If your idea of a perfect holiday is more action than relaxation — or maybe a mix of the two — this is the guide for you. Italy is a great place to visit for adrenaline junkies, with a wide variety of activities on offer across both land and water. We’ve picked out some of our favourites below.
Scuba Diving
Beautiful temperatures, crystal clear waters… we can definitely think of worse places to dive. Favourite dive sites include St. Elmo’s Rock in Sardinia, Aci Trezza just off the cost in Sicily and the sunken city of Baia lies just south of Rome (with still-intact villas, statues, mosaic floors and columns). Visibility varies, but the best is found around the islands of Italy — where you can see congers, lobsters and colourful corals and sponges.
If you prefer freshwater diving, head to the Italian Lakes — Capo D’Acqua hides the remains of a village and mills dating back to the Middle Ages (although it is privately owned, so you’ll need to pre-arrange your excursion).
BASE Jumping
An activity reserved for the most hardcore adrenaline junkies, base jumping involves strapping into a parachute or wing suit and jumping off a cliff or manmade structure. It can be a difficult activity to source, but we’ve found a school which operates from Mount Brento in Bologna.
Sky Diving
If you fancy viewing Italy from the air — well, plummeting through it — sky diving could be the pursuit for you. There are numerous places located around Italy, mostly close to the bigger cities (Naples, Rome, Florence…) and you can choose whether to skydive as part of a group or in tandem with an experienced guide.
Paragliding
Sky diving too dramatic? Paragliding is a somewhat more docile alternative. Perfect for beginners, you can paraglide in tandem with a pilot over some of the most spectacular scenery in the world — the views of Lake Garda from above are truly breathtaking. You should also be able to book a dual flight for couples, or pre-arrange a larger flock for families.
Segway Tours
Whilst they might not get your blood pumping quite as quickly as some of our suggestions, spending a few hours riding around on a segway is still a pretty fun way of passing time. You can book onto a guided tour in the larger Italian cities such as Rome, Milan or Florence as well as in smaller towns. They’re certainly an unusual transportation method for sightseeing (just don’t get too distracted by the sights!).
Please note: The companies and organisation mentioned above are not associated with Bookings For You, and this blog post does not suggest endorsement of their products and/or services.