{"id":36349,"date":"2020-10-28T08:00:49","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T07:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/?p=36349"},"modified":"2020-10-28T09:03:12","modified_gmt":"2020-10-28T08:03:12","slug":"monti-sibillini-national-park-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/monti-sibillini-national-park-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Monti Sibillini National Park: Complete Guide to Your High-Altitude Adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Visit Monti Sibillini National Park<\/strong> to live a truly magical holiday<\/strong> surrounded by 70,000 hectares of majestic<\/strong> nature<\/strong>, in an area rich in culture and ancient history<\/p>\n

The Park houses the highest<\/strong> mountain range in the northern Appennines<\/strong>. The highest peak is Mount Vettore<\/strong>, with its 8,123 ft. Other notable mountains include Mount Priora<\/strong>, Mount Bove<\/strong> and Mount Sibilla<\/strong>. The park authority oversees landscape conservation, to preserve the value and the natural, cultural and historical identity of the Sibillini Mountains. This Park is loyal<\/strong> to its philosophy, geared towards blending<\/strong> human<\/strong> beings and nature<\/strong> together. The hard work and effort put into this belief is what makes Monti Sibillini National Park extraordinarily unique<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"View
Photo by Vittorio Staffolani on Pexels<\/div><\/div>\n

Must-see sites<\/h2>\n

Monti Sibillini National Park is a vast<\/strong> and varied<\/strong> area, with exceptional spots, surprisingly different from one another but all equally worth exploring<\/strong>. Since the Park is so extended, we prepared a selection<\/strong> of the visitor\u2019s favorite sites for you to discover<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Piani di Castelluccio<\/h3>\n
\"Fioritura
Photo by fausto manasse on Pixabay<\/div><\/div>\n

The piani di Castelluccio<\/strong> is made up of an Appennine lakebed<\/strong> dried out by karstic events. This vast plateau<\/strong> is famous for the Fiorita<\/strong><\/a>: a blooming event taking place between late May<\/strong> and early July<\/strong>. In this time of year, poppies<\/strong>, daisies<\/strong>, cornflowers<\/strong> and lentils<\/strong> blossom together, mesmerising with a rainbow<\/strong> of colours.<\/p>\n

Italy-shaped wood<\/h3>\n
\"Italy-shaped
Photo by fausto manasse on Pixabay<\/div><\/div>\n

In Castelluccio di Norcia<\/strong>, on the slopes of Poggio di Croce, with its beautiful castle, you will get to see a truly memorable wood: the Italy-shaped coniferous forest<\/strong>. It was planted in 1961<\/strong>, on the hundredth anniversary of the unification of Italy<\/strong> and during the Festa della Montagna<\/strong> (mountain festival), arranged by the then Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Mariano Rumor. Today, this wood is a well-known symbol of Castelluccio.<\/p>\n

Gole dell\u2019Infernaccio<\/h3>\n
\"Gole
Photo by Massimo fordini soni \u2013 own work, via Wikimedia Commons<\/div><\/div>\n

The Gole dell\u2019Infernaccio<\/strong> are natural gorges<\/strong> formed by river Tenna<\/strong>, and they are one of the most evocative attractions in the Park. Here you will find the remarkable Eremo di San Leonardo al Volubro<\/strong>, an ancient monastery<\/strong> built in the heart of the gorges and popular destination for pilgrims. Infernaccio is renowned for its natural and spiritual beauty<\/strong>, but also as a common departing point for hikes due to the variety of trails it offers.<\/p>\n

Fiastra Lake<\/h3>\n
\"blue
By Liverottis \u2013 photograph taken while touring, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/div><\/div>\n

Fiastra Lake<\/strong> is an artificial lake in which river Fiastrone<\/strong> and minor tributaries converge, creating a mystical<\/strong> atmosphere. The lake\u2019s water is well-known for its clearness<\/strong>, reflecting the summits<\/strong> of the surrounding mountains. The lake is close to Valle dell\u2019Acquasanta<\/strong> (acquasanta means holy water), which will leave you breathless with its spectacular waterfalls<\/strong> and the Grotta dell\u2019Orso<\/strong> (Bear Cave).<\/p>\n

