MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

•	CAPO CACCIA – ISOLA PIANA						      
•	CAPO CARBONARA								       
•	CAPO GALLO – ISOLA DELLE FEMMINE				
•	CAPO RIZZUTO								       
•	CINQUE TERRE								       
•	ISOLE CICLOPI								       
•	ISOLA DELL’ASINARA							       
•	ISOLA DI USTICA								       
•	ISOLE DI VENTOTENE E SANTO STEFANO				
•	ISOLE EGADI									
•	ISOLE PELAGIE (LAMPEDUSA, LINOSA, LAMPIONE)			       
•	ISOLE TREMITI								       
•	MIRAMARE									       
•	PARCO SOMMERSO DI BAIA						       
•	PARCO SOMMERSO DI GAIOLA						       
•	PENISOLA DEL SINIS – ISOLA DI MAL DI VENTRE			       
•	PORTO CESAREO								       
•	PORTOFINO									       
•	PUNTA CAMPANELLA							       
•	SANTUARIO PER I MAMMIFERI MARINI					       
•	SECCHE DI TOR PATERNO						       
•	TAVOLARA – PUNTA CODA CAVALLO					       
•	TORRE GUACETO								

NOTES

1. For detailed information on the allowed activities of every zone visit the web site: www.minambiente.it. It is also possible to log on the website www.italiapertutti.it, to obtain more information on accessibility in the structures and Italian infrastructures of tourist interest.

2. For accessibility, we mean the possibility also for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments to reach any portion of a building and its related single unit, to enter comfortably and to use the areas and facilities in an independent and safe manner.

3. For visitability, we mean the possibility for people with partial or total mobility and/or sensory impairments to enter common spaces and use at least one bathroom in each single unit of a building. Common spaces are the living room and the dining room of a  household, a workplace or a meeting point in which citizens may take part to the different activities carried out. (D.M.LL.PP., n. 236/89 and D.P.R. n. 503/96).

4. It is suggested however, to contact the structure/facility for detailed information regarding the characteristics of accessibility/visitability of the building. It is suggested however to contact the Marine Protected Area Authority for detailed information regarding the characteristics of accessibility/visitability of the listed structures.  

CAPO CACCIA – ISOLA PIANA

BASIC INFORMATION

Description:  Marine Protected Area
Region: Sardegna
Province: Sassari
Extent:
Zone 	Surface - hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	38	1.960	
Zone B	547	17.975	
Zone C	2.046	16.209	
Total	2.631	38.104	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.M. 20/09/02 
Management: temporarily managed by the City of Alghero - Via S. Anna snc - 07041 Alghero (SS) - Tel. 079/997800 Fax 079/997699, the definitive management of the Marine Protected Area Capo Caccia-Isola Piana will be entrusted (art. 2; c 37 of law 9th December 1998 n. 426), to public agencies, scientific institutions and environmental associations possibly linked together – Web site: www.comune.alghero.ss.it 
Interested Municipalities: City of Alghero - Via S. Anna - 07041 Alghero (SS) - Tel. 079/997800 - Fax 079/997699 
Port authority: Via Mare - 07046 Porto Torres (SS) - Tel. 079/502258 - Fax 079/502090 
Medical Services: Ospedale di Alghero - Tel. 079/996200 
Nautical chart: n. 49 scale 1:100.000; n. 292 scale 1:25.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: from Sassari, freeway SS n. 291, from Porto Torres and Oristano, freeway SS n. 292 and from Alghero, freeway SS n. 127 bis.
By bus: bus company ARST from Porto Torres, Porto Conte, Olbia and Sassari.
By train: get off at Alghero station, Alghero-Sassari line.
By plane: Fertilia airport from Alghero by bus (bus stop in Via Don Minzoni or near the hospital).

ACCESS

The Marine Protected Area, established in 2002, is temporarily managed by the City of Alghero, that releases the eventual permits for the access to the area. This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status  (Zones A, B and C) (Note 1).

Itineraries: 
By land: it is possible to enjoy the spectacular landscape from the mountains that are nearby at a short distance from the sea: like from Punta Giglio, to the east, or from the Timidone and Doglia, places not far from the cape; in fact, when the weather is clear, you can even catch a glimpse of the coast that extends from Cape Marargiu, near Bosa, till Tharros, close to Oristano. Along particularly steep paths, with good trekking gear, it is possible to go back north of the Selletta of Capo Caccia, where there is a beautiful lighthouse, known as the Semaforo  (the traffic lights); from here a fantastic landscape can be admired and the splendid Foradada island can be seen. The island, in fact, has an enormous marine cavity, the famous Grotta dei Palombi (Cove of doves), 110 m long that reaches the sea level; this is the reason why it is called Foradada (with holes) by the people of Alghero. More to the north, still on the coast of the island, it is possible to visit another fantastic place: Cala d’Inferno (Hell Cove), though it is not reachable by car. The cove is formed by limestone cliffs of yellowish colour, created as a result of the erosion exercised by the sea and the wind; from such point the sea cliff (named falesie) raises from approximately 80 to the 199 m of the top of Punta di Terra Ruja , and up to 271 m of the top of Punta della Pegna, where there is  the small Tower of the Pegna. From here, you can admire Isola Piana, so called because of its peculiar tableland summit. 
Towards the north you can reach, with some difficulties, the higher falesie,  such as Punta Carone, 171 m, Punta del Leone, 284 m, and Punta Cristallo, 326 m, from which you can enjoy the wonderful coves that are near the coast of the Argentiera (the silver box), so called for the presence of an ancient silver mine.

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: Capo Caccia emerges from the green-blue waters of the sea with steep cliffs and very little vegetation; it offers one of the most beautiful and evocative sights of Sardegna. This imposing limestone cliff, 203 m high, is the lowest cape of the Punta del Giglio and encloses the bay of Porto Conte, a natural inlet that goes inland for approximately 6 km. The vertical walls of the cape are studded with gorges and coves that represent the true treasure of this area: the coves of Capo Caccia, that bear evocative names like Neptune, Green, Peaks, Embroideries and Ring, form an underground cavern complex, fractures and cavities connected between them, that cross the cape and the little Foradada island. The most famous cove, Grotta di Nettuno (Neptune Cave), is reachable by sea and by land through the Escalada del Cabirol (Roe Deer steps) consisting of 656 steps dug into the limestone cliff. Nevertheless, the Roe Deer is not a typical species of the area, but the term refers to the Sardinian Fallow Deer, once present in the area. The cove continues for 1300 m with tight passages, caverns, drifts, and cavities with stalagmites and stalactites, and a small series of lakes the largest of which is the Marmora, 130 m long with depths that vary from 1 to 10 metres, placed at sea level and communicating with it. In this cove in the past the Monk Seal used to live, now exterminated by the extensive fishing activity of the area. Along the eastern coast there is Capo Verde (Green Cove), so called for the presence of mosses and lichens that cover the main entrance, where the presence of the light concurs to the development of these organisms. The cove is approximately 80 m deep, reaching the sea level. A small lake with salty water, where there’s a limestone slab with prehistoric graffiti, occupies the bottom of the cove. On the cliffs overlooking the sea live many species of birds of extraordinary beauty and importance. After the island was declared permanent area for fauna protection, the real lord of the cape is now the Griffon Vulture, a vulture with a wingspan of over 3 m, which only feeds on the carcasses of dead animals. This species, seriously threatened by extinction, is today present with approximately 150 individuals that breed on the sea cliff of Capo Caccia. Another interesting bird is the Peregrine, easy to observe when it swiftly dives to capture its prey. On the little islands of Foradada and Piana, where both the European Fan Palm and the Euphorbia Tree are abundant, the Herring Gull, the Manx shearwater, Cory’s shearwater and the rare Storm Petrel have their nests.
The marine environment: a naturalistic heritage of incredible value hides under the water. In the bay of Porto Conte, with depth ranging from 10 m and 35 m, there is an extensive meadow of Posidonia sea grass. The presence of colonies of red coral at a depth between 40 and 50 m, fully justifies the name of this coast: the Coral Coast. At this depth, the Red Sea Fan and branching sponges of the Axinella sort are always present. In the coves are also present populations of sessile invertebrates that disperse in the habitat according to the availability of light and circulation of water; inside it is also possible to see fish of medium size like Moray, European Conger, Brown Meagre, and Common Dentex.

CULTURE AND HISTORY

The name Capo Caccia was given to the island in the1960’s, when various hunters, attracted by the presence and the abundance of various species of animals like Brown Hares, Wild Boars, Red deer and varies types of birds, like Tower or Rock Pigeons, chose this area to hunt. Thanks to the institution of the marine protected area the fauna is today protected and keeps its extraordinary peculiarity. The area surrounding Alghero is very famous for the presence of various archaeological sites. In fact along the road Alghero-Porto Conte it is possible to visit the imposing Nuraghe Palmavera. The Nuraghe is within a village from the XIII century A.C. today considered as one of the most interesting ancient constructions of the entire island; two towers built in sandstone, a small inner courtyard and a long terrazzo characterize these ancient ruins. In an ulterior phase the building has been restored and strengthened with limestone. It has two corridors: one leads directly to the inside of the construction, while the other leads to the evocative courtyard, in which the entrance of the main tower is also found. The ruins of its wall enclose the immense council room, the Hut of the Reunions, 12 m in diameter, in which there are the chair of the councilman, the small throne of the tribe leader and a rectangular basin for the holy water. Today, the archaeological ruins discovered during the 1960’s, are jealously guarded inside the museums of Sassari and Cagliari and document that the building was used for a long time by various civilizations until the VII century A.C.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND CRAFTWORK

Typical of these areas are local products such as Sardinian pecorino cheese or the lamb cooked on the spit (alla brace). The specialities of the area are delicious and mouth-watering seafood dishes: grilled fish, lobster and pasta with shellfish, all served with the excellent local Vermentino, the famous Sardinian wine.

