The natural reserve of “Foresta Umbra” is located in the inner part of Gargano National Park. This forest has an extension of 10.000 hectares and the huge number of trees put the whole area in shade (ombra), which gives the name to the forest. That name is due to the dense vegetation which gives an umbriferous aspect to the greatest part of 10.000 hectares.
The forest has reliefs of 800 mt above sea level with other parts in the shelter of the coasts and 2.000 species of plant, such as beeches longer than 40 mt and more than one meter diameter. Foresta Umbra is one the biggest Italian forests of broad-leaved trees.
65 species of wild orchids give uniqueness to the low Mediterranean vegetation and to the bush. Since 2017, the beechwoods are taking part of the transnational site of Unesco “ Faggete primordiali dei carpazi e di altre regioni d’Europa”, becoming UNESCO world heritage.
Gargano and Foresta Umbra may be defined as “biodiversity realm”. Although Gargano represents only 0,7 % of the national land, it holds 40% of the Italian plant life and 70% of birds nested in our country.