Places · Italy
Natural Wonders of Italy: The 4 Most Beautiful Places to Visit
4 places in the atlas
Italy's natural drama comes from its position where the African and European plates collide. That collision raised the Alps — including the pale, fossil-rich limestone of the Dolomites, once a tropical coral sea — and fuels a chain of volcanoes down the peninsula and islands, of which Sicily's Etna is the largest and most active in Europe. Between the heights lie glacial lakes, alpine meadows, and, on volcanic soils, some of the most productive farmland in the Mediterranean. It is a country where mountains, fire, and fertility sit side by side. Below are the 4 natural wonders of Italy in the atlas — the most beautiful places to build a trip around, each with what makes it remarkable, when to go, and how to reach it. Best overall time: June to September for alpine hiking in the Dolomites and mild weather on Etna; December to March for skiing in the north. Spring and autumn are quieter and often lovely.