TOURIST INFORMATION 

Azienda di Soggiorno di Alghero – Tel. 079\97054
Ente Provinciale del Turismo di Alghero – Ufficio informazioni dell'aeroporto di Fertilia (stagionale) – Tel. 079\935124

CAPO CARBONARA

BASIC INFORMATION
Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Sardegna
Province: Cagliari
Extent:

Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	332	1.456	
Zone B	1.191	7.205	
Zone C	7.075	21.718	
Total	8.598	30.379	

Institution: L. n. 394/91; D.M. 15/09/98; D.M. 03/08/99

Management: City of Villasimius - Via Colombo, 2 - 09049 Villasimius (CA) - Tel. 070/790234 - Fax 070/790314 - E-mail: capocarbonara@tiscalinet.it - Web site: www.ampcapocarbonaravillasimius.it
Interested Municipalities: City of Villasimius - P.za A. Gramsci, 9 - 09049 Villasimius (CA) - Tel. 070/79301 - Fax 070/792004 
Porth Authority: P.za Deffenu, 18 - 09123 Cagliari - Tel. 070/605171 - Fax 070/60517218
Medical Services: Emergency (Pronto Soccorso) Ospedale Marino, Cagliari - Tel. 070/6099307; Emergency Doctor (Guardia Medica) of Villasimius - Tel. 070/791374
Nautical chart: n. 45 scale 1:100.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By Car: easily reachable along the road litoranea from Cagliari to Villasimius.
By bus: from Cagliari take the line ARST to Villasimius. 
By  train: get off at the Cagliari station, Olbia Marittima-Cagliari line.

ACCESS

The Marine Protected Area, established in 1999, is managed by the City of Villasimius that releases the permits for the access of the area. The access is restricted according to a subdivision in zones of different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 1).

Accessible facilities: of the two mentioned centres, only the main office of the Marine Protected Area is accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. Detailed information is present in the following table. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name and Structure	
Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	Accessibily/Visitability (Note 2)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
YES/NO	
Marine Protected Area	Main Office	070/79301	P.zza Gramsci, 9 - 09049 Villasimius (CA)	YES	
Marine Protected Area	Headquarter	070/790234	Via Colombo, 2 - 09049 Villasimius (CA)	No	

Itineraries: 
By land: after having visited the town of Villasimius (ancient village of shepherds and fishermen), we suggest an excursion to the Cape of Carbonara in front of the island of Cavoli. Amongst the various beaches to explore, the most beautiful are those in the Gulf of Carbonara, towards Cagliari (to the west) including Porto Sa Ruxi, Cala Piscadeddus, Campus, Campolongu and Spiaggia del Riso. The circumnavigation of the Islands of Serpentara and Cavoli offers amazing landscapes, with granite rocks that assume spectacular and various shapes. Car rental, van rental, hiring of bicycles, motorbikes and taxis are available. 
By sea: suggestive scuba diving spots rich in marine life are: the Reefs of Notteri and the Ciglio di Serpentera,

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: the beautiful eastern coast of Cagliari can be reached by a panoramic road which runs through beautiful coves (Cale di Quarto, Maracalagonis and Ninnai) and historical towers  (Cala Regina, Torre delle Stelle, Geremeas and Solanas), until the Capo Boi sea cliffs. From here the coast continues with the large gulf of Carbonara, enclosed at east by the cape in front of the island of Cavoli. 
Along the western coasts of Villasimius you can find the beaches of Porto Sa Ruxi and of Carbonara and, towards the port, the white beach of Spiaggia del Riso. Beyond the small jetty, starting from the Notteri marine swamp, there are the granite sea cliffs of Capo Carbonara. The coast, on the eastern side, has the beautiful beaches of Porto Giunco and Simius and, more to the north, there are other coves that are easily reachable thanks to the panoramic road that leads to Muravera.
In front of the eastern coast, near Punta Molentis, there is the Island of Serpentara (called this for its snaky shape). Muravera, famous for the production of the citruses (an interesting country fair is held here) is also a common sea destination, mainly because of the presence of the immense tourist resort of Costa Rei-Monte Nai, that is located in a section of coast of extraordinary beauty. More towards the north there is the pond Colostrai, rich in fish and surrounded by the magnificent and wide beach of Cristolaxedu. In the area the vegetation is scattered, common is the Mastic tree and the Juniper. Pines, Acacias and Eucalyptus plantation have partially replaced and overlapped the Sea Prickly Juniper. Here is also present the Manx Shearwater that nests on the island of Cavoli.

The marine environment: 
The marine environment comprises the sandy banks and the rocky coasts, like those of the Islands of Serpentara and Cavoli. The name of this last island is taken kavurus that means shrimp in the local dialect campidanese; this elucidates how the area is rich in animal life. In fact on the generally steep rocky banks, amongst the coastal reefs, Shrimps, Lobsters and Octopus are present. There are also many species of fish such as: Wrasse, Flathead Mullet, Saddled Sea Bream and Moray; at greater depths are present White Sea Bream, Brown Maegre, Groper, Dentex and the Greater Amberjack.

HISTORY AND CULTURE 

Villasimius is a recent town, although its territory has been inhabited since the ancient times as confirmed by the presence of Nuraghi, Phoenician  and Roman Ages buildings. During the middle Ages the main settlement rose close to Capo Carbonara. The ancient inhabitants lived thanks to the occupation as carbonai that lived off the wood of the big forests of the surrounding mountains producing charcoal. As illustrated in some documents of the XIV century, detailing taxes paid by shepherds and farmers to the Visconti family, the region was part of the belongings of the powerful Valenzana family of the Carroz. Starting from the XVI century the defensive system of the coastal watchtowers rose, and to our days it has become a characteristic of the area. The towers were built by the Spanish, for defensive purposes, against the raids of pirates, coming from Northern Africa that forced the inhabitants, between the XVI and the XIX century, to leave the area. 
Shepherds, who could take benefit of the rich pastures of the land, then reconstructed Carbonara at the beginning of the XIX century. At the beginning of the 1900’s the inhabitants began working as scalpellini (stone-cutter) in the great granite quarry and started small fishing activities. In the first quarter of the XIX century, the village of Carbonara had only a small number of families, consisting of shepherds and farmers, coming from various corners of Sardegna. In 1862 the inhabitants of Carbonara decided to change the name of their town to Villasimius.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS And CRAFTWORK

Sardegna cooking is in part based on products that come from the sea such as the cassola, which is a soup, rich in seafood. A local speciality is malloreddus, made with semola of durum wheat flavoured with saffron and tomato sauce cooked with fried meat or pork sausage that is served with seasoned pecorino (cheese made with sheep milk). The favourite types of meat are the sucking piglet, baby goat, lamb and game.

TOURIST INFORMATION
Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno e Turismo di Cagliari - Tel. 070/669255 In particular the following facilities (Note 3), based on the data available, are accessible for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name	
Type	Telephone
(with code)	Address/Place	
Hotel Cormoran	Hotel	070/798101	Loc.Campus - 09049 Villasimius (CA)	
Tanka Village	Hotel	070/7951	Loc.Tanka - 09049 Villasimius (CA)	
Hotel Simius Playa	Hotel	070/791227	Via del Mare - 09049 Villasimius (CA)	
Sofitel Thalassa Timi Ama	Hotel	070/79791	Loc. Notteri - 09049 Villasimius (CA)	
Palm Village	Hotel	070/792036	Loc.Su Madacciolu - 09049 Villasimius (CA)	

It is also possible to log on the website www.italiapertutti.it, to obtain more information on accessibility in the structures and Italian infrastructures of tourist interest.

CAPO GALLO – ISOLA DELLE FEMMINE

BASIC INFORMATION
 Description: Marina Protected Area
Region: Sicilia
Province: Palermo
Extent:
Zone	Surface - Hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	77	2.246	
Zone B	242	4.487	
Zone C	1.854	9.291	
Total	2.173	16.024	

Institution: L.n. 349/91; D.M. 24/07/02.
Management: Temporarily managed by the Port Authority of Palermo - Via F. Crispi, 135 - 90139 Palermo - Tel. 091/6043111 Fax 091/325519, the definitive management of the Marine Protected Area Capo Gallo-Isola delle Femmine will be entrusted, (according to the art. 2, c 37, of the law 9 December 1998 n. 426) to public agencies, scientific institutions, environmental associations possibly linked together.
Interested municipalities: City of Palermo – Palazzo delle Aquile, P.za Pretoria, 1 - 90133 Palermo - Tel. 091/7402239 - Fax 091/7402275; City of Isola delle Femmine - Via C. Colombo, 1 - 90040 Isola delle femmine (PA) - Tel. 091/8677693 - Fax 091/8677098 
Port Authority: Via F. Crispi, 153 - 90139 Palermo - Tel. 091/6043111 - Fax 091/325519 
Medical services: Ospedale di Palermo - Tel. 091/6552700
Nautical chart: n. 16 scale 1:100.000; n. 256 scale 1:30.000 (partial)

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: from Palermo, highway A29 direction Trapani, exit after 8 km towards Isola delle Femmine (or you can follow the freeway SS n. 113). From Messina, to get to Palermo, follow the highway A20 up till S. Agata Militello, then the freeway SS n. 113 direction Palermo till Cefalù and then the A19.+
By bus: bus line Cuffaro or Camilleri from Agrigento, bus line SAIS Transports from Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Firenze, Messina and Napoli, or bus line AST from Ragusa.
By train: get off at the Palermo station, lines Torino-Palermo, Roma-Palermo, Palermo-Messina.
By boat: the Grimaldi Company from Genova and Livorno, the Tirrenia from Cagliari and Napoli and the SNAV from Napoli.
By plane: Falcone-Borsellino airport reachable from Palermo Central Station by the bus line Pristia and Comandè or by the Trinacria Express Train.

