Excursion 1, 29-30th May

The Val Cervara beech forest is an ancient forest located in Villavallelonga, L'Aquila, within the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park. It is recognized as one of the oldest beech forests in Europe, with trees exceeding 560 years of age, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the primeval beech forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe. Its significance lies in being an exceptionally well-preserved ecosystem, largely protected from human intervention, which allows the full life cycle of natural forests to be observed.

To reach the Val Cervara Forest, the R5 trail in the PNALM will be followed, featuring an elevation gain of around 600 metres. The trail is rated as 'Difficult' (E: Hiker level) and typically takes around 5 hours to complete.

( https://maps.app.goo.gl/1TNTZAfjwNoQe4Fv7 )

The excursion fees include the transfer from Rome to Collelongo (AQ) nearby Val Cervara villages, dinner of 29th of May, breakfast and packed lunch of 30th of May.

The accommodation will be in the hostel "Ostello Parco d'Abruzzo", with shared rooms, each with a bathroom.  

There are 6 spots remaining on the excursion.

Val Cervara Trail (download Keyhole Markup Zip)

  • Excursion Program – May 29–30, 2026
  • Friday, May 29
  • 18:00 – Departure from CNR headquarter
  • 19:45 – Arrival in Collelongo and dinner
  • Saturday, May 30
  • 07:30 – Departure for the excursion to Valcervara
  • 16:30 – Departure from Collelongo
  • 18:30 (approx.) – Arrival at CNR headquarter

Excursion 2, 30th May

The second excursion will explore the ancient forests of Lazio. We will visit the beech forests of Monte Cimino and Monte Raschio. On July 7, 2017, the World Heritage Committee, meeting in Krakow, recognized these beech forests as UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites, listing them on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and specifically including them in the transnational site “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe.”

The old growth beech forest of Monte Raschio is a thermophilous forest and an important mesophilic forest site. Its distinctive feature lies in the unique cool and humid microclimate, generated by abundant rainfall and moist air currents from nearby Lake Bracciano. Thanks to these conditions, the forest thrives at altitudes between 440 and 552 meters a.s.l., much lower than typical Apennine beech forests, which generally grow above 900 meters a.s.l. This is a relict beech forest that survived the end of the last Quaternary glaciation and, through its microclimatic conditions, adapted to the current Mediterranean climate.

( https://maps.app.goo.gl/C95cMBnfTFeT9baD6 )

The beech forest of Monte Cimino covers approximately 58 hectares at an altitude ranging from 925 to 1,053 meters above sea level. Here, beech trees grow in deep, fertile soil of volcanic origin, formed by intense volcanic activity over a million years ago. This soil is among the most fertile in central Italy, allowing the trees to reach impressive heights of up to 50 meters and over 200 years of age.

( https://maps.app.goo.gl/dvXnK2jt21KhE3xLA )

The trails to reach these forests are easy and can be explored in a one-day field trip.
The excursion fees include transportation from Rome to the sites and a packed lunch.

There are 10 spots remaining on the excursion.

  • Excursion Program – May 30, 2026
  • 08:00 – Departure for the excursion of ancient forests of Lazio
  • 09:30 – Arrival to old growth beech forest of Monte Raschio
  • 12:45 - Departure for Monte Cimino
  • 13:30 - Arrival to old growth beech forest of Monte Cimino
  • 16:45 - Departure from Monte Cimino
  • 18:30 (approx.) – Arrival at CNR headquarter