Discovering the legendary Bosco Martese between wrong beech trees and resistance stories (30km from Teramo)

The Bosco Marteselocated on the Teramo side of the Laga Mountains, it is one of the most extensive and better preserved Wilderness areas of central Italy. Belonging to the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, it represents an ecologically relevant area for the high degree of naturalness and for the presence of uncontaminated ecosystems. Unlike other Apennine areas, the Martese Bosco has maintained considerable integrity thanks to the scarcity of human settlements and the climatic and geomorphological characteristics that make the region particularly harsh and remote.

How to access it

Main access to the Bosco Martese is found in Ceppo localitylocated about 35 kilometers from the city of Teramo. From here, a network of paths allows you to go into a territory rich in biodiversity, including Faggi Forests, clearings and small streams that flow long valleys modeled by river erosion. The mountain landscape of the area is characterized by the dominant presence of beech, which constitutes most of the forest mantle and alternates with other arboreal species, such as white fir, or some varieties of oaks. The average altitude of the area is about 1,200 meters, but some peaks of the Laga mountains reach upper heights, the case that gives life to a fresh and humid microclimate, ideal for the proliferation of a diversified flora and adapted to variable climatic conditions.

The beech trees

The beech trees of the Bosco Martese are famous for the advanced age of many specimens, which form a dense and shady arboreal coverage. One of the most interesting peculiarities concerns the presence of the “wrong beech trees” In the area of ​​the Stazzi di Jacci di Verre, an area in which the trees have curious twists and folding. These specimens have been shaped over time by environmental factors such as the wind, the type of soil and the morphology of the soil, enl tempo have assumed singular forms that constitute an interesting object of study, both for botanists and naturalists. The twisted and unnatural aspect of the Trees of the Bosco Martese Trees aroused several hypotheses regarding the causes of these deformations, including the influence of the wind and the particular composition of the substrate, which would have limited the expansion of the roots, forcing the trees to develop in unusual ways.

A little history

As if the immense ecological value were not enough, the Bosco Martese also has significant historical importance. In September 1943, following the armistice of September 8, the area became a refuge for Italian soldiers and allies fleeing the Nazi employment: it was here that on September 25, 1943 one of the first clashes of the Italian resistance against German troops took place, an episode that is commemorated every year with a ceremony in memory of the partisans who fought in these mountains. Among the resistants there were Italians, but also English, New Zealand, Australian, Canadian and Yugoslav soldiers, who fled the prison camps and united in a battle that marked one of the first victories of the Resistance. The event left a deep imprint in the collective memory of the region, making this place a symbol of struggle for human freedom and dignity.

Great biodiversity

The Bosco Martese can count on a remarkable variety of habitats that favor the coexistence of numerous animal and vegetable species. Among the most representative mammals in the area there are the Apennine wolf, roe deer, fox and wild boar, while the avifauna includes species such as the pelgine hawk and the buzzard. The waterways of the Bosco Martese host several endemic amphibians, such as the peeled salamander, and small freshwater fish, thanks to the excellent quality of the waters that flow inside the park.

The seasons of the woods

During the winter, the area has climatic conditions that can lead to abundant snowfall and transform paths into difficult paths and reserved for more experienced hikers. The waterfalls present in the area, like that of San Giovanni, they froze partially, creating ice columns which contribute to making the landscape unique. On the contrary, in the summer, the luxuriant green of the woods and the moderate temperatures make the Martese Bosco Martese an ideal destination for trekking and walks, given the fresh and shaded environment, while the spring season is characterized by a significant floral biodiversity, with the flowering of spontaneous species including orchids and some rare plants adapted to the mountain climate.

Each season contributes to transforming the Bosco Martese, making it a dynamic and constantly changing environment: in the spring, the flowery meadows give color and vitality to the landscape, while in the autumn the phenomenon of foliage tinges the leaves of warm red, yellow and orange shades.

A place to preserve

The importance of the Martese forest certainly resides in natural and historical beauty, but also in the ability to act as an ecological and historical-cultural reserve. In fact, we are talking about an area that offers, on the one hand, different opportunities for scientific research on the biodiversity of the Apennines, and on the other, a place of historical memory that allows you to understand the value of Italian resistance.

The Bosco Martese represents a exemplary model of the Wilderness area in which nature, history and culture intertwine and give life to a unique ecosystem in the Italian panorama, to the establishment of a clear example of preservation of the naturalistic and historical heritage of the country.