Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime

What Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime does

Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime is a publicly managed protected natural area of approximately 28,360 hectares located in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont Region, Italy. Established in 1990 within the Piedmont Regional Parks system and managed by the Ente di gestione delle Aree Protette Alpi Marittime, the park spans three valleys (Valle Gesso, Valle Stura, Valle Vermenagna) across the municipalities of Valdieri, Entracque, Aisone, Vernante, and Roaschia. Its core assets include 400+ kilometers of marked trails, 11 alpine refuges, 11 bivouacs, 80 glacial lakes, 24 peaks above 3,000 meters, and 7 glaciers representing the southernmost in the Alps. The territory hosts approximately 2,000 higher plant species and 4,000+ animal species, including endemic flora and recovered populations of chamois, ibex, wolves, and reintroduced bearded vultures.

The park operates a network of visitor infrastructure including five visitor centers (Centro Uomini e Lupi, Centro Terme di Valdieri, Centro Vernante, Giardino Botanico Valderia, and the Enel Green Power hydroelectric plant tour), a botanical garden with ~500 species, and digital resources via the Geotrek trail portal with NFC-enabled multimedia exhibits. Services include paid parking, camper facilities, an on-demand seasonal shuttle (Navetta del Parco), guided activities, educational programs, and special events. Distribution relies on direct sales through park-operated centers plus partnerships with Cooperativa Montagne del Mare (visitor services), ATL del Cuneese (regional tourism), Club Alpino Italiano (mountain refuges), Enel Green Power (hydroelectric tours), and cross-border coordination with France's Mercantour National Park via the GECT Parco Europeo grouping.

The revenue model combines transaction-based visitor fees (parking €3–€8/day, botanical garden entry €5, hydroelectric tours €5/person) with public funding from the Piedmont regional government and European grants (Interreg ALCOTRA programs, PNRR Next Generation EU). Marketing is conducted through the official website, weekly email newsletter ('Messaggi dalle Marittime'), social media (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram), event programming, and tourism-board partnerships. Since 2000 the park has held the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas from Europarc Federation.

Name

Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime

Legal name

Ente di gestione delle Aree Protette Alpi Marittime

Website

https://parcoalpimarittime.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime is a publicly managed 28,360-hectare protected natural area in Piedmont, Italy, offering trail access, visitor centers, botanical gardens, guided tours, and educational programs to nature tourists, school groups, and local communities across five municipalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature Park and Protected Area Management

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Protected area management
• Nature conservation
• Outdoor recreation
• Visitor center services
• Environmental education

Headquarters

HQ city

Valdieri

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Visitor Access and Recreation Fees: Revenue generated from parking fees, camper parking charges, visitor center admissions, and entrance fees to attractions such as the Giardino Botanico Valderia and Enel hydroelectric plant tours.
2. Public Funding and Grants: Government funding for protected area management, environmental conservation, and European project financing (Interreg ALCOTRA, PNRR Next Generation EU).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime is a public protected natural area providing outdoor recreation, environmental education, and biodiversity conservation across 28,360 hectares of Alpine territory. Core offerings include visitor centers, a botanical garden, 400+ km of marked hiking trails, alpine shelters, guided tours, parking facilities, and a seasonal shuttle service, all operated by a regional government managing body for tourists, hikers, school groups, and local communities.

