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Heading towards the area inhabited by the Apennine wolf and lynx is the town of CivitellaAlfedena, which is characterized by typical grey houses and stone buildings. The Museo del LupoAppenninico (Museum of the Apennine Wolf) is located here and is dedicated to the biology, history, culture, and the legends involving this predator, and the Faunal area, which is home to several animals living in semi-freedom.
Artificial Barrea Lake is close to this quaint little resort town behind the Meta Mountains. It’s the largest sheet of water in the protected area and was created by damming the Sangro River. It’s a true oasis where rare bird species can be seen such as the Grey Wagtail or the Grey Heron. Overlooking the lake is the small medieval village of Barrea, perched up on a spur at 1066 m asl and surrounded by some of the park’s most beautiful mountains.
VillettaBarrea is not far from here. Nestled on the Sangro River and dominated by Mount Mattone, today’s town dating back to the Sabellian Period was built around a small castle erected at the end of the 1300’s.
Charming Alfedena is located here. It’s a picturesque village where the medieval walls of Prince Caracciolo of Cellammare’s castle and octagonal Norman tower (10th - 11th centuries) can still be seen. The view of MontagnaSpaccata Lake is beautiful.
Another leg: Villavallelonga at about 1,000 m asl. The Museodell’Orso museum is worth seeing in this town. It illustrates the life, habits and faunal area of the bear and several bears and deer can also be observed. There is also an educational pond for children near the museum. It has plants and animals, a vegetable garden and a botanical garden with the most common and characteristics plants found in the park.
Follow trunk road no. 83 for 7 km and you’ll come to the long, wooded Fondillo Valley home to the ancient medieval village of Opi. Perched on a rocky spur and dominated by the summits of Mount Marsicano and Mount Petroso, Opi has an abundance of archaeological evidence and is also well-known for the Museo del Camosciod’Abruzzo chamois museum.
By italia.it