Parco del Monte Cucco, Regional park in Perugia Province, Italy
Parco del Monte Cucco is a regional park in northeastern Umbria that stretches across four municipalities with mountain peaks, valleys, and karst cave networks. The landscape mixes open grasslands, forested slopes, and limestone formations with visible sinkholes and spring-fed streams.
The regional government created this protected area in 1995 under IUCN category V, which allows traditional economic activities like grazing and forestry to continue. This classification reflects the intention to preserve both the landscape and the ways people have historically used it.
Shepherds still move their flocks across the mountain slopes following seasonal patterns that have shaped the land for centuries. This way of life remains visible in how the villages are scattered through the valleys and how the grasslands are maintained.
Multiple trails for hiking of varying difficulty cross the park, and cave systems are accessible for exploration with proper equipment and guidance. Winter conditions allow for cross-country skiing when snow is present, while the high ridges offer launching points for paragliding.
Underground rivers and mineral springs create habitats where wolves and golden eagles live in this mountain landscape. These animals are rare in central Italy, making their presence in the park a sign of its ecological importance to the wider Apennine ecosystem.
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