La Umbra Forest, an environment of great naturalistic charm and more. Shady enough to carry this feature in the name, shadow, from the Latin adjective umber which means shady, gloomy pinpoint. There are those who would like to derive the word shadow from an ancient settlement of the Umbrian peoples, but the most accredited hypothesis is probably the first. In some parts of this naturalistic paradise the sunlight, even in the central hours of the day, filters with difficulty through the thick branches of the trees, making it a dark, almost fairytale environment.
Strolling along the paths of this large green oasis in the north-eastern part of the Gargano promontory, 10.500 hectares of deciduous forest, the largest in Europe, it would not seem so surprising to see the tip of the hat of a gnome or a goblin peeking out. And it is no coincidence that this ancient forest is linked to the fairytale story of a nymph transformed into a tree and a faun who decided to live at its feet to protect it from anyone who wanted to harm it.
The paradise of beech trees, they represent 84 percent of the plant species of the Forest
The Umbra Forest nature reserve is aprotected area within the Gargano National Park. With its ancient beech woods it has become since 2017 heritage Unesco for the great biological and ecological value it represents. And the beech trees are the great protagonists of this environment because they represent 84 percent of the plant species present. The ancient beech woods of the Umbra Forest reach a height of 45 meters and can live up to 350 years. They are therefore custodians of a lot of memory as well as playing a fundamental role in protecting the environment. In fact, they have their ability to store a large amount of carbon dioxide in their tissues for centuries. This particular feature of them is very important for the fight against climate change.
Among the many beech woods, inside the park is the Falascone Reserve, characterized by beech trees but also by the presence of a great variety of tree species whose dimensions are truly exceptional. Maple, lime, hornbeam, holly and especially yew trees. And many animals typical of these environments, such as roe deer, wild cats, stone martens, dormice, badgers, but also foxes and fallow deer as well as numerous species of birds. The Umbra Forest as a whole boasts over 2000 plant species. The Gargano and the Umbra Forest represent a real kingdom of biodiversity with 40 percent of the Italian flora and 70 percent of the birds nested in our country. Information on fauna and flora can be found in the small naturalistic museum located inside the forest itself.
When the little train ran among the beech trees to transport the timber
From this corner of the Gargano promontory, which rises above sea level between 400 and 800 meters, you can see a beautiful view of the coast in the more open and less immersed sections of the forest. And when you reach this enchanted world you can get lost in the infinite number of paths that go into the thickets of the forest.
Which is very majestic today and which was even more so in the past when the Gargano forests extended over the entire promontory. A large amount of timber was obtained from these territories. This is one of the reasons for their progressive deforestation. It is no coincidence that since the end of the nineteenth century a railway line was built in the Umbra Forest to facilitate the transport of logs from the innermost areas of the Gargano up to the sawmills. It was used until the XNUMXs. Today what remains of the tracks is still visible along some paths.
From Vico del Gargano to Monte Sant'Angelo through the woods of the Umbra Forest
Currently the Umbra Forest extends into the municipalities of Monte Sant'Angelo, Vieste, Vico del Gargano, Carpino, Peschici. From Vico del Gargano, through the silences, the shadows, the splendid clearings of this extraordinary green lung, you can reach Monte Sant'Angelo by car, on the side of the Gargano promontory overlooking the Gulf of Manfredonia from above. Here is the famous sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo, a Unesco world heritage site, a destination for pilgrims since the sixth century after Christ.
