Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park

Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park is a large protected area in central Italy that conserves Apennine mountain landscapes, forests and alpine meadows. Established in 1923, it is one of Italy’s earliest national parks and a focus for native wildlife conservation.

The park offers marked trails, visitor centres and mountain refuges used for hiking, wildlife watching and winter activities; popular species to seek include the Marsican brown bear, Apennine wolf and Abruzzo chamois. Scenic drives and rural villages within the park provide access to historical towns and traditional mountain culture.

Created in 1923 to protect dwindling populations of large mammals and remaining tracts of native forest, the park’s boundaries and management have evolved to balance conservation with tourism and local communities. It has long been central to Italian conservation efforts for endemic mountain species.

The park spans parts of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise regions in central Italy, occupying mountainous terrain between Rome and the Adriatic coast and reachable from regional towns and transport routes.

• Founding date: One of Italy's oldest national parks, established in 1923 to protect Apennine ecosystems and endemic wildlife.
• Wildlife highlights: Home to emblematic species such as the Marsican brown bear, Apennine wolf and Abruzzo chamois, with varied alpine and forest habitats.