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Sassi di Roccamalatina Regional Park
Parco Regionale dei Sassi di Roccamalatina: spires like shooting stars. The park covers an area of about 2,300 hectares and is located mainly in the municipalities of Zocca and Guiglia and with a small part in the municipality of Marano sul Panaro. The protected area stretches from the Panaro River Valley Floor up the right bank of the river safeguarding the hills that frame the Sassi, imposing sandstone rocks with vertical walls where peregrine falcons nests.
The park has a rich variety of natural habitats as well as some sites of historical importance: the Pieve di Trebbio, probably founded between the 11th and 12th century, and the small medieval villages of Castellino delle Formiche and Castellaro. Some examples of ancient rural architecture are also worth visiting, such as "Grilla" (15th century), Pugnano (14th-16th century) and Ronzone (16th century).
Flora
The most common species of this park are oak, hop-hornbeam, chestnut, poplar and alder. The different microclimates of this park favour the growth in close areas of typical Mediterranean plants and plants typical of higher mountain areas; for example tree heath grows near to beech and bilberry. The plants of the Sassi include broom, juniper, tree heath, herbs (mugwort and thyme), orchids and woodland pink.
Fauna
The mammals of this park are those typical of the Mid- Apennines: squirrels, dormice, hazel dormice, bank voles and field mice Predators are also common: weasels, beech-martens, badgers and foxes. In the last few years roe deer have also been seen in the park.
The park can be visited all-year round but the best time is in spring or autumn when nature offers spectacular shows.
Parco Regionale dei Sassi di Roccamalatina
Headquarters
Via Pieve di Trebbio, 1287
Locality Pieve di Trebbio 41050 Roccamalatina (MO)
Tel. +39 059 795721
Visitor centres
Il Fontanazzo
Via Pieve di Trebbio, 1287
Locality Pieve di Trebbio 41050 Roccamalatina (MO)
Tel. +39 059 795721
Borgo dei Sassi
Via Sassi, 1988
Locality Rocca di Sopra 41050 Roccamalatina Guiglia (MO)
Tel. +39 059 795831
Links
How to get here
This park, located just a few kilometers from the town of Guiglia, can be reached taking the Via Emilia to the SP 623 of the Brasa Pass, and then continuing on to Zocca. Another possibility is to take the Panaro Provincial road through the valley, which for a small stretch runs along the western border of the protected area. From Modena to Bologna, continue on towards Vignola and then take the road to Guiglia. After passing through the town of Monteorsello, go about 2 km, then turn right going towards Via Pieve di Trebbio. Follow the street up to the Park Center "Il Fontanazzo".
