Vipersgarden in northern Apennines: an abandoned village

[Ruggero M.]

Not very far from my home town, in the northern Appennines, you can find some abandoned villages in the middle (of nowhere?) of the woods. Most of these villages were abandoned during the '60 years, which is also the case of the abandoned villages you can find in Cres-Losinj Archipelag and probably the case of the most abandoned villages you can find in Europe.

But only one village in particular, if visited in the right season, harbours and can show so many specimens of Vipera aspis. The reason of this, in my opinion, is the right altitude (approximately 1000 metres) and the fact that this village is the only place with stones and exposed areas in the middle of thick and green woods.
To reach this village you must walk very hard for a couple of hours and this is why normally nobody kills or threatens this viper population...

All my pictures of the vipers, even if not masterpieces, are strictly taken in situ, without disturbing the animals.
The vipers are not particularly beautiful or with stunning colors: only their amount can be stunning.

The village

The village

The village

The thick woods around the village

The small villages at the opposite side of the valley

The mountains around

The church

A tombstone

An orchid

The small stream of the valley

Near the stream

Near the stream again

A baby

[Ruggero M.]

The first viper I saw was very shy.

But with some more time I could take other pictures of this small shy snake...

I think this can be the same specimen too

[Ruggero M.]

Other (bigger) specimens

[Ruggero M.]

[Ruggero M.]

Predators?

Maybe this guy?

The only other snake species (with just this specimen) seen in the village

[Paul Lambourne]

Ruggero

Interesting to see such an unspoilt haven for herps.. I wish I had known about it when I was there. Great to see the sals. Lets hope this area remains unspoilt.

Cheers Paul

[Mario Schweiger]

Very nice observations and report, Ruggero
Yes, those abandoned villages (or ruins) are allways good places for herping.

And I'm lucky and love it, there is another Vipersgarden outside Austria

[Mario Schweiger]

.... with some luck, I'll show pictures of herps from similar locations on Krk island in 2.5 weeks.
Will be there from June, 18th till 22nd.

[Ruggero M.]

Thanks Paul and thanks Mario: I'll wait for your shots from Krk, even if I prefer the Cres-Losinj islands

[Jürgen Gebhart]

Lovely Little village, I love the new indwellers!