Preserving Europe's wild places Preserving Europe's wild places
European Day of Parks
Tre Cime Nature Park, South Tyrol, Italy (© Adisorn Fineday Chutikunakorn/Getty Images)
The European Day of Parks celebrates protected areas across the continent, marking the creation of Europe's first national parks in 1909. It serves as a reminder that many of today's most iconic landscapes exist because of long-term conservation efforts. Today's image highlights a prime example of this legacy: Tre Cime Nature Park in northern Italy.
Located in the Dolomites—a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for striking geology—the park was established in 1981. It is best known for the Tre Cime di Lavaredo: three towering dolomite peaks that rise sharply above alpine meadows. Their sheer rock faces make them among the Alps' most recognisable landmarks.
Created to protect fragile alpine ecosystems, Tre Cime Nature Park balances preservation with carefully managed access. Well-maintained trails guide visitors through the landscape, and limits on development help safeguard native wildlife and the area's rugged character. European Day of Parks reminds us that these places endure because conservation remains a priority.