Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park
Italy's oldest surviving national park, and the last refuge of a brown bear found nowhere else.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
Founded in 1922 and covering about fifty thousand hectares of beech forest and limestone mountain, this park protects the Marsican brown bear, a subspecies isolated from other European bears for thousands of years, of which around fifty to sixty are thought to survive, all within and around this range. Apennine wolves and chamois also live here, and the chamois population recovered from a few dozen. Old-growth beech stands in the Val Fondillo and elsewhere are part of the UNESCO ancient beech listing. Villages including Pescasseroli, Civitella Alfedena and Opi sit inside the park, with wildlife areas restricted to protect the bears.
What you actually see
- The Marsican bear - a subspecies surviving only in and around this park.
- The old beech forest - UNESCO-listed stands in the upper valleys.
- The Apennine chamois - a population recovered from near extinction.
- The park villages - Pescasseroli, Opi and Civitella Alfedena inside the boundary.
When to go
May to October for walking; some trails close seasonally to protect wildlife. Winter brings snow and ski touring. Bear sightings are rare and never guaranteed.
Honest expectations
Bears are very rarely seen and feeding or approaching them is prohibited. Trail closures for wildlife protection change through the year. Villages are small.
Nearby
The Majella park lies east; Scanno is north.
What to pack for Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
