Nature Vernazza Cinque Terre Italy
Nature in the wonderful territory of Cinque Terre has been always conserving the characteristics of an unspoiled landscape.
This aspect was helped by the creation in 1999 of the National Park of Cinque Terre, whose aim is also to preserve these jewels from the indiscriminate men’s interventions.
The coastline in the park has a indented progress, with the alternation of small bays and points gazed into the sea. Beaches are almost nonexistent and made by shingles, the only remains of old rivers supplies.
The flora of this particular environment is characterized by plants like the sea fennel, the daucus gingidium and the caper (which was assiduously raised), the sea groundsel, the two-coloured groundsel, the rue and other typical species of the maquis.
Throughout the territory bushes like rosemary, thyme and lavender grow, easy to find are also lentisk, myrtle, broom, strawberry-tree and juniper.
In Vernazza it is also possible to see a great number of Indian fig plants
Cinque terre are also a good habitat for numerous animal species, like the herring gull, the peregrine and the raven. Mammals include dormouse, weasel, mole, beech-marten, badger, fox and wild boar. In wooded areas it is easy to admire various species of reptiles; like frogs and coloured salamanders.
Less Known, but with the same or even more importance are marine flora and fauna. Among the great number of plants we remember the sea fan colonies (Paramuricea Clavata), as well as the vast meadows of Posidonia Oceanica, in particular in the area of Monterosso.
Cinque Terre depths are considered the richest and most varies in whole Liguria.
About fauna, the sea of Cinque Terre is rich in typical Mediterranean fishes, like squids, cuttlefishes, hakes, lobsters, sargoes and whitebait, although at the first place we always find the famous anchovies, here salted conserved in glass pots in order to create a real specialty.
In the sea of Cinque Terre it is also possible to find rare species like the mollusc Luria Lurida, which is almost disappeared in other Mediterranean areas.
Visiting Cinque Terre represents so not only the opportunity to admire wonderful sights, but also the possibility to explore a unique microcosm.