Monti Sibillini National Park

The Monti Sibillini National Park protects the limestone ridge of the Sibillini, between Marche and Umbria, in the provinces of Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Macerata and Perugia. Provided for by Law 67 of 1988, it has had its own park authority since 1993 and covers about 70,000 hectares in sixteen municipalities.

Landscape and environment

Dozens of summits rise above 2000 m: the highest is Monte Vettore (2476 m). The eastern side drops away in narrow valleys, such as those of the Aso, the Tenna and the Ambro; on the western side lie the Piani di Castelluccio, large high-altitude basins. Below the summit of the Vettore is Lago di Pilato (1940 m), which in several recent summers has shrunk a great deal or dried up.

Flora and fauna

About 1800 plant species have been recorded, including the Apennine edelweiss and the alpine anemone; the woods range from downy oak and hop hornbeam up to beech wood. Among the mammals are the wolf, the wildcat, the pine marten and the snow vole; the Apennine chamois has been brought back here with animals from the Majella and the Gran Sasso. Among the birds, the ones that matter are the golden eagle, the peregrine falcon and the red-billed chough. Lago di Pilato is the only place in the world where the Marchesoni's fairy shrimp, a tiny crustacean, lives.

Visiting the park

The most used access points are Castelluccio di Norcia and Forca di Presta for the Vettore, Frontignano and Ussita, the Rifugio del Fargno above Bolognola, Montemonaco and Montefortino for the Valle dell'Ambro. The best period is from June to October. At Lago di Pilato it is forbidden to approach the shores or to swim, so as not to destroy the fairy shrimp's eggs. Before setting off it is worth checking the state of the paths on the park's website. On our site:

• Monte Vettore (2476 m) from Forca di Presta by the normal route
• Traverse from Frontignano to Monte Prata via the Passo Cattivo
• Cima del Lago and Punta di Prato Pulito by the Canalone dei Mezzi Litri
• Pizzo Tre Vescovi (2092 m) from the Rifugio del Fargno
• Hike to Monte Porche (2233 m)
• Easy hike to Monte Acuto (2035 m)