Riserva naturale della Scanuppia
Scanuppia Nature Reserve in the heart of Prealps and Lessini mountains - a paradise for capercaillies.
The Scanuppia Nature Reserve is located on Vigolana massif above the town of Besenello, and covers an area of 583 hectares. It is 1,450 m a.s.l. at Malga Besenello and reaches 2,132 m at the peak of Vigolana. It includes the pastures surrounding Malga Imprech with its historical Malga Palazzo mountain-dairy and the entire State-owned forest of Scanuppia.
This is the reserve of the grouse, the capercaillies which seem to have found their ideal habitat there on the southern slopes of Vigolana overlooking Valle dell'Adige. Golden Eagles can often been seen in the reserve too, just like roe deer. The area was established as a nature reserve in 1992. More than half of the area is covered by forests - red and white firs and beeches at low altitudes, then larches and finally dwarf pines at higher altitudes. The rest of the area consists in Alpine pastures and meadows.
Located on the reserve grounds, Malga Palazzo is an imposing building built in 1589. It is a perfect example of fortified mountain architecture and has been property of the Trapp Earls for many years.
