Regional and National Parks

The Natural Regional Park of Sasso Simone and Simoncello covers an area of 4847 hectares of protected land; it was established in 1996; the towns included in the park are: Carpegna, Montecopiolo, Pietrarubbia, Frontino, Piandimeleto. The surrounding landscape is hilly and mountainous; there are the Sasso Simone and Simoncello Mountains, Mount Canale and Mount Palazzolo . Mount Carpegna, reaching 1415 metres, is the highest Mount in the park and the watershed between the Foglia valley and the Marecchia Valley. The most typical trees in the park are: the beech, the fir tree , the maples , the ash, the holly and the turkey oak. A wide range of animals can be found: the bear , the lynx, the golden eagle, the roe deer, the porcupine, the badge, the hare and the fox. There are numerous viewpoints and scenic spots in the park. One of the most amazing site is Monteboaggine with its twelfth century watchtower overlooking the extensive fields of Monte Carpegna, Foglia and Conca valleys and Sassi Simone and Simoncello. In spring and autumn the whole area is a perfect destination for mushrooms hunters.

The Natural Park of Monte San Bartolo covers an area of 1600 hectares of protected land; it was established in 1994; the towns included in the park are Pesaro and Gabicce Mare. It has very striking landscapes : the cliffs, narrow pebbled beaches and coves and large agricultural areas. The vegetation of Mount San Bartolo is varied: there are oaks, hornbeams and rare species such as the flax sea, the reed and the bright brooms. The park is also rich in bird life - the peregrine falcon, the honey buzzards, the seabirds, the cormorants , the heron, the mute swan live there, but other types of animals can be found : the deer, the fox, the badger, the porcupine and the weasel. Walking tours all around the protected area are fully available. Must see attractions are the ancient villages of Gabicce Monte, Casteldimezzo Fiorenzuola, Santa Marina Alta and the amazing Baia Vallugola. Cultural interesting sites are: Villa Imperiale, Villa Caprile and the archeological area near Colombarone, boasting a villa built in the III century AD.

Info
Paleontological Museum
‘’Lorenzo Sorbini’’
P.zza Dante Alighieri 1,
61010 Fiorenzuola di Focara, (PU)
Tel. 0721 268426

The Natural Regional Park of Gola della Rossa and Frasassi covers an area of 10.026 hectares of protected land; it was established in 1997; the towns included in the park are: Arcevia, Cerreto d'Esi, Fabriano, Genga and Serra San Quirico. The Frasassi Caves, in the heart of the area, are the longest and among the most interesting in Italy with a 240 m high central chamber which is large enough to comfortably hold Milan cathedral. The protected area is a series of towering limestone gorges which provide the rocky habitat for several golden eagles as well as the peregrine falcons and the eagle owls. There are also other types of animals living in the park: the wild cat, the wolf, the porcupine and dozens of different species of bats. Among the cave-dweller species, we must mention an amphibious called “geotritone” . In the rocky parts of the gorges there are many species of flora, like the rare Moheringia papulosa; the limestone areas of the park are full of hornbeams; oaks and turkey oaks can be found in the sandstone substratum . In the southern part of the park Mediterranean vegetation is widespread. In the park you can make interesting excursions and enjoy the typical flora and fauna of the pre-Apennines. Worth visiting are also many castles and monasteries in the nearby area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e485eu03NvA&list=PLko-SClWBKHsOM5ryb6h_iKYz6L0kwodV

Info
Information Centre Casa del Parco Arcevia
Former church of S. Giovanni Battista Entro le Mura
C.so Mazzini
60011 Arcevia (AN)

Information Centre Casa del Parco di Castelletta
Castelletta di Fabriano
60044 Fabriano (AN)

