Riserva naturale Quarto Santa Chiara, nature reserve in Italy
Riserva naturale Quarto Santa Chiara is a state nature reserve in the high plateaus of Abruzzo, spanning approximately 480 hectares of karst terrain. The area forms a highland basin flanked by the Pizzalto and Porrara mountains, with meadows, beech forests, steep slopes, and a stream system that feeds into underground water channels.
The reserve was formally established in 1982 as a state nature reserve to protect the region's habitats and wildlife. Before this, the land was subject to centuries of disputes between neighboring municipalities and fell under various feudal and monastic rights before gaining modern environmental protection.
The name Santa Chiara traces back to a 13th-century donation to a Poor Clare convent in Sulmona, reflecting the region's religious heritage. Today the plateau remains a place where visitors encounter the land in its raw form, shaped by open meadows and rocky terrain with minimal human alteration.
The reserve is accessible only on foot or horseback along marked trails, with entry points near the SS 84 road at Piano delle 5 Miglia or from the Aventino Valley. Sturdy footwear is advisable due to uneven terrain and karst formations, and visitors should prepare for changing mountain weather conditions.
The reserve contains a fascinating underground water system where the La Vera stream disappears into a sinkhole and travels beneath Mount Porrara, emerging as one of the largest springs feeding the Aventino River. This hidden passage takes only about three hours and was confirmed through chemical tracing studies.
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