The mid-Aterno Valley, the Subequana Valley, the Rocche Plateau and northern Marsica are the four zones which comprise the Sirente-Velino Regional National Park: a territory rich in history; valuable historical, architectural and archeological aspects; unique natural environments; breathtaking Apennine scenery and rare flora and fauna.
Each of the above-mentioned zones has different characteristics which make the Sirente-Velino Park truely original.
The Rocche Plateau is characterised by a series of plateaux of various altitudes (the Plateaux of Rocca di Mezzo and Ovindoli, Piani di Pezza, Piano del Sirente, Piano di Iano) surrounded by some of the more impressive mountain chains of the whole of the Apennine Mountain range: the Velino massif, with the twin peaks of the Velino (2,424 mt), and the massif of the Sirente (2,348mt). High altitude pasture lands and impressive beech forests, such as that of the Sirente which covers an area exceeding 12 km, make the Rocche Plateau one of the most interesting natural environments of the central Apennines. Here four pairs of eagles have made there nests: one of the highest concentrations in Italy.
Of historical-environmental interest are the historical centres that preside over the Rocche Plateau such as Ovindoli, Rovere with its fortified medieval district undergoing restoration, Rocca di Mezzo, the main centre of the Park, Rocca di Cambio, with its Romanic Church of St. Lucia which features an interesting series of 1300's frescos within its walls, Terranera and Fontavignone.
On the northern outskirts of the Rocche Plateau are the Pagliare di Fontecchio, Tione and Fagnano, which are today uninhabited but have been undergoing restoration in the passed years. These were once linked with "vertical transferral of pastures" between the Aterno Valley and the Rocche Plateau.
The mid-Aterno Valley and the Subequana Valley are instead extraordinarily rich in historical, artistic, architectural and archeological wealths: Fontecchio with its wonderful 1300'sfountain and the Capuchin Convent and St.Francis Convent; the hamlet of Castello di Fagnano, with the remains of a fortified village; Tione degli Abruzzi with the towers of Tione and Cavallone, the church of St.Maria del Ponte in the hamlet of the same name, and the St.George Convent near Goriano Valli; Gagliano Aterno, dominated by the 1300's castle, with the Convent of St.Chiara, which today houses the State Forestry Commission school and the mother church of St.Martin with a valuable 1300's portal, Castelvecchio Subequo, with the convent and church of St.Francis, situated at the centre of a archeologically rich area with italic and paleochristian evidence such as the hypogean cemetery near the church of St. Agata; the breathtaking historical centres of Castel di Ieri and Goriano Sicoli; Acciano, a historical centre of considerable environmental value, with over 15 churches within its municipal territory and medieval towers in the hamlet of Beffi and Roccapreturo, an integral part of the medieval sighting system for the protection of the town of L'Aquila; Molina Aterno with an area rich in old water-mills and Secinaro, the main town of the Sirentina Moutain Community.
On the opposite side, on the Marsican side of the park, are the towers of Aielli, Collarmele and St.Iona, once an integral part of the medieval defense system of Celano dominated by an impressive castle; the remains of the fortified italic enclosure of Mount Secine, near Aielli, one of the most important of all of the Marsican area; Magliano dei Marsi, headquarters of the "Mount Velino" Oriented Natural Reserve, and the church of St. Maria in Valle Porclaneta, near Rosciolo, on the southern slopes of Velino and Massa d'Albe near Alba Fucens is one of the most impressive Roman colonies of central Italy, on the consular road, Tiburtina Valeria.
At least two packs of wolves live in these mountains; the brown Marsican bear has also been spotted; deer, griffins and imperial cravens, which have been reintroduced into the Monte Velino reserve by the State Forestry Commission, have begun repopulating the rest of the park; there are also plans to reintroduce the Abruzzo chamois.
These are only a few of the numerous aspects of naturalistic, architectural and archeological interest that make this park one of the most interesting areas of the entire Apennine district.