Product overview

Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime is a protected natural area managing approximately 28,360 hectares across three valleys (Gesso, Stura, Vermenagna) in the Province of Cuneo, Italy. The park operates as a multi-facility nature tourism organization offering visitor centers (Centro Uomini e Lupi, Centro visita Terme di Valdieri, Centro visita Vernante), a botanical garden (Giardino Botanico Valderia), educational exhibits (Mostra 'Ultimi ghiacci'), and outdoor infrastructure including 400+ km of trails, 11 alpine refuges, and 11 bivouacs. Additional attractions include the Enel Green Power hydroelectric plant, the Ecomuseo della Segale, and organized services such as the on-demand Navetta del Parco shuttle and parking facilities. The park provides digital resources via the Geotrek portal and publishes trail guides through the Top20 series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Giardino Botanico Valderia Botanical garden hosting approximately 500 plant species across fourteen environments representing the main ecosystems of the Maritime Alps, located at Terme di Valdieri. Entrance fees: €5 full price; €4 for under 14 and over 70 years; free for children under 6. Open June 15 to September 15, 10:00-18:00.
• Centro Uomini e Lupi (Wildlife and Wolf Visitor Center) A wildlife center and visitor center in Entracque focused on wolf education and awareness, comprising a visit center in the village and a faunistic area at Casermette locality, for nature enthusiasts and educational groups.
• Centro visita Terme di Valdieri Visitor information point with a permanent exhibit on the protected areas of Valle Gesso, a park shop, and temporary exhibitions, located at the thermal baths.
• Centro visita di Vernante Visitor center and tourist office managed by ATL del Cuneese, featuring interactive exhibits about the park's flora, fauna, geology, and cultural heritage, including NFC-enabled multimedia content.
• Mostra 'Ultimi ghiacci' - Climate Change Exhibit Permanent exhibit on climate change impacts on glaciers in the Mediterranean Alps, part of the European ALCOTRA CClimaTT project.
• Centrale idroelettrica Enel Green Power 'Einaudi' Tour Guided tour of Italy's most powerful hydroelectric pumping station, located in Entracque, showcasing dam infrastructure and power generation. Private access €5/person (from 3 years), free under 3. School groups €2/person with minimum €50 for groups under 25. Tours by reservation only.
• Trail Network and Hiking Services Over 400 kilometers of marked trails, 11 alpine refuges, 6 hiking refuges, and 11 bivouacs serving hikers with routes ranging from family walks to multi-day treks.
• Alta Via dei Re (Multi-Day Trekking Route) Seven-stage high-altitude trekking route through the park, from Sant'Anna di Valdieri to San Giacomo di Entracque, traversing the Argentera Massif.
• Navetta del Parco (Park Shuttle) On-demand transport service operating June-September (2023 season: June 17 - September 17) connecting park villages (Entracque, Roaschia, Valdieri, Vernante). Reservation required 36 hours in advance. Operated by Ecoturismo in Marittime association.
• Parking and Camper Areas Pay parking and camper areas at Terme di Valdieri, San Giacomo di Entracque, Lago della Piastra, and Lago Rovina. Daily rates vary by vehicle type; campers have multi-night tiered pricing. Free for residents of Valdieri and Entracque. Operated seasonally from June 13 to September 13.
• Geotrek Digital Trail Portal Online hiking portal providing trail descriptions, cartography, downloadable GPS tracks, and detailed information for the Maritime Alps and Mercantour parks.
• Museo della Civiltà della Segale Museum dedicated to rye cultivation traditions and local heritage, part of the Ecomuseo della Segale network, located at Sant'Anna di Valdieri.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~4,000 animal species and ~2,000 plant species documented in the park
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Summit FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for the Clean Up Tour environmental initiative, combining efforts for waste collection and territory valorization in Valle Gesso.
• ATL del CuneesecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025The Alpine Tourism Agency of Cuneo manages the Centro Visita visitor center in Vernante and provides tourist information services for the park and surrounding area. Manages visitor center operations and tourism promotion.
• Associazione Ecoturismo in MarittimecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Association collaborating with municipalities and the park authority to operate the seasonal shuttle service (Navetta del Parco), promoting sustainable mobility in the protected area. Coordinates with local municipalities for service provision.
• Enel Green PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for visits to the Luigi Einaudi hydroelectric plant in Entracque - Italy's most powerful pumped-storage hydroelectric facility. APAM provides visitor center space for the 'Ultimi ghiacci' climate change exhibition while Enel provides plant tours. Joint management of visitor access and educational programs.
• Cooperativa Montagne del MarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal cooperative managing multiple visitor services including the Centro Uomini e Lupi, Giardino Botanico Valderia visitor center, Centro informazioni, and various educational activities and events. Key operational partner for visitor services.
• Parc National du MercantourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border collaboration with France's Mercantour National Park, including joint trail networks, the Grande Traversata delle Alpi Marittime, Alta Via dei Re trekking route, and shared biodiversity research projects including the Inventario Biologico Generalizzato (All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory).
• European ALCOTRA CClimaTT ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean ALCOTRA CClimaTT project on climate change impacts on glaciers in the Mediterranean Alps. Produces the 'Ultimi ghiacci' permanent exhibition on climate change effects on the southernmost Alpine glaciers.
• European Interreg ALCOTRA Cognitio-Fort ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border project on military fortifications heritage, organizing guided excursions along historic military trails and fortifications along the Italy-France border.
• Club Alpino Italiano (CAI)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian Alpine Club manages or co-manages several mountain shelters within the park, including rifugi Genova, Morelli Buzzi, Soria Ellena, and others. Key partner for trail infrastructure and mountain access.
• Slow Food Presidia NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting local traditional food products including Frabosana-Roaschina sheep breed, Sambucana sheep, and Entracque potatoes. Supports sustainable agriculture and local food traditions.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Parc National du Mercantour: French national park directly adjacent across the border; explicit cross-border partner for trails, Alta Via dei Re, and the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory — the closest comparable in geography and mission.
• Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso: Italy's first national park in the Graian Alps; comparable Alpine protected area with ibex reintroduction history, visitor centers, and similar trail/shelter infrastructure.
• Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio: Italy's largest national park in the Central Alps; similar Alpine nature-tourism profile with visitor centers, trail networks, and glacial features.
• Parco Naturale Marguareis: Managed by the same APAM entity as Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime; virtually identical operating model, infrastructure, and visitor offerings in the Ligurian Alps.
• Parc National de la Vanoise: France's first national park in the Graian Alps; directly comparable high-altitude Alpine protected area with refuges, trail networks, and ibex-focused conservation.
• Triglav National Park: Slovenia's only national park in the Julian Alps; comparable Alpine protected area offering trails, shelters, and visitor-center infrastructure for nature tourism.
• Swiss National Park: Switzerland's only national park in the Engadin Alps; comparable strictly protected Alpine park with marked trails, nature education programs, and similar visitor infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Hohe Tauern National Park: Largest national park in the Alps (Central Alps, Austria); broader incumbent offering similar Alpine protected-area experiences, visitor centers, and glacier/scientific tourism at greater scale.
• Parco Nazionale del Pollino: Largest Italian national park in the southern Apennines; comparable Italian protected-area operator with visitor infrastructure, biodiversity programs, and EU project participation.

Regional players

• Nationalpark Berchtesgaden: Germany's only Alpine national park in the Bavarian Alps; similar Alpine biodiversity, trail network, and visitor-center model but operating in a different (German) market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=aree+protette+alpi+marittime
• Facebookfacebook.com/results?hashtag=areeprotettealpimarittime
• Instagraminstagram.com/explore/locations/1109444262817578

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime