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"Discovering Italy"
A Legambiente proposal for "sustainable" tourism

Fast communications and the bargaining power of big tour operators have made exotic destinations more frequent and easily available than ever, thus giving mass tourists the idea of discovering hidden, still untouched paradises. "All-inclusive" holiday packages flying people to artificial locations, which reproduce the same customs and faults as in the small daily world they wished to leave behind, increasingly look like just a way of enduring personal loneliness and anxiety elsewhere.

On the contrary, a country deeply marked by human presence, such as Italy has been since ancient times, still retains its attractiveness. The idea of the future and the sense of discovery that Italy communicates along with the wonderful heritage of its millenary history, are yet unrivalled even by the highly sophisticated technical tools of contemporary man.

Seas and mountains, hills and lowlands, cities of art and natural parks, unique landscapes and impressive monuments together with Italy's history, variety of traditions and customs, gastronomy and unequalled culture of hospitality are the best assets of the Italian tourism industry in a global society tending to level off all differences, peculiarities or identities. Their discovery may turn your holiday into a good chance of improving both your knowledge and your personal qualities.

The importance of protecting the land and natural sceneries as well as peoples' culture, history and customs is already acknowledged all over Europe. This attitude comes out with a newly-emerging need to find events, places and establishments where environmental quality through responsible behaviours is increasingly perceived as a means of improving both holiday and the environment.

Legambiente is sure that a lasting solution can only be found through the voluntary involvement of local environmentally-aware businesses and their guests. This is the reason for placing its experience as an environmental organisation - with long-established activities in land and natural resources protection - at the service of new practical initiatives in the field of sustainable tourism.

These initiatives aim at mitigating human-induced stresses on the land - through a reduction of tourist environmental impacts in tourist areas - in order to preserve and improve Italy's natural resource and cultural heritage, which is almost unique in the world.

So, where to spend a quality-plus holiday in a more environmentally-friendly way without reducing one's own comfort? Now tourists can choose among seaside and mountain resorts or spas, picking from the wide range of businesses showing the Legambiente logotype (including all-star hotels, campsites and other accommodation).

www.legambienteturismo.it is an helpful tool to make Legambiente initiatives in this field better known and readily available to "surfers".

Eco Hotels
The projects in Appennino Bolognese (Parco dei Gessi, Corno alle Scale and Parco dell'Abbazia di Monteveglio), Bellaria Igea Marina, Cesenatico, Cervia Milano Marittima, Cilento, Colli Piceni, Cupra Marittima, Delta del Po, Ferrara, Giulianova, Isola d'Elba, Lido di Camaiore, Martinsicuro, Ravenna e Lidi, Reggio Calabria, Riccione, Rimini, Riviera del Conero, San Benedetto del Tronto, bathing establishments in Riccione.

Volunteer Camps
Volunteer camps organised by Legambiente in Italy and abroad.

Naturalistic Tourism
Naturalistic tourism proposals by Legambiente.

Tourism on the net
An index of links to tourist websites.