We explore the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga national park and the hiking routes on offer in one of the most beautiful nature reserves in Abruzzo and Italy.
The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga national park, as well as being one of the largest protected areas in Italy, is without doubt one of the richest from a naturalistic standpoint — a true hymn to biodiversity.
The park area extends across three regions: Abruzzo, Lazio and the Marche, encompassing within its boundaries five provinces — L'Aquila, Teramo, Pescara, Rieti and Ascoli Piceno — and no fewer than 44 municipalities. The park's particular location guarantees a great variety of ecosystems, from bare upland plateaus to vast forests.
Around 2,300 higher plant species live in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga national park — more than one fifth of the entire European flora, and more than one third of Italy's floristic heritage. The animal kingdom is also well represented: the symbol of the park is the Apennine chamois, whose return is the result of an extraordinary reintroduction project. Red deer, wolves and no fewer than fourteen amphibian species are also present, including — uniquely in Italy — four species of newt.
The variety and naturalistic richness of its massifs and their different slopes, together with evocative historic and architectural heritage, are reflected in a wealth of options, itineraries and visits for every season of the year. The park's vast network of trails can be explored on foot, by bike and on horseback, and hikes of every kind are available, suited to both beginners and experienced walkers.
The park contains three mountain groups — the Gran Sasso d'Italia chain, the Laga massif and the Monti Gemelli — and is characterised by the presence of the highest peak in the Apennines, the Corno Grande, which reaches 2,912 metres. This chain is also home to the only Apennine glacier, the Calderone, the southernmost in Europe.