PROVINCIAL NATURAL RESERVE MONTERUFOLI-CASELLI

Situated between the sea and the Tuscan hills, in the southern part of the Province of Pisa, the Reserve Monterufoli-Caselli belongs to the Natural Reserves System of Upper Val di Cecina. Its territory is included in the Sites of Community Interest "Complesso di Monterufoli" and "Boschi di Bolgheri, Bibbona e Castiglioncello" and in the Site of Regional Interest " Caselli ".

The morphology of this area is quite diversified with the alternation of rocky outcrops, erosion areas, deep valleys and streams. In this area, the most important ophiolitic layer in Tuscany crops out. Large areas of evergreen maquis and deciduous woods occupy almost the whole Reserve. There are diverse habitats, suitable for the most diverse flora and fauna species, with their different ecological needs. Dry and rocky areas with garrigue vegetation coexist with gorges, deeply carved in serpentine layers, with gentle slopes with luxuriant deciduous woods, with small natural wetlands and with broad riverbanks. Some of these vegetable species are typical for this Reserve, such as serpentine juniper and durmast and bay phytocoenoses on serpentine.

Also the nuclei of Taxus baccata, among the most important ones in Tuscany, are worth a mention. The Reserve is interesting not only for its flora, but also for its faunal biodiversity, characterized by the birds of prey and by the presence of the wolf, and for the numerous mineralizations associated with ophiolitic outcrops (copper, sulphur, chalcedony, magnesite, lignite etc.), which gave rise to intense mining activities in the past; their fascinating heritage is still visible today. It is important to mention also the eighteenth-century Villa in Monterufoli, which will become an Environmental Education Center and the seventeen-century farm of Caselli, which will be soon renovated in order to house tourist and didactic activities. The tracks’ network of the Reserve is also well organized: there are hiking, educational and nature tracks, and soon visitor centers and didactic labs.

Founded: 1997 - Area: 4.828 hectares
Altitude: 100-560 mt. above sea level
Management: Mountain Community Val di Cecina on agreement with the Province of Pisa
Municipalities involved: Pomarance, Monteverdi M.mo, Montecatini V.di Cecina

Information: Mountain Community Val di Cecina, tel. 058862003; Province of Pisa tel. 050929111
e-mail: riservenaturali@cm-valdicecina.pisa.it
Internet: www.cm-valdicecina.pisa.it