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This park was established in 1994 and covers approximately 12.355 acres in the heart of Montefeltro and the municipalities of Carpegna, Frontino, Montecopiolo, Pian di Meleto, Pennabilli, and Pietrarubbia (provinces of Pesaro-Urbino and Rimini). It also sits on the border with the Tuscan nature reserve of the same name, which falls within the municipality of Sestino (AR).

The hilly-mountainous landscape is characterized by the reliefs of Sassi Simone and Simoncello, Mount Canale, Mount Palazzolo, and Mount Carpegna; the latter, at some 4.642 ft of altitude, is the highest in the Park and a sort of a geographical divide between Valley del Foglia and Val Marecchia.

The main reliefs are made of limestone outcrops, contrary to the predominantly clayey and gentle hills below. The park also features a rich historical heritage, including the fortress-city of Sasso, built by Cosimo I de ‘Medici in 1560.

Flora and fauna

The vegetation is quite variegated. Below 2.624 ft above sea level, it is made of mixed woods, with a high presence of tree species like downy oaks (Quercus cerris), Turkey oaks (Quercus cerris), black hornbeams (Ostrya carpinifolia), ashes (Fraxinus ornus), field maples (Acer campestre), and Neapolitan maples (Acer opalus neapolitanum); among the shrubs, there’s common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), and common hazel (Corylus avellana).
Many wild animals live in the park, including foxes, badgers, weasels, stone martens, skunks, and roe deer, easy to spot in the clearings and uncultivated areas at dusk and dawn.

The park is also one of the best destinations for stargazing in Italy.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)