Italy’s most beautiful forests for fairy tales, peaceful walks

Rome: Forests have been catching our imagination for many years, becoming perfect settings for both fairytales and long peaceful walks. They also need to be protected and preserved, and that’s exactly what the PEFC, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certificate, aims to do.

To highlight its efforts and try to “tell the stories of forests, their beauty, their inhabitants and their ability to influence our daily lives,” the Italian section of the PEFC has organised a photography contest titled “Click the 2019 PEFC forest”. More than 300 photographers, both professional and amateurs, joined the contest.

First place went to Davide Noia, who took the picture, titled “Inside the Fairytale” in the Piedicavallo woods in the northern region of Piedmont. “Autumn colours and old stone buildings mix together on this path found just at the bottom of the Alps,” says the PEFC.

“Light Time and Patience” by Fernando de Lellis won second place. The image was captured outside of Caserta, not too far away from Naples, and the title is evocative of the three things needed to find what you’re looking for (not necessarily just in a photograph): light, time and patience. “Light Time and Patience” by Fernando de Lellis won second place. The image was captured outside of Caserta, not too far away from Naples, and the title is evocative of the three things needed to find what you’re looking for (not necessarily just in a photograph): light, time and patience.

Federica Prisma won third place with this shot titled “If in silence at evening time”, taken one autumn’s evening up on the Sella Pass in the region of Trentino. The photographer was returning from a hiking day when she got lucky enough to see this beautiful doe just by the side of the path. A special mention went to photographer Karin Giacomelli, who took two parallel pictures of the same patch of woods around the city of Trento. One before the Vaia storm, which struck the area in October 2018, and one after. The second picture by Karin Giacomelli shows the damage the storm has done to the trees and the forests of the area.

The second picture by Karin Giacomelli shows the damage the storm has done to the trees and the forests of the area. Fifth place went to Sonia Fantini with her “Autumn Colours” photograph taken around Udine in the region of Friuli. The woods’ colours are heightened immensely by a very clear and cool autumn morning.

Fifth place went to Sonia Fantini with her “Autumn Colours” photograph taken around Udine in the region of Friuli. The woods’ colours are heightened immensely by a very clear and cool autumn morning.

Dario Quattrin took the photo, titled “Vipera aspis francisciredi,” which won him the sixth place in the competition. The viper in the image (called Redi’s viper from the name of the man who first discovered the species) camouflages itself perfectly in the woods thanks to the patterns on its skin.

“Cold December Morning,” by Nicola di Nola was shot around the city of Varese in the region of Lombardy. Two old friends enjoy a walk and a chat through the Malpensa woods bright and early in the morning. “Cold December Morning,” by Nicola di Nola was shot around the city of Varese in the region of Lombardy. Two old friends enjoy a walk and a chat through the Malpensa woods bright and early in the morning.

The shot titled “Beechwood” and was taken by Michele Poma in the Apennines mountains between the regions of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. “The only sign of human presence is a white and red signal marking the path”.

Thie shot is titled “Beechwood” and was taken by Michele Poma in the Apennines mountains between the regions of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. “The only sign of human presence is a white and red signal marking the path”.

“Tiny Big Looks” is the title of this photo clicked by Andrea Zannella in the woods around Saint Marcel in the Aosta Valley. “The owl stood there on the branch, perfectly still,” the photographer says. “That’s why I love the woods, for the incredible meetings they let you experience”.

Elio Pattarino captured the shot titled “Dawn on the Larch Trees” around the city of Cuneo in Piedmont, an area where larch trees are abundant and turns wonderful colours in autumn.

Gianni Zanella took the picture, “Mist after the storm”, in the woods around Trento, in the north-east of Italy, fresh after a rain shower.

Stefania Mignardi shot the image in the province of Macerata, in the region of Marche. The photo is titled “Alone Together”, since as she herself puts it, “these trees are together but completely isolated from everything else”.