Central Apennines

The Gran Sasso rises in the central Apennines above the valleys of Abruzzo. Its highest summit, Corno Grande, is the loftiest peak of the entire Apennine chain. Steep limestone faces and high pastures overlook the country between the Adriatic and the inland basins. Snow and cold linger on the upper slopes, while rivers carry water away through valleys cut between the great mountain ridges.