasque Alps Regional Park, extending around the valleys north of Bergamo (Val Brembana, Seriana and Val di Scalve). Many peaks exceed three thousand metres, giving this area not far from the plains (and within easy reach of Milan) a beautiful, almost magical appearance. There are various recommended routes for reaching these mountains: for example, the Presolana plateau, where you can snowshoe through wonderful fir forests; the Grassi refuge, accessible from Introbio on a generally well-trodden path through the snow; and the Capanna 2000 refuge, between Val Brembana and Val Seriana, which you can reach on the snow on a trail that is always well-trodden.

The Stelvio National Park is huge, divided between Lombardy, the province of Trento and the province of Bolzano. Glaciers, majestic peaks, vast forests, lakes and steep valleys: there are countless panoramas to be admired among the 130,000 hectares of protected area, rich in flora and fauna. You can start exploring from one of two points: the wild and traditional Val d'Ultimo, in South Tyrol, where you can snowshoe all winter long in the company of a mountain guide (free shuttle service from Santa Valburga); and the Val di Pejo, in Trentino, where from November until March there are snowshoe hikes to discover the Piana di Covel ("Covel Plain"), guided night walks to view the stars and planets, and others in search of traces and footprints of the Park's animals (the "Alive" programme, Pejo and Rabbi visitor centres).

This regional park in the province of Trento is ideal for exploring the Alpine and Dolomite environment with the whole family. You can start, for example, from Paneveggio, a region known for its European spruce forest, from which precious wood is obtained to make the best musical instruments; following a short path, you come to a suspension bridge over the gorge of the Travignolo stream and you can continue with a visit to the wildlife area of the deer, the park's symbolic animal. Or you can head to the Villa Welsperg visitor centre, where many activities for young and old are organised every winter. You can also view the enrosadira (the phenomenon by which the Dolomites turn pink at sunset) on the majestic Pala group (also known as Pale di San Martino) in the most evocative corners of the park, for example Val Canali and Val Venegia.

The Julian Prealps Natural Park, extends around Val Resia, in Friuli Venezia Giulia. It is a rugged, sparsely populated area, in some places still wild, where the valleys are steep and the peaks pointed, ideal for those seeking intense experiences in nature. In winter, you can explore by hiking on snowshoes: for example, climbing to Malga Coot, which can be reached from Stolvizza, in the silence of the beech woods; or to Sella Carnizza, where the snow covers Stavoli Gnivizza (a summer village used by the inhabitants of the hamlet of Gniva, who led their cattle to the alpine pastures here); or the Musi Valley Nature Trail, which has information panels that chronicle the history and environment of the valley.

Among the best-preserved forests in our country are those of the Casentinesi Forests National Park, a large protected area that safeguards the mountains between Tuscany (provinces of Arezzo and Florence) and Emilia Romagna (province of Forlì-Cesena). In winter, the beech trees – the typical tree of the Apennines – are cloaked in white and offer unforgettable views to those who walk, ski or snowshoe among them. To explore the park, you can start from one of the many visitor centres around the territory, where excursions and snowshoeing are organised; some follow the trails of wolves and deer, the animals that symbolise the area. Beautiful excursions start, for example, in the surroundings of Campigna (Passo della Calla and Fangacci). The Franciscan shrines of Camaldoli and La Verna are also excellent starting points for discovering the nature of the park.

Campo Imperatore, in the Gran Sasso National Park, Abruzzo, is one of the most evocative places in Italy, in both summer and winter. It is an immense plateau surrounded on all sides by hills and mountains, primarily the summit of the Gran Sasso, the highest peak of the Apennines. The atmosphere is so reminiscent of American and Asian landscapes and scenery that the plateau is often referred to as "Little Tibet". Even in the winter, you can enjoy it in all its charm by taking the cable car from Fonte Cerreto to the ski resort, where you can practice downhill and cross-country skiing. Or you can explore it by snowshoe, starting, for example, from the village of Castel del Monte. Speaking of villages: Calascio, Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio are also ideal places to rest after a fantastic day of snow and sunshine.

Even a short distance from Rome there are wild areas to be found, where humans have always been a discreet presence. One of these is protected by the Simbruini Mountains Regional Park, straddling the provinces of Rome and Frosinone, which includes karst plains, beech forests and peaks with views that extend as far as the capital and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Every winter, the park authority, together with local associations, offers excursions on snowshoes, cross-country skis and even fat bikes. You can, for example, take the Sentiero del Lupo ("Wolf Trail"), which starts from Campaegli and winds through majestic beech woods to the Camposecco Refuge, or try the Tarino Trail, which stretches from Campo Staffi to the Campo Ceraso Refuge through magnificent scenery. You can even climb to the summit of Monte Autore, the fourth highest peak in the park (1855 m), starting from Livata, in Monna dell'Orso.

Those arriving for the first time often cannot believe their eyes. But how, in the middle of Calabria, a short distance from the sea, is there a landscape reminiscent of Scandinavia or Trentino? The Sila massif, protected by a National Park, is truly extraordinary: extensive coniferous forests (especially larch pine), vast plains, lakes and small villages... all the ingredients are there for a weekend or holiday in the great outdoors. In winter, the snow cover is often extensive, so that there are many resorts for skiing, cross-country skiing and dog sledding. Among the most beautiful places to explore with snowshoes, Lake Ariamacina, the trails of Charlemagne, Lake Arvo and the town of Lorica; you can find a number of guided hikes organised by local associations.

When you think of Sicily, summer immediately springs to mind. Yet even in winter, Italy's largest island offers breathtaking scenery. For example, around Etna, the largest volcano in continental Europe, which is covered in snow throughout the cold season. Arriving at the Etna cable car station 2000 metres above sea level, where the Sapienza Refuge is located, is an unforgettable experience, as is visiting the Piano Provenzana station on the opposite side. The contrast between the red and black lava rocks and the white snow will have you taking dozens of photographs! Piano Provenzana (1800 metres) is the starting point for a beautiful snowshoe hike, suitable also for children, which goes as far as the "2002 craters" (2200 metres in altitude) in a landscape that is truly unique in Italy.