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Riserva Gole del Sagittario is a prtected natural area established in 1997; it includes the valley where the Sagittario river flows, from Villalago to Cocullo (AQ). The area, WWF oasis since 1991, became a regional natural reserve in 1997 and extends over 450 hectares. The bottom of the valley is at 700 m above sea level, while the nearby peaks reach 1500 m with spectacular gorges among the calcareous rock, dug by the river.

Six different environments can be found there: calcareous cliffs and screes, dry fields, spring plants, a mesophilic wood covering the valley floor (with five species of maple), a beech wood and prairies.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Centaurea scannensis is the symbol of Riserva Naturale Gole del Sagittario, a specie that can only be found there. Other rare plants native to the Central Apennine are Aubretia columnae and la Campanula fragilis subsp. cavolinii. Apart from Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata, all the big Apennine mammals are present there: bear, wolf, deer, roe deer, boar, wild cat and marten. The presence of rare Lepus corsicanus is particularly important because it is the only place in Abruzzo where it can be found. The bird fauna is especially varied, counting many protected species. Besides Dendrocopos leucotos, symbol of the reserve, on the most inaccessible cliffs live Aquila chrysaetos and Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, beautiful black birds with red beak and legs.

TRACKS

Some of the riserve’s paths have indications whicih lead the excursionists to the picturesque centre of Castrovalva or towards Colle San Michele, where the church by the same name is located (altitude of 802). The base point of the Botanical Garden (an hour and a half on foot) is reachable thanks to a path starting at the town’s graveyard (altitude 810) and it closes a ring itinerary of about 3 hours. The Botanical Garden Gole del Sagittario was created in 1996 inside the reserve and it hosts now a collection of 380 species of different plants, 45 of them are of preservation interest. Because of this, the garden is equipped with a nursery for the propagation of plants, a seed collection to conserve the seeds and a herbarium to support taxonomic studies. It is possible to visit here the sections of the so called ”Giardino abitato”, where the species which live in symbiosis with insects are collected, the “Stagno” and “Le sorgenti”, which are two separated environments, which allow to observe the water and riparian communities.

Among the paths there are the botanical garden, the maple tree-, geological-, river- and Pizzo Marcello paths.

Possible activities:

• Excursions with guides of middle mountain.
• Guided tours of the botanical garden.
• Guided tours of the station of scientific ringing.
• Geologic guided tour.
• Collaborations as volunteer in the reserve.
• Seminaries and classes on vegetation, summer and winter camps, activities of birds’ ringing, periodic census of the fauna.
• The reserve is recognised as ” Parco Letterario D’Annunzio” and tours are organised during the year with actors both in the old town and along the Gole.

In the vicinities.

Historic medieval and renaissance towns like  Anversa degli Abruzzi and Castrovalva; the mountain town of Scanno, with one of the most beautiful old towns of Abruzzo; Sulmona, rich in medieval and renaissance monuments and host of the traditional sugared almond fabriques. Monte Genzana Reserve and Abruzzo National Park, Lazio and Molise are the ideal destinations for short-range trips.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)