Description
Because of its shape, Monte Brione has been compared to an enormous orange slice resting on a plateau, from which it rises about 310 metres, reaching a maximum height of 376 metres above sea level. Rather than a true 'mountain', it is a limestone-marly relief the size of a hill, but the overhanging rock faces on its eastern slope give it the rugged physiognomy typical of mountains.
The exceptional richness of species derives from its position, at the northern limit of the Lake Garda area, where the large lake basin makes its presence felt by inducing a sub-Mediterranean type of climate that wedges into the southern pre-alpine arc.
The particular climatic conditions mean that sub-Mediterranean thermophilic species such as the holm oak (Quercus ilex), boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus), and broom (Spartium junceum) can live and reproduce on Brione, the Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum), laurel (Laurus nobilis), lemongrass (Dictamnus albus), Nice spurge (Euphorbia nicaeensis) and many others found here at the northern limit of their range. Alongside these species, there are others typical of higher altitudes, more 'mountainous' therefore, such as Globularia cordifolia, some species of Plantain, and so on.
At present, only a minor portion of Monte Brione is covered by spontaneous vegetation, consisting of ilex groves, thermophilous woods of hop-hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia), manna ash (Fraxinus ornus) and downy oak (Quercus pubescens), with a notable presence of terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus).
The largest portion is instead occupied by large terraces cultivated with olive trees (Olea europaea). This type of cultivation has a high 'traditional character' and hosts a rich and characteristic herbaceous flora under the olive trees.
The flora includes numerous infrequent or rare species, such as Iris cengialti, Iris germanica ssp. benacensis and butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus).
But the most important element is the incredible presence of spontaneous Orchids (more than 20 species!), some of which have their only Trentino station here. All Orchids, as we know, are rare plants, but some are extremely rare and even at risk of extinction: preserving the places where they live is therefore extremely important and urgent.
The fauna of Monte Brione is very rich and includes numerous entities typical of hot and arid places.
In particular, the avifauna is the most valuable component, as it includes various species linked to Mediterranean environments, which are very rare for Trentino. These include the Sardinian Sardinian warbler (Sylvia melanocephala), which lives in dense shrubs, the lonely sparrow (Monticola solitarius) and the rufous-tailed rock thrush (Monticola saxatilis), which instead nest in the ravines of rock walls.
Publications
- route guide
Studies
- naturalistic and cadastral definition project
- vegetation study
- fauna study
