The Lepini Mountains are a mountain range which belong to the Anti-Apennines of Lazio. They are basically made up of two chains separated by the towns of Montelanico, Carpineto and Maenza, and fall within the provinces of Rome, Frosinone and Latina. They overlook the Anagni plain and Frosinone on one side and, the side facing the sea, the lush Pontitian Plain.
The highest peak is the Semprevisa Mountain, which stands tall above Bassiano with its 1,536 metres; followed by the Lupone Mountain (m.1,378), between Cori and Norma; and the Erdigheta Mountain (m.1,336) behind Carpineto Romano.
The exposure of the Lepini and their relative nearness to the sea have produced a distinct vegetation, consisting of garigue and Mediterranean scrub, which thrive despite the significant sudden changes in temperature.
From the plain you can see the crags of the Lepini interrupted by olive groves, mastic bushes, phillyrea, strawberry trees, heather and rare examples of Judas trees.
Actual woods can only be found further up on the mountains and in the sheltered areas. Beech trees, holm oaks, chestnut trees, Turkey oaks and maple trees are the typical trees of the woods.
As for wildlife, the Lepini Mountains are the ideal habitat for wild boars, hares, beech martens and other mustelidae, porcupines, badgers and a limited number of wolves.
The typical birds of this region are woodpeckers, doves, blackbirds, thrushes, tawny owl, crows and a few birds of prey.
All the towns in the Lepini Mountains are of distinct medieval origin and some also have traces of more remote civilizations. This is the case of Norba, situated on a plateau overlooking the Ninfa Gardens.