The Regional Park of Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli was created in the Italian region of Tuscany in 1979. It was one of the first regional parks in Italy and the second created in Tuscany (after the Maremma park, founded in 1975). The territory of the park stretches along the coast of the provinces of Pisa and Lucca, "incorporating" the municipalities of Pisa, Viareggio, San Giuliano Terme, Vecchiano and Massarosa. In the past, these lands were covered with swamps, which over time were filled with sediments caused by the Serchio and Arno rivers.
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| Regional Park of Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli Italy |
Diverse ecosystems and different microclimates in different parts of the park have ensured the existence of a huge number of animal and plant species on its territory - this is a real natural encyclopedia in the open air. Of the ecosystems of the park, sand dunes stretching for 23 km along the coast between the towns of Calambrone and Viareggio, wetlands covering an area of about 3 thousand hectares, cultivated land and forests covering a third of the park are especially noteworthy.
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| Regional Park of Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli Italy |
A major attraction of the park is Lake Massaciuccoli, located in the zone of the same name and having no more than 2 meters in depth. On the shores of the lake are the cities of Torre del Lago and Massaciuccoli, in the latter of which the famous composer Giacomo Puccini lived for a long time. Today, his villa has been turned into a museum. In the same town, you can see the ruins of the Roman villa complex Terme Buque di Nerone.
In the very center of the park, on an area of almost 5 thousand hectares, San Rossore is spread - a place notable for the diversity of animal and plant species and its landscapes. On the coast you can see oystercatchers, curlews, raksha and various types of ducks and boobies. Fallow deer and wild boars roam far from the coast - typical inhabitants of these places. Thousands of birds gather in the local swamps during the migration season, and no less number of nature lovers come to watch them.
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| Regional Park of Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli Italy |
The attraction of the park is its visitor center, which occupies the Villa Borbone in Viareggio. The villa was built at the beginning of the 19th century for Marie Louise of Bourbon, and in 1985 was transferred to the municipality. Another visitor center of the park is located in the building of the Villa Medicea in Coltano.