Mount Saccarello and Mount Fronté S.C.I.

Mount Saccarello, the highest mountain in Liguria, dominates the villages of Realdo and Verdeggia.

The landscape, with its numerous streams, pastures, woods and screes, is typically alpine.

The predominant geological formation is the Sanremo-M.Saccarello Helmintoid Flysch.

The most typical and interesting habitat is the alpine grassland and the rhododendron and the dryas octopetala meadows at the southernmost limit of their distribution area.

As regards the flora, there are rare species such as the very rare rhaponticum of Bicknell (Stemmacantha heleniifoglia), the snake's head fritillary of Moggridge (Fritillaria tubaeformi), the narcissus flowered onion (Allium narcissiflorum). On Mount Saccarello we can find the only population of thyme-leaved willow in Liguria.

As regards the fauna numerous bird species of community importance have been identified: the golden eagle, the short-toed eagle, the black grouse and the common raven. Mammals are to be found at the southernmost limit of their distribution area: the mountain hare, the chamois, the European snow vole and a rare species such as the marten.

Among the invertebrates there are numerous glacial relicts and different types of endemic beetles.