A preserved nature
Italy covers a territory with many protected areas. In the Marche region alone, there are two national parks (Monti Sibillini and Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga), four regional parks (Monte Conero, Sasso Simone e Simoncello, Monte San Bartolo and Gola della Rossa plus Frasassi) six nature reserves (Abbadia di Fiastra, Montagna di Torricchio, Ripa Bianca, Sentina, Gola del Furlo and Monte San Vicino plus Monte Canfaito), more than 100 protected areas for the protection of plants and flowers and fifteen state forests. If you walk through the Sibylline Mountains, which stretch between Umbria and Marche, you will see trees such as oak, hornbeam, beech, but also rare species such as the Apennine edelweiss, an endangered species that blooms in June and July on the stony pastures of the high altitudes, and the dwarf willow, considered one of the smallest trees in the world. Nearly 2,000 species of flowers can be found in this park, which is also home to various mammals, such as wolves, porcupines, wild cats, hedgehogs, deer, golden eagles, goshawks, eagle owls, sparrowhawks and peregrine falcons. Have you ever seen an endemic crustacean swimming on its back while moving backwards? This is the peculiarity of the Chirocefalo del Marchesoni, a unique reddish crustacean that lives in the lake of Pilate, located in a deep valley below Monte Vettore of the Sibylline range.
Birdwatching
With its eight parks, Umbria is also characterized by its natural wealth. And in this region, birdwatching is practiced. All you need is a certified guide and binoculars. There are three main parks where you can practice this activity. Colfiorito Park, a vast karst plateau made up of seven dry lakes, invites you to observe rare or endangered species such as the bittern, the little bittern, the purple heron or the reed warbler, especially from March to September. There is also the Oasis of Alviano, managed by the WWF, which has set up paths for visits, equipped with huts. From here you can observe more than 150 species, such as mallards, Eurasian coots, white and grey herons, little egrets... In spring you can see grebes, herons and passerines, but also woodpeckers and cuckoos. As the weather warms up, the young birds fly away: dozens of red kites fly over the oasis and their babies leave the nest. Lake Trasimeno also sees many migratory birds. On the SP 316, on the eastern side of the lake, is the natural oasis of La Valle, near San Savino di Magione. With its 500 hectares of reed beds, this area is home to great crested grebes, blongios, teals, scaups... You can admire the flight of the marsh harrier as well as the peregrine falcon and many other migratory species. Some rooms are equipped with a stereomicroscope laboratory and a documentation centre. Please visit www.sibillini.net for more information.
Caving excursions
Another peculiarity of this area of Italy is that it invites you to practice speleology, an activity of exploration of underground cavities. In the Marche and Umbria, magnificent caves penetrate the landscape in depth. First of all, the Frasassi caves were discovered in 1971 by a member of the speleological group of Ancona (the Marche group of the Italian Alpine Club). The central hall is 120 metres wide and 240 metres high, and specialists like to say that it could contain the Duomo of Milan. The limestone gorges are home to golden eagles, peregrine falcons and great horned owls. The cave's cave-dwelling species include amphibians, the hydromantes, which live permanently in the dark. A route suitable for anyone over the age of 12 offers a first approach to caving, with short climbs, galleries, narrow passages and slippery slopes. In Umbria, the Mount Cucco Regional Park (1,566 metres), 13 km east of Gubbio, is worth a visit primarily for the beauty of the meadows covered in wild flowers and also for its cave. The cave is made up of 30 km of galleries that go up to 900 metres deep and is one of the most extensive karst systems in Italy. A 2-3 hour tour takes you through these fantastic underground passages of stalactites and stalagmites.
