Famous for more than olive oil, spaghetti and the Pizza, Italy is a wonderfully diverse country with a broad spectrum of historic, contemporary and natural sites that makes it among the world’s most popular destinations for foreign visitors looking to get a great bang for their travel buck. Here is the list of the 10 best waterfalls in Italy.
1. Marmore Waterfalls
Near the town of Terni, in Italy’s Umbria region, Cascate delle Marmore are among the most popular and visited of all of Italy’s waterfalls.
A distinct feature of these falls is that they’re really a leftover relic of the aqueducts that were built by the Romans centuries ago.
This superb waterfall created at the behest of the Roman consul Manio Curio Dentato is characterized by a drop of 165 meters and a descent in three different jumps; a Nature Park that attracts many sports and nature enthusiasts every year, and a real source of wealth for the region since in addition to tourism it also provides electricity to the Terni steel industries. With a bit of luck you will be able to admire its rainbow, which forms on sunny days when there is a full release of water from the Velino River.
The waters are part of a lake and dam system that provide the area with power and tourism revenue, and the company that operates the site publishes the times when the water flow will be greatest so everyone can see the falls at their best.
2.Toce Waterfall
At nearly 470 feet tall, Toce Waterfall in northwest Italy’s Piemonte region has been called one of the country’s most amazing waterfalls.
It’s been a favorite subject of European artists for centuries, and a famous hotel built on the site in the 1860s is still operating if you’d like to end your day of sightseeing in the lap of luxury.
Located in the mountain town of Formazza, the area is full of amazing views and hiking trails that’ll take you to the best viewing areas for the falls.
3.Cascate del Serio
Located about 100 kilometers north of Milan, in the Bergamo Alps, are the Cascate del Serio, argued by some to be the tallest falls in Italy.
Comprised of three unique and separate sections, together they fall nearly 1,000 feet from top to bottom.
The falls are near the town of Valbondione in the northern, Lombardy region, and because they’re now part of a dam, are only viewable 5 times a year when water is released by the local authorities
4.Cascata Grande del Liri
If you are looking for an Italian waterfall that is perfectly integrated in a city context (more special than that!?) you will have to stop in Isola del Liri, in Ciociaria, to find yourself in front of the Cascata Grande del Liri.
This beautiful town in the province of Frosinone boasts a jewel of a historic center, which is born on an island, in fact, formed by the Liri River which, at the height of the Boncompagni-Viscogliosi Castle, plunges with a drop of about 30 meters.
A true urban waterfall, this one, which leaves the spectator open-mouthed in front of a water spectacle that is, to say the least, picturesque
5. Riggio’s Gravina Waterfall, Apulia
To admire the Cascata della Gravina di Riggio waterfall in Grottaglie, in the province of Taranto, you will have to wait for the rich rains and lace up your hiking shoes.
This unique Apulian waterfall can be reached by a guided nature hike, amid fragrant Mediterranean scrub and centuries-old olive trees, which in a couple of hours leads to the bottom of the ravine (a sort of canyon carved by meteoric waters into the limestone rock). This is a route suitable for everyone, including children, who will enjoy walking on the rocks, among fun ups and downs and frescoed caves. But mind you, dear travelers, this fabulous waterfall and its wondrous plunge into the blue is visible only during rainy periods.
6. Lillaz Waterfalls, Aosta Valley
Let’s drive up to the Aosta Valley to discover one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Italy. To admire the Lillaz Waterfalls, we have to get to Cogne, a beautiful town in the province of Aosta, located in the heart of the Grand Paradis National Park; the perfect place for a family vacation, especially in summer when the Alps give the most sparkling colors and are waiting for you with numerous outdoor activities.
With just a 10-minute walk from the village of Lillaz, following an almost level path, you can reach these famous waterfalls characterized by the three jumps of water of the Urtier stream for a total height of 150. Equip yourself with drinks and sandwiches to have a nice picnic face to face with the mountains!
7. Marmarico Waterfalls, Calabria
8. Cascate del Mulino waterfalls, Tuscany
From the mountains of the Aurina Valley to the countryside of the Tuscan Maremma, here we have landed in a very special setting, that of the picturesque and beneficial Cascate del Mulino waterfalls in Saturnia.
This very special place, much photographed by travelers and influencers and called the “cascatelle” by locals, was created by the action of a waterfall of sulfurous thermal waters generated by the Gorello thermal stream. The water here flows naturally at a temperature of 37.5 °C and features an important element: thermal plankton. A must-see destination at least once in a lifetime, this one fills the eyes with its rare spectacle of blue springs and natural pools
9. Catafurco Waterfall, Sicily
Sicily, a region among the richest in terms of history and landscape in our country, could not miss within our review of the 15 most beautiful waterfalls in Italy. To admire a truly incredible one you must go to the heart of the lush Nebrodi Park, near Galati Mamertino, a municipality that is part of the metropolitan city of Messina. Within the park you will find the Catafurco Waterfall, with its clear waters sliding down the rocky walls of a natural cavity, forming a crystal clear pool. The waterfall, with its scenic jumps, is formed by the impetuous force of the San Basilio stream, right at a drop of about 30 meters
10. Waterfall of Capo Nieddu, Sardinia
Let’s close on a high note with the Capo Nieddu Waterfall, one of Italy’s most beautiful waterfalls, nothing short of scenic. To find yourself face to face with this incredible plunge you will have to travel to Sardinia, to the beautiful west coast of Cuglieri, in the province of Oristano, and wait for the Rio Salighes to reach its maximum flow rate.
So go there in winter, when the rains fall abundantly, and have fun photographing this spectacle of nature that few people know about but many will appreciate, especially lovers of Nordic landscapes: you will almost feel like you are in front of an Icelandic waterfall!