The Regional Park of Mount Conero covers an area of about 6000 hectares of protected land; it was established in 1997; the towns included in the park are: Ancona, Camerano, Numana and Sirolo. Mount Conero, just south of Ancona, provides the only really rugged coastline in The Marche. Rising spectacularly out of the sea to a height of 572 metres, it boasts over a thousand species of wild plants, as well as a rich bird life and several mammals suck as the badger, the fox, the weasel, the skunk, the deer, the wild boar and the hedgehog. Its territory includes places of great charm: the bay of Portonovo, the riviera's two chief resort of Sirolo and Numana, the northern view-point, Pian Grande, Pian dei Raggetti, 18 hiking routes developing among strawberry trees, brooms, chestnut trees, oaks, olive trees, vineyards, maples and junipers and this all immersed in the magic Mediterranean maquis. There are different landscapes and environments in the protected area: the steep limestone cliffs, the hills, the agricultural areas, the valley floors, the wet lands, the coastal dunes and the salt lakes in Portonovo bay.

The park also boasts remarkable geological, historic and artistic attractions: the rock carvings, the Roman caves, the Camerano caves, the Benedictine and Franciscan Monasteries such as San Pietro al Conero, the ruins of the hermitage of Saint Benedict, the beautiful Romanesque church of Santa Maria di Portonovo, the archaeological area of the Picene necropolis in Sirolo, the Fortino Napoleonico in Portonovo bay, a fort built in 1808 by Napoleon's Italian Viceroy to fight off English ships. The most typical products of the area are: Rosso Conero, the outstanding red wine from the vineyards around Monte Conero, the “mosciolo selvatico” (wild mussels) of Portonovo, honey and oil.

 The Conero Park is a paradise for bird watchers and its many paths meet the needs of those who enjoy mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding and it’s not at all unfrequent to see horses by the beach in winter months.  The cliffs are ideal for climbing and free climbing, and the clear coastal waters are ideal for lovers of diving, sport fishing, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. The slopes of the Conero are also well suited as a starting point for hang-gliding and paragliding. Also common is horse riding and in winter by the beach. Various are the schools for the mentioned disciplines.

Info
Visitor Centre
Tel. 071 9330490
ufficiocultura@parcodelconero.eu

The National Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga covers an area of 150.000 hectares of protected land, 9.900 of which are in the Marche. It was established in 1995; the towns included in the park are Arquata del Tronto and Acquasanta Terme. Further south of the Sibillini Mountains, over the gorges carved out by the river Tronto, stand the Laga Mountains, that are the northern part of the national park, which also includes the Gran Sasso massif. Monti della Laga are made up of sandstone and marl; Mount Gorzano is the highest peak reaching 2,458 metres. In the park there are over 2,000 species of plants, such as the edelweiss of the Apennines and several rare orchids. While the Gran Sasso area is full of pastures , Monti della Laga are mainly covered with forests. The most widespread trees are: the beech, the holly, the maple, the lime, the ash, the fir and the mountain elm . The most typical animal living in the park is the chamois. There are also other animals like the deer, the roe deer , the wolf, the bear , the golden eagle, the peregrine falcon and the eagle owl . Beautiful excursions can be made all around the year; the mountains are also ideal for rock climbing, skiing, hiking or skiing. In winter time Laga waterfalls offer unusual and challenging routes for climbers.

Info
Center for Environment Education
Due Parchi
Fraz. Borgo
63096 Arquata del Tronto (AP)
Management: Cooperativa Forestalp
Tel. 071 9330066
info@forestalp.it

The National Park of Sibillini Mountains covers an area of 70.000 hectares of protected land. It was established in 1993; the towns included in the park are: Amandola, Arquata del Tronto, Bolognola, Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Cessapalombo, Fiastra, Montefortino, Montegallo, Montemonaco, Valfornace, Pieve Torina, San Ginesio, Ussita, Visso.

The Monti Sibillini National Park has obtained postive evaluation by Europarc Federation ; therefore it is officially recognized by the European Charter for sustainable tourism in protected areas.


The great limestone massif that stands in the southern Marche includes one of the highest peaks on the Italian mainland - Monte Vettore at 2,476 metres - and the wild tarns and windswept high plains of the Monti Sibillini provide some of the Marche's most spectacular landscapes.
Established in 1993, the National Park of Sibillini Mountains covers an area of over 70,000 hectares of protected land. This chain of mountains is chiselled by glaciers and limestone erosion; the traces can ben recognized in Mount Vettore, Mount Bove, the Ambro Valley , Tela Valley (Mount Rotondo) and in the underlying U-shaped valleys.
Karst phenomena is particularly evident all around the area.

