Centuries-old trees flora and fauna of unique beauty
The Umbrian forest is a truly remarkable naturalistic unicum. Beginning with the origin of its name, which can be confusing to those who hear it for the first time. The most realistic hypothesis is that Umbra denotes a shady place like the Latin adjective umber, which stands precisely for gloomy and lumpy. In fact, most of the land here is shaded due to very dense and thick vegetation .
This green lung is a treasure trove of biodiversity, holding as much as 40 percent of Italy's flora with more than 2,000 plant species and 70 percent of the country's nesting birds . It is the largest deciduous forest in Italy.
Among the peculiarities concerning the Umbra Forest's vegetation is the phenomenon of macrosomatism: the plants are larger than the norm and therefore it is not uncommon to come across beautiful specimens of Aleppo pines, beech trees that exceed 40 meters in height, holm oaks and yews of monumental dimensions all to be admired with the nose upwards.
The fauna of the Umbra Forest also represents a heritage of inestimable variety and richness: the forest is home to stupendous specimens of native Gargano italic roe deer, wild cat, wild boar, badger, weasel, dormouse and many more birds such as the eagle owl, the long-eared owl, the woodpecker, the gall owl, the barn owl, the magpie, the woodcock and many more.
Immerse yourself in the Umbra Forest: the most beautifultrails
For lovers of nature and the outdoors, the Umbra Forest and its trails constitute a magical place. Within the perimeter of the forest there are 15 marked trails of all levels from beginners to experts in both trekking and mountain biking. The old mule tracks used for pack animals have been recovered while respecting the surrounding environment to create truly picturesque trails.
Linizio della Foresta is marked by large wooden panels from each direction of origin, and the area is equipped with picnic areas, near which trails start indicated by tables bearing the starting location, the arrival location and the time of travel.
Along the trails are yellow-painted markers on trees and rocks that allow everyone to wander into the woods without fear of losing the right direction. Of the many possible routes, the trail leading to the Scaranappe cutino, a small heart-shaped pond that sees its full glory after rainy days, is noteworthy.
Among the things to see in the Umbra Forest, it is then not difficult, during your nature walks, to spot some wild animals (from roe deer to wild boars via badgers, fallow deer and beech martens), especially near the springs of Sfilzi and Cutini (small lakes) dacqua.
Finally, enriching the Umbra Forest with further beauty are the nature museum, the reconstruction of the old woodcutter's house and the deer and mouflon wildlife areas. For the little ones, there is the play-forest, a small eco-sustainable theme park.
A unique place of inestimable naturalistic value, all to be explored. If you want to experience the Umbrian forest and all the naturalistic wonders it holds at its best, we suggest you look for your comfortable spot among our Gargano vacation homes. It will be the ideal place to satisfy your craving for unspoiled nature.
