How big it is, and what animals you can meet
Among the attractions to visit in the heart of Tuscany there is one that represents the reference point for those who love nature and the uncontaminated landscape. The Park of San Rossore, looks like this, natural and full of things to discover all different from each other, which is why it is a very wide and perfect attraction for every type of tourist need. What is certain is that you must be willing to walk and let yourself be fascinated by all that is magical and majestic nature makes available to man.
And it is precisely because of these differences that it is still divided into Estates, each with its own particularities.
It is a protected natural area since 1979 and extends over the coastal strip of the provinces of Pisa and Lucca, precisely the municipalities of Pisa, Viareggio, San Giuliano Terme, Vecchiano, Massarosa and Livorno.
It also includes Lake Massaciuccoli, the mouths of the rivers Serchio, Amo and Fiume Morto, the former presidential estate of San Rossore, the forests of Tombolo, Migliarino as well as the scrub of the territory of Lucca.
Within it, various activities are carried out such as the organization of the third national route of AGESCI which saw over 30 thousand scouts gather in 2014. It is also the Base Formazione Incursori (BAI) of the Italian Army.
The Park is divided into some main areas that are the Lucchese scrub, that is the wooded strip to the north, enclosed between Viareggio, Torre del Lago Puccini and its coast. Then there is the area of Massaciuccoli which includes both the lake and the marshy area that surrounds it. There are also, along the coast, important estates such as Migliarino, Tombolo, San Rossore and Coltano that today serve many for agriculture and for the forest of the area.
Even the important park of the shoals of Meloria is part of this area with its two outcropping rocks that have depths of considerable naturalistic importance.
What you can find San Rossore Park
Like any other wetland, the park of San Rossore also has numerous species of flora and fauna that find a perfect natural habitat here.
Among the areas present the wooded one is the prevalent, considering that a third of the surface of the park is covered by woods with the presence of poplars, ash, alder, holm oak and pine both in its species of domestic pine and that of maritime pine. In the most marshy area there are rare species of flora, among those present are the drosere, the periploca, the osmunda and the pink hibiscus.
As in any other Tuscan park, here too the fauna is very rich, counting in particular numerous species of birds, for this reason it is a Lipu oasis. Among the most present are the mallard, waders, gulls, ducks, cormorants, ardeids which include the gray heron, the great white heron and the egret. There are also buzzards, bee-eaters, gallinelle and the knight of Italy. Walking through this huge natural park between Pisa and Lucca it is not strange to meet the green and red woodpecker, or the fratino of which it is a nesting area.
Among the species present there are also amphibians and reptiles, as well as many freshwater fish typical of the Italian territory such as pike, carp and tench. Also fish that go up the rivers from the sea such as mullet and eel.
Also present is the Louisiana red crayfish better known as killer shrimp that is widespread in the swamp and in all other neighboring environments. It is not limited, in fact, to remain only in the wetlands near the park of San Rossore, but ranges a lot.
The presence of mammals such as fallow deer, wild boar, red fox and wild rabbit has also been detected that can be seen walking around the park. The presence of the wolf also seems to have been ascertained.
Product of the typical flora? The pine nut of the area, certified organic product of the Pisan coast.
What to do at San Rossore Park
Inside the natural park of San Rossore it is possible to make different excursions, in different ways. Precisely it is possible to choose the guided tours, in this case it will be enough to contact the visitor center that will provide a guide every day. If you want to enter for a visit independently, you can do it on foot, on horseback or by bicycle. If you opt for the guided tour you can do it on trains, carriages or even on horseback.
Image sources: Regione Toscana, Wikipedia, Wild Peregrine