Pilate Lake<\/h3>\n
\"Pilate
Photo by Vittorio Staffolani from Pexels<\/div><\/div>\n

Also known as \u201clake with glasses<\/strong>\u201d because of its unusual shape, Pilate Lake (Lago di Pilato) is traditionally considered a mysterious<\/strong> and magical<\/strong> place. Legend has it that the corpse of Pontius Pilate<\/strong> was dragged from Rome on a cart pulled by two raging bulls and thrown into the water.<\/p>\n

Wildlife in Sibillini<\/h2>\n

Many species of wild animals inhabit the Park: Mediterranean mammals, such as the red fox<\/strong>, the Italian wolf<\/strong>, the wild boar<\/strong> and the European roe deer<\/strong>. Among the aquatic animals, in addition to the Mediterranean trout<\/strong> and the European freshwater crayfish<\/strong>, the incredibly rare Apennine yellow-bellied toad<\/strong> can be observed. Moreover, in Pilate lake lives the Chirocephalus marchesonii<\/strong>, a species of fairy shrimp unique in the whole world.<\/p>\n

\"Picture
Chirocephalus marchesonii, by Luca G. \u2013 flickr.com, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/div><\/div>\n

If you love learning new things, you will enjoy the museum<\/strong> dedicated to the Apennine chamois<\/strong>, a species of goat-antelope<\/strong> native to the Appennine mountains. The museum is made up of 4 rooms, and it will allow you to learn more about the natural environment<\/strong> in which this beautiful animal lives, as well as its behaviour<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Picture
Apennine chamois, by Daderub \u2013 own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/div><\/div>\n

But that\u2019s not the only charming museum you will find here: pay a visit to the Giardino delle Farfalle<\/strong> (butterfly garden) and get to know the most beloved<\/strong> of insects. Through interactive devices<\/strong>, you will look closely to different phases of the butterfly\u2019s life, such as egg-laying, in a fun<\/strong> way. You will also admire the lush<\/strong> garden itself, with lots of fresh plants that nourish Sibillini\u2019s moths<\/strong> and butterflies<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Flowers and Trees in the Park<\/h2>\n
\"Beechwood
Beechwood. Photo by di atrix9 on Pixabay<\/div><\/div>\n

The Park exhibits a remarkable diversity<\/strong> of vegetation. Indeed, about 1,800<\/strong> different species<\/strong> naturally grow here, each of them adjusted to its surrounding environment. Up to 3,000 feet, you will often see downy oaks<\/strong>, beeches<\/strong> and European hop-hornbeams<\/strong>. Above 3,000 feet, rarer plant species can be spotted, such as edelweiss<\/strong>, white genepi<\/strong> or viola eugeniae<\/strong>. This is a truly special ecosystem that needs to be protected<\/strong> and lovingly preserved.<\/p>\n

\"Apennine
Apennine Edelweiss. Photo by Interminatispazi \u2013 own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/div><\/div>\n

Zero Mile Food and Organic Specialties<\/h2>\n

Sibillini is where the ancient culinary traditions<\/strong> of Umbria<\/strong> and Marche<\/strong> regions meet. Castelluccio\u2019s lentils<\/strong> perfectly symbolise the tight bond<\/strong> that this rich area has always had with farming<\/strong>. Among cheeses, the main type is the savoury pecorino<\/strong>, but you will also taste delicious fresh<\/strong> and aged<\/strong> ricottas<\/strong>. This area also offers local honey<\/strong>, mushrooms<\/strong>, fragrant truffles<\/strong>, trouts<\/strong> (bred in Nera<\/strong> river) and several kinds of apples<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Lentil
Lentil soup. Photo by Matthias Lipinski on Pixabay<\/div><\/div>\n

A commission of the Slow Food<\/strong><\/a> organisation selected the Park\u2019s \u201cexcellent productions<\/strong>\u201d, tasting and evaluating the products on offer.<\/p>\n

The Park Quality Club<\/strong> consists of selected restaurants<\/strong> and hotels<\/strong>, praised for their effort in eco-friendly<\/strong> management. The criteria used for the appointment of the badge guarantee:<\/p>\n