The Abruzzo region is the heartland of Italy. With the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, Majella National Park, and the Sirente-Velino Nature Park, this partially powerful limestone mountain range boasts a high density of protected areas with vast, interconnected forests. Brown bears, wolves, and lynxes are native to this region, though they can only be spotted with luck. In Abruzzo, we find the Gran Sasso, the highest peak of the Apennines, with the Corno Grande just shy of the three-thousand-meter mark. Deep gorges, numerous caves and waterfalls, expansive plateaus, tranquil lakes, bare peaks, and mist-shrouded valleys create a magnificent symbiosis. On the hills and steep mountain slopes, centuries-old mountain villages nestle, retaining their charm to this day. There are over 500 castles and fortresses, countless beautiful churches, and famous abbeys.