Pietra di Bismantova

The Pietra seen from the fraction Croce at Castelnovo ne ' Monti

The Pietra di Bismantova is a striking rock formation in the northern Apennines in Italy. It is located in the municipality of Castelnovo ne ' Monti in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia -Romagna. It consists of a narrow plateau surrounded by steep rock walls that emerge sharply in the surrounding gentle mountain landscape.

Geology

The Pietra consists of calcareous sedimentary rock which was coated in the Miocene on the seabed over marl. In rock enclosed you will find typical molluscs for a tropical climate. The slow formation of cracks and fissures in the limestone rock, followed by erosion, has so far left the now visible platform on the top of the rock intact. This plateau is about 1 km long, 240 m wide and 300 m above the surrounding landscape the Pietra. The top of the rock lies on 1047 m s.l.m..

Flora and Fauna

The tip of the Pietra di Bismantova is covered to a large extent by grasses and partially wooded. There are growing shrubs such as Common hazel, juniper, hawthorn, broom and rhododendron. Occurring trees are downy oaks, oaks, maples, linden and hornbeam. On rocky outcrops are found species that prefer a dry climate, such as the thyme.

On the plateau and in the area are widely used for the Apennines typical species such as wild boar, deer, hares, hedgehogs and birds of prey.

History

On the rock artifacts and pottery fragments were found, suggesting that the plateau was used early on by people.

During the Byzantine period a castle was built on the slopes of the rock. On the ruins of this building in the 18th century was a Benedictine hermitage that still exists today with a public church.

Until the 16th century, the area as a fief of the Dallo Bismantova family was, then it was dominion of the Este. 1859, the newly formed municipality of Pietra Castelnovo ne ' Monti was knocked down.

At the beginning of the 20th century those trails and paths were created on the rocks, which are also still used today.

Others

The Pietra di Bismantova is mentioned by Dante in the Divine Comedy and inspired him possibly to describe the Monte del Purgatorio ( Purgatory of ).