Parco del Monte Cucco, Regional park in Perugia Province, Italy
Parco del Monte Cucco is a protected area of about 105 km² in Umbria, established in 1995 and named after Monte Cucco, its highest summit at 1,566 m. It covers four municipalities: Scheggia e Pascelupo, Costacciaro, Sigillo and Fossato di Vico. Within Costacciaro lie the main massif, the Pian delle Macinare plateau, the Grotta di Monte Cucco and the Rio Freddo gorge.
The park was established by regional law no. 9 of 3 March 1995, covering the slopes around Monte Cucco in the province of Perugia. The 1997 Umbria earthquake damaged numerous buildings inside the park's territory. The protected area spans roughly 105 km² across the municipalities of Scheggia e Pascelupo, Costacciaro, Sigillo and Fossato di Vico.
The park's name comes from Monte Cucco, the 1,566 m peak at its centre in the Costacciaro municipality. Above Sigillo, the launch and landing areas host free-flight competitions with pilots from many countries, and in summer the sky fills with hang gliders. Val di Ranco, a small resort at 1,000 m, is another named spot within the park.
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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