Along the various trails, you encounter stone and rock villages (Pietracamela), millenary castles (Castel Manfrino), caves and crevices revealing traditions and ancient pagan rites, a well-preserved flora and fauna of significant naturalistic interest.
In Abruzzo, 9/10 of the Park is located, boasting two of the most important mountain massifs of the Apennines: the Gran Sasso d’Italia group, which includes Corno Grande (2912 m), with spectacular glacial valleys such as Val Chiarino and Valle del Venacquaro. And the Calderone, the southernmost glacier in Europe, sculpted by streams and waterfalls like those of Morricana, Volpaia, and Scalette. Nestled among these mountains is also the largest artificial basin in Europe: Lake Campotosto, a resting base for numerous migratory bird species. To the northwest, the Gran Sasso massif connects with the Monti della Laga, lusher and richer in waters, whose highest peak is Monte Gorzano at 2458 meters. Along the roads and paths of the Park, stone and living rock villages appear, like Pietracamela; powerful fortresses like Castel Manfrino; cities of art like Castelli; medieval abbeys and churches such as Santa Maria di Ronzano, but above all a flora and fauna that testify to extraordinary biodiversity: silver fir, birch, the Alpine rosalia (a centuries-old beech), anemones, the epiopogium orchid, and alpine poppy. On the rocky spurs, spotting the Abruzzo chamois and the golden eagle is not difficult, while in the dense underbrush live the wild boar, wolf, and wildcat.
In the Civitella area and in Val Vibrata, two Visitor Centers are active, one in Ripe di Civitella tel. 0861.918376, the other in Macchia da Sole tel.0861.93469.