ACCESS

The marine protected area, established in 2002, is temporarily managed by the Port Authority of Palermo that releases the eventual permits for the access to the area. The access is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 1). The Isola delle Femmine and the Capo Gallo are protected by two Natural Reserves instituted by the Regione Sicilia.
Itineraries:  
By sea recommended diving spots are: the Orlo della Varia, that offers a spectacular submerged cliff with clear waters that starts at 25 m depth; the Secca Pallida, a sand bank at 16 metres of depth, with the presence of Red Sea Fan; the Varcazza that offers diving spots with sandy banks and reef at 18 metres of depth.
THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: the dolomite rocks of Capo Gallo Mountain, form suggestive sea cliffs and submarine coves like Cove of the Marinella and Grotta Impisu where fossils were found. The small Isola delle Femmine, localized in the Gulf of Carini, is characterized by the amazing variety of habitat that has allowed the conservation of a floristic patrimony of 144 species. The vegetation is mainly gariga, with shrubs of Mastic tree, that occupies the central part of the island. The vegetation of the coast includes plants tolerant to the sea salt amongst which the Bright Yellow Lotus and the Salicornia.
Amongst the herbaceous species, there are the Asphodels with their delicate colours, the Corn Gladiolus and the Larkspur. Isola delle Femmine offers shelter to a colony of Herring Gull that is amongst the most important of the Tyrrhenian Sea; on the island you can also find the Cormorant, the Grey Heron, the Kingfisher and the Little egret. 
The marine environment: although the water quality of the Gulf of Palermo is quite poor, the sea banks in front of the Capo Gallo are rich in life, with vast meadows of Posidonia sea grass. Interesting are also the banks that encircle the Isola della Femmine with various organisms linked to the sandy environment, like the rare Noble Pen Shell, an imposing bivalve threatened by extinction. Canyons and rock walls offer dwellings to numerous invertebrates, while Octopus, Sea Slugs, Sea Urchins, Sea Horses and Sea Stars live in the shallow waters.
Madrepora, Sea Anemones and Mollusc colour the deeper waters. The Red Sea Fan grow on the submerged cliffs, ranging between 35 and 42 metres in depth, of the Palidda Sand bank, rich in canyons and fissures chosen as dwellings by Gropers and Lobsters. Also the underwater flora of the island is distinguished by many organisms, with hundreds of species of algae amongst which the Mediterranean Cystoseira, the Marine Peacock’s tail and the Rose of the sea, a dark red coulored encrusting alga. Finally, the presence of plankton and marine currents attracts pelagic fish like the Greater Amberjacks and the Sun Fish. Along the coastline, you can find a pathway made of Sea Slug shells that construct this peculiar rock formation of high naturalistic and environmental value, present in Italia only in northern Sicilia.
CULTURE AND HISTORY

The Isola delle Femmine, that is located in front of the coastal town with the same name, is also called the Isola di Fuori (Outside Island). People have always been attracted to this small interesting island. A tower, partially in ruins, was constructed on the higher point of the island (35 m) in the XVI century; it has a square plant, with 2 metres wide walls and was once part of the defensive system of the coastal watchtowers against pirate attacks. Various legends have endured the fascination exercised from the tower; the most popular one is that the prison was for single women: apparently a small community of Turkish women had lived in exile in the tower constructed by them. Plinio the Young in a letter addressed to the Roman Emperor Traiano described the island as a residence of beautiful young ladies who offered themselves as a prize to the winner of the battle. Another presumed origin of the island’s name can be found from the Latin name fimis, the translation of the Arab fim which means mouth, indicating the channel that separates the island from the coast. According to other authors the name of the island could derive from Insula Fimi in reference to Eufemio, Byzantine governor of Sicily.
The Isola delle Femmine has always been considered a strategic and defensive place thanks to its position and conformation. There are the remains of seven bathtubs in cocciopesto (crushed tile and mortar) that date back to the Hellenistic period that were used for the preparation of the garum, an excellent fish sauce, sold in the Mediterranean area:  traces of a factory for the fish industry renders the place a very important archaeological site. The discovery of stocks of lead anchors and remains of Phoenician and Roman amphorae make the site extremely interesting. For its particular geology, the Island was not particularly adapted for cultivation, the only activity for the inhabitants of the area was fishing; nearby, in fact, there was the seasonal passage of the tuna fish thus the fishermen of close by town of Capaci came to fish on the island where they moored the boats. Later they constructed a building used for the tuna fishing industry, called tonnara, donated in 1176 by Guglielmo il Buono to the Abbot Teobaldo, pious Bishop of Monreale. Around the XV century a small church was built close to the tonnara dedicated to the cult of the fishermen. 

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND CRAFTWORK

Today the tourism is not the only economic activity of the area: there are also furnishing factories, production of ceramics (there’s a Museum, famous for the beautiful artistic ceramics) and of typical boats. Fish is the main dish of the area and there is a fish fair in the middle of the Summer, during which enormous amounts of grilled fish are offered to the visitors.
TOURIST INFORMATION

Azienda di Promozione Turistica of Palermo - Tel. 091/6058111

CAPO RIZZUTO

BASIC INFORMATION
Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Calabria
Province: Crotone
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectars	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	585	7.256	
Zone B	9.326	34.894	
Zone C	4.810	0	
Total	14.721	42.150	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.I. 27/12/91; D.M. 19/02/02
Management: Province of Crotone - Main Office - Via C. Colombo snc - 88900 Crotone
Tel. 0962/665254 - Fax 0962/669247 - email: segreteria@riservamarinacaporizzuto.it - Website: www.riservamarinacaporizzuto.it 
Interested Municipalities: City of Island of Capo Rizzuto - Via A Mammone - 88841 Island of Capo Rizzuto (KR) - Tel. 0962/797663-794262 - Fax 0962/797663; Municipality of Crotone - P.za della Resistance - 88900 Crotone (KR) - Tel. 0962/902031-921596 - Fax 0962/901457 
Porth Authority: Via Molo Porto Novo - 88900 Crotone - Tel. 0962/20721 - Fax 0962/902094 
Medical services: Ospedale S. Giovanni di Dio, Crotone - Tel. 0962/924111; Emergency Doctor (Guardia Medica) Crotone - Tel. 0962/791970; Emergency Doctor (Guardia Medica) Le Castella - Tel. 0962/795216 
Nautical Chart: n. 24 scale 1:100.000; n. 25 scale 1:100.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: follow the freeway SS n.106 that connects Crotone to Catanzaro, exit Le Castella.
By bus: you can use the bus line F.lli Romano from Perugia, Siena, Pisa, Roma, Salerno, Napoli, Firenze, Bologna, Milano.
By train: get off at the Crotone station, line Taranto-Reggio Calabria.
By plane: Sant’Anna airport, reachable from the Crotone railway station by city buses. 

ACCESS

The Marine Protected Area of Capo Rizzuto was established in December 1991 and in 2002 the extension has been modified; from 1997 the Province of Crotone that releases the permit for the access to the area has managed it. The permit is restricted to a subdivision in zones of different protection status.  (Zones A, B e C) (Note 1). 
Accessible facilities: all the five centres of the marine protected area can be used by people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. Detailed information can be found in the following table: (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name	
Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 2)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes/No	
Main Office	Main Office  	0962/665254	V.le C. Colombo snc - 88900 Crotone	Yes	
Media office	Information Centre	0962/790000	P.zza Uccialì - Loc. Le Castella - 88841 - Isola di Capo Rizzuto (KR)	Yes	
CEAM	Environmental Education Centre	0962/796029	P.zza Santuario Capo Rizzuto - 88841 - Isola di Capo Rizzuto (KR)	Yes	
Aquarium	Acquarium	0962796029	P.zza Santuario Capo Rizzuto - 88841 - Isola di Capo Rizzuto (KR)	Yes	
Aragonese Castle	Castle	-	Le Castella - 88841 - Isola di Capo Rizzuto (KR)	Yes	

Itineraries: 
By land:  taxi services and car rentals. 
By sea:  in order to promote the marine protected area, the management has organized for the numerous visitors various services: glass bottom boats excursions; sailing boat tours; fishing activities, experiencing the ancient fishing traditions, lead by expert local fishermen. In the following table is indicated the accessibility of the tour boats: (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Type	Navigation Company	
Departing Points	Arrival Points	Accessibilility 	
Transparent Bottom boat	OSTRO	Port of Le Castella	Port of Le Castella	Service also available for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments 	
Transparent bottom boat	NEREIDI	Port of Le Castella	Port of Le Castella	Service also available for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments 	

Furthermore, for the scuba divers, the diving charters of the Marine Protected Area Capo Rizzuto organize dives showing the most suggestive spots of the area. There are also specialized Diving Centres with instructors trained to enable people with mobility and/or sensory impairments to participate in under water activities. 

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: land clearing carried out during the agriculture reorganization in the 1950s has remarkably modified the coastal landscape of Capo Rizzuto, especially during the last decades. The forest of the Soverito, situated between the Le Castella and Capo Piccolo, mostly distinguished by Aleppo’s pine trees, is the remnant of the original widespread forests that distinguished the area. The cultivations are those typical of the areas with reduced rainfall such as citrus groves and vineyards; part of the territory has been reforested with the eucalyptus, plant not native in the European original vegetation. The terrestrial fauna of the area has been greatly depleted, however animals such as the fox, the Weasel, the Green Lizard and the European Pond Turtle can still be sighted. The birds are numerous, some are resident and others are migrating birds which choose these areas in order to rest and to feed during their long migratory routes; the coloured Kingfisher, the Skylark, the Hoopoe, the Little Owls and many others birds of prey, the Black-headed Gull, the Great Flamingo, the Stork and the Crane often sighted are.
The marine environment: The sea banks of Capo Rizzuto differ from those of the remaining part of centre-eastern Calabria as the depths are very low, except for the banks close to the rocky capes. The marine environment is rich in various species of algae; there is also an immense sea bed of Posidonia sea grass. In the area, you can find several types of banks, sandy and rocky ones, each with various and different population and species. The rich diversity of animal species includes: Porifer, Cnidarian, Molluscan, Annelids, Crustaceans and Echinoderms. Common fish are: Groper, Striped Red Mullet, Rainbow Wrasse, Rock fish, Barracuda, Moray, European Conger, small Tuna fish and the rare and tropical colourful parrotfish.

