The Monti Lepini (Italian: Lepini mountains) are a mountain range which belongs to the
Anti-Apennines of the
Lazio
it, Laziale
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region of central
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
, between the two provinces of
Latina and
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus ( legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
.
The range borders to the north with the
Colli Albani
The Alban Hills ( it, Colli Albani) are the caldera remains of a quiescent volcanic complex in Italy, located southeast of Rome and about north of Anzio. The high Monte Cavo forms a highly visible peak the centre of the caldera, but the hi ...
, to the south-east with the
Amaseno Valley, to the south with the
Monti Ausoni and to the west with the
Pontinian Plain. The highest peak is the
Monte Semprevisa (1,536 m).
The name derives probably from the
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...
''lapis'' (stone), referring to the mountains’
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms w ...
rocks. In ancient times the area was settled by the
Volsci.
The most striking natural feature is the
Gardens of Ninfa. There are also numerous
grottoes, including some of the most significant in central Italy. The wildlife of the mountains includes
peregrine falcons,
griffons and
Apennine wolves.
References
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lepini
Mountain ranges of the Apennines
Mountain ranges of Italy
Mountains of Lazio