A wonderful news, for Abruzzo and for the whole of Italy: the Maiella National Park becomes Unesco World Geopark. A confirmation, this, arrived in Earth Day. His "new" name? Majella Geopark. An international name, just like international is the fame of this splendid Italian green lung.
How the Majella Geopark was born
"An important result for our territory and for the whole of Abruzzo, which will certainly bring benefits in terms of sustainable development of local communities and will allow the new Geopark to collaborate with over 160 territories recognized all over the world.”So we read on the park's Facebook page. How did the Majella become the Majella Geopark? The credit goes to the geodiversity of its territory, to those 95 geosites of which 22 of international value. Unique characteristics that, in 2016, started a path for recognition (started by the Park Authority together with the Order of Geologists of the Abruzzo Region). Five years later, the achievement of the prestigious title: the Maiella is officially a Unesco Geopark and World Heritage Site. Its geology, biodiversity, the historical presence of man and the culture developed over time have given the national park access to Unesco sites.
"It is a very important event, which will put our territory with all its boundless heritage in great view”Commented the president of the Park, Lucio Zazzara. "The recognition to the Unesco Geopark is a source of pride for our professional category, an important milestone that highlights the geological heritage of the Maiella and which will be strategic for the support of local micro-economies, and for a sustainable development of the territory.”Said Nicola Tullo, president of the Abruzzo Region Order of Geologists.
What to see in the Maiella National Park
The Maiella National Park offers an incredible spectacle, in any season of the year. In the summer we come for the trekking, in spring you can admire the blooms. In winter the snow whitens everything. Walking along its paths you can admire cliffs and hermitages, massifs and abbeys. Established in 1991, the Park is located between the provinces of L'Aquila, Pescara and Chieti. It is gathered around the massif of the same name, from the Morrone mountains to the major plateaus ofAbruzzo. Hence, visiting the Majella Geopark means entering extraordinary natural reserves (seven of them) and assets of high cultural interest. Just think of the 1.200 plant species surveyed, which represent a third of the Italian flora and some of which have been identified for the first time right here.
The Maiella National Park is so vast that within it there is not only nature. There are also buildings, religious and civil. And there are splendid towns, from Sulmona to Pescocostanzo. Treating yourself to a few days to discover it means experiencing a territory where the presence of man does not disturb nature. Hectares and hectares dominated by biodiversity, the same that made the park a geopark. Thus giving Italy a new excellence.
Wow. A beautiful landscape. Thank you.