CULTURE AND HISTORY

In the region are present numerous traces of human presence, going back to 4.000 B. C. Human settlements of the bronze and iron Age of the Neolithic period were numerous, thanks to the favourable geographic position and the climate. In the VIII century B.C. the Greeks lived in the area, founding various colonies. Still today beneath the surface it is possible to discover traces of the flourishing and influential Magna Graecia  (Greek art and settlements in Southern Italy) civilization, and of the successive Roman domination, like the Roman ruins of a residential country villa on Capo Cimiti.
On the coast the remains of some fortifications, evidence that the local populations had built a strong defensive system against the Turkish raids. The town of the Island of Capo Rizzuto was built during the IX – X century. In 1500 new defensive walls were constructed, the bastion of the castle and two doors: the Porta di Terra, towards north, on top of which you can find the famous small tower with the clock and the coat of arms of the Ricca family; and the Porta del Mare, towards the south, from which you can admire all Capo Rizzuto. Later the Angioini family gained possession along with feudal landowners; the town was partly destroyed successively by the Turks.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND CRAFTWORK

The Province of Crotone, like all the Calabrian territory, offers a varied and original gastronomy; agriculture products such as mushrooms, eggplants and tomatoes; cold meats such as sausages, soppressata, capocollo and n' dugghia; cheeses such as provole silane, the salted ricotta, the butirro, the pecorino, all flavoured with the ever present Calabrian hot peppers. There are several popular seafood specialities cooked using different fishes including: European Bass, Groper, Lobsters, White-Sea Bream and Dentex are also. Being the cuisine of strong taste and flavours, equally intense are the wines, mostly red (highly recommended are those of the wine cellars of Cirò, Melissa, Val di Neto and S. Anna).
The Crotonese typical dish is u cuadraru, rich chilli hot fish soup served together with the delicious Cirò wine. Equally simple and of Arab origin, are the desserts, like pitta ' nchiusa, pastry with sultanas and aromas, the puccidrati, the mostaccioli, cakes with honey served in several shapes and wrapped in colourful paper, and sanguinaccio. Important are the weaving crafts including a craft school for the production of oriental carpets, run by Armenian maestri. Remarkable is also the gold handicraft and the processing of the pine seeds.

TOURIST INFORMATION 

Azienda di Promozione Turistica Crotone - Tel. 0962/795320
In particular, the following facilities, based on the data available, are accessible for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data supplied by the Marine Protect Area Authority, 2003 and Guidebook Touring Campeggi e villaggi turistici, 2003)

Name	Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	
Il faro 	Camping	0962/799073	7 km south of Capo Rizzuto island - 88841 (CR)	
Mancuso 	Camping	0962/799190	5 km south of Capo Rizzuto island - 88841 (CR)	
IGV Club 	Tourist Resort	0962/795054	Loc. Le Castella - 88841 Capo Rizzato island (CR)	
Valtur 	Tourist Resort	0962/791121	Loc. Meolo - 88841 Capo Rizzuto Island (CR)	
Baia degli dei 	Tourist Resort	0962/795235	Loc. Le Castella - 88841 Capo Rizzuto Island (CR)	
Serenè 	Tourist Resort	0962/770001	Contrada Marinella - 88842 Cutro (CR)	
Capo piccolo 	Tourist Resort	0962/799213	Loc. Capo Piccolo - 88841 Capo Rizzuto Island (CR)	
Sant’Antonio 	Tourist Resort	0962/799275	5 km from Capo Rizzuto island - 88841 (CR)	

CInque terre

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Liguria
Province: La Spezia
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	79	2.073	
Zone B	186	2.734	
Zone C	2.461	12.501	
Total	2.726	17.308	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.M. 12/12/97; D.P.R 06/10/99 that established the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre.
Management: Ente Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre - Main Office - Via Telemaco Signorini, 118 - 19017 Riomaggiore (SP) - Tel. 0187/760000 - Headquarter - P.za Rio Finale, 26 - 19017 Riomaggiore (SP) - Tel. 0187/760000 - Fax 0187/760061 - e-mail: info@parconazionale5terre.it - Web site: www.areamarinaprotetta5terre.it - www.parconazionale5terre.it
Interested Municipalities: City of Monterosso al Mare - P.za Garibaldi, 35 - 19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP) - Tel. 0187/817217 - Fax 0187/817430; City of Vernazza - Via Brigate Partigiane - 19018 Vernazza (SP) - Tel. 0187/821247 - Fax 0187/812212; City of Riomaggiore - Via Telemaco Signorini, 118 - 19017 Riomaggiore (SP) - Tel. 0187/920113 - Fax 0187/920866; City of Levanto - P.za Cavour, 1 - 19100 Levanto (SP) - Tel. 0187/802244 - Fax 0187/802247
Port Authority: L.go Michele Fiorillo, 2 - 19100 La Spezia - Tel. 0187/778015 - Fax 0187/770510
Medical Sevices: Ambulance emergency service –Local ambulance Croce Verde di Vernazza - Tel. 0187/821078; Emergency Doctor (Guardia Medica), Vernazza - Tel. 0187/800973; Emergency Croce Bianca, Monterosso al Mare - Tel. 0187/817475
Nautical Chart: n. 3 scale 1:100.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: highway A12 to the Brugnato-Borghetto di Vara exit Monterosso; freeway SS 1 Aurelia, then Via Borghetto and Padivarma towards Pian di Barca and to Colle di Gritta.  Coming from La Spezia to Manarola take freeway SS 370 for Cinque Terre.
By train: Cinque Terre train (Genova/La Spezia line) stops in all Cinque Terre towns. In the following table there is a list of ferry/hydrofoil: not any of the listed ferries/hydrofoils are accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments (Data supplied by Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)
By boat: departure from La Spezia, Sestri and other intermediate towns.

Type
(Ferry/Hydrofoil/Other)	Company	Contact Details	Route	Accessibility	
Ferry (no car transport)	Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti	0187/732987	La Spezia-Riomaggiore-Manarola-Vernazza-Monterosso al Mare	Service not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments 	

ACCESS

The Marine Protected Area, established in 1997, bounds the Cinque Terre National Park created with D.P.R. of the 06/10/99. The Park Authority releases the permits for the access to the area. This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 1).
Accessible facilities: on nine mentioned structures eight are accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. Detailed information is present in the following table. (Data supplied by Park Authority, 2002)
Name	
Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 2)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes/ No	
Main Office	Main Office	0187/760000	Via  Telemaco Signorini, 118 - 19017 Riomaggiore (SP)	No	
Headquarter	Headquarter	0187/760000	P.za Rio Finale - 19017 Riomaggiore (SP)	Yes	
Information Point	Information Centre	0187/920633	P.za Rio Finale - 19017 Riomaggiore (SP)	Yes	
Information Point	Information Centre -Internet point	0187/760515	P.zza Rio Finale - 19017 Riomaggiore (SP)	Yes	
Information Point	Information Centre	0187/760511	Train Station - 19010 Manarola (SP)	Yes	
Information Point	Information Centre	0187/812523	Train Station - 19010 Corniglia (SP)	Yes	
Information Point	Information Centre	0187/212533	Train Station- 19018 Vernazza (SP)	Yes	
Information Point	Information Centre	0187/817059	Train Station- 19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP)	Yes	
Information Point	Information Centre	0187/802053	Train Station - 19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP)	Yes	

Itineraries: 
By land: there are numerous tourist itineraries and tracks easy to follow, that connect the various villages (the most famous is the Via dell’Amore which runs through the colourful terrazzas built with centuries old dry stone walls, and listed in the Unesco’s World Heritage list); numerous are also the naturalistic paths. It is also possible to move on small shuttle buses supplied by the MPA.
In the following table are listed the circulation path accessible to people with disabilities (Data supplied by Park Authority, 2002)
Path Name	
Departing Point	Arrival Point	Travelling Time
(hours)	Length (metre)	Periodic maintenance
(Yes/No)	
VIA DELL’AMORE	Riomaggiore (SP)	Manarola, Riomaggiore (SP)	0,5	1000 m approx.	Yes	

By sea:  there are some scuba diving charts at Levanto, Riomaggiore and Monterosso, that organize underwater guided tours to the sea banks of the Cinque Terre, hire diving gear and boats. Amongst the most beautiful diving destination there are: the banks of Punta Mesco and of Capo Montenero with canyons, slides and submerged cliffs rich of Gorgonian.

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: the coastal landscape of Cinque Terre is characterized by steep coastal hills that have been terraced with dry-stone walls for the cultivation of vineyards and olive groves. The area, before the changes carried out by mankind over the centuries to increase the extent of cultivated land, was a big Holm Oak forest. Agriculture and reforestations with plants such as Marine Pine and Aleppo’s Pine have partially modified the original plant community. On the cliffs overhanging the sea grows a typical halophyte (salt tolerant) community with species such as the Sea Fennel, while at a higher altitude the shrubby formations of the maquis and gariga struggle for space amongst the cultivated terrazzas. The flora comprehends numerous important elements, amongst which the Venus Knapweed, the Luni Knapweed and Candytuft. The terrestrial fauna of the Cinque Terre National Park is not rich in large vertebrate species, however are present species interesting for their rarity, for their endemism or for their geographic range. Amongst them: some insects, amphibians (Cave salamander, Spectacled salamander), reptiles (European Leaf-Toed Gecko), birds (the Red-Legged Partridge) and small mammals.

