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Hotel Viterbo

Provincial Natural Parks and Reserves

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Marturanum Park

Environment:
Marturanum Park extends over 1,200 hectors in an area between the Cimini and the Tolfa mountains and demonstrates a large variety of natural habitats; from the hilly and dry area poor in vegetation to the Valloni with its typical gorges characterized by a thick and impenetrable forest.

Plant Life and Wild Life:
The hills, reserved for the pasture of horses and bovine, are predominated by different varieties of oaks and formations of shrubbery with spiny plants like the white-spine, pear and prune trees, and rose bushes.
The shadiest side of the gorge is rich with arboreous plant species like: hazelnut, Carpinus betulus, white and black populus, adler, elm and willow where on the sunny side vegetation like hackberries, caprifigs, Holm oaks, and the Judas tree, to name some, are found along with the underbrush which is rich with ferns and other species of wild orchids.
Many bird species live in the park area, both seasonal and migratory, including buzzards, falcons, kites, kestrels, a variety of owls, sparrows and jays.

Mammals in the park include:
wild cats, lepers, porcupines, martens, badgers, fox, weasel, boar, buck and wolf.
The rare "capovaccaio" (species of an Egyptian vulture) is raised in an aviary with a future project of reintroducing it into captivity in the park.

Tourist activities and equipment:
The multi-functional center of the park is found in Viale IV Novembre and hosts both the Visitor's Center and the Territory Museus and the Horseracing center "La Fontanaccia" is also found in the park not to mention natural paths that have been routed and marked for nature walks and archaeological visits.
It is worth mentioning that about 2 kilometers from Barbarano Romano, in Caiolo, the Etruscan necropolis of San Giuliano, with tombs dating back to the 6th and 5th centuries B.C. has been named the antique Marturanum.Ample parking and a picnic area can be found here.

Tel. for more info: +39-0761-414507
In Barbarano, in the ex-church of Sant'Angelo, the Archeological Museum is found with pieces from the Villanoviano period III century A.D.

How to reach us:
Follow the state highway SS e Cassia up to the 60 km. mark and turn at the Bracciano-Barbarano intersection.

Management: Municipal of Barbarano Romano
Province: Viterbo
Instituted: 1984
Extension: 1,220 hectors
Seat: Piazza Marconi, 21 Barbarabo Romano
Tel: +39-0761-414601 /+39-0761-414507
Fax: +39-0761-414588
E-mail: marturanum@parchilazio.it

Suburban Park od Valle del Treja

Environment:
This protected area extends along the River Treja, fed by the Tiber. The river valley presents all the characteristics of a territory formed by a volcanic eruption in the Quaternary era forming deeply incised gorges and leaning tuffaceous walls with a great part of the park consisting of forestry areas.

Plant Life and Wild Life:
Among the arboreous species we can find typical Mediterranean vegetation like oaks, strawberry, honeysuckle, hackberry, and heather where on the shadier side we can find species like:, Carpinus betulus, maple, hazelnut, Elder, and crab-grass, with fern and musk in the underbrush along with narcissuses, cyclamens, and wild orchids.
Animal species include fox, badger, dormouse, weasel, boar, mole and shrew with reptiles like earth turtles, aspic viper and colubrid snakes, and birds that include the martin, cuckoo, woodcock, titmouse, wood-pecker, jays, and birds of prey like the buzzard, sparrow-hawk, kite and kestrel and nocturnal birds which mainly include a variety of owls. The river is populated with chubs, shrimp, and river crab.
Tourist Activities and Equipment:
The Park's territory conserves traces of very antique settlements which are interesting to visit; necropolis's of Narce, Pietrina, Pizzopiede, Monte Cerrteo, Monte le Croci, Monte li Santi, Morgi, the antique Roman via Amerina in the woods of Castellaccio and the medieval borgo of Mazzano and Calcata, the windmill and tower of Mongelato.
The impressive waterfall of Montegelato is part of a routed path in the park and very impressive and is known for being part of many cinema graphic filming.

