Rifugio di Gastra
The place
Rifugio di Gastra in the Foreste Casentinesi, Stia/San Godenzo area (Foreste Casentinesi Monte Falterona Campigna National Park, Tuscany/Emilia-Romagna border, Italy), at 1,392 m elevation, on the Falterona slope (1,654 m, source of the Arno). Continuous Tuscan Casentinesi cluster (batches 240-339). CAI hut or former forestry-service building, in an area of Camaldoli fir forests (2,500 ha of sacred forest belonging to the Camaldolese monks since 1012, Saint Romuald, home to some of Europe's oldest monastic fir stands), near Vallombrosa — Milton's inspiration during his 1638 journey ("Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades / High overarch'd embower") — and within the Casentino National Park (36,000 ha, home to a recolonising population of 100+ wolves (Canis lupus) since the Apennines recolonisation of the 1970s).
The setting
Foreste Casentinesi Stia/San Godenzo Falterona Campigna NP Tuscany/ER Italy 1,392 m Falterona 1,654 m source of the Arno, continuous cluster batches 240-339, CAI or former forestry service, Camaldoli fir forests 2,500 ha 1012 monastic Romuald + Vallombrosa Milton 1638 + NP 36,000 ha 100+ wolves recolonising Apennines 1970s.
