This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)

Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi extends itself on the tosco-romagnolo Apennines with a surface of about 36.426 hectares, 18.696 of them  located in the territory of Emilia Romagna. It is one of the most important elements of Italy’s natural heritage, and it is included between the provinces of Arezzo, Forlì, Cesena and Firenze, it has given wood to people since the Middle Ages: from here came the trees to build some of the greatest architectural works like Brunelleschi’s dome, and for the fleets of Pisa and Livorno.

The park offers 9 nature paths: short itineraries in easily accessible areas, they can be travelled on foot, by mountain bike or by horse.

Flora and fauna. Along the paths, it is possible to find forests composed of various arboreal species: Abies alba, Ostrya carpinifolia, Carpinus betulus, Fraxinus ornus, Quercus cerris, Acer campester and limited groups of chestnut trees (Castanea spp.). The most present bushes are Laburnum anagyroides, Crataegus monogyna, Cornus mas, Cornus sanguinea and Corylus avellana. The forest is crossed by numerous streams, some of them rocky others are wooded; at the highest altitudes  there are wide prairies, where narcissuses and anemones flower in Spring. It is rich in fauna, which includes wolfs, royal eagles, black storks and owls.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)