REGIONAL PARKS OF THE MARCHES: GOLA DELLA ROSSA

THE GORGE OF ROSSA AND THE GORGE OF FRASASSI

The Regional Natural Park of the Rossa and Frasassi, born in September 1997, is one of the most beautiful protected areas in The Marches region. The park situated in Ancona, includes several municipalities. In the park you can do excursions through many paths, admiring the flora and fauna typical of the Apennines. The territory is affected by karst phenomena, the most beautiful example is the Frasassi Gorge, carved by the river Sentino, which created an underground passage of incredible beauty: the Frasassi Caves. They were discovered in 1971 by the CAI group caving of Ancona (Italian Alpine Club) and you can visit them. The altimetrical inversion of the species is typical of the Gorge of Rossa: on the bottom there are species of cold areas, on the top there are the hot ones of the wall exposed to sunlight. In the rocky landscape of the gorges there are rare species like the ‘cinquefoglie penzola’, ‘the campanula of Tanfani’ and the ‘sassifraga’ etc.. The fauna is composed of mammalian and various birds: the blue rock thrush, the ‘codirossone’, the Montana swallow and the golden eagle. The historical centres of Arcevia a Serra San Quirico, the Santuario of Frasassi, the abbeys of Sant’ Elena, San Vittore of the Chiuse and Valdicastro, the castles of Genga, Perosara, Avacelli and Castelletta complete the artistic, beautiful scenery. THE WOOD OF FRASASSI The wood of Frasassi has got a didactic and educational value. The oasis belongs to the natural regional park of Gorge of Rossa. You can find special trees such as roverella, Turkey oak and holly. This area extends as far as 4,5 hectares, and is run by the WWF Italy. This oasis is very important for the rocky environment studies. Moreover studies of biology and of the preservation of birds of prey take place here.

By Elmi Giorgia, Pascucci Francesca and Rosetti Lucia Class 2A