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Itinerary Rome - LUCRETILI and Palombara Sabina, tradition and culture in Rome.
A short visit to this nice village before entering Lucretili Mountains' Regional Park, until Palombara Sabina, last stage of this itinerary.
LUCRETILI MOUNTAINS' REGIONAL PARK
The Natural Park of the Lucretili Mountains extends on a territory of 18204 hectares. It's in the Provincial administration of Rome and includes the communes: Licenza, Marcellina, Monteflavio, Montorio Romano, Moricone, Orvinio, Palombara Sabina, Percile, Poggio Moiano, San Polo dei Cavalieri, Scandriglia, Vicovaro.
The scenery is pre-Apennine type. The appearance of the range dominant the countryside around Rome, the Sabine and the tiburtian countryside clashes with the inner scenery characterized by a series of modest rises, alternated with karsts tablelands and valleys, perfect for grazing. This structure is interrupted by Mount Pellechia's ridge that gives the scenery a more harsh appearance in the southwest part of Licenza's area. The zone between Licenza and Percile is dominated by a milder sceneries. Particularly charming are the deep down streams of the Aniene's tributary river streams like the Ditch of Ronci (Vicovaro and San Polo dei Cavalieri) and the Ditches of Vena Scritta- Vena Caprarain in the inner areas (San Polo dei Cavalieri and Roccagiovine). Very interesting and charming are also Percile's Lagustelli, of karsts origin placed east of the built-up area.
The fauna of the park is very interesting. The whole Park's territory corresponds to a couple of golden eagles' hunting zone. Moreover, inside the protected area, have found shelter other rare species like the common quail and the marten that is in the inner mature woods. The river streams are the perfect habitat for species such as the spectacled salamander, the fire-bellied toad with yellow abdomen and the dipper. Among the predators, the wolf occasionally haunts the area, when it goes as far as the rises near the plains, and the wild cat. Recently, a specimen of marscan bear has been sighted. In the scrub also live populations of porcupines and badges, while in a few woods it's possible to see even some squirrels.
According to the territory and to its orographic and geologic structure, it's possible to verify the vegetation's richness inside the Park. Till the height of 600 meters, the west and southwest side of the mountain range is characterized by Mediterranean scrub, particularly the high one with holm oaks. In the forest close to Mount Matano or in the area of Mount Le Carbonare are instead present phillyrae: rock rose, mastic tree, myrtle, which vegetate with species that basic-calcareous soils, like terebinth. Moreover, we must register the presence of Balkan-Eastern species that are a botanic characteristic of the Park: Judas tree, the east hornbeam and especially the styrax. Extremely thick are the formations of mixed oak groves on the slope exposed while in the inner areas, with a more humid and cool climate, prevail the forests with specimen of mountain maple. Beech trees of great size represent the mountain features of the vegetation, like for example in the area of the ancient sheep-track of Cavalera Valley. On the rise, old grazing lands, we can see strips of mountain meadowlands with botanic species of great interest: the Carlina acaulis and the Iris Sabina. Moreover in all the habitats flower orchids, of which we can register about sixty species.
The visitor has the chance to choose a multitude of itineraries. Among the many advised routes we remember:
1. Scandriglia-Monte Serrapopolo. The Sabine ridge
2. Valle Cavalera- Pratone- Poggio Runci.
3. Mount Pellechia's Ridge.
4. Percile's Lagustelli.
5. Vallebuona- Monte Castellano- Cima Casarena.
6. San Nicola- Monte Gennaro.
7. San Nicola- Castiglione- Palombara Sabina.
8. Villa di Orazio- Colle Rotondo- Colle Cornazzani.
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