Flora and fauna on Mount Baldo

Did you know that Mount Baldo is nicknamed “the Garden of Europe”?
This mountain encompasses such a variety of climates, ranging from Mediterranean to Alpine that it has allowed an extraordinary diversity of plant species to thrive, with as many as one thousand nine hundred and fifty-two species documented to date.

Mount Baldo has been an open-air laboratory for botany and natural science scholars for centuries.

There are endemic species that only exist in this environment. Take Guenthera repanda and Gypsophila papillosa, for example.

The floristic heritage of Mount Baldo is of inestimable value, both from a scientific and a conservation point of view. It is a natural treasure that deserves to be known, appreciated, and protected.
The fauna of Mount Baldo is held in equal esteem. One hundred and thirty-five species of birds live here, including the eagle that had not been seen in these parts for a long time, and was reintroduced by man along with marmots. There are now more than 3,000 of the latter and it is easy to see them or hear their friendly whistles as you hike the trails.

Mammals such as chamois, deer, wolves and occasionally bears, from the nearby Brenta Mountains, can be found here.
What makes Mount Baldo really special is the great concentration of species that are rarely found all together.

What can you admire during a hike on Mount Baldo?

You will not be able to resist taking a photograph the beautiful beech and olive forests of the sub Mediterranean area.
You will be enchanted by the meadows covered in wonderful flowers, such as mountain orchid, violets, gentians, peonies, and above all, edelweiss. On your hike, you will recognize different plants that grow on Mount Baldo. These include dandelion, chives, mint, and many others.

You may also happen to notice countless butterflies, famous for being plentiful on Mount Baldo. Looking like many colourful lights, they enliven the atmosphere.

If you are travelling with children, you can get them interested in the flora by using apps on your smartphone that identify plants through the photos taken. Recognizing and learning the names of flowers and plants is an interesting and educational activity.

All species are found at the different altitudes and exposures of Mount Baldo. The higher you go, the more the landscape changes, and with it the flora and fauna species.

If you are in Malcesine, we recommend that you go to see inside Scaliger Castle, which, in addition to its historic spaces and unequalled beauty, houses the Natural History Museum, where you will find interesting insights into the biodiversity of Mount Baldo.