IL PARCO REGIONALE DEI MONTI AURUNCI – COMUNI DI CAMPODIMELE, FONDI, FORMIA, ITRI, LENOLA SPIGNO SATURNIA (IN PROVINCIA DI LATINA) E AUSONIA, ESPERIA, PICO, PONTECORVO E VALLECORSA (IN PROVINCIA DI FROSINONE).
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The Regional Park of Monti Aurunci, established through the Regional Act no.29 of 6 October 1997, extends across a surface area of 19,375 hectares, between the provinces of Latina and Frossinone and involves the Municipalities of Campodimele, Fondi, Formia, Itri, Lenola, Spigno Saturnia (Latina) and Ausonia, Esperia, Pico, Pontecorvo (Frosinone). A large part of the park is made up of the Aurunci Mountains, the highest points of which are the peaks of Petrella (1,533 m.), S.Angelo (1,404 m.), Ruazzo (1,314 m.) and Redentore (1,252 m.), on which, since 1991, towers a huge, cast-iron statue, from which the peak gets its name. The calcareous nature of these summits is the reason for the almost total absence of courses of water and rather widespread karstic phenomena, such as doline karst and swallow holes. There are also a great number of grottos, sometimes of remarkable proportions, like the abyss of Vallarocce, with a depth of ca. 560m. The forest coverage is plentiful and varied: from Holm oak and cork on the sunnier slopes to beech groves on the cooler, higher slopes, not to forget the typical species of Mediterranean scrub (lentisk, phyllirea, myrtle, heather and Spanish broom). The flora of this area deserves special mention, since almost all 1900 species, present in southern Latium, are found here. These include, in particular, a variety of orchid, to which few in Italy and Europe can be compared. There is also a wealth of fauna, mainly composed of 23 mammals, such as the porcupine, badger, hare, pine martin, wild boar, fox, weasel, wildcat and wolf. Among the amphibians are rarities, such as the emerald-green frog, crested newt, Italian newt and spectacled salamander. Invertebrates are the main component of the lesser fauna. And finally, as regards avifauna, following the extinction of the golden eagle, the birds that have resisted are various birds of prey, such as the peregrine falcon, harrier eagle, sparrow hawk, kestrel, buzzard, screech owl, tawny owl and standard little owl. One can follow many paths, among which are the one up the Redentore (Redeemer) that also leads to the hermitage of S.Michele Arcangelo, set between the strongholds of Monte Altino, a pilgrim destination. At Itri, the Park Agency created a plant nursery, to protect the genetic heritage of the most significant species, and straw processing, with a carpentry shop annexed, where furniture and handicrafts are produced through the use of wood rests resulting from maintenance works in the woods.
Information:
Park Office, Via Glorioso – 04020 CAMPODIMELE, Tel.0771598114 – fax 0771598166 – www.parchilazio.it www.parks.it/parco.monti.aurunci - e-mail: monti.aurunci@parchilazio.it. - Visitors centre: "A. De Santis" study centre and documentation of Aurunca history and culture in Piazza S. Luca, Maranola di Formia, tel.0771749170 - Computer access portals: LENOLA, at the “Gramsci” Cultural Centre, tel.0771589538 - ESPERIA, at the former convent in Via Margherita, tel.0776938017
HOW TO GET HERE
The park can be reached by car, by taking the Autostrada del Sole - A1 (Ceprano exit and S.S. 82 Civita-Farnese, and Cassino exit and S.S. 630 Formia-Cassino), S.S. 7 Appia and S.S.637 Fondi-Lenola
(Bruno Maragoni - maragoni@latinaturismo.it)
For in-depth information, please download the brochure "Latina, provincia verde, provincia blu" from the page "Le nostre pubblicazioni" in the main menu
