The Foresta Umbra nature reserve is a protected natural area and owes its name to the dense vegetation that makes it very shady for many stretches. The forest represents the residual strain of the ancient ‘Nemus Garganicum’ that covered the entire promontory and is one of the most extensive broadleaf formations in Italy and Europe. Since 2017, the ancient beech forests of the Foresta Umbra have become a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.

With an area of about 10,500 hectares, it occupies the innermost part of the north-eastern Gargano National Park at about 800 metres above sea level.