Val Grande
The Val Grande National Park is the largest wilderness area in Italy. It is located close to Lake Maggiore, at the foot of the Alps, less than 100km north of Milan.
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The national park was established in 1992 and covers an area of 15,000 hectares, which can only be explored on foot. It is an area surrounded by stunning rocky peaks, which have played a great part in preserving its integrity. The views towards the majestic Monte Rosa and over Lake Maggiore are breathtaking. The Nature Reserve in the centre of the park is only accessible by special permission for scientific studies.
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Hiking
Val Grande is a hikers' paradise, with itineraries varying greatly in length and levels of difficulty. The park is a wilderness area and many paths are not well marked and can be dangerous. They must be taken with extreme caution and accompanied by an expert guide, especially if you are not familiar with the area. The hiking season is from March until October. Snowfall during the winter months makes the paths at higher altitudes inaccessible, although shorter hikes at lower altitudes can still be done most of the time. A number bivacchi (rustic mountain shelters), have been recently restored to offer basic accommodation and enable trekkers to overnight. |
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photo
Fernando Danini |
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Nature
Val Grande is refuge to many animal species, such as chamois, roe deer, red deer, wild boar, foxes, badgers, pine martens, beech martens, weasels, hares, marmots, hedgehogs, fat and garden dormice, squirrels and the smaller mice, voles and shrews. Bird species include black grouse, the dipper, the black and the great spotted woodpecker, eagle owls, tawny owls, little owls, hawks, buzzards and golden eagles. Trout can be seen in the clear waters of the mountain streams and, with luck, frogs and salamanders. Vipers are also present, but are shy creatures and seldom seen. It is however important not to disturb them, should an encounter occur. The flora is diverse and includes spring and summer wild flowers such as anemones, buttercups, lilies, narcissus, orchids, primroses and violets. The lower slopes are widely dominated by chestnut trees and the upper slopes by beech trees. Some specimens of yew trees, which are relics of the tertiary era, can be found in the most humid areas. The woodlands are replaced by alpine meadows and shrubs at higher altitudes. |
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History
The park also has historical interest. There are ancient rock engravings indicating that there have been human settlements in Val Grande since early times. From the 12 th -13 th century, peoples whose activities were logging, cattle, sheep, goat grazing and bee keeping inhabited the area. Between the two world wars, logging became the main activity and provided employment for hundreds of people. During World War II, violent battles took place in Val Grande, between the Italian resistance, which sought refuge in the mountains and the nazi-fascist army. During this time many of the alpine villages were bombarded and destroyed. The valleys and mountains were consequently abandoned and allowed to return to their natural state. Ruined stone buildings, paths and dry stone walls can be seen within the park as witnesses of its rich history. |
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