The marine environment: sea and land at Cinque Terre combine to form a unique and evocative landscape. The mountains, that exceed 800 m, come down towards the sea with terraces that degrade until almost touching the water and the sea banks; the sea already quite close to the coast, reach remarkable depths. Gullies, bays, small beaches and coves alternate the coastal cliffs overhanging the sea. The rocky banks of Punta Mesco and Capo Montenegro, are beautiful and rich in life already in shallow waters with coral formations, including the rare black coral. Sometimes the cliffs continue for various tens of metres of depth, like Punta Mesco and Capo Montenero, while in other cases the cliff finishes at a few metres of depth, where wide sand banks begin. The upper part of the submerged cliff is distinguished by the typical photophile (that grow better in light) communities of the western Mediterranean. Small meadows and patches of scattered Posidonia sea grass are also present. When the cliffs continue in depth, they are colonized by Sciophilous species (that grow better in dim light). 
The most important formation of the Posidonia (a marine vascular plant) is found between Monterosso and Punta Mesco. The environment is still well preserved, with numerous species and biocenosis of hard and soft seabed. The areas of greater interest are those of Punta Mesco and Capo Montenero, for the richness of the biological formations, amongst which the coralligenous, that attracts numerous scuba divers for the beauty and the spectacular formations with the Red Gorgonian, accompanied by the Yellow Cluster and the Yellow Anthozoan Leptosammia pruvoti. In front of the beach of Corniglia there is, in the shallow sandy bottom, the Lancelet a rare animal of remarkable scientific interest. However, there is another reason that renders the sea of Cinque Terre unique: the area has in fact been inserted in the Sanctuary of Marine Mammals for the numerous and various species of cetaceans present, in summer, in this part of the Mediterranean Sea.

CULTURE AND HISTORY

Cinque Terre’s cultural landscape, part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List, is extraordinary. It is made up of an integrated system of terraced hills (modelled by man using antique dry-stone wall technique), beautiful seaside towns, ridged paths connecting various cultivated areas, named cian, and inhabited areas scattered along the coast and the inland.  This is one of the classic examples of man-environment integration. Cinque Terre’s landscape, in fact, has apparently developed through a centuries-old process aimed to create a dynamic balance between man-made transformations and the naturally modified system. This process is based on an intense knowledge of pre-existing nature, microclimate, and irrigation system. The development of cultivation techniques made possible the survival of agriculture crops that were planted replacing the native vegetation. Everything is closely tied to the local community needs and the social-economic context that has varied in time. The Park Authority carefully preserves the terraced landscapes used for vine cultivations, watching over their conservation and ensuring their increase in value. It promotes specific initiatives with a particular view to ensuring the continuation of traditional agricultural activities that protect the slopes. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are the principal Cinque Terre towns. They maintain a medieval urban structure and architectural character as a whole. Except for Corniglia, all the others are closely tied to the sea, with an enclosed port between the cliffs, brightly coloured houses and a Sanctuary placed on the highest point to dominate the country. Monterosso grew around a watchtower, now the bell tower of the Church of San Giovanni Battista. Vernazza still has Santa Margherita di Antiochia Ligurian Gothic church and the Belforte Castle ruins. Corniglia is connected to the coast by a characteristic staircase; the town church of San Pietro is Gothic. In Manarola in the main square, there are: a bell tower, the Oratorio dei Disciplinati and the church of S. Lorenzo. A picturesque path excavated in the rocks and facing the sea, called the ‘Via dell’Amore’ connects Manarola with Riomaggiore, the latter is the largest of the five towns.

TyPICAL PRODUCTS AND craftwork

Cinque Terre’s basic gastronomy is based on land and sea products, especially fish, extra-virgin olive oil and aromatic herbs. Pesto, prepared with extremely fragrant Ligurian basil, dominates every other dish. Catches from the Mediterranean sea such as anchovies and sardines, kwon as pesce azzurro, make up the main local cuisine dishes. The local wines include the precious Sciacchetrà, a sweet, white wine with a high alcoholic content. Another typical wine is a dry white, called Cinque Terre, appreciated since the Middle Ages. Typical agriculture and fishing instruments are the objects of local craftwork including nets and fish traps. Patient artisans create bottle models of sailboats and warships and copies of antique sailors’ ex voto (votive offering) can be found at collector prices. 

TOURIST INFORMATION

• Azienda di Promozione Turistica delle Cinque Terre e Golfo dei Poeti - La Spezia Tel. 0187/770900 Fax 0187/770908
In particular the following facilities (Note 3), according to the available data, are easily accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. 
 (Data supplied by Park Authority, 2003 and Guidebook Touring Campeggi e villaggi turistici, 2003)

Name	
Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	
Acqua dolce	Camping 	0187/808465	Loc. Acqua Dolce - Via G. Semenza, 5 - 19015 Levanto (SP)	
Albero d’Oro	Camping 	0187/800400	Loc. Albero d’Oro - 19015 Levanto (SP)	
Pian di Picche	Camping 	0187/800597	Loc. Pian di Picche - 19015 Levanto (SP)	
Bagni Eden	Seaside Resort 	-	19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP)	
Bagni Padre Semeria	Seaside Resort 	-	19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP)	
Bagni Stella Marina	Seaside Resort 	-	19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP)	
Bagni Alga	Seaside Resort 	-	19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP)	
Bagni Gigante	Seaside Resort 	-	19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP)	
Bagni Fegina	Seaside Resort 	-	19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP)	
Bagni Hotel la Pineta	Seaside Resort 	-	19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP)	

It is also possible to log on the website www.italiapertutti.it, to obtain more information on accessibility in the structures and Italian infrastructures of tourist interest.

ISOLE CICLOPI

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Sicila
Province: Catania
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line- metres	
Zone A	35	814	
Zone B	202	1.475	
Zone C	386	4.240	
Total	623	6.529	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.I. 07/12/89; D.M. 17/05/96
Management: Managed by the City of Aci Castello and the University of Catania - CUTGANA – Main Office c/o City of Aci Castello - Via Dante, 28 - 95021 Aci Castello (CT) - Headquarter - Via Provinciale, 226 - 95026 Aci Trezza (CT) - Tel./Fax 0975/7117322 – Research Centre c/o CUTGANA Centro Riserve Naturali - Via A. Longo, 19 - 95100 Catania - Tel. 095/317097 - Fax 095/730602 - E-mail: ampciclopi@cutgana.it - Web site: www.comune.acicastello.ct.it/riserva
Interested Municipalities: City of Aci Castello - Via Dante, 28 - 95021 Aci Castello (CT) - Tel. 095/7371128 - Fax 095/7111620 
Port Authority: Via Dusmet - 95121 Catania - Tel. 095/7474111 - Fax 095/533962
Medical Services: Ospedale Cannizzaro, Catania - Tel. 095/7261111
Nautical Chart: n. 22 scale 1:100.000; n. 274 scale 1:25.00

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: highway A18 Messina-Catania and  highway A19 Palermo-Catania, exit Acireale and then towards Aci Trezza along the freeway SS n. 114.
By bus: take the bus line that leaves from Catania and gets to Aci Trezza.
By train: get off at Catania Central station, Milano-Palermo line and other regional lines.
By boat: from the Aci Trezza port you can reach the islands with your own boat or with fishermen boats.
By plane: Fontanarossa airport reachable from Catania with the AMT bus service.

ACCESS

The Marine Protected Area, established in 1989, is managed by the City of Aci Castello and the University of Catania that releases the permits for the access to the area. This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 1). 
Accessible facilities: of the five following centres, the Main Office and the Aquarium are also accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments.  
Detailed information is present in the following table: (Data supplied by Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name	
Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 2)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 June 1989, n. 236)
Yes/No	
City of Aci Castello 	Main Office	095/7371128	Via Dante, 28 - 95021 Aci Castello (CT)	Yes	
Headquarter	Headquarter	095/7117322	Via Provinciale 226 - 95021 Aci Trezza (CT)	No	
Museum Isola Lachea	Museum	336/481448	Isola Lachea - 95021 Aci Castello (CT)	No	
Aquarium di Giarre	Aquarium	333/4736329	Via Raffaello Grasso, 1 - 95100 Catania	Yes	
Reserve Centre	Research Centre	095/312104	Via Antonino Longo, 19 - 95124 Catania	No	

Itineraries: 
By land:  the island of Lachea, that can only be approached with guided tours, offers the opportunity of suggestive excursions: a path leads from the port till the top of the island where the black basaltic lava contrasts with the green of the vegetation. It is possible to catch buses that allow you to move all over the territory. In the following table are listed all the paths of the island equipped for people with reduced mobility. (Data supplied by Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Path Name	
Departing Point	Arrival Point	Travelling time
	Length	Maintenance
(Yes/No)	
Voyage to the Cyclops Land	Research Centre Aci Trezza - Aci Castello (CT)	Aci Trezza - Aci Castello (CT)	1,10 h	2000 m	Yes	

By sea: tourist boats operate daily from the port of Aci Trezza cruising along the coast, also stopping to allow visitors to have a swim; it is also possible to hire sailing boats with or without skippers all along the Isole Eolie. Scuba diving is possible to follow underwater naturalistic and archaeological trails; there are also trained diving centres equipped for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments.

