Top 4 Natural Monuments around Atessa

The forest is made up of a series of progressively decreasing river terraces. The first is the one on which the farmhouse stands and is the one where forests have been deforested to make room for crops, it is also the largest and covers the entire Sinello valley. The second, at a difference in altitude of about 7 metres, is the one that hosts the current residual forest. In winter and spring it is often flooded and puddles form, while in the hottest months of the year the ground is completely dry. The next terrace is the one where the Sinello, when in flood, flows and hosts very heterogeneous vegetation. One meter below is the last terrace made up of the river bed made up of limestone and gravel. The climate of the forest is Mediterranean, the average temperature throughout the year is 16°, while the average temperature in July is 25° and in January 6°. The most important tree species are present on the second terrace and are the Cerro, the English oak, the white hornbeam and the ash. There are specimens of trees that reach 25 meters in height. Inside the forest and also in the part of the river that passes through it, a delicate ecosystem survives, in the waters of the Sinello we can find Brasche, Buttercups, Water Celery, Watercress. There are submerged colonies of vegetation that give the waters their characteristic blue-green colour. The fauna of the area is represented by the various migratory birds frequent in the temperate coastal areas, by foxes and badgers, as well as moles and hedgehogs.

Pollutri can boast the presence, in its territory, of the Don Venanzio forest: a delicate and precious, as well as rare, example of a plain forest, towards which scientists and ecologists have turned their attention, in fact the Don Venanzio forest is one of the last strips of lowland forest on the Adriatic coast. Unfortunately what we can see today is nothing more than what remains of a much larger and more extensive forest near the Sinello river. The Forest card Location: 1 km from the exit Vast North of the A14 Extent: approximately 78 ha Height: 30 m above sea level Owner: Municipality of Pollutri Reserve since: 29/11/1999 LR 128 Structure: Tall forest, spread over a series of river terraces. Vegetation: White poplar, Black poplar, Downy oak, Turkey oak, Ash, White hornbeam and English oak. Shrubs: Dogwood, Ivy, Pendulum sedge, Cornioo, Undergrowth: Apennine anemone, Butcher's broom, Red lily and others. Entrance to the site is free, on request it is possible to take a guided tour. Info: 0872/50357 – 338/5728304 There.

The reserve is always open, while the restaurant and bar respect closing days and periods.

From here you can see the lower part of Val Sinello and your gaze is lost towards the mountains, in front the Majella Massif, on the right the Gran Sasso Massif with Monte Camicia and at the bottom even further to the right the Monti Gemelli della Laga.

"The archaeological park of Iuvanum is one of those hidden places to discover. In the middle of the Abruzzo countryside, you don't expect to find a vast area rich in history, and you have the impression of entering a painting, a window about the past, where the important ruins stand out, surrounded by nature".

The Don Venanzio wood takes its name from the last owner who, in 1986, sold it to the Municipality of Pollutri. Its extension is about 78 hectares and represents one of the last strips of plain forest on the Adriatic coast, fully protected since 1999 with the establishment of the Reserve. It develops along the lower course of the Sinello river, in the municipality of Pollutri (Ch), in the locality of Crivelle, between the SS.16 Adriatica, the provincial road for Scerni and the Sinello river. The entrance is located about one km. from the Vasto Nord - Casalbordino exit of the A14, towards Gissi. The whole area is fully protected; from the only internal avenue equipped paths branch off which allow, with the help of guides, to go into the woods and reach suggestive corners. The climate of the forest is Mediterranean. The most important tree species are the white poplar, the black poplar, the downy oak, the Turkey oak, the English oak. There are specimens of trees that reach almost 25 meters in height. Among the shrubs we remember the Ivy, the Sanguinello and the Corniolo. In the undergrowth the Apennine Anemone, Pungitopo and Red Lily grow. In the waters of the Sinello river there are Buttercups, Water Celery, Watercress. The fauna is represented by various migratory birds, foxes, badgers, moles and hedgehogs.

In addition to numerous small frogs and fish, this small water snake also lives in the Gola and presumably feeds on the former. Now, at the beginning of October, the waterfall is more of a small trickle. To do this, it can be easily reached from the parking lot at the entrance to the gorge after a few minutes of walking over round stones and mini climbing inserts over two slightly larger rocks with dry feet. Sturdy footwear is still advisable and, especially in bad weather, you should take the notice at the entrance to the gorge that you should only enter it with a helmet because of the risk of falling rocks.