Riserva Naturale Regionale Sorgenti del Pescara

The Riserva Naturale Sorgenti del Pescara is a truly magical place, where nature reveals itself in its most authentic form.

Set at the foot of Colle di Capo Pescara, this protected area of over 50 hectares is home to an extraordinary system of crystal-clear springs, fed by the aquifers of Campo Imperatore after a long underground journey. The waters rise directly from the Gran Sasso massif, travelling through limestone rock for around 30 days before emerging with an exceptional flow of 7,000 litres per second, creating a vast, transparent pool nourished by more than 60 individual springs.

This green paradise, protected since 1986, is a true sanctuary of biodiversity, with over 300 plant species and more than 110 species of wildlife, including herons, grebes, kingfishers and the rare brook lamprey.

Reed beds and riverside woodlands offer shelter for a rich variety of birds and small mammals, while the Reserve’s pristine waters are home to native brown trout and other rare species such as the three-spined stickleback.

Open to visitors all year round, the Reserve is the perfect destination for walking, canoeing and environmental education activities centred on biodiversity and conservation.

The trail Sentiero Natura offers an immersive experience along panoramic walkways and scenic viewpoints, revealing unique vistas over the Valle Peligna, the Gole di Tremonti – a spectacular gorge system – and the peaks of the Gran Sasso and Maiella mountains. At the Visitor Centre, you can find helpful information and recommendations to make the most of this natural wonder – where conservation and sustainable tourism go hand in hand.

Ph. credit: Luca Del Monaco (Tourist photographic archive of the Abruzzo Region)