Faggi di Benevento, Monumental beech trees in Mallare, Italy
Faggi di Benevento is a group of five ancient beech trees standing in a protected forest area, displaying impressive dimensions. The largest specimen has a circumference of roughly 7.7 meters and reaches a height of around 34 meters, while the other examples also reach considerable size.
The trees took their name from the ruins of the adjacent Cascina Benevento estate nearby. Throughout the past century, conservation efforts by a landowner saved these specimens from being cut for timber.
The forest path takes visitors through an area marked by natural springs and the remains of old sawpits, showing how local communities once worked with timber. These traces reveal the traditional relationship between the people and the woodland around them.
The hiking route begins at the Sanctuary of Eremita in Mallare and follows a marked path through chestnut woods to reach the beeches at roughly 750 meters elevation. The trail is well signposted, and visitors should bring sturdy footwear and plenty of water.
The largest tree has partially fallen but continues to grow, and its girth is so substantial that roughly five people holding hands would be needed to encircle the trunk. This resilience demonstrates the power of these ancient organisms to thrive even under difficult conditions.
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