Protected Area
Identity Card
- Land Surface Area: 4'486.00 ha
- Regions: Toscana
- Provinces: Prato
- Municipalities: Montemurlo, Prato, Vaiano
- Establishment Measures: DCR n. 256 16/07/1997
- PA Official List: EUAP1028
Rules and Regulations (Italian text)
Monteferrato Protected Area of Local Interest (ANPIL)
Monteferrato Protected Area of Local Interest (ANPIL) lies within the
hilly-mountain system delimiting the Florence-Prato-Pistoia plain in
the north.
Established in 1998 by the Municipalities of Montemurlo,
Prato, and Vaiano, it is jointly managed by these Municipalities, the
Province of Prato, and Val di Bisenzio Mountain Community.
Further information (Italian text)
The Territory
The several censuses and floristic research activities that have been carried out during the years in the protected area have highlighted its considerable richness of flora, which includes over 900 species (among superior plants, ferns, and cryptogams), about 1/6 of the whole Italian flora.
(the following links lead to Italian texts)
Fauna
The fauna characterizing Monteferrato area is of great value, since it includes bird or mammal species which are by now rare or have disappeared in other territories. Given the favorable environmental features, in many parts of the protected area it is possible to find winter nest buildings or settlements which are unusual for the surrounding territories.
Further information (Italian text)
Geology
The morphology of the area is characterized by three mountain groups: in the north Mt. Javello, reaching the 931m and Cavallaie with its 977m, in the west Poggio di Becco reaching the 504m, and in the east Monte delle Coste with its 518m. They form a natural amphitheater in the middle of which, towards the south, the structure of Monteferrato stands out, characterizing the whole area both physically and symbolically.
Further information on the geology of the area (PDF, Italian text - 176 Kb)
Further information (Italian text)
