the park of lake trasimeno

The Park was created to protect and at the same time exploit Lake Trasimeno, one of the largest lakes of the Italian peninsula with a surface of 128km/q, a little less than Lake Como.
The Park includes all the surrounding area of the lake, and therefore also the historical centres like Castiglione del Lago and Passignano. Lake Trasimeno has been historically called "the lake of Perugia" and this definition clearly highlights the importance that the lake basin has always had and still has for all north-western Umbria and for the territory of the Tuscan Chiana.
Lake Trasimeno has all the features of a great natural resource which must be strictly protected and promoted as far as the uses compatible to its conservation are concerned.
There are three islands in the lake: Polvese, Maggiore and Minore.
On the islands, there are olive trees and pines.
The waters of the lake house a rich ichthyofauna: tenches, eels, carps, pikes, and perches. The balance existing among the species seems to have been broken by the introduction of the cat-fish or because of the changes of the habitat. The avifauna consists of birds of prey such as the short-toed eagle, the eagle owl, and the osprey.

The Park is situated in the middle-western section of the Apennines, inside a huge karstic tectonic plain between Umbria and Marche and called Altipiani di Colfiorito.
The plateau consists of seven basins which were once ancient lake basins, partially drained by a natural process and partially by man.
The Marsh of Colfiorito is the most important entity of this particular phenomenon: it has a surface of about 100 hectares, and a thick aquatic vegetation. The Marsh has been declared of international interest by the Ramsar Convention for the features of its peatbog, for its richness in vegetal species, and as an excellent habitat for avifauna. The system of plateaus is enclosed by the calcareous ridges, divided by hill systems. The Altipiani di Colfiorito mark a great change in the landscape which from steep and harsh becomes sweet and undulating.
Around the karstic plains at the summit of the hills, there are the so called "castellieri", typical settlements of the 10th century B.C. up to the Roman conquest. Among the "castellieri" of the Park there is the one of Mt. Orve and, besides the town of Colfiorito, the ruins of the ancient town of Plestia are situated within the Protected Area. The territory of the plateaus is not only exploited for the traditional cereal and fodder cultivations, but also for lentils and red potatoes.

cascata delle marmore

From the east of Terni, there are the Cascate delle Marmore, the falls formed by the River Velino at its confluence with the River Nera. The falls were created by a Roman consul in 271 B.C. to prevent further marshiness of the area The falls plunge down vertically in three leaps, a total drop of 165m/545ft, and are illuminated in the period from May to August.

the dunarobba fossil forest

The Dunarobba fossil forest near Avigliano Umbro, was discovered in the 70s, but complete restoration is not yet finished.
All the trees belong to a family of sequoia which used to be present in this part of Italy more than one million years ago. The particularity of this forest is that the trees lay in a vertical position and not horizontally as is the case of other fossil forests. This would confirm the theory that a flood could have overwhelmed the forest preserving it in the shape we admire today. The fossils have enormous dimensions: 1.5 m in diameter and between 5 and 10 meters in high.

monte cucco park

It is an Apennine mountain system dominated by Monte Cucco (1566 m). Its Umbrian side descends down to via Flaminia, where it is possible to see some important remains of the Roman period. It is the "womb of the Apennines" with a complex hypogean system, karstic phenomena, underground waters leading to the civic aqueducts, to the mineral springs and flowing into the River Sentino. The Park is rich in fossils and virgin woods. Also, it is possible to practice there different mountain sports: gliding, speleology, and cross-country skiing.

fonti del clitunno

Situated near Trevi, the springs are immersed in an enchanting oasis of peace which has inspired generations of poets from Virgil to Carducci.
The waters surge in well-heads from cracks in the rocks and gather in a small lake no more than 4 metres deep. In ancient times there was a greater abundance of water and the river was deeper: the Emperor Caligola could travel on the river by boat, when he came to consult the worshipped oracles of Clitunno, the god of the river.
On the river banks there were, at that time, a small temple and other sacred places, magnificent villas and spas. There, every year, religious feasts with competitions, theatrical performances and gladiatorial matches took place.