While picture-perfect colourful seaside towns, the gentle rolling hills and golden scenery of Tuscany and Umbria, and the grand cities of Rome and Florence are some of the images that predominate in our collective imaginings of Italy, the wilder and more dramatic views of Italy’s varied landscapes are equally captivating. Particularly, in the north, where the Alps tower overhead, Italy affords some truly breath-taking and awe-inspiring scenery. These glimpses of the sublime, of nature at its most unchecked, untamed, and wild, offer the perfect chance to escape the mundane, refresh your eyes, and wonder at the majesty of the world. And, one of the best examples of a place to take in such views and scenes is the Gran Paradiso National Park, which can be visited if you book one of our vacation rentals in Aosta Valley or holiday rentals in Piedmont.
Located in the Graian Alps, between the Aosta Valley and Piedmont regions, this is an area that was once the personal hunting grounds of King Victor Emmanuel II and now is a place where various species of fauna are protected. Named for the Gran Paradiso mountain, which is in the park, it is a dramatic place of rugged ice-capped peaks, winding and hairpin roads, glassy lakes, and impossibly green valleys.
Whether you are simply heading out for a (somewhat nail-biting) drive along those daredevil roads, you are undertaking the thrills and intense workout of a cycle along those same roads, or you are hiking in the area, you will be able to take in these astounding scenes from different angles as you explore the area.
So, find your villa in Piedmont or your holiday rental in Aosta Valley and come dive into the impossibly striking and dramatic landscapes that can be found in this magical part of Italy on your next vacation…