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: the Ciclopi islands include Lachea island, the Faraglione Grande, the Faraglione Piccolo and the Faraglione degli Uccelli, constituted from basaltic lava of the Etna, characterized by crystallized columns with peculiar shapes on which limestone incrustations and marine erosion have produced astonishing effects. Lachea, the only true island that is found just in front of the entrance to the port of Aci Trezza, only 200 metres away, is a Natural Reserve managed by the CUTGANA University of Catania that has created here a  research laboratory. The island is known for the presence of the endemism of the Ruin lizard, Podarcis siculus ciclopicus.
Along the coasts there are numerous marine caves, amongst which the Cove of the Monaco. Also the coast between Aci Trezza and Aci Castello, formed by black lava, overlook the ionic coast and the ancient fishing village. The short distance from the coast has favoured the colonization of plant species able to tolerate the difficult environmental conditions such as: the Sea Fennel, the Golden Samphire, Sea Blite and the Sea Cliff Birdsfoot, together with exotic ornamental species such as Casuarina, Tuja or the Pittosforum. In the areas near the coast, we can find the Buck’s Horn Plantain and other salt tolerant species.
The marine environment: the sea banks in-between the islands and the coast are of a sandy type and do not exceed 12 metres in depth. Numerous large rocks, that form canyons and coves and in the southern area emerge to the surface, characterize the area. The island and the faraglioni (sea cliffs strongly eroded by the sea now isolated from the mainland) emerge from the sandy bottom with sheer walls surrounded by fallen rock blocks that towards the northern, southern and eastern sides reach 25 metres under the sea. 
Deep canals distinguish the oriental sea banks of the Lichea Island. On the hard substrates (rock walls, masses and pebbles) are present, in the first metres of depth, many species of algae, dominated by the brown alga of the Cystoseira kind and by Astroides (Star Coral kind). In deeper waters, towards the coralligenus, the Porifers are numerous (Axinella damicornis, Agelas oroides, Spongia officinalis and the False Coral), while less abundant is the Yellow Gorgonian. On the debris sea banks echinoderm (such as the Sea Lily and the Britte Star) are common. In these areas are also present White Sea Bream, Dentex, European Bass, Groper and even Sword Fish and Tuna fish, once the nutritional base of the local fishing together with the pesce azzurro (such as Sardines, Anchovies and Sand Lance).

CULTURE AND HISTORY

The archipelago of the Cyclops has always been evoked as a mythological scene of Homeric tradition. It bears human testimonies that go back to the prehistoric age. The archaeological importance of these places is famous since the end of the 1800's with the discovery of prehistorical and protohistorical ceramic materials, of Roman Age and Byzantine Age, grottos and anthropogenic rooms of medieval Age. Also recent researches (1999 and 2000), carried out in collaboration with the Sovrintendenza Archeologica (Cultural Heritage Department) di Catania have discovered some cockpits dug into the cliff of uncertain use and ceramic materials of late-Roman age.
Various researches have discovered traces of prehistoric rooms (holes for poles dug into the rocks). Various discoveries have been made underwater, especially in the bay of Aci Trezza that could give evidence of the presence of an ancient anchorage, perhaps due to the shelter offered by the faraglioni to boats during storms.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND CRAFTWORK

In particular this area is known for the fish and the sea food; fishing is the traditional activity and for a long time has been the only means of survival of the locals, with the use of various fishing tools, like tremaglio -trammel net- (a small-meshed net inserted in between two large-meshed nets), cianciolo (a net dipped into the sea to make a circular shape, close at the bottom to form a semi sphere), conzi (long fishing line with numerous hooks), nets to fish near the rocks, lampara (fishing boat equipped with lamps to attract fish), polpare (fishing line with hooks with a white decoy to catch octopus). Today the traditional fishing activity has been placed aside substituted by new types of activities, in particular with the tourism industry; significant are the recreational fishing tours with fishing boats, called pesca-turismo. 
The typical products are Etna red and white wines and the cakes, the famous granite, the cannoli and the cassatelle of ricotta cheese.

TOURIST INFORMATION

For general information:
• Azienda Soggiorno e Turismo di Catania e Aci Castello - Tel. 095/373084
The following structures (Note 3) are accessible for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority 2003  and Guidebook Touring Alberghi e ristoranti d’Italia, 2003)

Name	
Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	
Baia Verde	Hotel	095/491522	Via A.Musco, 8/10 -  95020 Aci Castello (CT)	
Lido Aci Castello 	Seaside Resort	095/271160	Via del Porticciolo snc - 95021 Aci Castello (CT)	
Lido La Giunca 	Seaside Resort	095/277489	Via Lungomare - 95021 Aci Castello (CT)	
Lido Dei Ciclopi	Seaside Resort	095/276601	Via Provinciale 2 - 95021 Aci Castello (CT)	
Lido La Risacca 	Seaside Resort	095/274177	Via A. da Messina, 62 - 95021 Aci Castello (CT)	
Lido Acquarius	Seaside Resort	095/271708	Via Pezzana, 18 - 95021 Aci Castello (CT)	

ISOLA DELL’ASINARA

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Sardegna
Province: Sassari
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	577	21.172	
Zone B	6.988	52.604	
Zone C	3.167	5.895	
Total	10.732	79.635	

Institution: L. n. 394/91; D.M. 13/08/02
Management: temporarily managed by the Management Board of the Parco Nazionale dell’Asinara - Via Iosto, 7 - 07046 Porto Torres (SS) - Tel. 079/503388 Fax 079/501415 - E-mail: parco@asinara.org - Web site: www.parcoasinara.it, the definitive management of the Marine Protected Area Isola dell’Asinara will be entrusted (art. 2, c 37, of the law 9 Decembers 1998 n. 426), to public agencies, scientific institutions and / or environmental associations possibly linked together 
Interested Municipalities: City of Porto Torres - P.za Umberto I° - 07046 Porto Torres (SS) - Tel. 079/500800 - Fax 079/500867 
Port Authority: Via Mare  - 07046 Porto Torres (SS) - Tel. 079/502258 - Fax 079/502090
Medical Services: Emergency Doctor (Guardia Medica) - Tel. 079/510392; Emergency  - Tel. 079/510352; hyperbaric chamber, Marina di Sorso, A.M.I. - Tel. 079/359008 
Nautical Chart: n. 49 scale 1:100.000; n. 289 scale 1:50.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: from Sassari freeway SS n. 131 for Porto Torres, from here you can catch the ferry to get to the island or follow the provincial road to Stintino. The island is not accessible to private means of transport.  There is a bicycle rental service available at Fornelli, La Reale and Cala d’Oliva.
The other means of transport present on the island (mostly 4WD vehicles) are used for emergency reasons, surveillance, fire brigade, maintenance and scientific research.
By bus: bus line ARST from Sassari and from Stintino; by the bus line Nuragica Tours from the Alghero Fertilia airport to Stintino and from Olbia to Porto Torres.
By train: get off at the station of Porto Torres, line Porto Torres-Sassari.
By boat: from Porto Torres or Stintino. Porto Torres is also reachable from Genova with the Tirrenia and Grandi Navi Veloci ferry companies.

ACCESS

The MPA, established in 2002, is located in front of the Parco Nazionale to whom the management it is temporarily entrusted. The Management Board of the National Park releases the eventual permit to access the protected area that is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different status of protection (Zones A, B and C) (Note 1). Not all the facilities are accessible to people with disabilities; detailed information is in the following table. (Data supplied by Park Authority, 2002)
Name and Structure	
Type	Contact Details	Address	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 2)
(art. 2 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes/No	
Provisional Management Board (Administrative Centre)	Main Office	079/503388	Via Iosto 7 - 07046 Porto Torres (SS)	No	
Main Office (opening soon)	Main Office	-	Cala Reale (Isola Asinara) - 07046 Porto Torres (SS)	Yes	
Environmental Education Centre	Environmental Education Centre	-	Cala d’Oliva (Isola Asinara) - 07046 Porto Torres (SS)	Yes	
Restaurant (opening soon)	Catering	-	Cala Reale (Isola Asinara) - 07046 Porto Torres (SS)	Yes	
Visitors Centre 	Visitors Centre	-	Cala Reale (Isola Asinara) - 07046 Porto Torres (SS)	Yes	
Visitors Centre	Visitors Centre	-	Fornelli (Isola Asinara) - 07046 Porto Torres (SS)	Yes	
Manager House	Guest rooms	-	Cala d’Oliva (Isola Asinara) - 07046 Porto Torres (SS)	No	
Cala d’Oliva Office	Office	079/409440	Cala d’Oliva (Isola Asinara) - 07046 Porto Torres (SS)	No	
Cala Sabina	Service Area	-	Cala d’Oliva (Isola Asinara) - 07046 Porto Torres (SS)	No	
Elighe Mannu	Service Area 	-	Elighe Mannu (Isola Asinara) - 07046 Porto Torres (SS)	No	

Itineraries: 
By land: there are numerous paths for walks and cycling: Fornelli – Cala d’Oliva; Cala d’Oliva - Elighe Mannu – Punta dello Scorno – Cala Sabina – Cala d’Oliva; Porto Mannu dei Fornelli - Fornelli - Punta Barbarossa. The following are only walking paths: Elighe Mannu - Punta della Scomunica, Punta Barbarossa – Punta Li Giorri, Path for the Castellaccio (with no entry to Castellaccio).
By sea: it is possible to do sea watching activities, for e.g:, snorkelling, whale watching, from boats glass bottom boat tours and scuba diving. An underwater nature trail with stops at different depths has been set up by the Park Authority.

