The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park is a natural park located mostly in
Abruzzo
Abruzzo (, , ; nap, label=Neapolitan language, Abruzzese Neapolitan, Abbrùzze , ''Abbrìzze'' or ''Abbrèzze'' ; nap, label=Sabino dialect, Aquilano, Abbrùzzu; #History, historically Abruzzi) is a Regions of Italy, region of Southern Italy wi ...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
. It was established in 1991, it has an area of , and it is mainly spread out across the
province of Teramo
The Province of Teramo ( it, provincia di Teramo; Abruzzese: ') is a province in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Teramo. The province has an area of , a population of 313,029 (2012), and is subdivided into 47 comunes ( i ...
,
L'Aquila
L'Aquila ( , ) is a city and ''comune'' in central Italy. It is the capital city of both the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. , it has a population of 70,967 inhabitants. Laid out within medieval walls on a hill in the wide valle ...
,
Pescara
Pescara (; nap, label= Abruzzese, Pescà rë; nap, label= Pescarese, Piscà rë) is the capital city of the Province of Pescara, in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is the most populated city in Abruzzo, with 119,217 (2018) residents (and approxim ...
, with small areas in the
province of Rieti
The Province of Rieti ( it, Provincia di Rieti) is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Rieti. Established in 1927, it has an area of with a total population of 157,887 people as of 2017. There are 73 ''comuni'' ...
and
Ascoli Piceno
Ascoli Piceno (; la, Asculum; dialetto ascolano: Ascule) is a town and ''comune'' in the Marche region of Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population is around 46,000 but the urban area of the city has more than 93,000.
Geo ...
. The terrain is predominantly mountainous with alpine plains.
It is managed by Ente Parco Nazionale Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga, with headquarters in
Assergi
Assergi is a frazione of the comune of L'Aquila, located about from the capital. With a population of just over 500, it is situated at an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters, below the western slope of the Gran Sasso in a small plain called ...
,
L'Aquila
L'Aquila ( , ) is a city and ''comune'' in central Italy. It is the capital city of both the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. , it has a population of 70,967 inhabitants. Laid out within medieval walls on a hill in the wide valle ...
.
The Grand Highway of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park runs through the park between the
Gran Sasso
Gran Sasso d'Italia (; ) is a massif in the Apennine Mountains of Italy. Its highest peak, Corno Grande (2,912 metres), is the highest mountain in the Apennines, and the second-highest mountain in Italy outside the Alps. The mountain lies wit ...
mountain peak and the chain known as
Monti della Laga
Monti della Laga is a mountain range in the central Apennines of Italy. Their ruggedness and inaccessibility makes them one of the lesser known areas of the Italian peninsula.
Geography
The mountains run for a length of about between the Italia ...
.
Geography
The park is one of the largest protected areas in Europe, and is centered around the massif of the
Gran Sasso
Gran Sasso d'Italia (; ) is a massif in the Apennine Mountains of Italy. Its highest peak, Corno Grande (2,912 metres), is the highest mountain in the Apennines, and the second-highest mountain in Italy outside the Alps. The mountain lies wit ...
, which dominates the surrounding landscape; it rises vertically on the immense pastures of the
Campo Imperatore
Campo Imperatore ("Emperor's Field") is a mountain grassland or alpine meadow formed by a high basin shaped plateau located above Gran Sasso massif, the largest plateau of Apennine ridge. Known as "Little Tibet", it is located in Gran Sasso e M ...
. The land is very rocky and receives a large amount of snow and wind. The
Calderone lies just beneath the tallest peak, the
Corno Grande
Corno Grande (Italian for "great horn") is the highest point in the Apennine Mountains, situated in Abruzzo, central Italy. Part of the Gran Sasso massif, it is the highest peak of the Italian Peninsula at . It is the highest peak in mainland I ...
, and it is considered to be Europe's southernmost
glacier
A glacier (; ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its Ablation#Glaciology, ablation over many years, often Century, centuries. It acquires dis ...
. On the north side there is the profile of Monti della Laga chain, where thousands of migratory birds stop on the shores of
Lake Campotosto
Lago di Campotosto ("Toughfield Lake") is an artificial lake in Abruzzo, Italy. The reservoir is located at an elevation of 1,313 m and comprises an area of 14 square kilometres. It is located in the natural park known as the "Gran Sasso e Mo ...
. This area is completely covered by woods of
beeches
Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...
,
firs
Firs (''Abies'') are a genus of 48–56 species of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Pinaceae. They are found on mountains throughout much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The genus is most closely related to ...
,
turkey oaks and
chestnuts
The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.
The unrelated ...
. There are over of dedicated horse trails that can be used to visit the park.
Nature and wildlife
The park contains one of the most biologically diverse areas of Europe. The climate is between that of the Mediterranean and that of the rest of continental Europe. The park contains more than two thousand plant species, some of which are found exclusively in this area, such as the
Abruzzo Edelweiss. Many species of wildlife inhabit the park, including rare animals such as the Abruzzo
chamois
The chamois (''Rupicapra rupicapra'') or Alpine chamois is a species of goat-antelope native to mountains in Europe, from west to east, including the Alps, the Dinarides, the Tatra and the Carpathian Mountains, the Balkan Mountains, the Ril ...
