Natural attractions in Abruzzo's national parks

In the brown of the rock an underground river flows, resplendent with pools and rapids, gurgling and gargling, and spewing out in a flourishing cascade. A walk through the Stiffe cavern, on the road from Aquila to Molina, follows unusual crevices and caves. Giant stalactites and stalagmites are hidden within, as well as subterranean waterfalls dramatically lit by natural rock clefts and subtle artificial lighting.

A whole third of the Abruzzo region is officially designated as national and regional park so it's no surprise the area is a jewel for nature lovers. What is a surprise is the incredible diversity and uniqueness of this region of the parks in central Italy. The Stiffe cave is an excellent example.

Surfacing from the underground, indeed, circling above on the currents of the wind, the Velino-Sirente Regional Park is a haven for royal and golden eagles and birdwatchers can spot peregrines, goshawks, Ortolan buntings, crested larks and downy pitpits, amongst the twittering life of the green.
The Apennine wolf, Marsican bear and Abruzzo chamois are all rare species of wildlife endemic to the Abruzzese parks. Once poisoned and poached, encroached upon by human development, these creatures numbered less than a couple of hundred, in danger of extinction, yet monitoring and rescue efforts are now helping rebuild these numbers.

On the other hand, the St Anthony Woods are a classic example of the cooperative relationship between humankind and the environment. Perhaps for their beauty, perhaps for their seclusion away from the world's temptations, the Abruzzo mountains were a favourite haunt for monks, and the towering trees - beech, pine, fir, oak, yew and ash - of St Anthony Woods were tended through the centuries by monks from the nearby hermitage.

Amongst Abruzzo's four national parks, three key rivers, and innumerable hidey holes, grassy valleys shimmer in the summer breeze, wildflowers speckle the spring, deep coloured foliage heats the autumn and blue gorges and white peaks tip off the winter. Its splendour tugs at the heartstrings and reminds afresh of our natural connections.