Sagittario Gorges Nature Reserve

Starting from the early 1990s, the Municipality of Anversa degli Abruzzi, driven by the enthusiasm of administrators and citizens, initiated a series of initiatives to create a protected area dedicated to the preservation of the gorges’ environment. In 1991, thanks to the contribution of WWF volunteers, the WWF Oasis Gole del Sagittario was established, which in 1997 was recognized as a Regional Nature Reserve. Covering an area of 450 hectares, the Reserve is set in a landscape of extraordinary beauty, among the limestone gorges of the Sagittario River, described by 19th-century travelers as “of indescribable charm.” The rock formations, shaped by water erosion over millions of years, tell a geological story that can be read in the fossils present in the area. Despite its small size, the Reserve hosts a great variety of environments, from cliffs to woods, through dry meadows and springs. Its trails, which extend for about 30 km, connect different ecosystems, from those in the valley floor at 500 meters above sea level to the high mountain pastures at 1,500 meters. The strategic position of the Reserve makes it a crucial area for biodiversity, located between the Majella National Park and the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park. At the Cavuto Springs, visitors can enjoy a green oasis with a picnic area and explore the Visitor Center, housed in an old mill, with educational panels and interactive games. The Oasis also hosts a Little Free Library, where books can be exchanged, and plays a fundamental role as an Environmental Education Center. Thanks to the Erasmus Plus European Volunteering program, young people from all over Europe participate in the Reserve’s activities, which remains open and visitable all year round. A perfect example of how tourism and conservation can coexist harmoniously.