Gran Paradiso National Park

Gran Paradiso National Park

Nestled between the Piedmont and Aosta Valley regions in the Graian Alps is the Italian national park known as Gran Paradiso. The park, which shares a border with the French Vanoise National Park, is named after the Gran Paradiso peak, which is situated within it. Though it now also protects other species, the park's original purpose was to keep poachers away from the Alpine ibex, which King Victor Emmanuel II used as a personal hunting area.In the summer, Alpine ibex graze in the bountiful alpine pastures; in the winter, they move down to lower altitudes. The ibex is protected all year round thanks to Gran Paradiso's partnership with Vanoise National Park.In addition to ibex, the park is home to ermine, weasels, hares, alpine chamois, Eurasian badgers, wolves (who were just brought in from Central Italy), and maybe lynx.The majority of the year is spent above the tree line by chamois and ibex. In the winter and spring, they move down to the valleys. The plants along the snow line provide the food source for alpine marmots.The state created the Gran Paradiso National Park as a protected area to protect the valley ecosystems surrounding the Gran Paradiso mountain for current and future generations. These ecosystems are of national and worldwide significance.

Therefore, managing and protecting the protected area, preserving the biodiversity of this region and its landscape, conducting scientific research, educating the public about the environment, and developing and promoting sustainable tourism are the goals of the body.

The park is especially responsible for the ibex's survival and the fact that there are currently about 2800 of them in the protected area. The park rangers provide a special service by keeping watch over the area from sunrise to sunset and possess extensive knowledge of the land, the wildlife, and the park environment. Since its establishment in 1922, the Gran Paradiso National Park—the first in our nation—has grown to become one of the most well-known parks in Italy and the world, helping to preserve the biodiversity of one of Italy's largest regions.It received the prestigious European Diploma of Protected Areas from the Council of Europe in 2007 because of its outstanding natural heritage, its well-maintained ecosystems, the integration of its tourism and agricultural activities, and its status as a cross-border alpine protected area alongside the Parc National de la Vanoise and the Mont Avic national park. The IUCN Green List, which is a list of 23 parks worldwide selected by the International Union for Conservation of Nature for its significance in protected area administration and conservation, included it as a unique Italian park in 2014.By vehicleFrom Turin, take the Orco Valley Road (460), turn right at Pont Canavese into the Soana Valley, or continue till Ceresole Reale to get to the Piedmont side of the park. From Ivrea (which connects to the Milan highway), take Castellamonte Road (565) and then Road 460 in Rivarolo Canavese. WARNING: private coaches (with skilled drivers) can only be 12 meters long due to the Orco Valley's tight passageways and twisting twists, and they must have a functional elevating system.By train

From Turin, Ivrea, and Pont Canavese train stations (for times and routes, visit www.trenitalia.com) or by train to Rivarolo and Pont train stations, you can reach the Piedmont side of the park. From there, you can take public buses to the two valleys (for times and routes, see Rivarolo-Pont-Locana-Noasca (valle Orco) and Torino-Pont Canavese-Valprato Soana (val Soana).By bus

The city railway line Smf1 runs to the train stations of Rivarolo and Pont, from which public buses arrive at the valleys (times Rivarolo-Pont-Locana-Noasca (valle Orco) and Torino-Pont Canavese-Valprato Soana (val Soana)). Alternatively, the Piedmont side of the park can be accessed from Turin, Ivrea, and Pont Canavese train stations (for times and routes visit: https://www.trenitalia.com).
Arriva lines (tel. 035.289000) cover the Valle d'Aosta side of the Park, Valsavarenche, and Valle di Rhêmes. The Svap lines service the Cogne valley.By air

The airports at Turin and Aosta serve the Park.
Keep in mind that you are in a protected environment, and read the park regulations. Dogs are not permitted to walk freely in the park since they may cause stress to wildlife, even if they are not directly attacked by the animal. Along the valley's bottom, dogs are allowed on leashes. Go to the website devoted to dogs' park admission for additional details.By air

The airports at Turin and Aosta serve the Park.
Keep in mind that you are in a protected environment, and read the park regulations. Dogs are not permitted to walk freely in the park since they may cause stress to wildlife, even if they are not directly attacked by the animal. Along the valley's bottom, dogs are allowed on leashes. Go to the website devoted to dogs' park admission for additional details.

By Admin

21 May 2025

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Together with its smaller satellite islands, Corfu, also known as Kerkyra, is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea that forms the northwest border of Greece. Along with the islands of Othonoi, Ereikoussa, and Mathraki, the island is governed by three municipalities and is a part of the Corfu regional unit. Corfu is also the name of the island's main city, which has a population of 32,095. Ionian University is located in Corfu.The island is associated with Greece's history from the earliest days of Greek mythology and has seen many conflicts and conquests. Ancient Korkyra participated in the Battle of Sybota, which Thucydides claims was the biggest naval conflict between Greek city states up to that point and served as a prelude to the Peloponnesian War. Along with Athens and Corinth, Thucydides states that in the fifth century BCE, Korkyra was one of Greece's three major maritime powers.Palaiopolis is home to the remains of Greek temples and other ancient Korkyra archaeological sites. As a result of the Middle Ages' battles against Ottoman and pirate invasions, the island is dotted with medieval castles at key spots. Its capital, the only city in Greece to be fortified in this manner, is surrounded by two of these fortresses. Thus the Greek government has formally designated the capital of Corfu as a kastropolis (or "castle city"). Venice is the source of Corfu's urban architecture, which is indicative of the island's Venetian control from 1386 until 1797. The Old Town of Corfu, one of Greece's World Heritage Sites, features architecture with a distinctly Venetian flavor, as do its winding lanes, known as the kantounia. Other noteworthy structures from the Venetian era include the first Greek opera house, the Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù, and Liston, a multi-story commercial and residential complex with an arched colonnade at ground level that is lined with eateries and cafes on the east side and eateries and other shops on the west.Mass gatherings, including parades, frequently take place on Liston's main avenue. The Spianada (Esplanade), the expansive main plaza and park that includes Maitland's memorial, a pavilion, and a cricket field, is where Liston is located. Notable are the Old and New forts, the recently renovated Palace of Sts. Michael and George, which was once the seat of the Ionian Senate and the residence of the British colonial governor, and the summer Palace of Mon Repos, which was once owned by the Greek royal family and the birthplace of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.The Park of Mon Repos is situated on a portion of Kerkyra's Palaiopolis, where the Greek Archaeological Service carried out excavations in cooperation with scholars and universities from across the world. Examples of the discoveries are on display in the Archaeological Museum of Corfu and the Museum of the Palace of Mon Repos.

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Mykonos

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Santorini

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