Italy Pian Grande di Castelluccio di Norcia

Nestled within the breathtaking Sibillini Mountains National Park in central Italy, Piangrande di Castelluccio di Norcia offers an unparalleled vantage point for capturing stunning Milky Way panoramas. This expansive plain, renowned for its vibrant wildflower displays in spring and early summer, transforms into an ideal stargazing and astrophotography location as night falls.
On the night of May 11th, 2024, to my great surprise and delight, the sky began to turn red towards the north and then exploded into a stunning display of the Northern Lights. Experiencing the Northern Lights at these latitudes is an incredibly rare, almost “impossible", phenomenon, and I have never seen it here with such intensity.

Use a wide-angle lens, a nodal plate and a sturdy tripod

Driving is the most convenient way to reach Pian Grande di Castelluccio di Norcia, providing flexibility and access to the location.
From Perugia take the SS75 towards Foligno, then the SS77 towards Colfiorito. Follow the SS685 towards Norcia. From Norcia, follow the SP477 towards Castelluccio.