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: famous for a penitentiary that had been active on the island until 1998, the Asinara beauty is also due to the isolation the prison caused. Today that the penitentiary has been dismantled and Asinara is one of the most beautiful islands of the Mediterranean, with more than 100 km of uncontaminated coasts and with an incredible wildlife. The island has a shape extended towards north south and is composed by four rocky blocks. The northern block that is the highest, reaches 408 m at Punta della Scomunica. 
The western coast is mostly high and steep, with inlets and some coves. The eastern ones, instead, have a smoother profile, with sandy creeks. Some salt ponds, present near the coasts, are filled with sea and fresh water. The 52 sqm of the island are covered by Mediterranean maquis vegetation with species such as Mastic Tree, Olive Tree, Arboreal Euphorbia and Rockrose. Along the rocky coasts, there is vegetation with halophyte species like the Sea Fennel, and the Prickly knapweed. On the sandy coasts, the vegetation is still the original one, due to the almost complete absence of the human presence; abundant is the Sea-Wheat. On the dunes has developed the Marram Grass that, thanks to the remarkable development of its roots, contributes to the stabilisation of dunes. Other pioneer species present are the Sea Holly and the Sea Daffodil.
In some areas of the Islands, you can find these plants nearby small woods of Phoenician Juniper, which is of remarkable landscape value. Where the territory was once covered by shrub and trees, at present there are only some Holly Oak forest remnants. 
Asinara is the Sardinian island with the greatest number of breeding vertebrates species (approximately 80). The sea birds that nest here are numerous: the Common Stern, the Pygmy Cormorant, the Herring Gull and the Audouin’s Gull. Amongst the birds of prey, we find: the Buzzard, the Kestrel and the Peregrine. Among the mammals, a part from the colony of approximately 300 mouflons, famous is the presence of the wild albino donkey that represents one of the most evocative aspects of the island.

The marine environment: the severe protection of the marine coast, that has prohibited for decades the fishing, the diving and other disturbance activities of the natural environment, has concurred to the conservation of marine habitat. The sea life communities are well structured with the consequent possibility to observe, also at limited depths, a remarkable variety of organisms that in other localities is no longer possible to see not even at greater depths.
The sea banks are made up of numerous landslides with canals and holes. In the western part, the banks rapidly reach 50 m of depth, while the eastern banks slide down smoothly. The rocky shore is colonized in the upper stratum by Lichens, Gasteropods (Sea snail), Coastal Isopods and Cirripeds. The lower strata is marked by the presence of the Cirriped Chtamalus stellatus and is colonized by various species of algae, by Limpet and various crabs, amongst which the Stone crab a species rare in the Mediterranean, which is instead abundant along the oriental coasts of the Asinara. 
Among the organisms that colonize the reefs, there are two species of elevated naturalistic value: the red encrusting seaweed, Lithophyllum lichenoides, and the Ribbed Mediterranean Limped, Patella ferruginea. Both are particularly sensitive to the pollution of the sea and are in strong regression in the northwestern Mediterranean, they both are protected species. The rocky banks where the light penetrates in the clear water, are colonized by algae like the Marine Peacock’s Tail, the Umbrella seaweed and various species of Cystoseira. The incoherent substrates, mostly found along the eastern slope, are colonized by meadows of posidonia sea grass. Numerous species of animals live inside the meadows amongst which the rare Noble Pen Shell (Pinna nobilis), a bivalve which is endangered for the indiscriminate collections, and numerous crustaceans, between which the crab Maya verrucosa, with his camouflage ability. Close to the inferior limit of the sea grass meadows, there are precoralligenous communities with typical elements like the calcareous alga Disc Plateweed.
In the eastern part of Asinara, the sandy and muddy banks are colonized mostly by organisms buried in the sea bed, while the western sector has, starting from the depth of 35 m, a community dominated by brown algae. The waters of the Asinara are rich in fish; in fact fishing is an historical activity of the area, even if limited by the presence of the penitentiary. The island was already known in 1660 by the fishermen of Torre del Greco (in Campania) who picked red coral. Later, in the XVIII century, began the fishing of the Pesce Azzurro (the Mediterranean catch such as sardines and anchovies), of the Moray, of the European Conger and of the Lobsters. Until last century, was carried out the evocative fishing of the tuna fish in a tonnara later destroyed by a sea storms. Today the most fished species in the western slope are those typical of the reef such as Brown Maegre, Dentex, White Sea Bream, Rockfish, Wrasse and Lobster, while in the eastern slope there is the John Dory, with the typical round and black spot, bordered of yellow or white, on both sides; there are also Gropers of big size.

CULTURE AND HISTORY

Numerous findings of flint and obsidian tools demonstrate the long presence of human life on the island since pre-nuragic times. Plinio il Vecchio called Asinara the "Island of Hercules", that was a safe anchoring for navigators throughout the centuries. Various wreaked ships have been found along the coasts some of them with lead bars embossed with ancient Roman seal. Between the Middle Ages and the 16th century, Asinara was a battlefield in the war between Pisa and Genoa against the Saracen pirates. For long periods, however, the island was inhabited only by small groups of shepherds in a deprived economy. Buildings of historical interest are also present, such as the Monastery built by the Camaldolesi in the XII century in the area of S. Andrea and the fortifications of Torri di Cala d’Oliva, Cala Arena and Punta Trabucato. The Fornelli hills also host the ruins of Castellaccio. Asinara has always been extremely isolated during the last century; first as a Health Quarantine Station and later as a WWI Prison Camp. Later on, and until only a few years ago, it was a high security Italian prison for terrorists and members of organized crime.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS aND CRAFTWORK

The local (the area of Sassari) cuisine is greatly influenced by seafood and local specialities include: grilled fish, lobster and a first course known as maccaroni, which is a pasta dish with shellfish and crustaceans. A fine Sardinian Vermentino wine goes together with these dishes. The carasau or carta de musica local bread is also highly recommended

TOURIST INFORMATION 

• Ente Provinciale del Turismo di Sassari - Tel. 079/299544
• Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno e Turismo di Sassari - Tel. 079/231777 
• Pro-Loco di Porto Torres (SS) - Tel. 079/515000

ISOLA DI USTICA

BASIC INFORMATION

Type: Marine Protected Area
Region: Sicilia
Province: Palermo
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	60	1.718	
Zone B	7.860	5.684	
Zone C	8.031	7.050	
Total	15.951	14.452	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.I. 12/11/86; Regulations D.M. 30/08/90 
Management: the management is temporarily entrusted to the Port Authority of Palermo - Via F. Crispi, 135 - 90139 Palermo - Tel. 091/6043111 Fax 091/325519. The definitive management of the Marine Protected Area Isola di Ustica will be entrusted (art. 2, c 37 of law 9th december 1998 n. 426) to public agencies, scientific institutions and environmental associations possibly linked together -  Web site: www.ampustica.it 
Interested Municipalities: City of Ustica - Via Petriera - 90010 Ustica (PA) - Tel. 091/8449045 - Fax 091/8449194 
Port Authority: Via F. Crispi, 153 - 90139 Palermo - Tel. 091/6043111 - Fax 091/325519 
Medical Services: Polyclinic (Poliambulatorio) di Ustica - Tel. 091/8449333; emergency doctor (Guardia Medica) - Tel. 091/8449248; hyperbaric chamber - Tel. 091/8449630; a service of Hospital helicopter is available.
Nautical Chart: n. 16 scale 1:100.000; n. 251 scale 1:30.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: to reach Palermo take the highway A19 Catania-Palermo or the A20 Messina-Palermo, while to reach Naples take the highway A1 Milano-Napoli or the highway A3 Reggio Calabria-Napoli.
By bus: Palermo is very well connected with all the others cities of the Region. 
By train: get off at Central Palermo station, Torino-Palermo, Milano-Palermo, Roma-Palermo, Palermo-Messina lines or at the Trapani station Trapani-Palermo line. 
By boat: from Napoli operates a hydrofoil that in four hours reaches Ustica. Otherwise you must get to Palermo or Milazzo and embark on the ferries or the hydrofoils, directed to Ustica. In the following table there is a lists of ferry/hydrofoil indicated by the MPA with the indications on accessibility for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003 and complemented by Association ACLI Anni Verdi, 2003) (Note 1)
Type
(Ferry/Hydrofoil/Other)	Company	
Contact Details	Routes	Accessibility	
Ferry/Hydrofoil (car transport allowed except in August)	Siremar	091/582403-8449002	Palermo - Ustica	Service also accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments, especially for wheel chair users. 	
Hydrofoil (no car transport)	Ustica Lines	0923/22200	Napoli - Ustica 	Service also accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments, especially for wheel chairs users, that have also ticket reduction (10%) . Make sure to contact the company prior to departures.	

ACCESS

The Marine Protected Area, established in 1986, is temporarily managed by the Port Authority of Palermo, which releases permits for the access to the area. The access is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 2). 
Accessible Facilities: on seven mentioned structures, only the environmental education centre is accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. Detailed Information is in the following table. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name	
Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 3)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes/ No	
Main Office	Main Office	091/6043111	Via F. Crispi 135 - 90135 Palermo	No	
Information Point	Visitors Centre	091/8449456	P.za Umberto I° - 90010 Ustica (PA)	No	
Aquarium	Aquarium	-	Caletta Santoro - 90010 Ustica (PA)	No	
Torre dello Spalmatore	Visitors Centre	-	Località Spalmatore - 90010 Ustica (PA)	No	
Locale “ex Settebello”	Conference Centre	-	Via Rifugio - 90010 Ustica (PA)	No	
Marine Lab	Laboratory	091/8449003	Via Piersanti Mattarella - 90010 Ustica (PA)	No	
C.E.A.M.	Environmental Education Centre	-	P.za Cap. Vito Longo - 90010 Ustica (PA)	Yes	

ITINERARIES: 

