Colfiorito wetlands, the high plains of Monti Sibillini (Castelluccio di Norcia) and Norcia

Plateaus of Castelluccio di Norcia

This system of plateaus (Piano Grande, Pian Piccolo, and Pian Perduto) is in the Monti Sibillini National Park in the Central Apennines. The National Park extends for 71437 hectares between the Regions Umbria and Marche. The landscape is dominated by the limestone massif of the Apennine chain. The Sibillini mountain range has unique characteristics, such as karstic plateaus, glacial formations, and deep gorges and valleys. Most of the peaks in the area exceed 2000 m a.s.l., the highest being Monte Vettore (2476 m a.s.l.), which dominates the view from the plateaus. The small village of Castelluccio is located on a small hill between Pian Grande and Pian Perduto. The area was already inhabited during the Roman period, while the village dates to the 13th century, when a small castle was founded by the inhabitants of Norcia to defend the pasturelands and protect their territory. The village was severely hit by the seismic events of 2016-17.

Marshland of Colfiorito (Palude di Colfiorito)

The Colfiorito Marshland, part of the Regional Park of Colfiorito, is situated between the administrative regions of Umbria and Marche in the Central Apennines. This marshland lies in a depression of a plateau system formed by seven plateaus named “Altipiani Plestini” or “Altifiani di Colfiorito”, with both tectonic and karstic origins. The marshland of Colfiorito is considered one of the most important wetlands in Central Italy due to its unique ecological characteristics (Ballelli et al. 2010). The area is notable for its geology, geomorphology, and biodiversity, hosting a wide variety of plants and animals, particularly insects, birds, and amphibians. Historically, the region was even more important as it featured relict alkaline fens, which were totally destroyed between the 1970s and the 1980s.

To get more information about the excursions, please download the excursions guide from the document.