Visit The Wolf Sanctuary At Popoli

On the western clopes of monte there is an italian wolf sancturary which is run by the state forestry commision.

Holidays In Abruzzo - What to see and do... Visit the wolves.

Abruzzan Wolf - Latin Name Canis Lupus

Visit the Wolf sanctuary near Popoli. The centre cares for injured wolves tending for them until such time as they can be safely released back into the wild. The sanctuary is also home to Roe, Fallow and Red deer, Wild Boar and Mouflon (a species of wild sheep).

In the early 1980s the number of wild wolves in Italy was very low at little more than 100 animals. This drastic and untenable situation, brought about the creation of a wolf genetic bank having the principle aim of assuring the maintenance of a group of individuals that could be released in the case of an unexpected collapse in the wild wolf population.

The sanctuary is run by, 'Il corpo Forestale' (The State Forestry Service) and has the following opening hours according to season:

1st of November to the 15th of March - Only opens for bookings of groups totalling 15 or more...
16th of March to the 30th of June - Sundays and Festival Days from 10am to 1pm and then 3pm until 6pm
1st of July to the 15th of September - Open everyday 10am to 1pm and then 3pm until 6pm
16th of September to the 30th of October - Only Sundays from 10am to 1pm and then 3pm until 6pm

Enjoy a three hour guided visit leaving from the Visitor Centre and following the route 'Dalle Prede ai Predatori' - 'From the Prey to the Predators'. Take your picnic along with you and enjoy lunch in the picnic area situated amongst the trees.

The entrance costs are €8 for adults and €5 for children.

To arrive at the sanctuary follow the E80 from Sulmona towards Popoli and look for the sign for a restaurant called 'Da Gaetano' on the right. Take the nearby road, again on the right, called 'Via Contrada Santo Padre' which leads up the side of the mountain and follow the signs for, 'Azienda Pilota "Monte Corvo" - Centro Visita del Lupo'. The centre is around fifteen minutes away by car from MonteViste.

The Italian word for wolf is, 'Lupo' and a very common phrase to be heard every day in Italy is, "In bocca al lupo." which literally means, 'In the mouth of the wolf' and contextually means, 'Good Luck!'.