National Park of Majella

The park was formed in 1990, it is large 62.838 hectares and expands to 3 provinces in Abruzzo (Chieti, L'Aquila and Pescara) and to 38 towns.

It still preserves intact natural surroundings, a wild and untamed environment within an enchanting atmosphere. Rich in biodiversity, the mountain is called "Mother Majella", the mother mountain of the people of Abruzzo with its hermitages, grottos and ravens, such as the Grotto of Cavallone, large 1300 meters with many ramifications along the joining rocks. Here, Gabriele D'Annunzio set the tragedy "La figlia di Iorio".

The Majella mountain represents the sacred maternity for the local people, in fact the name Majella derivers from "Maja", mother and goddess of the harvest, venerated by the farmers.

The mountain is the habitat of native species, such as  the wolf, the bear, the chamois, the otter, the roe deer, the deer, more than 130 species of birds, like the golden eagle, the peregrine falcon and the eagle-owl. The local flora includes over 2100 species and the beech forest expands up to 1800 meters.

We have selected the most interesting hiking paths:

1. The "Orientata Nature Reserve" of Monte Rotondo, famous for the preservation of the local fauna, in particular the protection of the wolf. It is possible to visit the fauna areas of many animals: roe deer, deer, wild boar, mouflon, chamois and predatory birds, of course the area of the wolf.
2. Monte Amaro, the highest peak of the Majella mountain with a breathtaking panoramic view towards the Adriatic sea, unique and wild sceneries and the chance to catch sight of deer, eagles and hawks or contemplate the beauty of the rare leontopodium;
3. The Valley of Orfento in Caramanico Terme is a splendid reserve where many ascetics and hermits lived apart from society, e.g. Pope Celestine V, also known as Pietro da Morrone or as Dante described "the pope of great refusal". He retired many years to a solitary cave between the mountain Morrone and the Majella mountain.

The towns of the Park:

Abbateggio (PE)
Ateleta (AQ)
Bolognano (PE)
Campo di Giove (AQ)
Cansano (AQ)
Caramanico Terme (PE)
Civitella Messer Raimondo (CH)
Corfinio (AQ)
Fara San Martino (CH)
Gamberale (CH)
Guardiagrele (CH)
Lama dei Peligni (CH)
Lettomanoppello (PE)
Lettopalena (CH)
Manoppello (PE)
Montenerodomo (CH)
Pacentro (AQ)
Palena (CH)
Palombaro (CH)
Pennapiedimonte (CH)
Pescocostanzo (AQ)
Pizzoferrato (CH)
Popoli (PE)
Pratola Peligna (AQ)
Pretoro (CH)
Rapino (CH)
Rivisondoli (AQ)
Rocca Pia (AQ)
Roccacasale (AQ)
Roccamorice (PE)
Roccaraso (AQ)
Salle (PE)
San Valentino in Abruzzo
Citeriore (PE)
Sant'Eufemia a Maiella (PE)
Serramonacesca (PE)
Sulmona (AQ)
Taranta Peligna (CH)
Tocco da Casauria (PE)