Casentino Forests National Park
Some of the oldest forest in Europe, protected for centuries because monks and the Republic of Venice wanted the timber.
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The park straddles the Apennine watershed between Tuscany and Romagna and protects beech and silver fir forest that has been managed rather than cleared for a thousand years: Camaldolese monks planted and cut fir under strict rules from the eleventh century, and Venice took timber here for ship masts. The Sasso Fratino reserve, established in 1959, contains stands never logged and was included in the UNESCO listing of ancient European beech forests in 2017; entry is prohibited to protect it. Wolves, deer and golden eagles live in the park. Autumn colour across the beech slopes is the main draw.
What you actually see
- The ancient beech - UNESCO-listed old-growth in the Sasso Fratino reserve.
- The monastic firs - forest planted and managed by Camaldolese monks.
- The autumn colour - beech slopes turning across the watershed.
- The wildlife - wolves, deer and eagles in a protected range.
When to go
May to October for walking; October gives the beech colour. Winter brings snow and closes higher roads. The integral reserve is closed year-round.
Honest expectations
Sasso Fratino cannot be entered at all; it is seen from a distance. Trails are long with limited public transport. Weather on the ridge changes quickly.
Nearby
La Verna and Camaldoli lie within the park; Bibbiena is below.
What to pack for Casentino Forests 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.
