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Torre Mondovì Botanical Park, in the province of Cuneo, covers some 6.000 square at 1.870 ft above sea level. Created by the Piedmont Region in 1983, it is aimed at safeguarding and enhancing areas of high botanical interest.

This area used to have a remarkable strategic importance thanks to its position at the entrance to Corsaglia and Casotto valleys; it later became “Parco della Rimembranza”, in honour of the fallen soldiers of the First World War. It now features the imposing civic tower, a XVI century chapel dedicated to Saint Pio, and the ruins of the castle demolished in 1400.

The park develops in a north-south direction and is blessed by a particular microclimate with a remarkable temperature range. Many plant species can thus grow in their perfect habitat, such as beeches (Fagus sylvatica), alpine meadow-grass, chestnuts (Castanea sativa), downy oaks (Quercus pubescens), Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris), goat willows (Salix caprea), and Norway spruces (Picea abies).
There are also several field maples (Acer campestre), deodar cedars (Cedrus deodara), manna ashes (Fraxinus ornus), European aspens (Populus tremula), silver birches (Betula pendula), and common ashes (Fraxinus excelsior).

The shrub vegetation features common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), hazelnut (Corylus avellana), wild privet (Ligustrum vulgare), Viburnum lantana, Eosa canina and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).

Among the herbaceous species, there is pyramidal bugle (Ajuga piramidalis), antyllis vulneraria, buckler-mustard (Biscutella laevigata), the heart-leaved globe daisy (Globularia cordifolia), Heliathemmum nummularium, Poa alpina, Sempervivum tectorum, Hieracium pilosella, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus montanus, Silene vulgari, Artemisia vulgaris, and Festuca ovina.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)