Abbadia di Fiastra Nature Reserve
Edited by:
Massimo Martini
Access
Introduction
Description
Schedule of the park
Description
The Abbadia di Fiastra Nature Reserve is a veritable treasure chest of history, culture, nature and traditions that offers visitors an extraordinary environment in which it is possible to discover the evolution of the natural environment and the "signs" that man has left there over the centuries. The Reserve, established in 1984 and subsequently recognised in 1985 by a Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry as a "State Nature Reserve", comprises 1,825 hectares of land surrounding the Abbey of Chiaravalle di Fiastra, which still today show evident traces of the long presence and work of the Cistercian monks.
THE TERRITORY - HISTORY AND CULTURE
The territory of the Nature Reserve, owned by the Giustiniani Bandini Foundation, between the municipalities of Urbisaglia and Tolentino, lies in the mid-hill strip of the Province of Macerata, between 130 and 306 m and more precisely between the valley of the river Chienti and that of the river Fiastra, its largest tributary.
In addition to the abbey complex, the territory includes a vast area dedicated to agriculture that preserves many typical elements of the Marche agricultural landscape, which has now disappeared elsewhere, and a 'forest' of over 100 hectares, the last example of the ancient forests that once covered the hills of the Marche.
In the Abbadia di Fiastra Nature Reserve, created to protect the land that belonged to the Cistercian monks and was shaped by them over the centuries, it is possible to enjoy a welcoming and harmonious environment, the expression of a balanced relationship between man and nature.
The value of the area is therefore directly linked to its history. In fact, the Cistercian abbey of Santa Maria di Chiaravalle di Fiastra was founded here in 1142, when Guarnerio II, Duke of Spoleto and Marquis of the March of Ancona, donated a vast territory near the river Fiastra to the Cistercian monks of the Abbey of Chiaravalle in Milan. For its construction, the monks 'quarried' the building material from the nearby Roman city of Urbs Salvia, sacked and destroyed by Alaric between 408 and 410, and at the same time also started the reclamation of the surrounding land.
The Abbey of Fiastra was one of the most important and powerful monastic settlements in central Italy. For more than three centuries it was at the centre of fervent economic, social and cultural activities, promoting the development of the entire area. In 1773, the entire property was sold to the noble Giustiniani Bandini family. In 1918 the last male heir, Sigismondo, died, leaving all the property to a Foundation in his name.
The Cistercian-Lombard-Burgundy style church has three naves, and occupies the north side of the cloister. It is overlooked by the abbey premises and on the south side by Palazzo Giustiniani Bandini.
At the invitation of the Foundation, the Cistercian monks, also from Milan, returned to live in the Abbey of Chiaravalle di Fiastra in March 1985. Their presence breathed new life into the ancient monastery, making it once again a spiritual reference point for many people. The premises of the abbey and Palazzo Giustiniani Bandini house an interesting Archaeological Collection with artefacts, epigraphs and sculptures from the city of Urbs Salvia, the Wine Museum, where tools and objects used in the past for processing grapes are on display, and the Museum of Farming Civilisation, with agricultural tools and utensils from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The abbey complex also includes a conference centre.
The territory of the nature reserve is divided into three zones with homogeneous environmental characteristics and differentiated management criteria: Oriented Nature Reserve, which includes the forest, Anthropological Reserve, in which the entire abbey complex is also located, and then the Protection Area with all the agricultural areas.
NATURE
The Selva, of about 100 hectares, is the heart of the Nature Reserve and is the last example, still having a considerable surface area, of a very extensive forest that until the 1700s covered the entire hillside of the province of Macerata. It is a predominantly deer forest, home to numerous wild animals, including roe deer.
Like the Selva, the 'Le Vene' pond and the Entogge and Fiastra watercourses are also important and evocative wetlands, subject to protection as they are rich in vegetation and fauna. In addition to turkey oaks, the reserve is home to downy oaks, English oak, manna ash and field maples, while mammals include roe deer, reintroduced in 1957, beech martens, badgers, weasels, porcupines and foxes; Birds include the sparrow hawk, the owl, the tawny owl, the green woodpecker, the nuthatch, the hoopoe and many other passerines typical of the forest environment.
The cultivated fields, with their associated farmhouses, falling within the Protection Zone, are the fruit of a farming activity carried out over the centuries with love and respect for the rhythms of nature: the widespread housing stock, consisting of 79 farmhouses, has been preserved in its original beauty thanks to the continuity of ownership and the care determined by an ancient sharecropping relationship.
TURIST OFFER
Visiting and living the Nature Reserve is a unique and unforgettable experience for the harmony and composure of the landscape, for the soft sounds that invade the air, for the colours that characterise this area in every season. There are various opportunities to come into contact with the different natural environments: trails have recently been reorganised with spaces reserved for pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders.
The 'La Selva' path leads into the forest; the 'Il lago Le Vene' path crosses the agricultural land between the forest and the Fiastra river, allowing the observation of migratory birds and deer; the 'Il bosco e il fiume' sensory path, accessible to all, allows the discovery of the reserve with 'all the senses', i.e. not only with sight.
In the area there is also an Environmental Education Centre, equipped with an audiovisual projection room, a Visitor Centre where it is possible to purchase books, og- jets and clothing with the Nature Reserve symbol. Here, activities are also organised to discover the environment, both historical and natural, thanks to the support of expert nature and tourist guides. School groups can also find various proposals for interesting guided tours, as well as educational workshops specifically designed for the different age groups of students.
The Nature Reserve also offers picnic areas, a camper service, as well as large car parks, toilets, bars, pizzerias, restaurants, shops selling local products and various accommodation facilities.
Information
Founding year: 1984
Area:1825 hectares
Maximum elevation: 306m
Municipalities concerned: Tolentino, Urbisaglia
Institutional site:
Contacts: