Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre
Encyclopedia
The Cinque Terre National Park is a protected area inducted as a national park in 1999, located in the province of La Spezia
, Liguria
, northern Italy
. It includes, in addition to the territory of the three towns of Cinque Terre
(Riomaggiore, Vernazza
and Monterosso al Mare), and parts of the communes of Levanto (Punta Mesco) and La Spezia
(Campiglia Sunsets).
The park can be divided into two parts: the National Park and the Marine Protected Area.
The Park protects a coastal area where man has created a stable life and mutual coexistence between self and nature. The villages are terraced with dry stone walls in a coastal environment typically Mediterranean where the mountains of 'Appennino Ligure come straight to the sea, creating a unique environment.
The climate is typically Mediterranean with dry summers and mild winters.
, Aleppo pine
, corks
and Chestnut
. Rock and coastal environments produce numerous Mediterranean species such as samphire
and sea Cineraria. Flora is visible everywhere even as shrub Rosemary
, Thyme
, Helichrysum and Lavender
. Also present are several species of trees and Succulents clearly visible from many trails.
, the Peregrine Falcon
and the Raven
. Among the mammals are the Dormouse
, weasel
, mole
, rate
, marten
, fox
and wild boar (whose presence is resented for damage to crops). The reptiles that thrive in the rock are the wall lizard
, the lizard
and various snakes such as the rat snake
, the grass snake of Aesculapius and the viper; around streams live amphibians like frogs and salamanders.
Marine life in the stretch of the coast which extends from Punta Mesco at Monterosso to Capo Montenegro at Riomaggiore is rich and varied. The steep faces of the cliffs under water and the shallows and isolated rocks are populated by various kinds of gorgonia (sea fans), such as the colorful Leptogorgia sarmentosa and the white Eunicella verrucosa, a rare species in the Mediterranean, but fairly common along this part of the coast. The Posidonia oceanica, a plant that creates very important grass-like colonies, grows here and provides a safe habitat for the reproduction of many organisms. The steep rock faces of Punta Mesco and Capo Montenegro have the richest forms of marine life including rare species: the Eunicella verrucosa mentioned above, the rare Gerardia savaglia, or black coral. At a depth of only about 15/20 meters at Punta Mesco, unlike the rest of the Mediterranean, it is possible to discover the fans of the Paramuricea clavata or red gorgonia.
Cinque Terre is also populated with dolphins. This part of the sea is included in the Cetacean Sanctuary, an international protected area where marine mammals can be found.
Other municipalities whose territory is part of the Cinque Terre National Park:
Province of La Spezia
The Province of La Spezia is a province in the Liguria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of La Spezia.It has an area of 881 km², and a total population of 223,606 inhabitants...
, Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
, northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It includes, in addition to the territory of the three towns of Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. It is in the Liguria region of Italy, to the west of the city of La Spezia. "The Five Lands" is composed of five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore...
(Riomaggiore, Vernazza
Vernazza
WARNING: On October 25, 2011, Vernazza was struck by torrential rains, massive flooding and mudslides that left the town buried in over 4 meters of mud and debris, causing over 100 million euro worth of damage. The town is evacuated and in a continued state of emergency...
and Monterosso al Mare), and parts of the communes of Levanto (Punta Mesco) and La Spezia
La Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
(Campiglia Sunsets).
The park can be divided into two parts: the National Park and the Marine Protected Area.
Description
The Cinque Terre National Park was established on October 6, 1999 in recognition of the territory's considerable scenic, agricultural, historical and cultural value. The Cinque Terre National Park and Protected Marine Area aim to protect cultural heritage. This is the first Italian Park created to safeguard a landscape that has been mostly built by man. To achieve its objectives, the Park Organization encourages the development of responsible tourism, able therefore to invest in the identity of the places and the territory's products, and thus save its immense heritage of terracing, now endangered.The Park protects a coastal area where man has created a stable life and mutual coexistence between self and nature. The villages are terraced with dry stone walls in a coastal environment typically Mediterranean where the mountains of 'Appennino Ligure come straight to the sea, creating a unique environment.
The climate is typically Mediterranean with dry summers and mild winters.
Flora
Even the Mediterranean flora are obvious features, there are many microclimates often different from each other which created a huge variety of landscapes. There are pinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, Aleppo pine
Aleppo Pine
Pinus halepensis, commonly known as the Aleppo Pine, is a pine native to the Mediterranean region. Their range extends from Morocco and Spain north to southern France, Italy and Croatia, and east to Greece and northern Tunisia, and Libya, with an outlying population in Syria, Lebanon, southern...
, corks
Cork (material)
Cork is an impermeable, buoyant material, a prime-subset of bark tissue that is harvested for commercial use primarily from Quercus suber , which is endemic to southwest Europe and northwest Africa...
and Chestnut
Chestnut
Chestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
. Rock and coastal environments produce numerous Mediterranean species such as samphire
Samphire
Samphire is a name given to a number of very different edible plants that happen to grow in coastal areas.*Rock samphire, Crithmum maritimum is a coastal species with white flowers that grows in the United Kingdom...
and sea Cineraria. Flora is visible everywhere even as shrub Rosemary
Rosemary
Rosemary, , is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, which includes many other herbs, and is one of two species in the genus Rosmarinus...
, Thyme
Thyme
Thyme is a culinary and medicinal herb of the genus Thymus.-History:Ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming. The ancient Greeks used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples, believing it was a source of courage...
, Helichrysum and Lavender
Lavender
The lavenders are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. An Old World genus, distributed from Macaronesia across Africa, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Arabia, Western Iran and South-East India...
. Also present are several species of trees and Succulents clearly visible from many trails.
Fauna
The environment is conducive to the development of life and habitat of several animal species. Among the birds are the GullGull
Gulls are birds in the family Laridae. They are most closely related to the terns and only distantly related to auks, skimmers, and more distantly to the waders...
, the Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
and the Raven
Raven
Raven is the common name given to several larger-bodied members of the genus Corvus—but in Europe and North America the Common Raven is normally implied...
. Among the mammals are the Dormouse
Dormouse
Dormice are rodents of the family Gliridae. Dormice are mostly found in Europe, although some live in Africa and Asia. They are particularly known for their long periods of hibernation...
, weasel
Weasel
Weasels are mammals forming the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. They are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs....
, mole
Mole (animal)
Moles are small cylindrical mammals adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. They have velvety fur; tiny or invisible ears and eyes; and short, powerful limbs with large paws oriented for digging. The term is especially and most properly used for the true moles, those of the Talpidae family in the...
, rate
Rate
In mathematics, a rate is a ratio between two measurements, often with different units. If the unit or quantity in respect of which something is changing is not specified, usually the rate is per unit time. However, a rate of change can be specified per unit time, or per unit of length or mass or...
, marten
Marten
The martens constitute the genus Martes within the subfamily Mustelinae, in family Mustelidae.-Description:Martens are slender, agile animals, adapted to living in taigas, and are found in coniferous and northern deciduous forests across the northern hemisphere. They have bushy tails, and large...
, fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
and wild boar (whose presence is resented for damage to crops). The reptiles that thrive in the rock are the wall lizard
Wall lizard
The common wall lizard is a species of lizard with a large distribution in Europe and well-established introduced populations in North America, where it is also called the European wall lizard. It can grow to about in total length.-Identification:The common wall lizard is a small, thin lizard...
, the lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
and various snakes such as the rat snake
Rat snake
Rat snakes are medium to large constrictors that can be found through a great portion of the northern hemisphere. They feed primarily on rodents and birds and, with some species exceeding 3 m , they can occupy top levels of some food chains. Many species make attractive and docile pets and one,...
, the grass snake of Aesculapius and the viper; around streams live amphibians like frogs and salamanders.
Natural Protected Marine Area of Cinque Terre
The coast along the Cinque Terre is characterized by high cliffs, caves, bays, tiny beaches and cleft rocks.Marine life in the stretch of the coast which extends from Punta Mesco at Monterosso to Capo Montenegro at Riomaggiore is rich and varied. The steep faces of the cliffs under water and the shallows and isolated rocks are populated by various kinds of gorgonia (sea fans), such as the colorful Leptogorgia sarmentosa and the white Eunicella verrucosa, a rare species in the Mediterranean, but fairly common along this part of the coast. The Posidonia oceanica, a plant that creates very important grass-like colonies, grows here and provides a safe habitat for the reproduction of many organisms. The steep rock faces of Punta Mesco and Capo Montenegro have the richest forms of marine life including rare species: the Eunicella verrucosa mentioned above, the rare Gerardia savaglia, or black coral. At a depth of only about 15/20 meters at Punta Mesco, unlike the rest of the Mediterranean, it is possible to discover the fans of the Paramuricea clavata or red gorgonia.
Cinque Terre is also populated with dolphins. This part of the sea is included in the Cetacean Sanctuary, an international protected area where marine mammals can be found.
Administration
The Cinque Terre are composed of five villages: from West to East:- Monterosso al Mare (commune)
- VernazzaVernazzaWARNING: On October 25, 2011, Vernazza was struck by torrential rains, massive flooding and mudslides that left the town buried in over 4 meters of mud and debris, causing over 100 million euro worth of damage. The town is evacuated and in a continued state of emergency...
(commune) - CornigliaCornigliaCorniglia is a frazione of the commune of Vernazza in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northern Italy. Unlike the other localities of the Cinque Terre, Corniglia is not directly adjacent to the sea...
(frazione of Vernazza) - ManarolaManarolaManarola is a small town, a frazione of the comune of Riomaggiore, in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northern Italy...
(frazione of Riomaggiore) - Riomaggiore (commune)
Other municipalities whose territory is part of the Cinque Terre National Park:
- Levanto
- La SpeziaLa SpeziaLa Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...