Aurunci Mountains Regional Natural Park

Park Authority:
Ente Parco Regionale dei Monti Aurunci
Headquarters:
Viale Glorioso - 04020 Campodimele (LT)
Tel: 0771-598114
Fax: 0771 598166
E-mail: monti.aurunci@parchilazio.it
Area:
about 19,374 hectares (19,4 Square Kilometers)
Province:
Latina (Lazio region)

Established in:
1997 – The park includes most the Aurunci Mountains Range in southern Latium with all the hills and valleys in between the higher peaks included between the Liri-Garigliano River (North), the Tyrrhenian Sea (South) and the Ausoni Mountain Range, which recently became location of another new regional park. The villages within the vast area of the park are called ‘mountains communities’ and are: Ausonia, Campodimele , Esperia, Fondi, Formia , Itri , Lenola, Pico, Pontecorvo, Spigno Saturnia divided belonging to the provinces of Latina and Frosinone. The vast area covered in the park is not only a serious effort to preserve the natural, wild beauty of these mountains of southern Latium between Rome and Naples (Italy), but also an attempt and challenge to save the vanishing rural culture, heritage and ancient traditions of mountain communities. Travelers will visit small picturesque Italian villages left in isolation between the mountains of South Italy and whose traditions have been kept unchanged for several centuries.

            Click on Photos to see the photografies of the Park

The Aurunci Natural Park is one of the most interesting natural reserves in South Italy. These wild calcareous mountains drop into the Tyrrhenian sea of the southern Latium, falling literally into the sea with beautiful cliffs like at Punta Cetarola close to the village of Sperlonga or with spectacular falesie like at Mt Orlando in Gaeta . The karst origin of these mountains characterises the immediate countryside landscape with beautiful and dramatic light-coloured lime stones that often forms large heaps.

The Aurunci Mountains are renowed for their rich birdlife, including many diurnal birds of prey, a real joy for whoever enjoys bird watching and nature. The Aurunci Mountains birdlife counts over 121 species of which 80 are nesting locally. The some of the most interesting mammals are the wildboar, the fox, the elusive wildcat and other small predators like the badger, the European polecat, crested porcupine, and the fast and clever stone marten.

The park has an exceptionally rich flora with an estimate of over 1,900 classified species of plants. There are more than 50 different species of endemic wild orchids alone.

Located in the most southern area of Latium on the border with Campania, from its peaks and slopes offers a fantastic view which, in clear days, can reach as far as the Pontine Islands, the Vesuvius volcano and the Circeo’s promontory. The Aurunci Mountains Park is also important to preserve the essence and archaeological treasures of a rural culture of Central and South Italy. Some of the most interesting sites are old mountain churches, chapels, ancient polygonal walls and Roman aqueducts and ruins.

The Aurunci Mountains offer many natural itineraries either on horse, cycling or trekking, many of which follow the ancient pastoral routes used by the local shepherds.

            Click on Photos to see the photografies of the Park