UMBRA FOREST

THE UMBRA FOREST -  It is a forest of 11.000 ha, that grows without the human intervention. This is most to see in the reserves, established in orderto observe the natural growing of the wood: the "Sorgetelta", the first one, was established in 1953, and successively the Sfilzi, Falascone, Umbra, Ischitella and Carpino. In the Umbra Forest there is a great number of equipped paths for visitors: the numbering and the toponymy, reported in the path signs and in the cartography, at visitor's disposal in the building of the forest authority, are the same. The excursions of short and middle term, take place from 270 till to 830 mt a.s.L, there are walking and m-byke tours of great beauty and naturalist importance. The forest is rich in beeches, pines, limes, thorny laurels, maples, ashes, European hophornbeams and hardbeams, cedars and chestnuts; these trees stretch towards the sky like very high columns in a tangle of branches, leaves and fragrances. The about 60 species and subspecies of orchids, 17 different kinds, are endemic species such as ophtys promontorii and ophrys gargnica or ophrys sipontensis. The depressed beechwood (it is the only one beechwood, which grows at lower altitude) and the millenary taxus baccata or death yews are of great importance. The fauna is also rich; a great number of deers from Gargano (endemic breed), foxes, badgers, hares, the very rare wild cat, the Dalmatin woodpechker, the eagle-owl and many other birds. From April to October a Museum is open with a department about the fauna of Gargano with stuffed animals, another department dedicated to the history with a stone collection and a department about botany
Umbra Forest: farm holidays hotel hotel bed and breakfast in apartment restaurant residence with direct demand information.