Riserva naturale guidata Gole del Sagittario

Riserva naturale guidata Gole del Sagittario is a protected area covering roughly 450 hectares carved from limestone by the Sagittario River, with the landscape dropping and rising between river-level paths and forested ridges. The terrain shifts from narrow canyon walls to open woodland and grassland as elevation increases toward the adjacent national park boundary.

The area gained initial protection in 1991 as a WWF Oasis, then received formal regional reserve status in 1997. This two-step designation process reflected growing recognition of the ecological importance of these river gorges.

The reserve reflects how water and stone shape life in this corner of the Apennines, a relationship that visitors can observe directly along the river. Local communities have long understood these gorges as a defining feature of their landscape and natural identity.

The reserve offers over 30 kilometers of trails connecting river-level paths with woodland routes and higher meadows, each section presenting different walking conditions and scenery. Sturdy footwear is essential, and visitors should be ready for steep sections and uneven terrain.

The reserve is home to a rare cornflower species found nowhere else on Earth, a plant that emerged through millions of years of isolation in these gorges. Botanists discovered and documented this species, which remains locked to this single location.