A Visitors Center is found in the park where one can receive maps and itineraries and suggested paths.
Guided visits are available for a fee for students and can be reserved every week-day from 9 - 2 pm.

How to reach us:
Follow the state highway SS 2 Cassia up to the 35 km. point and exit at Settevene. Follow indications for Mazzano and Calcata staying on the state highway SS 3 Flamina up until Rignano Flaminio.
From there, go towards Faleria and Calcata.
Closest Autostrada A1 exit is Magliano Sabina. After exiting follow indications for Civita Castellana and then Faleria and Calcata.

Management: Consortium of the municipals of Calcata and Mazzano Romano.
Province: Viterbo
Instituted: 1982
Extension: 700 hectors
Seat: via Roma 1 Mazzano Romano
Tel: +39-06-9049295
E-mail: valle.treja@parchilazio.it

Monte Rufeno Reserve

Environment:
The reserve is found at the confines of Lazio, Umbria, and Toscana and is characterized by a landscape primarily hilly ( no higher than 774 meters) and is crossed over by the River Paglia and numerous streams in the south-west.
The rocky formation is dominated by clay, marlstone and sandstone. The 3,000 hectors of protected area is mainly covered in woods dominated by various oaks, with forests of evergreen occupying a fifth of the reserve while the driest zone holds primarily a typical Mediterranean bush land.
The reserve protects different animal species in via of extinction and has preserved an uncontaminated nature of rare beauty.

Plant Life and Wild Life:
Among the arboreous species the most common oak is the Turkey oak followed by other trees that include the durmast, acorn, chestnut hornbeam, rowan and ash and rare examples of holly.
The evergreen forests hold black and marine pines.
The Mediterranean bush is primarily formed Holm oaks, arbutus berry, Viburnum opulus (rose).
Among the garden and floral species we have heather, red lilies, narcissus, and a variety of wild orchids.
Animal life is abundant thanks to a favourable geographical position and different types of environment found on the reserve.
Mammals include wild boar, buck, porcupine, badger, marten and wolf. Bird life includes wood-peckers, tits, thrushes, jays, martens, blackbirds, bee-eaters, herons, and other aquatic species.
Also found is the dormouse, fresh water turtle, salamander, crab and river shrimp as well as reptiles like the yellow bellied toad, and the Austrian horned snake.

Tourist activities:
The protected area holds numerous paths which are fittingly marked by signs at the beginning of each path as well as along the route with excursions aimed at all age groups.
The Museo dei Fiore (Flower Museum) is found on the reserve in the Torre Alfina, a sure educational and natural interest, studied for easy comprehension by young students yet having charm for adults as well. The museum explains the bio-diversity of the territory, biology of flowers, relationship with the animal world and man and illustrated the traditional "Infiorata" of Acquapendente with its so-called Pugnaloni.
Particular attention has been placed on communicative structures like games, interactive and multi-medial instruments, laboratories, projection halls, and recreation center. The museum also offers an outdoor section called the "Sentiero Natura del Fiore" (Nature Flower Path) consisting of a picnic area, botanil garden and he possibility to visit the Bosco Monumentale del Sasseto (Monumental forest of Sasseto) listed among the list of the most important naturalistic sites in central Italy. Characteristic stone houses named; La Monaldesca, Tigna, Palombaro, Sambucheto, and Sant'Antonio have been set-up on the reserve for educational and accommodation services.

Info: Visitors Center Tel: 0763-733642

How to get there:
The natural reserve of Monte Rufeno is found on the state highway SS 2 Cassia at the 136 km.
point reached by following indications for Acquapendente The closest Autostrada A1 exit is Orvieto and Fabro

Management: Municipal of Acquapendent
Province: Viterbo
Instituted: 1983
Extension: 2,892 hectors
Seat: Piazza Girolamo Fabrizio, 17
01021 Acquapendente (VT)
Tel: +39-0763-733442
Fax: +39-0763-730223
E-mail: monte.rufeno@parchilazio.it