NATURE AND PARKS The heights surrounding the plain Nature and Parks. were once dotted with castellieri, prehistoric settlements typical of the Life and sport centuries preceding the arrival of the Romans. The park territory includes in the protected areas the peak of Monte Orve, which offers breathtaking vistas, as well as the is widely known as the remains of the Roman city of Plestia. “green heart of ”, a simple The Monte Cucco Regional Park description that certainly rings true. (1995) is a paradise for sports The extraordinary balance between lovers. It extends for 10,480 hectares nature and human activity, an around the peak (1556 m) in the excellent practice handed down over northeastern part of Umbria. The area the centuries and still respected, is characterised by grandiose karst has created impressive landscapes, phenomena: underground caves, deep undoubtedly amongst the most valleys furrowed by crystalline rivers, beautiful in Italy. Crossed by the and mineral springs. It conserves Apennines, a large part of the region is virtually unspoilt beech woods and mountainous or hilly. With a limestone hosts golden eagles and wolves, and composition, these areas are subject as the Piani di Castelluccio, formed the water courses are inhabited by to the “choreographies” of erosion: by Pian Perduto, Pian Grande, and crayfi sh. Sites of particular naturalistic sinkholes, natural springs, rivers, Pian Piccolo; near the latter is the interest include the Rio Freddo and streams, and lakes embellish the Macchia Cavaliere, a beech wood of Balzo dell’Aquila gorges, the imposing expanses of woods, pastures, and enormous naturalistic value. The fl ora Corno di Catria, the canyon known fi elds cultivated with care. Fortunately, in the park is particularly rich: vast as Valle delle Prigioni, and the karst the natural environment is treated forests and 1800 species of fl owers plateau of Macinare, a marvel of with the utmost respect. Umbria counted, including the Apennine meadows and beech woods. In the 8 has numerous protected areas: edelweiss, alpine anemone, and bowels of the massif, the Valdorbia 9 in “hierarchical” order, the Monti various orchids. The abundant fauna subterranean caves, dug by man, Sibillini National Park, a number includes wolves, porcupines, wildcats, extend for dozens of kilometres, while of Regional Parks (Colfi orito, Monte and majestic raptors such as eagles the Grotta del Monte Cucco penetrates Cucco, , the River and the Eurasian eagle owl. The most into the depths (down to more than Park, Trasimeno, the Nera River Park), representative fauna are the meadow 990 metres) for 30 kilometres, one the STINA, and other smaller reserves viper, a protected species, and of the most extensive karst systems such as the parks of Sette Frati and chirocephalus marchesoni, a small in Italy. Three towns are set on this Villalba, Lake Alviano (WWF reserve) red crustacean unique in the world natural backdrop: Fossato di Vico, and La Valle (Legambiente reserve). that populates Lake Pilato. Served by Sigillo, and Costacciaro, embellishing Established in 1993, the Monti Sibillini numerous trails, the Monti Sibillini the view with their ancient walls National Park (17,790 hectares on park is a wonderful place for hiking. and towers. With 120 kilometres of the border between Umbria and Le A fantastic itinerary is the Grande excellent trails, the attraction for Marche) covers the mountainous Anello, 120 kilometres for a nine-day hikers is irresistable, as well as for area where legend has it that the trek along the entire massif of the those who love horseback riding, cave of the fortune-teller Sybil was Sibillini. Other sports opportunities mountain biking, parasailing, hang- found. It is a land of magical charm, include ski mountaineering, horseback gliding, canyoning, and cross-country impregnated with legends and riding, mountain biking, hang-gliding, skiing (on the Pian delle Macinare). embellished with fortifi ed towns, parasailing, and rock climbing. The Grotta del Monte Cucco affords towers, churches and abbeys set The Colfi orito Regional Park an opportunity to practice spelunking; into the green surroundings. Here lie (established in 1995, 338 hectares) is a the Centro Escursionistico Naturale the source of the Nera river, which vast karst plateau formed by seven dry Speleologico is headquartered in a carves one of the most beautiful lake beds, encircled by gently rolling former monastery in Costacciaro. valleys of the entire Apennine range, hills. Within this expanse lies the The Monte Subasio Regional Park and the highest peaks in the region, marsh of Colfi orito, a wetlands area of (1995, 7442 hectares) is the park of dominated by Monte Vettore (2476 m). international importance with a rich spirituality, its territory encompassing Opening out on the western slope of proliferation of aquatic fl ora. With its , the mystical epicentre of the Apennines is a spectacular karst abundance of birdlife, it is a wonderful Umbria. Over the centuries, the city depression, the series of plains known place for birdwatching enthusiasts. of St. Francis and the mount, the NATURE AND PARKS “Monte de Assisio” par excellence, hiking, affording fantastic vistas. The have always had a close bond of Petrifi ed Forest of Dunarobba, in interdependence: Assisi used its the vicinity of Avigliano, is one of the pink stone, forests and pastures, most interesting paleontological sites redesigning the physiognomy of the in the world, preserving fossil tree landscape. The peak (1290 m) rises trunks over two million years old. above the Umbra Valley and also The phenomenon observed here is forms the backdrop for Spello and different from that of other petrifi ed . Prevalently fl at and forests, as the fossilised trunks furrowed by sinkholes, fi ssures, and maintain their original consistency and karst