Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga Park

Introduction

Description

More to the south of the Sibillini Mountains, beyond the gorges carved out by the Tronto River, rise the Monti della Laga, the northernmost sector of the National Park, which also includes the Gran Sasso mountain massif. Established in 1995, the Park covers an area of 150,000 hectares, 9,900 of which are in the Marche region.

The Laga Mountains, which reach 2458 m with Mount Gorzano, consist mainly of sandstone and marl. The geological nature conditions the morphology of these mountains, whose peaks are more rounded, with numerous deep incised valleys and striking glacial cirques. The marly-arenaceous constitution causes the water to flow impetuously on the surface, gathering in streams, torrents and umi, which cascade down into the valley, forming dozens of beautiful and evocative waterfalls such as the Volpara waterfall or the Barche waterfall in the Selva Grande valley.

FLORA 

The park is home to more than 2,000 species of plants, including the martagon lily, the Apennine edelweiss and several rare orchids such as the epipogeum. One of the most significant species is the bilberry, common as nowhere else in the central Apennines, which, with extensive carpets at high altitudes, forms a veritable moorland among the high pastures.
 The remarkable richness and diversity of plants and vegetation is to be found both in the high altitudes, which exceed 2000 metres, and in the different geological substrata of the main mountain massifs. While the Gran Sasso is characterised, particularly on the L'Aquila side, by the great extension of pastures, the Monti della Laga are largely covered by forests. At lower altitudes, there are oak and chestnut woods, planted in Roman times, while the beech forest is the most extensive forest formation and extends from 1000 to 1800 metres. Beech is often associated with other tree species such as yew or holly, residual species from times characterised by a warmer and more humid climate; maple, linden, ash and mountain elm cover the gorges. Also worthy of note are the woods of the rare silver fir - which has one of only two stations here in the Marche region - and some birch nuclei, living testimony to past climatic events that have had a great influence on the current vegetation.

FAUNA 

The park's most interesting species of fauna is the chamois, an ungulate exclusive to the Apennine mountains, which has returned to live in the park after a hundred years, thanks to a successful reintroduction operation. Other large herbivores live in the area, such as deer, roe deer and their predator par excellence, the Apennine wolf, which is re-establishing small herds. The Marsican brown bear has also been making sporadic appearances for some time. There are also numerous birds of prey such as the golden eagle, goshawk, peregrine falcon, lanner, chough and eagle owl. Among the leaves, in the cool environments where water flows or collects, live the spectacled salamander, a rather rare an bio, and the temporaria frog.

TURIST OFFER 

The Laga Mountains were until a few years ago almost unknown to mountain enthusiasts and, due to their relative proximity to Gran Sasso, Terminillo and the Sibillini Mountains, little frequented. But those who approach them once cannot fail to return for beautiful hikes throughout the year or to practice mountaineering, ski touring or alpine skiing. In winter, when the water gives way to thick flows of ice, the Laga waterfalls offer unusual and challenging routes for mountaineers.
 The ancient cultural tradition of the park's populations is evidenced by the numerous elaborate handicrafts, tasty gastronomic products and characteristic local folklore expressions that still survive the passage of time, playing an important cultural role and attracting tourists. The last examples of 16th-century stone houses, in the numerous hamlets nestled among the mountains, in Arquata del Tronto, or Castel di Luco, in the hamlet of Paggese di Acquasanta Terme, characteristic for its circular shape; or Umito, a typical mountain village, unforgettable for its splendid centuries-old chestnut groves, and a starting point for fascinating excursions in the luxuriant woods. In the village of Colle di Arquata del Tronto, charcoal is still produced using the ancient method of the Apennine charcoal kiln. Also worth visiting are Acquasanta Terme and Arquata del Tronto, which in Roman times was an important 'statio' on the Via Salaria. The village owes its name to the imposing 13th-century fortress (arx) that crowns the hill and that was rebuilt, according to tradition, by Giovanna II of Naples and restored in recent times.
 There are also various cultural and folkloristic expressions, including one of the area's oldest historical re-enactments: the Festa Bella, through which the community of Spelonga di Arquata relives the battle of Lepanto, in 1751. In fact, a hundred Spelongans took part in the battle and managed to capture the Turkish flag, which is still preserved today in the village's parish church. The commemoration takes place every three years, on 14 August. In the first ten days of the month, 150 young people go to the Martese forest and cut a 25-metre-long trunk: it will be the mast of the ship that will be rebuilt in the village square, in a laborious and highly technical operation that celebrates community cohesion at the same time. On 19 August, there is also the celebration of 'At the Court of the Queen', a re-enactment of life at court that takes place in the Fortress built by Giovanna II of Naples.
 A visit to the Park can begin at the Due Parchi Centre in Arquata del Tronto, which is the only municipality in Europe to be part of two National Parks: that of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga and that of Monti Sibillini. The centre is in fact a Country House, Park House and Environmental Education Centre. Many activities are carried out in the centre, for example, green stays and educational school trips and nature weekends are organised; equipment and maps are also available for orienteering activities, as well as an art climbing wall.