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Since the country is one of the most popular destinations in the world, it can be hard \u2014 very hard \u2014\u00a0to escape the crowds in Italy. But if you head way down to the toe of the Italian boot, you’ll find the much less crowded destination of Aspromonte National Park (Parco Nazionale dell’Aspromonte), whose trails and waterfalls are so far off the beaten track, it will feel like you have this tranquil spot all to yourself.<\/p>\n
The Aspromonte is a mountain massif in Calabria in Southern Italy.\u00a0Though the word “aspromonte”\u00a0translates to “bitter mountain,” there is nothing unpleasant about these mountains or the national park that’s named after them. Within the park there are\u00a0143 named mountains,\u00a0dense forests,\u00a0pretty waterfalls, small villages, and winding rivers.\u00a0\u00a0The park was established in 1989\u00a0and now covers almost 250 square miles\u00a0of Calabria,\u00a0a region that should definitely be on your foodie bucket list<\/a>\u00a0for its distinctive cuisine.<\/p>\n A car is definitely needed to explore this remote national park. You can rent one at Reggio Calabria “Tito Minniti” Airport (REG), which receives nonstop flights from other cities in Italy as well as some in Europe. From the airport, the drive is less than an hour to Gambarie, the main entrance to the park, which is on\u00a0the park’s western edge.\u00a0The town actually has a ski resort,\u00a0Gambarie d’Aspromonte,\u00a0which is the largest in Calabria.<\/p>\n