European Week of Parks - RomaNatura Events

A week of nature in the heart of Rome

The European Week of Parks is the continental event, promoted since 1999 by the EUROPARC Federation, which celebrates protected areas across Europe around the symbolic date of May 24th. In Rome, the event is managed by the RomaNatura Regional Authority, the body of the Lazio Region that oversees the capital's nature reserves and urban parks. For the occasion, it offers a calendar of free guided tours that invites citizens, families, enthusiasts, and the curious to rediscover the green heritage surrounding the city.

The featured reserves

The program winds through some of the most beautiful protected areas in the Roman territory, a different one each day, to showcase the surprising variety of environments that coexist with the metropolis. Amidst trails, biodiversity, and local history, hikers are accompanied by guides and experts to discover:

• Valle dei Casali Nature Reserve — a mosaic of Roman countryside, historic farmhouses, and agricultural areas just a stone's throw from the center;
• Decima Malafede Nature Reserve — the largest protected area managed by RomaNatura, featuring woods, streams, and archaeological sites;
• Monte Mario Nature Reserve — the highest hill in the city, overlooking the Tiber and the dome of St. Peter's;
• Valle dell'Aniene Nature Reserve — the river corridor that crosses the north-eastern districts of Rome.

The sea starts here

The new feature for the 2026 edition is the special «The sea starts here» trail, dedicated to marine protection and environmental awareness through educational activities, scientific workshops, and participatory art. The final days include public events featuring participatory urban art, the «Paleoplastic: fossils of the future» exhibition-workshop, and scientific experiences to observe the impact of microplastics on the marine ecosystem up close. It is a way to remember that every action in the city, along rivers, and in reserves, has an impact that reaches the sea.

For everyone, for free

The initiatives are open to all and designed to involve adults and children in an outdoor experience based on knowledge, well-being, and sharing. Participation is free, and excursions can be booked by writing to the dedicated RomaNatura address. The headquarters of the Authority, the historic Villa Mazzanti on the slopes of Monte Mario, serves as a reference point for volunteers and visitors.

An appointment for the city

In the Municipality of Rome and the entire Lazio Region, the European Week of Parks has become a key moment to bring citizens closer to urban protected areas, which are often little known despite being just minutes away from residential neighborhoods. The theme of the 2026 edition, «United in Nature», highlights the importance of collaboration between citizens, institutions, and local communities for the protection of the environment, biodiversity, and the natural heritage of the capital.