The National Park of Abruzzo, Latium and Molise is the eldest National Park of Italy. The area covers 44 000 hectares, more 60 000 hectares of external protection area. It rose thanks to the Savoy’s hunting passion, who in 1872 turned a part of the present territory into “Royal Hunting Reserve”; after several vicissitudes, it was finally opened on the 9th September 1922. Due to some enlargements occurred in different periods (the most recent, in 1990, regarding 4 400 hectares of the part of Molise), the present area includes 44 000 hectares, some in Latium, some in the Molise.
The National Park of Abruzzo, Latium and Molise shows almost all the distinguishable characteristics of Central Apennines, including unique elements of flora and fauna. From the geologic and tectonic point of view, this is the heart of the great calcareous kingdom which, starting from Sibillini Mountains in Marche, descends to Pollino massif with various breaks, lengthwise along the peninsula. So, in the North, its calcareous tops extend as far as the high valley of Sangro river in Abruzzo and, in the West and South, these form a continuous fortification along Comino valley in Latium and Volturno valley in the Molise.