Big old trees. Are there any living things that speak to us the same way as big old trees?Italy has ensured through law that every Italian and visitor to the country has the right of happening upon the oldest, gnarliest, and most storied trees in the nation, and thereby having that wonderful feeling of discovery and reverence we get from seeing an ancient tree.

The law of the monumental trees of Italy was passed way back in the 20th century, and protected 22,000 trees of various sorts—beech, oak, pine, olive, cypress—from harm.