GARGANO NATIONAL PARK

The environment reigns supreme here, with dunes and forests of conifers and hardwoods, rivers of sparkling water and karst grottoes. Gargano National Park is home to more species of birds than the entire Alps, while its 2,000 species of plants account for 35% of those in all of Italy. The wealth of tree species is matched by the number of plants. Recent studies have demonstrated that the Gargano has the greatest number of orchids in Italy; some 250 varieties have been recorded, accounting for 60% of the species present in Europe. The brackish lakes of Lesina and Varano are also of great natural interest.