Selected accommodation & facilities in Abruzzo’s National Parks
Communes in the Abruzzo National Park
IEstablished in 1992, Abruzzo National Park covers a surface of 44.000 hectares. Although most of this territory is situated in Abruzzo, also several areas of the Molise and Lazio regions are included in the park. The protected area stretches from the province of L’Aquila along several communes. The mountains have a wild shape and are characterized by gorges, karstic fields and high-plateaus, besides the Scanno and Barrea lakes. At low altitudes Turkey oak and durmast woods are spread over, while beech woods are found over the 1000 mt altitude. Among the flora species it is possible to admire the Venus shoe, the Marsican Iris, the red lili and several wild orchids.
Protected wildlife is represented by the Marsican bear, the Appenine wolf, the chamois, the wild pig, the dear, the fox, the badger, the linx, the beech-marten, the weasel and the southern squirrel. Besides the golden eagle, among the birds worth a mention are the buzzard, the kestrel, the peregrine, the eagle-owl, the owl and the griffin. On the fields it is possible to sight the Greek partridge, the sea cow and all around the lakes the heron, the grebe and the grene.
IMajella National park was established in 1995: its surface covers 74.095 hectares and includes the provinces of L’Aquila, Chieti, Pescara and 34 communes. The park territory consist in a mighty calcareous massif, carved by several cayons such as the Orfento, Selva Romana, Santo Spirito and Val Severia. The highest peak of the Majella mountain chain is the Monte Amaro, with an altitude of 2.793 mt. The park also includes the Morrone and Pizzi mountains. Beech-woods cover the mountainsides at an altitude of about 1.000 and 1800 mt. On the rocky ridges grow the mountain pine.
Vegetation is made up of more than 1.700 species, many of them are endemic On the Majella, wildlife is represented by the wolf, the bear, the chamois, the otter, the roe-deer and the deer.Among the 103 bird species are found the gold eagle, as well as the peregrine, the eagle-owl, the lanner, the goshawk. Many important historical towns belong the park, such as Pescostanzo, cultural seat of the park, Guardiagrele, Pennapiedimonte and Caramanico Terme.
Gran Sasso-Monti della Laga National Park was founded in 1995 and its surface is about 148.935 hectares, including also areas of the Marche and Lazio regions. The Abruzzese part includes the provinces of Teramo, L’Aquila, Pescara and further 38 communes. The heart of the Park is of course the Gran Sasso massif, with its highest peaks Corno Grande, Corno Piccolo, Pizzo d’Intermesoli and Monte Camicia. The Gran Sasso mountains also host the southernmost glacier in Europe, the Calderone, besides the enchanting Campo Impertaore uplands, geologically originated from marlstones and sandstones. The Laga mountains have a hilly
landscape, rich in water and wonderful waterfalls such as the so called Morricana, then Cascate della Volpara and Barche. On the eastern slopes of the Laga chain are situated the Montagna dei Fiori and Montagna di Campli, separetad from the Salinello gorges. Vegetation is rich in beech-woods on the Laga mountains and on the Teramo mountainsides, in pastures and grazing fields on the Campo Imperatore uplands and in delightful high-altitude blossoming on the Voltigno plain. Wildlife is characterised by the presence of the wolf, the chamois, the wild pig, the wild cat, the field-mouse and most probably the Marsican bear too. Among the birds the eagle, the peregrine, the eagle-howl and the Greek partridge. On the skies over the Campotosto lake it is possible to see during their stops the heron and several goose species.
Established in 1989, Sirente-Velino regional Park covers a surface of 59.140 hectares in the province of L’Aquila, with head quarter in Rocca di Mezzo; it includes 22 communes. The calcareous Velino and Sirente massifs, on which dominate the uplands delle Rocche, Pezza and Prati del Sirente are characterised by the presence of karstic field and rocky walls, by the Celano and San Venanzio gorges and the Grotte di Stiffe. The most wonderful and lush beech-woods are situated on the Sirente mountain, Valle Cerchiata and Cerasolo. In the lower Aterno mountainside, lnumerous
are the oak-woods. In the gorges grows the holm-oak. Wildlife is made up of several of frogs such as the five-finger, the thrips, the campanula and the allium linear.Moreover the wolf, the roe, the deer and the wild pig live in the park territory, as well as several small mammals. Among the birds stand out for the golden eagle, the ravenon, the riffon and the lanner.
