Parco Fluviale del Nera

The Territory

"Know'st thou the mountain, and its cloudy bridge?
The mule can scarcely find the misty ridge;
In caverns dwells the dragon's olden brood,
The frowning crag obstructs the raging flood.
Know'st thou it well?"

(from J. W. Goethe, Mignon)

The naturalistic and human facies of River Nera Park is the result of millenary needs and will: diverting the watercourses and turn the potentialities of such a rich water system into a resource.
From the reclamation activities carried out by the Romans to the hydroelectric power systems of the late 19th century. The history of Lower Valnerina is characterized by the centuries of the establishment of rural churches, monasteries, and abbeys and the centuries dominated by castle building up to the acquisition of a final settlement model founded on the rural vocation of the territory and its people which has marked the imprinting of the contemporary ecocompatible social and economic development and the choice of a quality lifestyle.
Consorzio del Parco Fluviale del Nera which, since 1995, has been managing the protected area in the Municipalities of Arrone, Ferentillo, Montefranco, Polino, and Terni, has interpreted the priority goals of environmental, urban, cultural and monumental heritage rehabilitation, commits itself to a widespread and coordinated planning of the activities. A few examples: the projects "Agricoltura Biologica nel Parco" (Organic Agriculture in the Park) and "La Filiera della Carne Bovina del Parco" (The Beef Die of the Park); the recovery of the thematic trails of archaeological interest, among which Tripozzo in Arrone and Monte Moro in Montefranco; the co-participation in the environmental education workshop of "Adottiamo il Parco"; the creation, in association with CIAV (Centro Iniziative Ambiente Valnerina), of the first Park Naturalistic Documentation Center, situated in the premises of Palazzo Magalotti in Collestatte.
The Documentation Center represents today the latest cause of pride for the Park which, after the historical "inheritance" of San Pietro in Valle Abbey, the Mummy Museum in Ferentillo, and Appennino Umbro Museum in Polino, wants to promote the knowledge of all the aspects of its identity and encourage a conscious tourism.