The Park possesses some outstanding natural sights , including the vast upland plains which are a mass of flowers in spring. The most impressive is Piano Grande below the village of Castelluccio, famous across Italy for its lentils. In May and June, this huge expanse of treeless plateau, 1250 mts above sea level, eight kilometres long and five wide, is transformed into a carpet of wild flowers. Among the poppies you'll find wild tulips and exotic alpine flowers such as carex buxbaumii.
Different types of trees can be found in the park : the oak, the hornbeam , the beech , but also natural pastures with very rare and valuable species such as the edelweiss of the Apennines and the willow dwarf, that is considered the world's smallest tree. The fauna is also varied; there are different mammals, such as the wolf, the wild cat, the hedgehog, the roe deer; some birds populate the park too: the golden eagle, the goshawk , the sparrow hawk and the peregrine falcon. 

In the Middle Ages the Sibillini Mountains were known in Europe as a kingdom of demons, necromancers and fairies. There are many legends on the Sibillini area that have been handed for centuries: the mountains take their name from a legend that one of the sibyls - the prophetesses of classical mythology - hid here in a cave on Monte Sibilla known as the Grotta delle Fate (Cave of the Furies) when she was chased out of the underworld. We must also mention the legend of "Pilato", according to which the dead body of the famous Roman procurator was dragged by a team of oxen into the reddish waters of the "demonic" high tarn. The lake is also the only place in the world where you'll find Chirocephalus marchesonii, a pink crustacean that swims belly up.

Nearby is the Gola dell'Infernaccio, an awe-inspiring gorge carved through the rock by the river Tenna. On the flowery slopes of the park , especially in sumemrtime,  you can admire the Ragnolo meadows, full of splendid blooms of orchids, liliaceae and other interesting species, such as the Orsini fritillary, the narcissus or the alpine star; the valley of Fiastrone is also impressive, as it is a gorge carved by the waters where Grotta dei Frati, an ancient and evocative hermitage of the Clareni monks of the year 1000, is located. Climbing up the river, near Lake Fiastra, you can reach the Acquasanta valley with its splendid waterfalls and the Bear's cave, a toponym documenting the  presence of bears in the past.

The Park dwellings and the Environmental Education Centers provide tourist information service. A wide range of activities can be made: hiking tours, horseback riding, mountain biking, hang-gliding or paragliding, rock and ice climbing, skiing, sightseeing in towns of the Park. There are also food and wine tours;  you can taste all specialties and delicalicies of the area.

After the earthquake occured in 2016, we indicate the risks along the paths of the park (ref. Monti Sibillini National Park Authority Press release no. 21/16 dated 12 Dec 2016)

Mount Vettore from Forca di Presta with visit at Castelluccio di Norcia:  the streets leading to Forca di Presta are temporarily closed to transit and the entire area of Castelluccio is red zone. Access is available under permission.

Mount Sibilla: access to Mount Sibilla is not banned.

From Valle dell'Infernaccio the Church of Padre  Livini (The Mason of God) from Rubbiano: access to the Infernaccio Valley and to the hermitage of San Leonardo is forbidden under the order of the Mayor. The route has been damaged by very large landslides.

Frome Foce the path that leads to the Palazzo Borghese: the municipal road leading to Foce di Montemonaco is closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic under the order of the Mayor.
The following cartography shows the streets and the paths temporarily closed due to the earthquake.

Info
Due to the earthquake occurred in 2016, the offices of the National Park Authority are temporarily located in:

VISSO – Swimming pool, locality Palombare.
Tel. 0737 961563 - 3357226283.

TOLENTINO – Institute of Prevention of animal disease Marche and Umbria,
Via Maestri del Lavoro 06029 Tolentino.
Tel. 0733 961946.