, as well as
wolves
The wolf (''Canis lupus''; plural, : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large Canis, canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus, subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been reco ...
, Marsican brown bear, roe deer, wildcats,
wild boar
The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The species is ...
s, foxes and
squirrel
Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, a family that includes small or medium-size rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs, among others), and flying squirrels. Squ ...
s. Notable birds include the
golden eagle
The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known bird of p ...
, the
white-backed woodpecker
The white-backed woodpecker (''Dendrocopos leucotos'') is a Eurasian woodpecker belonging to the genus ''Dendrocopos''.
Taxonomy
The white-backed woodpecker was described by the German naturalist Johann Matthäus Bechstein in 1802 under the ...
, the
goshawk
Goshawk may refer to several species of birds of prey, mainly in the genus ''Accipiter'':
* Northern goshawk, ''Accipiter gentilis'', often referred to simply as the goshawk, since it is the only goshawk found in much of its range (in Europe and N ...
, the
common buzzard
The common buzzard (''Buteo buteo'') is a medium-to-large bird of prey which has a large range. A member of the genus ''Buteo'', it is a member of the family Accipitridae. The species lives in most of Europe and extends its breeding range across ...
and the
peregrine falcon
The peregrine falcon (''Falco peregrinus''), also known as the peregrine, and historically as the duck hawk in North America, is a Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan bird of prey (Bird of prey, raptor) in the family (biology), family Falco ...
. There are also a wide variety of insects, such as the
apollo butterfly.
Attractions
The park contains a very long circuit of approximately featuring trails that can be visited on horseback, by mountain bike, or on foot.
Many outdoor activities are possible within the park including
hiking
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
,
Horse riding
Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, Driving (horse), driving, and Equestrian vaulting, vaulting ...
,
mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and pe ...
,
Canoeing
Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. Common meanings of the term are limited to when the canoeing is the central purpose of the activity. Broader meanings include when it is combined with other acti ...
,
Bird watching
Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device like binoculars or a telescope, by ...
,
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing, or downhill skiing, is the pastime of sliding down snow-covered slopes on skis with fixed-heel bindings, unlike other types of skiing ( cross-country, Telemark, or ski jumping), which use skis with free-heel bindings. Whether for ...
,
ski mountaineering
Ski mountaineering (abbreviated to skimo) is a skiing discipline that involves climbing mountains either on skis or carrying them, depending on the steepness of the ascent, and then descending on skis. There are two major categories of equipmen ...
, and
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snow-covered terrain, rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreation ...
.
Educational projects are active in the park visitor centres, and trails and paths can be freely explored alone or with the assistance of mountain guides.
Settlements
Many old villages are located within the confines the national park. They tend to be quite small, with stone and brick houses and narrow streets. In many cases, the place names highlight the defensive nature of the settlement and a summit position, such as Castel (castle),
Rocca, Pizzo (peak), and Colle (hill).
*
Province of L'Aquila
The Province of L'Aquila ( it, Provincia dell'Aquila) is the largest, most mountainous and least densely populated province of the Abruzzo region of Central Italy. It comprises about half the landmass of Abruzzo and occupies the western part o ...
Assergi
Assergi is a frazione of the comune of L'Aquila, located about from the capital. With a population of just over 500, it is situated at an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters, below the western slope of the Gran Sasso in a small plain called ...
,
Barete,
Barisciano
Barisciano ( Abruzzese: '; la, Furfo), is a comune and town in the province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.
Main sights
* Castle
*Monastery of San Colombo. Tod ...
,
Cagnano Amiterno
Cagnano Amiterno is a ''comune'' and town in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.
It is located in the natural park known as the "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga Natio ...
,
Calascio
Calascio is a ''comune'' and village in the province of L'Aquila, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.
History
The existence of the village, of Norman origin, is already tes ...
,
Campotosto,
Capestrano
Capestrano ( Abruzzese: ') is a ''comune'' and small town with 885 inhabitants (2017), in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.
History
Antiquity
In the necropolis the statu ...
,
Capitignano
Capitignano ( Aquilano: ') is a ''comune'' and town in the province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park is a natural park ...
,
Carapelle Calvisio
Carapelle Calvisio is a ''comune'' and town in the province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It is located in the natural park known as the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga Nationa ...
,
Castel del Monte,
Castelvecchio Calvisio
Castelvecchio Calvisio is a ''comune'' and town in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.
The 2010 film '' Bad Mom's Christmas'' has scenes set there. The town i ...
,
L'Aquila
L'Aquila ( , ) is a city and ''comune'' in central Italy. It is the capital city of both the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. , it has a population of 70,967 inhabitants. Laid out within medieval walls on a hill in the wide valle ...
,
Montereale,
Ofena
Ofena ( Abruzzese: ') is a ''comune'' and town in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is located in the natural park known as the "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park". The comune/village is home to a vast and rich h ...
