The Alpi Apuane is a mountain range located in northern Tuscany, part of the Apennine Mountains. They are included between the valleys of the Serchio and Magra rivers, and, to the North-West, between Garfagnana and Lunigiana. They are part of the provinces of Massa Carrara and Lucca. The extremely Southern part of the chain is included in the town of Vecchiano (province o f Pisa).
Part of the massif is included in the area of the Regional Natural Park of Alpi Apuane; here, the mountains are made up of chalky rocks and the landscape you can see is made of sinkholes (dolines), foibe and caves.
The name “Apuane” finds its origins in the past, when the Apuani - one of the most formidable and powerful Ligurian tribes - lived here. The mountain chain formed in the middle Triassic period, earlier than the rest of the Apennines, and on a rather different geological structure, created by a sea landscape. Karst topography is widespread, as well as the marble rocks (including the world famous Carrara marble) for which the area is renowned.
The highest peak of the Alpi Apuane is the Monte Pisanino (1,946 m high), but also the other peaks are quite high:
Group of the Panie (a mountains group of Alpi Apuane):
- Pania della Croce (1858 m)
- Pania Secca (1.711 m)
- Monte Forato (1.230 m)
- Omo Morto (1677 m)
- Pizzo delle Saette (1720 m)
Southern Apuane
- Monte Croce (1314 m)
- Monte Forato (1223 m)
- Monte Gabberi (1108 m)
- Monte Matanna (1317 m)
- Monte Nona (1296 m)
- Monte Piglione (1233 m)
- Monte Prana (1221 m)
- Monte Procinto (1039 m)
Northern Apuane
- Monte Cavallo (1888 m)
- Monte Contrario (1788 m)
- Monte Grondilice (1808 m)
- Monte Pisanino (1946 m)
- Monte Sagro (1749 m)
- Pizzo d'Uccello (1781 m)
Central Apuane
- Monte Altissimo (1589 m)
- Monte Corchia (1677 m)
- Monte Fiocca (1709 m)
- Monte Freddone (1487 m)
- Monte Macina (1560 m)
- Monte Roccandagia (1700 m)
- Monte Sella (1739 m)
- Monte Tambura (1890 m)
- Penna del Sumbra (1765 m)
As for Flora and Fauna is concerned, Alpi Apuane offer a wide range of species. As for flora, visitors will have the chance to marvel at the wild cherry, saffron crocus, tree heath, lilium, narcissus, Elder-flowered Orchid and many other lovely species of plants and flowers.
As for the fauna, the chain of Alpi Apuane is very rich in animal species: we find the Golden Eagle - with a wingspan that can be wider than 2 m, the European Snow Vole (Chionomys nivalis) - a small grey rodent with long, thick hair, the European Scops Owl - with a wingspan of 53-63 cm, the Barn Owl, which feeds primarily on small vertebrates, particularly rodents, small birds and insects, the Blackcap, the Great Tit, the Little Owl, the wild boar, the weasel, the stone marten, the dormouse, the wolf, the squirrel, the badger, the red fox and many others.