The Area Naturale Protetta di Interesse Locale del Monteferrato, or the Monteferrato Protected Area of Local Interest, is a stunning protected swathe of the Tuscan landscape that lies within the hilly-mountain system in the Florence-Prato-Pistoia plain. Named for the mountain complex of Monteferrato, it is a stunning area to hike, explore, get some fresh air and well and truly escape from daily life for a moment. If you have found a luxury villa in Florence or a holiday rental in Pistoia, it is a perfect place to go and spend a day of your vacation in Tuscany.
There are 3 visitor centers from which you enter the park, Schignano (via Cintelli 7 – Vaiano) the Centro di Scienze Naturali (via di Galceti 74 – Prato) or the Centro di educazione Ambientale e Centro Visite di Bagnolo (via Bagnolo di Sopra 24 – Montemurlo). Once you have entered, there is a system of hiking and biking trails of various lengths and levels of difficulty to choose from.
While you explore, keep and eye out and admire the some 900 plant and animal species, which represent one sixth of Italy’s flora. Amongst all these, the 20 different species of orchids are particularly noteworthy and remarkable. There are also abandoned quarries of serpentine and palombini shales, several mountains and truly remarkable views to take in wherever you turn. Best of all, this all lies just on the outskirts of Florence and yet is like a new world, just waiting to be discovered. If you're holidaying in the vicinity and want easy and quick access to some outdoor pursuits amongst all the cultural attractions and urban delights that you'll surely be pencilling into your itinerary, this really is the ideal place to set off for on one of your days in this beautiful part of Tuscany!
While you explore, keep and eye out and admire the some 900 plant and animal species, which represent one sixth of Italy’s flora. Amongst all these, the 20 different species of orchids are particularly noteworthy and remarkable. There are also abandoned quarries of serpentine and palombini shales, several mountains and truly remarkable views to take in wherever you turn. Best of all, this all lies just on the outskirts of Florence and yet is like a new world, just waiting to be discovered. If you're holidaying in the vicinity and want easy and quick access to some outdoor pursuits amongst all the cultural attractions and urban delights that you'll surely be pencilling into your itinerary, this really is the ideal place to set off for on one of your days in this beautiful part of Tuscany!
Photo credits
picture 1: Francesco Gei / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Laurafufi / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Francesco Gei / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Laurafufi / CC BY-SA 3.0
