Maiella - Morrone National Park

The Majella Park situated in Southern Abruzzo, represents the linking ring between the Gran Sasso-Laga in the North and Abruzzo Park in the South. The Majella looms like a ellipsoidal cupola with hills and mountains and the highest is Monte Amaro (2793). Brooks and streams sail the sides on the Majella. The calcareous Majella massif extends along 86.000 hectares and comprises also the Morrone Group. In its perimeter 61 peaks are counted and among them at least 30 are over 2000 metres high. It is a real kingdom of rocks, glaziers, ravines, a lunar landscape. Interesting karstic and glacial phenomena like swallow holes are shown all along the mountain. Morainic amphitheatres and splendid caves like the famous Grotta del Cavallone can be found here. Interesting from the botanic point of view is the Majella which hosts the famous Pino mugo (Pinus Mugo), a kind of dwarfish pine, symbol of the Park. About 1800 kinds of plants can be also found on the mountain. Its particular morphologic structure makes the Majella unique in its genre full of fascination and mystery, with its canyons, inaccessible and wild valleys; all these things have created legends and mythological stories around this mountain. Some of these valleys, like Valle dell’Orfento, the Vallone di Pennapiedimonte, the Vallone of Fara San Martino, the valley of Santo Spirito are real sanctuaries of the nature. And here men since pre-history have always found a privileged relationship with the environment. In this frame Valle Giumentina is an example of pastoral and peasant settling spotted by religious centres and churches. The main centres are Pescocostanzo, Pacentro, Guardiagrele, Caramanico, Pizzoferrato and Campo di Giove. **Further Information (Maiella - Morrone) Registered office – Palazzo Di Sciascio Via Occidente 6 66016 Guardiagrele (CH) tel 0871 800713 fax 0871 800340 Ufficio di Piano – casa Nanni Piazza Duval 67030 Campo di Giove (AQ) tel 0864 408102 fax 0864 408895 Visit Centers, museums and botanic gardens: Caramanico Terme - In the center three sections have been mounted: the first concerning the geomorphology of the Majella, the second concerning the otter habitat and the third an archaeological section which can be visited by blinds and disabled. Lama dei Peligni – In the center a large section is dedicated to the chamois of Abruzzo mounted with diactic pannels and a diorama reproducing the environment of the rocky fauna. Other structures are annexed to the museum: The botanic garden, aviaries with the predatories of the park in their rehabilitation phase, the room concerning the chamois of Abruzzo and the conference hall. Fara San Martino** - in the centers all the environment of the Majella have been reproduced, ravines, canyons, high altitude prairies, wood and mountain (mugo) pine. There is also a conference hall and and a didactic lab with specimen of birds and reptiles.