Protected areas.
Of all the protected areas in Liguria, the most representative is perhaps the Ligurian Alta Via because it runs from one end to the other of the region. It is a tourist itinerary connecting the two extremes of the Ligurian Riviera and running for 400 km across the Tyrrhenian-Po divide from Ventimiglia to Ceparana. Due to its geographical position, it is part of the "Italian Pathways" excursion project that connects the Valle d'Aosta, Piedmont, Tuscany and Umbria as far as Castelluccio di Norcia; the itinerary has also been included in "European Itineraries" E1 and E7. It is an ideal itinerary for those who wish to get to know the parts of the Ligurian hinterland that lie outside the traditional areas of mass tourism. As you are travelling you will be able to admire Alpine landscapes that are only a few kilometres away from the coast, in environments where typical North African plants co-exist with typical Scandinavian vegetation. Even in the most demanding parts of the itinerary, the itinerary does not requires the efforts of mountaineering and is basically suitable for everybody: the important thing is to follow the signs and avoid the very high locations during the winter months. Horse-riding enthusiasts are advised to make use of the riding-schools and guides that you will come across during your journey; nearly all of the Ligurian Alta Via can be covered by mountain bike, except in just a few places where you will have to carry your bike on your shoulders for a while.
Beigua Nature Park, which is situated on the Tyrrhenian-Po divide, is one of the largest in the region: besides Monte Beigua, it includes other peaks that rise to a height of over 1000 metres at a distance of only six kilometres from the beaches of Arenzano and Cogoleto, and it extends northwards towards the border with Piedmont in the upper Stura Valley and the Tiglieto area. Typically Alpine vegetation alternates with centuries-old chestnut trees and stretches of characteristic Mediterranean maquis: this is a truly interesting "mixed" ecosystem in a landscape bearing the signs of early industrial activities such as ironworks, glassworks and paper-mills.
Antola Nature Park comprises the mountain chain from the upper Scrivia Valley to the upper Trebbia Valley and has Monte Antola at its centre. In an uncontaminated natural environment, the castles and mediaeval towns are interwoven with a thousand-year-old rural culture.
Aveto Nature Park comprises the highest peaks in the Ligurian Apennines and also some smaller reserves, such as Agoraie Park and the Foresta delle Lame. This was the area in which the monks of San Colombano settled in the late Middle Ages and founded the abbey at Borzone and introduced agriculture and stockbreeding. It is where the region's most extensive pasture land is to be found, including the Alpine summer pastures, where typical local cheeses can be bought. In the Foresta delle Lame, which has an abundance of lakes, is the habitat of insect-eating plants.
The small towns built on the coastal rocks are the centre of the Cinque Terre Nature Park and are famous all over the world, but the area also has less famous sights that are well worth seeing. The hillside terracings that were built with great effort and often come right down to the cliff edge are where the vineyards producing some very special, superior wines are cultivated. From the far western promontories to the three islands to the east, the coastal rocks are dominated by Mediterranean maquis, which gives way to olive groves and vineyards and, even higher up, to ilex trees and oak trees cultivated for cork. The panoramic promenades with a view over the sea are of great natural interest: it is here that the seagulls build their nests and many rare floral species can be found. A marine reserve is also due to be opened here very soon.
The Park of Montemarcello and Monte Magra comprises the estuary area of the River Magra and the vast area lying above Caprione promontory, which closes the Bay of La Spezia to the east, but it also extends inland as far as the confluence of the River Vara with the Magra. When you reach the top of the promontory, you can enjoy a wide panorama that ranges from the Apuan mountains to Portovenere; shrubs and ilex tress cover the western slopes, while on the eastern side a vast pine forest slopes down towards the estuary.
The promontory of Portofino has been the object of special attention since 1935: here the woods of deciduous trees meet with the Mediterranean environment in a context that is of great historical interest. There are thousands of different plant species to be found in the dense maquis: it is an environment that has yet to be studied in depth, where botanists and entomologists are still making interesting discoveries. Neither is this natural richness limited to the dry land: since 1999 the underwater environment has been a marine reserve.
The Bric Tana Nature Park near Millesimo is a very interesting karst area where you can admire the typical pinnacle limestone formations rising up in the midst of the woods.
The Rio Torsero nature reserve comprises an important fossiliferous deposit near to Ceriale. In the area called the "Langhe" at Piana Crixia, there is a gigantic mushroom-shaped rock that is a great favourite with tourists, who walk down the enchanting hillsides and suddenly find themselves in the lunar landscape of the calanques.
The island of Gallinara off the coast of Alassio has recently been made into a nature reserve: this is where the royal seagull builds its nest in the midst of the dense Mediterranean vegetation. On the southern side of the island there are the remains of some Roman mooring areas. Another island reserve is to be found on Bergeggi, which has grottoes and coves among the lush vegetation where it is not unusual to see euphorbia growing. Gallinara and Bergeggi are also soon to become marine reserves.
Lying between the Argentina, Arroscia and Nervia valleys, the Ligurian Alps Nature Park is about to come officially into being. It offers a great variety of climates and vegetation as well as itineraries of great historical interest, including the ancient mountain villages situated at altitudes exceeding 2000 metres.
The Finale Nature Park is also soon to be opened: this is an area between Finale Ligure and Noli comprising an impressive system of plateaux, valleys and limestone rocks where tourists can admire some spectacular karst phenomena, the remains of bygone civilisations and some Roman monuments.
The Hanbury Botanical Gardens are internationally famous and are today protected as part of our natural and cultural heritage. In these large gardens near the border with France, there are many species of tropical and subtropical plants and flowers that were brought here and acclimatised by an enterprising English naturalist.