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The Gargano, also known as the spur of Italy, stands out from the rest of Puglia precisely because, in addition to crystalline beaches, it also contains densely wooded areas. The woods of the Gargano are the perfect place for excursions, trekking and trips. They offer numerous opportunities to break the monotony of a beach holiday and to have the perfect excuse to visit Puglia, even in the cooler seasons.
The Gargano National Park offers incredible biodiversity: an estimated 2200 different species, practically 35% of the entire national flora. In 120,000 hectares of greenery, vegetables that are not found in any other part of Italy develop. This is thanks to the rains that fall on the promontory, creating a particular microclimate. Depending on the area you visit, you may come across oaks, beeches, ash trees, elms, chestnuts, cedars (especially for timber production) etc. In the undergrowth, however, you can find mushrooms, cyclamen, dog roses, ferns, etc. Chestnuts are the prevailing tree. Located in the Northwest woods, it is experiencing a real renaissance after years of being plagued by cortical cancer. Increasingly requested also by the food industry, it offers delicious and versatile fruits.
There is also a phenomenon of vegetation called “depressed beech woods”. They are so called because they are found at much lower altitudes, 200-500 meters above sea level. Normally the beech trees are found between 1000 and 1700 meters. The reason why this situation occurs is that winds full of humidity blow on the Gargano promontory, creating the perfect habitat for the beech. The depressed beech trees have become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are located in the territory of Monte Sant’Angelo which also includes another site declared World Heritage: the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo.
Always thanks to the microclimate that is created in these areas, there is also the phenomenon of orchids, which enjoy their maximum splendor in the Mattinata area. Among the most difficult flowers to take care of for those who want to grow them at home, yet they grow spontaneously in the Gargano! There are more than 80 different species, some of which are found only here. For this reason they attract not only tourists and botanist enthusiasts but also scholars from all over the world who are responsible for investigating the explanations behind this phenomenon and monitoring the species present. Although flowering goes from January to September, the best time to see them is in spring.
In Mattinata, orchids grow almost everywhere, in the hinterland but also along the roads, among the rocks and in the meadows. It is important to know that some of them are protected as species at risk of disappearing, which is why the law protects them by prohibiting their collection and detention. The magic of these spontaneous blooms lies precisely in the fact that the Gargano is the ideal place for these flowers to live, both for the climate and for the presence of specific pollinating insects.
Once the woods of the Gargano were the home of many wild boars and roe deers. Today these majestic animals are present in very small numbers. In addition to them, depending on the forest taken into consideration, it is possible to see the woodpecker, the wild cat, the wild boar, the owl and, even if extremely rare, the eagle owl. The animals that most of all get close are the fallow deer, while it is very difficult to meet the moufflons even if they are present in the area.
The most famous forest of all is certainly the Umbra Forest, a natural and protected area, made up of dense vegetation that makes it shady (hence the origin of the name). It measures approximately 10,000 hectares with maximum elevations of 800 metres. The Umbra Forest is always at the center of continuous studies and insights especially for the phenomenon of macrosomatism. In fact, here the plants are larger than usual, it is not difficult to come across really huge Aleppo pines or beech trees.