,
Pizzoli,
Santo Stefano di Sessanio
Santo Stefano di Sessanio is a ''comune'' and hill town in the province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy. Located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, in the highest region of the Apennines, this medieval hill to ...
,
Villa Santa Lucia degli Abruzzi
Villa Santa Lucia degli Abruzzi is a little comune and town in the province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.
Twin town
* Port Colborne
Port Colborne is a city in ...
*
Province of Ascoli Piceno
The province of Ascoli Piceno ( it, Provincia di Ascoli Piceno) is a province in the Marche region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Ascoli Piceno, and the province is bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Province of Fermo to the nor ...
Acquasanta Terme
Acquasanta Terme ( la, Ad Aquas) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Ascoli Piceno in the Italian region Marche, located about south of Ancona and about southwest of Ascoli Piceno. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga ...
,
Arquata del Tronto
Arquata del Tronto is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Ascoli Piceno in the Marche region of Italy, located about from Ancona. It is the only European municipality located partly within two natural parks: Gran Sasso e Monti della Lag ...
*
Province of Pescara
The province of Pescara ( it, provincia di Pescara; Abruzzese: ') is a province in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its provincial capital is the city Pescara, which has a population of 119,483 inhabitants. As of 2017, it has a total population of ...
Brittoli
Brittoli is a ''comune'' and town in the province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.
Main sights
*Torre of Forca di Penne
*Palazzo Pagliccia (17th century)
*Abbey of San B ...
,
Bussi sul Tirino
Bussi sul Tirino ( Abruzzese: ') is a ''comune'' and town in the province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park is a natural ...
,
Carpineto della Nora,
Castiglione a Casauria
Castiglione a Casauria is a ''comune'' and town in the province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is located in the natural park known as the "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park".
Main sights
*The Abbey of San Clemente a Casau ...
,
Civitella Casanova,
Corvara,
Farindola
Farindola ( Abruzzese: ') is a ''comune'' and town in the province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.
Outside the town, located near the Gran Sasso massif and thus characte ...
,
Montebello di Bertona
Montebello di Bertona (locally ''Mundibbèlle'') is a '' comune'' and town in the province of Pescara, in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is located in the natural park known as the "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
The Gran Sasso and ...
,
Pescosansonesco
Pescosansonesco ( Abruzzese: '; Pescolano: ') is a ''comune'' and town in the province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is above sea level in the natural park known as the "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park".
Famous for its ...
,
Villa Celiera
Villa Celiera is a ''comune'' and town in the province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park
The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park is a natural park located most ...
*
Province of Rieti
The Province of Rieti ( it, Provincia di Rieti) is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Rieti. Established in 1927, it has an area of with a total population of 157,887 people as of 2017. There are 73 ''comuni'' ...
Accumoli
Accumoli is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Rieti in the Italian region Lazio, located about northeast of Rome and about northeast of Rieti. It is located in the natural park known as the " Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National P ...
,
Amatrice
*
Province of Teramo
The Province of Teramo ( it, provincia di Teramo; Abruzzese: ') is a province in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Teramo. The province has an area of , a population of 313,029 (2012), and is subdivided into 47 comunes ( i ...
Arsita,
Campli,
Castelli
Castelli may refer to:
Places Argentina
* Castelli, Buenos Aires, city in Buenos Aires Province
* Castelli Partido, partido in Buenos Aires Province
* Juan José Castelli, Chaco, in Chaco Province
* Villa Castelli, Argentina, in La Rioja Provi ...
,
Civitella del Tronto
Civitella del Tronto () is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Teramo, within the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It is in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.
History
The origins of Civitella are unknown, though in the area have ...
,
Cortino
Cortino ( Abruzzese: ') is a small town and ''comune'' in the central Italian region of Abruzzo in the Province of Teramo. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.
The major part of the population lives in small hamlets d ...
,
Crognaleto
Crognaleto is a ''comune'' and city of slightly less than 2,000 people in the Province of Teramo, central Italy. Crognaleto sits at an elevation of and has its communal administrative offices in the ''frazione'' (outlying area) of Nerito. The c ...
,
Fano Adriano,
Isola del Gran Sasso d'Italia,
Montorio al Vomano
Montorio al Vomano ( Abruzzese: ') is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Teramo, in the Abruzzo region of central-southern Italy. It is located in the natural park known as the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park.
Geography
The ci ...
,
Pietracamela,
Rocca Santa Maria
Rocca Santa Maria is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo, eastern Italy. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. The municipal seat is in the ''frazione'' of Imposte.
See also
* Martese
*Serra (Rocca ...
,
Torricella Sicura,
Tossicia,
Valle Castellana.
External links
*
*â
Official Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park website*â
The National Park of the Gran Sasso*â
Parks.it: Park Authority in AbruzzoUNESCO photographer's gallery of Campo-Imperatore
{{Authority control
National parks of Italy
Parks in Abruzzo
Parks in Lazio
Parks in Marche
Province of L'Aquila
Province of Pescara
Province of Teramo
Protected areas of the Apennines
Protected areas established in 2001
2001 establishments in Italy