A rich and extremely varied landscape awaits all those who visit the area. Located on the border between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, this land is characterised by cool torrential waters and unspoiled landscapes filled with meadows and woods.
Those who love nature tourism, won’t want to miss the opportunity to go on an excursion in this area, which is more than able to hold its own against the most famous natural parks in Europe. From glacial lakes to the centuries-old chestnut groves, mountain-top meadows and coniferous forests, Frignano Park is filled with any number of enchanting habitats.
A district that extends for 15 thousand hectares and embraces seven different municipalities (Fanano, Sestola, Montecreto, Riolunato, Pievepelago, Fiumalbo and Frassinoro), all of which are the legacy of a network of settlements made up of small villages and farmhouses and rural buildings, but also fortresses, mills and ancient historic roads (such as the Via Romea Strata-Longobarda).
The park is abundant and varied, with stunning views of the unspoiled landscape and lush nature. As you climb to the upland areas, oak and chestnut trees make way for beech and coniferous forests and, even higher, visitors will encounter bilberry heathland and vast meadows that are surveyed from above by the majestic golden eagle.
Cimone is not the only mountain peak that stands out, and as you look across the park, you will notice other important peaks on the horizon: there is the Libro Aperto mountain, Mount Nuda, Mount Spigolino, Mount Cupolino and the pair of peaks formed by Mount Giovo and Mount Rondinaio.
Between these peaks, you will see the glimmering waters of the numerous lakes, some of which are glacial in origin, which - thanks to the specifically marked trails - can be easily reached by hikers and nature lovers. These include Lake Santo, Lake Baccio, Lake Scaffaiolo, Lake Pratignano, Lake Turchino and Lake Torbido. A particular mention goes to Lake Pratignano, the largest high-altitude peat bog in the region, where a very rare plant grows, the round-leaved sundew.
When you visit the park, it is not uncommon to see roe deer, fallow deer, red deer, wild boar, badgers, and all those animals that are characteristic of the Apennine ridges. However, the presence of a wolf is much more exclusive, a rare sight indeed. The environmental richness of the area also makes it possible for many species of birds to find their ideal habitats here. There are woodpeckers and shrikes, blackbirds and siskins, skylarks and chaffinches.
In summer, Frignano Park is a paradise for hikers and enthusiasts of breathtaking panoramas, in winter, the whole area is transformed into the ideal destination for those who love snow and high-altitude sports. The Cimone ski district is the largest ski circuit in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, with more than 50 km of ski slopes, while all around this area, there is a vast network of tailor-made trails and paths that offer a wide range of options for lovers of mountain biking, horseback riding, trekking and orienteering.
Finally, dirt-trail itineraries and marked paths guarantee visitors will have unforgettable experiences – accompanied by the park’s specialists – such as night safaris, wolf howling (listening to the howling of the wolves) and snow-tracking (searching for animal tracks in the snow).
