In Italy there are 22 national parks covering a total of over a million and half hectares, equivalent to about 5% of the national territory.
The national park integrates and completes the preservation of natural parks operated by regional authorities, and vice versa, dealing with very large territories and involving several dozen municipalities.
In addition to national parks, in Italy there are many other protected areas under the control of regions or provinces (provincial or regional authorities parks), and fortunately their number is constantly increasing.
The most well known National Parks in Southern Italy are: (click on the titles or images)
Abruzzo & Molise National Park
Gran Sasso of Italy - Abruzzo
Cilento & Valle di Diano National Park - Campania
Vesuvio National Park
Gargano National Park - Apulia
Pollino Natural Park - Calabria & Basilicata
Sila Grande & Sila Greca - Calabria National Park
Aspromonte National Park
Asinara National Park - Sardinia
La Maddalena National Park - Sardinia