Your outdoor setup includes a basket, a blanket, and a lush green space—perfect for celebrating "International Picnic Day" on May 18th. This tradition dates back to 17th-century European customs, especially among the aristocracy in France and England, who used it as a break from hunting. Today, it’s a treasured opportunity to enjoy nature and good food outside. Selecting the right picnic spot is crucial—ideally one that engages all five senses for a few unforgettable hours. Websites like Areepicnic can assist in choosing the perfect location by mapping out spots across Italy. Finding a suitable spot that matches your needs—whether in the hills, mountains, near a lake, or close to the city—is key.
Access to picnic areas, both public and private, usually requires a fee that covers the use of tables, grills, and barbecues, often including parking. You can bring your own picnic basket with sandwiches and fillings of your choice, which are tasty and easy to carry. More elaborate dishes are also permitted as long as they are in solid forms, such as quiches, flans, baked pasta, and meats for grilling. Soups and broth-based dishes are not a match. Some locations feature refreshment stands that offer everything you need for a relaxed meal on the grass. And if you're unsure where to go for your next picnic, here some suggestions for picnic destinations from north to south in Italy from Il Gusto.
In Lombardy
Those who don't want to travel far from Milan can head to CityLife Park and treat themselves to a weekend brunch picnic at the Sthendal Bistrot, which prepares a custom wicker basket upon reservation. There, you can choose from three options: the Milanese, a tribute to Milanese gastronomic tradition, the Riviera (seafood), and the Vegetarian.
In Liguria
Asinolla Park is located on the foothills of Pietra Ligure, in the province of Savona, between the hills and the sea. Here, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Riviera di Ponente, using the barbecue areas with grilling stations and a bar. Donkey trekking is also a must.
In Emilia Romagna
In San Felice sul Panaro (Modena), a picnic in the countryside can be organized upon reservation at the Mediplants Nurseries. The 20,000 square meters of lawn have nine areas equipped with tables, benches, electrical wiring, a grill, refrigerator, and barbecue equipment. There are no food vendors inside. Those who wish can also book a guided tour of the educational farm, which is home to numerous animals, from ducks to alpacas, and even fighting chickens.
In Tuscany
In the Parco dei Faggi, there's a picnic area for a break during hikes on Mount Amiata, located at approximately 1,450 meters above sea level, a few kilometers from Abbadia San Salvatore in the province of Siena. Nestled in Europe's largest beech forest, it offers a barbecue area with tables, wooden benches, and brick braziers for safe grilling in the shade of the beech trees. Several hiking trails, ideal for summer trekking, depart from here.
In Umbria
Inside the Marmore Falls Park, in the province of Terni, there's a picnic area overlooking the majestic waterfall, the highest in Europe. It's equipped with tables and wooden benches located throughout the park (the most popular, especially during the summer, are those in the shade of the trees) and is open to visitors. A snack bar is also available.
In Lazio
In Cerveteri, the "Hill of Imperial Rome" offers a picnic area not far from the capital. Nestled in the Lazio countryside, with panoramic views stretching to the sea, it's in a breezy location, making it ideal even on the hottest days. A swimming pool is also available. There are shaded gazebos, wooden benches, and a brick barbecue for grilling. There's also a bar for aperitifs.
In Basilicata
On the shores of Lake Grande di Monticchio, the "Europa Natural Park" lies at the foot of Mount Vulture, an ancient extinct volcano that offers the area a picturesque setting, not far from the city of Melfi (Potenza). The picnic area is equipped with about sixty tables and benches that can be reserved daily, except on special holidays like Ferragosto (August 15th), when "early bird" is the norm. Barbecues and stone barbecues are also available.
In Puglia
The "Mother Olive Tree of the Coratina" picnic area is promoted by the Via Francigena del Sud Committee of Corato (Bari) for pilgrims arriving on foot from Northern Europe. This area is specifically intended for those traveling the Coratina Cultivar Route through the olive oil cities (Canosa-Andria-Corato-Bitonto). It offers furnished gazebos with tables and benches amidst expanses of vineyards and olive groves, just steps from a historic Coratina olive tree, approximately 600 years old, and from the centuries-old downy oak, a typical tree of the Alta Murgia National Park, cited in the writings of Luisa Piccarreta, known as the Saint of Corato.
In Campania
Astroni Crater is a nature reserve covering approximately 240 hectares in Agnano, in the Metropolitan City of Naples. Created over 4,000 years ago by seven volcanic eruptions, it is a WWF oasis of biodiversity. Inside, there are six kilometers of trails and several picnic areas with benches and tables where you can enjoy a packed lunch from home. There are also structures made from wood from trees that fell due to natural causes.
In Sicily
In the Bosco dei Peloritani, in the province of Messina, there is the Peloritani Adventure Park, which offers a picnic area surrounded by greenery, equipped with wooden tables and benches for groups of up to ten people. You can bring your own baskets filled with goodies and, after lunch, once you've digested, try your hand at the aerial courses among the trees, suitable for all ages.
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