Welcome to our new series, Family Trips Worldwide. In this series we will post short facts about a cool place that is great for a family trip.
WHAT: a plateau in the middle of Italy where you feel like you are somewhere in Tibet.
WHERE: Italy, Umbria, Sibillini Mountains National Park, 42°48’28.89″N 13°12’10.65″E
HOW TO GET THERE: Sibillini Mountains NP is located on the plateau near the town of Norcia in Umbria. It takes around 2,5 hours from Rome, 3 hours from Florence and 2,5 hours from Pienza by car.
WHEN: best time to go is from mid-April to mid-October, especially in spring and autum when the nature is at its best, but if you want to climb also the peaks (most of them are over 2,000 m (6,560 ft)), than wait till June when the conditions are optimal.
WHAT TO DO: explore the meadows and feed the sheeps grazing on the grassy hills, accompanied by the big white dogs who give them protection from the wolves. In the meantime you can observe the paragliders and horseback riders that come along the way, take lunch in old villages like Castelluccio, or try one of many outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, hang gliding, paragliding and climbing or just wandering around and consume the beauty of the nature.
TIPS: for the flower lovers there is an outnuber of flowers growing in the Piano Grande di Castelluccio from early June to mid July. If you are peace lovers avoid the crowds in July and August, especially durig the weekends.
