Abruzzo Parks

The Abruzzo Parks extend over most of the regional mountain areas and together form a single large protected area, giving Abruzzo the title of "Green Region of Europe". With the exception of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, which belongs to the group of "Historical Parks", the great Abruzzo parks were established through the framework law no. 394 of 1991.

National park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise. The National Park of Abruzzo, now called National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise (Law 93/2001), is, together with the Gran Paradiso, the oldest Italian national park. It was established, in fact, a private initiative, back in November 1921 and was inaugurated in Pescasseroli September 9, 1922; received recognition in January 1923. The protected area, located in the heart of Central Apennines, covers an area of about 50,000 hectares and spans three provinces: L'Aquila (where fall about 3/4 of the entire Park), Frosinone (Lazio) and Isernia (Molise). E 'known throughout the world, not only for the beauty of the area, for the presence, in its immense forests and the high mountain ranges, the last specimens of endemic species of large mammals, only the establishment of Reserve saved from extinction: the Marsicano Brown Bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus), the symbol of the Park; the Abruzzo chamois (Pyrenean chamois adorned, currently, though, many endemic species of zoologists consider and classify it as a distinct species), considered the most beautiful chamois in the world and the Apennine Wolf (Canis lupus italicus), a common time along the entire span of the Apennines. Other illustrious "tenants" of the Park are the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the Deer, roe deer, the lynx, the otter, the Lilford Woodpecker, the Black Woodpecker, the Peregrine Falcon, etc. Among the wonders of the park was without a doubt lovely Integral Reserve Camosciara, one of the most spectacular and unspoiled locations around the Abruzzo region.

Gran Sasso-Monti della Laga National parks. It’s 'one of the largest Italian National Parks (150,000 hectares) and was established by Law no. 394 of 6 December 1991. It covers the provinces of L'Aquila, Teramo and Pescara, and includes three major mountain ranges: the chain of Gran Sasso, where there is the highest peak in the Apennines (Big Horn, 2912 m.); the massif of Laga, with Mount Gorzano (2,458), Mount of Laghetta (2,369 m.) and the Pizzo di Sevo (2,421 m.) and the Twin Mountains. Between Corno Grande and Corno Piccolo (2655 m.), At a height of 2680 m., It is the Calderone glacier, the only one of the Apennines and the southernmost of Europe. In the heart of the chain of the Gran Sasso of Italy it is hidden the huge karst plateau of Campo Imperatore (1800-2150 m. S.l.m.), nicknamed "Little Tibet". The endless highland pastures are surrounded by spectacular mountain peaks of Corno Grande, Corno Piccolo, Mount Prena (2,561 m.), Mount Camicia (2,570 m.), Mount Brancastello (2,385 m.), Pizzo Intermesoli (2,646 m.) , Mount Portella (2,388 m.), Mount Scindarella (2,233) and other minor peaks. Even in the Gran Sasso National Park are almost all animal species listed earlier in the Abruzzo National Park

Majella National park. The Majella National Park was established in 1991, along with that of the Gran Sasso-Laga. It covers over 74,000 hectares in the provinces of Pescara, Chieti and L'Aquila. The protected area is almost entirely collected around the massifs of the Majella, who in Monte Amaro (2,795 m.) The second highest peak in the Apennines, and numerous other (about thirty) above 2,000 m., And Morrone (2,061 m.). The charm of the Majella, that Petrarch called "Domus Christi", is enhanced by the many, and sometimes inaccessible, hermitages embedded in the rock and from the beautiful and historic abbeys scattered in the territory. The deep, lush and unspoiled canyons rich waters that characterize some areas of the park are considered a true Eden for nature lovers. In the Park we have been counted more than 1,700 plant species, accounting for about 70% of the entire Italian flora. Acting as the Majella National Park as a hinge between the National Park of Gran Sasso-Laga (north) and the Abruzzo National Park (south), it is obviously characterized by the presence of the same animal that is found in the two other protected areas, with very few exceptions

Sirente-Velino Regional park The Regional Park Sirente-Velino, instituted by the Abruzzo region in 1989, covers an area of over 50,000 hectares and covers the territory of 22 municipalities in the Province of L'Aquila. The protected area is characterized by the presence of two majestic mountain ranges: Mount Velino (2,487 m., The third highest peak of the Apennines) to the west, on the border with Lazio, and Mount Sirente (2,349 m.) To the east . In the Park Sirente-Velino, in the City of St. Demetrius nor Vestini territory, are the famous Caves of Stiffe, originated by karst nature of the territory and characterized by the presence of an underground river fed through a sinkhole located at 1,350 m. above sea level, the water coming from the Rocche. Inside the caves you are still fascinated by the presence of stalactites, stalagmites, small lakes and roaring waterfalls, high as a few tens of meters.The protected area of the park is home to about 46% of mammal species on the Italian territory, including some endemic endangered species like the brown bear Marsicano and the Apennine Wolf, 32% of breeding birds in Italy, including the griffin, recently re-introduced, 17% of reptiles and 30% of amphibians.