Exploring the Wild Side: Camping Regulations in Italy

Posted on March 10th, 2024

Guest Article written by Sal from Nature of Sal

Italy offers amazing landscapes, from mountains, to forests, to lakes and abundant wilderness. It’s only logical that many dream about free camping, just like you would do in Canada, the US, or Northern Europe. Grab your tent, car, all the important things you need to survive, and off you go.

Not so fast!

There is no National Law regulating free camping in Italy. Which is sort of a problem.

Defining Camping and Bivouacking

Sleeping under the stars is something many dream of in Italy (no pun intended), but it comes with its set of obstacles.

Camping, or rather bivouacking (basically temporary setting up a tent), is permissible in some places, when your stay in one place is limited to nighttime hours only (so you have to set up the tend after sunset, and remove everything before sunrise).

So all good? Unfortunately not.

The problem is, again, that there is a lack of a National Law. So in some places bivouacking is tolerated, but not explicitely allowed, nor forbidden.

So how do you avoid hefty fines?

Let’s take a look at your options.

The first course of action should be to check whether the area you’re planning to free camp in is inside a National, or Regional Park. You can either use the Park Locator, which conveniently shows you all National and Regional Parks in an interactive map, or the parks.it website.

The advantage of the Park Locator website is that clicking on any of the parks, you are presented with a detail card with additional information about that park (and also a downloadable, free map, if available).

If there are publicly available park regulations, you can find them here. Some parks allow free camping, but want to know where exactly you’ll be staying, and for how long.

Some parks only allow camping in specific designated areas, and generally the wilder, integrally protected areas (Zone A) are always off-limits.

Additionally, you’ll find links to their official website and email contacts, providing you with the opportunity to obtain more information directly from the park authorities.

Exploring the Wild Side: Camping Regulations in Italy 2

To avoid hefty fines, it’s imperative to adhere strictly to these guidelines.

What to do if you want to free camp outside of a Regional or National Park?

In this case, you will need to check the rules of the local authorities, typically on the website of the Comune (municipality).

Where is it strictly forbidden to free camp/bivouac?

In Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Sardegna, it’s essential to adhere to local regulations regarding camping. In Trentino Alto-Adige, camping near tourist accommodations is strictly forbidden.

Where can I apply the “free bivouacking” rule?

In Valle d’Aosta, camping is permitted only above 2500m altitude. In Lombardy, Tuscany, and Liguria, there are no clear regulations, so it’s necessary to check with local authorities depending on your camping location.

In Piemonte and Marche, camping is restricted to 48-hour stays in specific locations, with prior notification required to the mayor’s office. Rules vary across regions, highlighting the importance of thorough research and adherence to local guidelines.

While free camping is not impossible, it is often easier simply contacting a campground and renting a designated space, than navigating through municipal regulations.

If you are not someone to give up easily, certainly National and Regional Parks are a good starting point, and getting in touch with the park authorities might point you into the right direction.

As always, stay safe, stay fit, and hike a bit!
Sal

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