THE GARGANO NATIONAL PARK OUR FIRST TRIP 5TH NOVEMBER 2008
The Gargano National Park
The Gargano National Park, with its 120,000 hectares of lagoons, mountains, sandy beaches, marine reserves, villages and forests, is one of Italy’ s most beautiful areas. The four Tremiti Islands are part of this jewel: they are surrounded by a crystal-clear sea and they are rich in caves. Men have left their traces from prehistoric times until the present day, in the archaeological sites, important places of worship, amongst castle walls and lookout towers.
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From the first rudimentary drawings of horses and hands on the walls of the Paglicci Grotto, to the "stele", the tombstones originated in the Iron Age, some of the most important places of worship in the world (The Sanctuary of St. Michael Archangel, the Convent of St. Matthew, the human and religious route of San Pio) everything shows that here History is deeply rooted in Nature. The great green heart of the Park is the Umbra Forest.
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Some of the trees growing in the Park are more than 500 years old. From a faunal point of view, the peculiarity of the Park is the presence of the roe deer and of several kinds of woodpeckers, they live only in protected areas. There are also wild cats, peregrines, buzzards, kestrels and lanners. An incredible variety of aquatic and pelagic species live in the coastal and lake areas.
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Wild ducks, seagulls, and coots, living amongst the reeds, bamboo canes, tamarisks, pools and stretches of water, are some of the more easily identifiable species. Besides them, the red heron, reedling and tobacco duck build their nests here, and it is easy to see ospreys, wild geese and shearwaters. Both the underwood and the prairies are rich in flowers: there are more than 60 orchid species, the highest number in Europe and in the Mediterranean basin.
The Wetlands: Lesina
One of the main reasons for which the Park has been established in this area is the presence of important humid zones like the lagoons in Lesina. Exactly in this area, for its wildlife importance, LIPU Oasis “Lesina Dune” is situated (It is an organization for the observation and protection of birds).
In Lesina there are fourteen big aquaria containing the Lagoon ichthyic species. In the neighbourhood numerous findings linked to the Neolithic age and many others of the Roman age have been brought to light. During the lagoon ebb tide St. Clemente little isle (characterized by an iron cross) stands out; it has the merit of preserving the ruins of a Roman Villa.
LESINA MUSEUM
OUR COMENIUS CORNER