The
natural environment
Continuous forest still covered a large part of the Tyrrhenian
coast in the mid-18th century. Known as the "Selva Palatina",
it was an impenetrable jungle of maritime pines, holm-oaks
and heath. In the lame, marshy areas that were periodically
flooded, huge common oaks, alders and poplars thrived. At the mouths of the Arno
and Serchio there were extensive lagoons, separated from the sea by sand bars
known as tomboli. From the mid-18th century onwards the Lorraine, the grand dukes
of Tuscany, promoted the reclamation of the marshes and begun the cultivation
of the umbrella pine for its nuts, creating the splendid pinewoods that are still
a characteristic feature of the coastal landscape.
 A
huge green lung
This environment, half land and half water, survives not only in the Parco delle
Versilia, which covers 80 hectares and is one of the last remnants of the ancient
coastal forest, but also for long stretches between the bathing concessions of
Versilia and Livorno, and has been protected by the institution, in 1979, of
the Parco Regionale Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli, which comprises the
pinewoods of San Rossore, Migliarino,Tombolo, the Macchia Lucchese and the lake
of Massaciuccoli.
The overall surface area is 24,000 hectares
of flood plain between, in the north, the southern edge
of Viareg-gio and, in the south, the Canale dei Navicelli,
one of the first waterways built by the Medici, while it
ex-
tends inland to encompass the Coltano estate, in the province Of Pisa.
Hunting with the king
The estate of San Rossore, which passed from the Lorraine
to the Savoy, then to the president of the republic and,
lastly, to the region of Tuscany, is managed by the park,
of which it forms the central nucleus. In an area of 3,000
hectares it comprises, almost intact, precious aspects of
the natural environment and it includes
all the most typical types of landscape of the Tyrrhenian
coast, with associations of the maritime pine, oak, poplar,
ash and elder.
Its use as a game reserve has favoured the
introduction of a variety of fauna such as fallow deer, roe
deer, wild boar, hares, wild rabbits, martens and foxes;
well-known for its stables and stud farm, the estate also
included a dromedary farm until World War II. There are seven
paths, open to both walkers and cyclists, that are partially
accessible to the disabled.
The Macchia di Migliarino is
the natural continuation of the estate of San Rossore to
the north, beyond the Ser-chio; it's a vast pinewood of 2,400
hectares, with huge pines, some of them very old, a splendid
beach and one of the richest bird popula- A hut med for bird.watching
on Lake
tions in the Country. Massaciuccoli
A lake for the birds
The lake of Massaciuccoli, at the northern end of the park,
is a peaceful stretch of water with low shores (maximum height
2 m) and a backdrop of rolling hills to the east and the
offshoots of the Apuan Alps to the north. With a perimeter
of little more than 10 km, it is what now remains of a vast
deltaic lagoon — formed in the Quaternary period by
the Arno and the Serchio—that was then isolated by
the retreat of the sea. It teems with eels, pike, tench,
and other lacustrine fauna. The lake is of great importance
for the over 200 species of birds, both migratory and resident,
that find their ideal habitat in the calatini, narrow channels
penetrating the reed-beds, and chiari, areas of shallow water.
An explosion of perfume
Dividing Lucca and Pisa almost physically, a low ranee of
hilh forms a backdrop to the Pisan coast and the pinewooJs
oi Sun Rossore. In June they turn yellow with broom and other
plants of the Mediterranean macchia covering the slopes facing
the sea. With their network of paths, it's possible to have
delightful walks on the Monti Pisani thanks to the perfumes
in the period of the flowering of the myrtle, mastic tree,
he-lichrysum and rue. Don't be misled by the gentle appearance
of these hills: the numerous rock faces are ideal for climbers
wishing to get practice.
Visiting the park on foot or by boat
The best way to visit the park is to take one of the guided tours provided by
the Ente Parco Regionale di Migliarino-San Rossore-Mas-saciuccoli.
Tenuta diSan Rossore: open to the public Sundays and public holidays. Guided
tours on foot, by bicycle, on horseback, by carriage and bus on Tuesdays, Thursdays,
Saturdays and Sundays. For groups of over 20 people, throughout the week. For
information and bookings: visitor centre, Phone +39 050 530101. * )
Lake Massaciuccoli: tours by boat starting from Viareggio or Torre del Lago,
at the landing-stage in front of the Villa Puccini. Macchia Lucchese: guided
tours and nature trail organized by the WWF; bird-watching organized by LIPU
(Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli). Tenuta di Migliarino: guided tours to Fiumaccio,
Immaginetta, Padule dell'Ugnone.
Tenuta di Coltano: the Centro Villa Medicea provides
information regarding the naturalistic, historical
and environmental aspects of the park; there is an
environmental education centre, with workshops and
a guest-house for groups of children; one-day guided
tours are also provided. For information and bookings:
Ente Parco Regionale, Via Aurelia Nord 4, Pisa, Phone
+39 050 525500.
See
also the etruscan coast |
