L'itinerario ha inizio dallo splendido borgo di Villavallelonga a 1005 metri d'altezza, nel cuore del Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo Lazio e Molise. Da piazza largo Fontana, nei pressi del municipio, ci si tiene a destra per imboccare via Canale in direzione sud; dopo 100 metri, si gira a destra e si raggiunge l’ingresso del Museo dell'Orso che merita senz’altro una visita.
In ancient times considered sacred and dedicated to Jupiter, the Bosco di Sant'Antonio is one of the most beautiful beech woods in Abruzzo. It extends for 17 hectares between the ridges of Monte Pizzalto and Monte Rotella. It offers an incredible scenery of secular beech trees with bizarre shapes. They also are in the wood: field maples, wild pear trees, cherry trees, black hornbeam trees and yew trees. Anemones, peonies, primroses, cyclamen, gentians and the rare orchid Epipactis purpurata bloom in the woods. It has an important role for the fauna continuity between the large protected areas (Abruzzo and Majella National Park), and is populated by a rare birdlife and small mammals. Starting point in summertime for excursions and horseback riding, in winter it is an ideal place for cross-country skiing and hiking itineraries. The Abruzzo Region, with L.R. n. 66/86 (L.R. stand for “Legge regionale” i.e. “regional law”), established the first guided nature reserve in this area (550 hectares), now included in the Majella National Park.
Per informazioni:
www.parcomajella.it
Comune tel.0864640003
(foto di Federico Garofalo)