The National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise
The National Park of Abruzzo was founded 1922, as private initiative, while in 1923, by law. Its extension covers 50.000 hectares about, with nearly 80.000 hectares of buffer zone; it’s a remarkable dimension if we consider that the first original nucleus was 500 hectares only. Enlargements in park area continued during the years: 17500 hectars in 1923, 10.000 hectars in 1925, 2000 hectars in 1926, 10.000 hectars in 1977, 4.000 hectars in 1990, 6.000 hectars in 2000; Municipalities inside the Park area are: Pescasseroli, Civitella Alfedena, Opi, Barrea, Alfedena, Villetta Barrea, Scanno, Bisegna, Ortona dei Marsi, Gioia dei Marsi, Lecce nei Marsi, Villavallelonga, Alvito, Campoli Appennino, San Donato Val Comino, Settefrati, Picinisco, San Biagio Saracinisco, Pescosolido, Vallerotonda, Pizzone, Castel San Vincenzo, Rocchetta al Volturno, Scapoli, Filignano. Rivers belonging to the park territory are: Sangro, Giovenco, Volturno, Melfa, while tha main lakes are: Barrea, Vivo, Pantaniello, Scanno, Montagna Spaccata, Castel San Vincenzo, Grottacampanaro, Selva di Cardito. The most high peaks are: Petroso (2.249 m), Marsicano (2.245 m), Meta (2.242 m), Tartaro (2.191 m), Altare (2174 m), Jamiccio (2.074 m), Cavallo (2.039 m), Palombo (2.013 m). There are many Visitors Ceters dedicated to different subjects: Pescasseroli dedicated to Nature and zoo hospital; Civitella Alfedena NAP –point (Wolf); Villetta Barrea (Water); Opi (Chamois); Bisegna (Roe deer); Castel San Vincenzo (apennines fauna); Pizzone (Bear); Villavallelonga (Bear); Ortona dei Marsi (Flora); Campoli Appennino (Bear); San Sebastiano di Bisegna (Insects). Faunistic areas (big hedges with the animals inside): Civitella Alfedena (Wolf and Linx), Villavallelonga (Bear and red deer).
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Landscape
- The oldest National Park of the Apennines had a principal role for the conservation and preservation of the most important Italian fauna: marsican brown bear, Abruzzo chamois and wolf. 60-70% of the surface is covered by beech-woods constituting one of the largest uninterrupted extensions of the whole Apennines. Above the beech-woods, in the stony areas we can find (pinus mugo), very rare on the Apennines, and a lot of endemic species connected to these extreme environments, having often their origin in the glacial periods. The reintroduction of red deer and roe deer and the return of wild boar, together with the large carnivores, allowed the re-establishment of the original food chains.
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Flora and Mushrooms
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Fauna
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Tourism
- Excursions opportunities are several, if we consider that there are 150 trails for more than 200 km itineraries from the access points. Equipped Areas are located in these places: Camosciara of Civitella Alfedena, Val Fondillo of Opi, Barrea Lake at Villetta Barrea and Civitella Alfedena, Belvedere Santa Lucia of Civitella Alfedena, Colle Ciglio of Barrea, Campeggio dell’Orso of Pescasseroli, Difesa of Pescasseroli, Padura of Gioia dei Marsi, Rifugio del Diavolo of Gioia dei Marsi, La Guardia of Lecce dei Marsi, Prati d’Angro of Villavallelonga, Forca d’Acero of Opi-San Donato Val Comino, Val Canneto of Settefrati, Prati di Mezzo of Picinisco, Le Forme of Pizzone.
