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Foresta Mezzana stretches for about 1.127 acres in the north-western area of Irpinia, in the Municipality of Monteverde – one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, in the province of Avellino. The area, covered by the forest, has the shape of a trapezoid that slopes down to the valley until it reaches the Ofanto river to the west. It is dominated by a castle that, over the centuries, has been the abode of local lords and visiting nobles.

The Forest is located in the north-western part of Irpinia, near the Vulture area in Basilicata and not far from Puglia. The altitude ranges is between 820 and 1.970 ft, while the geological substrate is of siliceous clay.

The vegetation is characterized by autochthonous broadleaf trees (trilobo maple, Turkey oak, downy oak, rowan, field elm, phyllirea, black locust) and conifers such as pines, cypresses but also eucalyptus introduced with reforestation. The shrubs are typical Mediterranean scrub, with many gorses and junipers specimens, which offer the perfect habitat to badgers, foxes, weasels, and martens.
Being so close to the Ofanto river, the forest is part of a typical wetland, and the banks prove vital to birdlife; the typical species in this area being black storks, cormorants, herons, and kingfishers.
It is not uncommon to see birds of prey like hawks, sparrowhawks and buzzards. Needless to say, the forest is extremely suitable for birdwatching activities and for trekking enthusiasts looking for a medium to high difficulty challenges.
In this forest, there are no facilities for visitors, in order to respect the wild, natural habitat.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)