pits, it is characterised by a large erect position. variety of environments. The slopes The establishment of the Trasimeno of Monte Subasio are covered with Regional Park (1995) was of vital dense vegetation, like the ilex wood importance in order to preserve that surrounds the Hermitage of the an extremely delicate natural Carceri, with its incredible overhang, environment, hard pressed especially the hermits’ caves, and the centuries- by tourism on the lake. Excellent old ilex tree of St. Francis. results have been accomplished: The Tiber River Park (1995, 7925 the water and beaches are clean, hectares) winds along 50 kilometres and many areas, such as the islands of river, from the hills of Todi to and valleys, have maintained their the Alviano nature reserve, passing naturalistic qualities. Right from through the gorge of the fi rst glance, the landscape is Forello, the highlands of simply enchanting. The park (13,200 Prodo and Titignano (not hectares) covers the entire surface of far from Orvieto), and Lake Trasimeno, the largest in Italy the made-made lake of excluding the Alpine lakes, and also 10 Corbara, which changed the incorporates the towns along the 11 landscape without, however, shores. Three islands emerge from diminishing its beauty. The the lake (seven metres at maximum river banks and all the height): Isola Polvese, now a scientifi c adjacent territory are dotted park, , inhabited year- with ruins and fi nds of the round, and Isola Minore. In addition epochs of the Umbrians, to the fi sh, pride and joy of the local Etruscans, and Romans, cuisine, Lake Trasimeno is important for whom the Tiber was a as a waystation for migratory birds, vital communication artery. including herons, swans, and egrets. The park is thus virutally San Savino di is home to one large archaeological the Oasi la Valle, established in 1996 site. In the wildest points, and managed by Legambiente: a vast such as the gorge of Forello, wetlands of notable importance, 500 the banks are covered with hectares of cane thickets precious lush vegetation and provide including rare species such as cranes for the bird life and in particular for habitats for ospreys, red kites, and and ospreys. The Oasi di Alviano migratory birds. The centre organises sparrow hawks. The waters of Lake reserve is located here, managed guided visits, also aboard electric Corbara (created for hydroelectric by the WWF, with two nature trails boats. purposes) teem with carps, eels, and equipped with huts, foot-bridges, and Furrowed by the course of the rivers chubs, which attract as many water towers for birdwatchers. The Tiber Nera and Velino, which fl ows into the birds as fi shermen. The blocking of River Park lends itself to numerous Nera precipitating in the spectacular the Tiber in 1963 produced, in addition sports activities: in addition to hiking, falls of the Cascata delle Marmore, to the Corbara basin, an unexpected horseback riding, and cycling, visitors the Nera River Park (1995, 2120 but happy consequence: 500 hectares can also engage in canoeing, kayaking, hectares) is worthy of its nickname of wetlands, swamps, and marshes and caving. In the proximity of the “park of waters”. The valley of the that became the perfect breeding park, at the foot of Monte Peglia, Nera, or Valnerina as it is called, offers ground and waystation for 150 species lies the Sette Frati nature reserve, a fascinating landscape: the river is of aquatic and migratory birds, 25 hectares of unspoilt woods for wedged between steep walls, in a gorge that in certain parts is intensely Venanzo (126 hectares). There are also green. The most characteristic wildlife zones of paleontological interest: the are rock thrushes, swifts, white- prehistoric deposits of Monte Peglia, throated dippers, wildcats, trout, and dating to 700,000 years ago, and the crayfi sh in the streams. The Cascata desposits of Fabro and Ficulle, rich in delle Marmore has ancient artifi cial origins: the Romans diverted the course of the Velino river towards the 165-metre high dropoff, creating what is now a top tourist attraction. The entire zone is popular for sports tourism, in particular water sports: kayak, canoe, hydrospeed and rafting enthusiasts, as well as free climbers, can enjoy the excellent facilities dedicated to them. Outside the park,

fossils. Outside the park, on the border with the Monte Rufeno Nature Reserve in Latium, is the protected area of Villalba (25 hectares), with dense woods and precious fl owers. Finally, there is the splendid Fonti del just a short distance from the falls, is Clitunno, situated on the Via Flaminia Lago di Piediluco, the second largest between Spoleto and Foligno, where natural lake in Umbria, a pleasant spot crystalline water gushes from fi ssures ringed by mountains and colourful in the stone, collecting to form a small houses and site of world-class rowing lake and then channelling into the competitions. river. The springs were sacred to the In the central-western sector of the Romans, who came here to listen to region is the Parco S.T.I.N.A. (Sistema the oracles of the god Clitumnus. They Territoriale di Interesse Naturalistico were celebrated by Virgil, Propertius, and Ambientale) of Monte Peglia-Selva and Pliny the Younger, and centuries di Meana, recently established (1999) later inspired Byron, Carducci, and and managed by the local Comunità Corot. A visit to the Fonti del Clitunno Montana. The considerable variety of still stirs the same emotions today. fl ora comprises more than a thousand species, with rare jewels such as Cytinus ruber. The vast expanse of the STINA (44,270 hectares) includes three nature reserves: the Selva di Meana- Allerona (3255 hectares of forests populated by badgers and martens), the Bosco della Melonta (1154 hectares characterised by ilex groves and the Eurasian eagle owl), and San