Attention to sustainability is spreading into an ever-growing number of areas. For years now, sustainable tourism has been a hot topic, and especially since the pandemic, the number of conscious travellers committed to making their leisure and relaxation time as green and environmentally friendly as possible has been growing. Starting from this trend, and from the recent one of rediscovering and exploring destinations closer to home, we have identified 10 Italian cities that could be perfect for future sustainable breaks, whether a single weekend or a proper holiday. To do so, we drew on the recent and interesting rankings produced by the Ecosistema Urbano project by Legambiente, which for some years now has been monitoring the environmental performance — in terms of air, water, waste, mobility and environment — of 105 provincial capital cities. Our choices are above all suggestions for experiencing these places — not just the cities themselves, but the surrounding territories — in close contact with nature, enjoying the exceptional wonders they offer in a responsible and respectful way.

1 Bolzano, a stone's throw from the peaks

Sixth place in the overall Legambiente rankings for the splendid city of Alto Adige, which also stands out for its low concentration of PM10 in the air. In general, the entire Trentino-Alto Adige region, with its two provinces — Trento takes first place — continues to confirm the high quality of life it offers both its residents and the ever-growing number of visitors who choose it for their holidays throughout the year. In particular, Bolzano appears to be a perfect destination for those who love the mountains and prefer to travel in a slow and eco-friendly way: by staying in the city centre you can not only enjoy the many cultural offerings — Museion, Fondazione Antonio delle Nogare, Museo Archeologico — but also easily reach the region's most beautiful mountains using only public transport. The recommendation is to purchase a Mobilcard (available for 1, 3 or 7 days), which allows unlimited use of all public transport in Alto Adige, including regional and fast regional trains as far as Trento and the PostAuto Svizzera between Malles and Müstair. Needless to say, the network of hiking trails, cycling routes and mountain bike paths is unparalleled and perfect for every type of hiker and sports enthusiast, from the most experienced to the first-time amateur. Our tip? Take the Renon cable car from the city centre, set off from Soprabolzano along the evocative yet easy mountain trails such as the Freud Promenade, then marvel at the earth pyramids before taking the little train from Collalbo back down to Bolzano.

2 Trieste, land and sea by alternative means

The capital of Friuli has distinguished itself in the rankings for its public transport offering, as well as for urban green spaces. Getting around Trieste seems to be easy and increasingly green and sustainable: a few days ago, the local administration tested the performance of an electric bus on a high-traffic route, offering the service free of charge to residents. The initiative was an important first step towards a progressive ecological transition of Trieste's transport system: in 2022, a tender will be formalised for the purchase of a first series of electric buses, which will enter service in 2023. Still on the subject of mobility, in Trieste you can get around in the most varied of ways: by sea too, thanks to stand up paddle — a large surfboard paddled while standing, from which you can take in a variety of landscapes in the Gulf of Trieste and its surroundings from the very first lesson. These unusual tours can be booked year-round, and boards, paddles and summer or winter clothing are provided to all participants. It's also a great idea for groups, as the big sups — five metres long by a metre and a half wide — can carry up to eight people. All you need to do is let yourself be carried by the gentle current and admire the city of Trieste from an original and tranquil perspective. If water isn't your element, here you'll find a selection of cycling routes chosen by the Trieste tourism office, suitable for cyclists of varying experience levels.

It is also worth noting that the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce supports the project for Trieste's candidacy as the Italian host city for the new European Bank for Climate and Sustainable Development.

3 Belluno, amid parks, mountains and nature

Eighth in Legambiente's overall Ecosistema Urbano ranking, Belluno is the best-placed province in Veneto, perhaps also thanks to its natural characteristics. It is indeed a mountain city and a sparsely populated province, bordering Friuli, with which it shares, for example, the Cansiglio forest — a territory of great natural value. But by no means the only one. Mountain enthusiasts in this area have countless opportunities to enjoy a holiday surrounded by magnificent peaks. The more experienced can tackle the Alta via delle Dolomiti bellunesi: a 7-stage route that crosses the entire Parco nazionale delle Dolomiti bellunesi through some of the least developed and most wild areas of the Dolomites, characterised by significant changes in elevation, few support points, mountain huts that have remained true to their original character, and exposed trails where a sure footing and mountain experience are essential. Here you'll also find 1,400 species of flowers to discover and 3,000 chamois to spot along 110 kilometres of trails. A true paradise. The Park's website is extremely useful for planning a holiday or simply a day trip: it lists routes on foot, by bicycle and even on horseback. Among the many wonders, we draw your attention to the Piani Eterni–Grotta Isabella complex (still under exploration and study), which is currently the largest and deepest cave in Veneto, with over 35 kilometres of passages and a depth of -1,052 metres. It is the most significant karst system within the territory of a national park, as well as the most important and deepest abyss in the Dolomites.

4 Lucca, Tuscany's greenest city is medieval

It is the province with the largest pedestrianised surface area in all of Italy relative to its population, and the highest-ranked Tuscan city in the Ecosistema Urbano report. Lucca, less famous and celebrated than its far better-known regional counterparts, is a splendid city that offers visitors a precious blend of art and nature — now with a heightened focus on sustainability across all areas. The local administration has committed to reducing polluting emissions and encouraging sustainable management of mobility and waste, including incentives for planting new trees, for purchasing shredders for grass cuttings, for replacing boilers, as well as investments in cycling infrastructure and the regeneration of key urban areas. The first thing we love about Lucca is its strategic location on the railway line connecting Firenze to Viareggio and Pisa, making it genuinely easy to reach by train. Visiting the city, you'll also notice how pleasant it is to explore on foot or by bicycle: a classic not to be missed is the circuit of the ancient walls surrounding the city centre — approximately 4 kilometres long and suitable for everyone. More demanding but equally rewarding is the trekking route from the city centre to Pisa: it is known as the via degli acquedotti, following the routes of the Acquedotto Nottolini and the Acquedotto Mediceo.

5 Ravenna, cycling from mosaics to the sea

Among the best-placed cities in the rankings for the spread of cycle paths across their territory, we single out Ravenna — in truth as a representative of all the provinces of Emilia Romagna that excel in this category by tradition: Reggio Emilia, Cesena, Parma, Ferrara, Piacenza, Forlì. Why visit Ravenna in particular? Because it preserves the richest heritage of mosaics dating from the 5th and 6th centuries AD, housed within its early Christian and Byzantine religious buildings, which have been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. Eight wonders scattered throughout the city, all easily reachable by bicycle in a fun and sustainable way. Thanks to the network of cycle paths, you can set off from the historic centre and venture beyond the town to discover nine seaside resorts that make up the Ravenna coastline — perfect destinations for short breaks in any season. If instead you fancy cycling along a river and are fit enough to cover 35 kilometres, this is the route for you: it follows the course of the Talamone, taking you through lush plains, reclaimed valleys, brackish lagoons, the centuries-old pine forest of San Vitale, the flooded forest of Punte Alberete — home to important species of aquatic birds — all the way to the evocative coastal dune at the river's mouth. A spectacular natural setting, but not only that, as along the way you will encounter numerous artistic and cultural landmarks that offer a deeper insight into the territory.

6 Ascoli Piceno, on foot through the villages of Piceno

Among the top 5 cities ranked for air quality and in particular for nitrogen dioxide concentration, Ascoli Piceno is a gem and an excellent base from which to explore the Piceno area, a territory tha