By land: Ustica offers a unique occasion to explore the island on foot or with rented scooters that allow you to make pleasant excursions discovering the nature and the history of the island. An interesting itinerary is the one of Rocca della  Falconiera, with its suggestive evidence of the ancient human presence on the island. There is a long 9 km road going around the island; the itinerary can be followed by car, scooter or riding donkeys, just choose your favourite means of transport and ask the local tourist agencies. For the trekking lovers there is also a walking tour. Services of car and scooter rental are present.
By sea: numerous underwater itineraries are marked; they are in fact the best way to discover the characteristic and renowned sea banks of the island. Amongst the best places we suggest: the Grotta Azzurra (Blue Cove), the Pastizza and the Acaddemia Cove, the Grotta delle Barche (Cove of the Boats), the Grotta Verde (Green Cove), the Rock Pool of Punta Cavazzi, the Sidoti Cove, the Cove Madonna, the Carruggio, the Faraglioni and the Grotta dell’Oro (Cove of the Gold). Thanks to the presence of a local scuba diving centre, it is possible to dive in places like Cove of the Gamberi, Punta dell’Arpa, Punta Cavazzi, Scoglio and Tunnel del Medico, Secca della Colombara, Punta Omo Morto, Cove of Capo Falconiera. Also available are the fishermen’s boats on which you can circumnavigate the island observing the characteristic flora and fauna. Transport facilities, to visit the marine protected area, accessible for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments are in the following table. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Type	Company	
Departing Point	Arrival Point	Accessibility	
Marine Transport	EMISMAR - 091/8449002	Ustica	Ustica	Service accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments	

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: although of limited extent (its surface is of 8,6 square km), the island is the emerged part of a huge submerged volcano. Therefore Ustica appears really isolated, a rock in the middle of the sea, far away from the coast and other Sicilian archipelagos. In its small territory you can find strong evidence of its ancient and restless volcanic past: from the black and indented cliffs, to the volcanic cones and craters, from the tuff eroded by the waves, to the coast that falls sheer to the sea. Seen from above Ustica has an elliptic shape that resembles the shape of a turtle. Of its approximately 9 square km of extent, three wide natural plateaux occupy a great part. In the centre of the island a small range has developed formed by the ancient volcanic cones of Mount Guardia dei Turchi (248 m) and Mount Costa del Fallo (234 m); while in the northeast the Capo della Falconiera (175 metres) rises from the sea. The volcanic origin of the island and the incessant erosive action of the waves, have given life to an extraordinary varied coastal landscape with morphologies of great attraction: in only 14 kilometres of coastline you can find sea cliffs, bays, gorges and inlets, faraglioni (section of sea cliffs or natural arches strongly eroded by the sea and wind to the point that sections now remained isolated from the coast), and many submarine coves.
The territory of Ustica is characterized by wide terrazzas and has been cultivated since the ancient times by its inhabitants. Following the various paths, several types of Mediterranean cultivations can be seen, amongst which are olive trees and citruses, capers and Indian figs, while more inland are common: the Mastic tree, the Euphorbia, the Rockrose and prairies of typical grasses of the Mediterranean climate.
The marine environment: the spectacular volcanic scene of the mainland continues also under the water, where the true treasure of the island hides. The particular morphology and the different sea banks determine the presence of different types of habitats, rich in species. But the true secret of the naturalistic richness of this sea is due to the cold currents that arrive from the Atlantic. These currents transport plankton, thousands of microscopic organisms that after having roamed in deep waters find here a rock substrate where to colonize; consequently under the clear sea water many species of organism with different shapes and colours can be seen. The dark black colour of the lava rock contrasts with: the red, the yellow and the orange of the Sponges; with the rose of the Mermaid’s veil, of the anemones and of the spirals of the Mediterranean Sea Worm; the dark red of the Star Fish and with the violet of the Sea Urchin, portraying the multicolour scene of the habitat. 
The numerous coves, whose origin are closely tied to the volcanic activity, represent one of the marine environment of greater naturalistic value of the island. For their particular environmental conditions many sciophylous (that grow better in dim light) organisms live here: they live in weak light habitat and without these cavities they would be found living in deeper waters. This is the habitat of the multicoloured Sponges, but also of numerous species of Bryozoans, Coelenterates, Serpulid Tube Worms, Sea Slugs, Gastropods and Crustaceans. Amongst these last ones, there are many specimens of Parapandalus Narval a shrimp that live in the coves forming real wriggling clouds. In the obscurity of the sea canyons there are fish like the Groupers and the Brown Meagre swim. Amongst the flourishing meadows of Posidonia sea grass, distributed on the rare sandy banks, is present the Green Wrasse. Also interesting is the Banco Apollo, a submerged volcanic peak where, starting from a depth of approximately 60 metres, a singular and flourishing forest of Laminaria has developed. This gigantic seaweed, typical of the Atlantic Ocean, is present thanks to the cold currents of the strait of Gibraltar that determines environmental conditions similar to the Atlantic ones.

CULTURE AND HISTORY 

The name Ustica, given to the island by the Romans, comes from the word ustum, which means burnt, because of its volcanic aspect. In the XIV and XIII century B.C. Ustica was included in the trade routes that connected Sicilia with the Isole Eolie; in this period various villages arose, the most famous of which is the Faraglioni, with a city layout fortified by a stone wall and remains of its ancient towers, that encircles the town for 250 metres. The natural fortress of the Falconiera has been the site of an ancient settlement of the III century B.C.: at its base there is the Necropolis, with tombs carved into the mountain, dating back to the imperial Roman age.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS And CRAFTWORK

At present, on the island, as in the past, the agricultural activities are practiced with traditional methods; particularly diffused is the cultivation of lentils. In local country farms you can eat fresh locally grown seasonal products: fruit and vegetables, wine, honey, chilly peppers, oregano and capers cultivated on the coast by the local farmers. Also typical are the original baskets and fishing pots cleverly interlaced with willows and reeds by the local women.

TOURIST INFORMATION

For general information: 
Azienda di Promozione Turistica di Palermo - Tel. 091/583847

It is also possible to log on the website www.italiapertutti.it, to obtain more information on accessibility in the structures and Italian infrastructures of tourist interest.

ISOLE DI VENTOTENE E S. STEFANO

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Lazio
Province: Latina
Extent:
Zone 	Surface - hectares	Coast Line – Metres	
Zone A	410	828	
Zone B	1.600	5.828	
Zone C	789	3.180	
Total	2.799	9.836	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.M. 12/12/97; D.M. 11/05/99. 
Management: City of Ventotene - P.za Castello, 1 - 04020 Ventotene (LT) - Tel. 0771/85014 - Fax 0771/85265 - e-mail: comune@ventotene.it - Web site: www.comune.ventotene.it
Interested Municipalities: City of Ventotene - P.za Castello, 1 - 04020 Ventotene (LT) - Tel. 0771/85014 - Fax 0771/85265.
Port Authority: Via Docibile, 35 - 04024 Gaeta (LT) - Tel. 0771/460088 - Fax 0771/464724
Medical Services: Ospedale di Ventotene - Tel. 0771/779381.
Nautica Chart: n. 9 scale 1:100.000; n. 126 scale 1:30.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: from Roma take the freeway SS n. 148 Pontina up until Terracina or the freeway SS n. 7 Appia up until Terracina, and then follow the freeway SS n. 213 Flacca up until Formia.
By train: get off at Formia station, Roma-Napoli line.
By boat: Ventotene is reachable from Formia and Anzio with ferry and hydrofoil service; during the summer there is also the Napoli-Ischia-Ventotene-Ponza line. It is possible to reach S.Stefano with your own boat or through the local tourist operators that offer guided tours. In the following table there is a list of ferry/hydrofoil indicated by the MPA indicating the accessibility for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data supplied by Association ACLI Anni Verdi, 2003) (Note 1)

Tipology (Ferry/Hydrofoil/Other)	Company	Contact Details	Routes 	Accessibility	
Ferry (cars transport)	Caremar	0771/809875 - 0771/23800	Formia-Ventotene	Service accessible for people with disabilities; specifically for wheel chair users	
Hydrofoil (no car)	Vetor	06/9845083	Formia-Ventotene	Service not accessible also for people with disabilities	
Hydrofoil (no car)	Libera Navigazione Mazzella	0773/723406	Terracina-Ventotene	Service not accessible also for people with disabilities	

ACCESS

The MPA, instituted in 1997, is managed by the City of Ventotene that releases the permits for the access to the area. This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 2). 
Accessible facilities: limited public transport, lack of adequate facility for people with disabilities and the difficult access from sea due to the coastal morphology, make the visit to the MPA difficulty for people with disabilities; of the three mentioned centres, only the archaeological museum is accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments.  Detailed Information is in the following table. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name	
Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 3)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes/ No	
MPA	Main office	0771/85014	P.za Castello, 1 - 04020 Ventotene (LT)	No	
MPA	Information Centre 
	0771/85341	Via Rampa Marina, 10 - 04020 Ventotene (LT)	No	
Archaeological Museum of Ventotene	Archaeological Museum	0771/85345	P.za Castello, 1 - 04020 Ventotene (LT)	Yes	

Itineraries: 
By sea: there are many suggestive diving spots including the so-called Scogli di Capri, the Sconchiglie, the Molo IV and the wreck of the Saint Lucia steamboat. Glass bottom boat (not accessible to people with disabilities) tours around the island of Ventotene.

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: The Island of Ventotene and S.Stefano are located in the Tyrrhenian Sea at approximately 26 miles from Gaeta and are part of the so-called Ponziano Archipelago, formed by six small islands lying in a cobalt blue sea. They are made up of lava and tuff, and are an evidence of volcanic activity. The first lava flow formed the first outline of Ventotene creating the cape of Punte dell’Arco; later an explosive volcanic activity of extraordinary power, with the emission of millions of kmq of piroclastic materials, completed the formation of the island. Ashes and lapillus deposited layer on layer, during various millennia, formed the spectacular tuffs that are the characteristic element of the coastal landscape of Ventotene. The small island of S. Stefano is the emerging part of a cone, derived from the secondary activity of the great Volcano of Ventotene. 
Grass patterns are typical of the Ventotene vegetation; only in the most inaccessible places, like the coastal cliffs, some remnants of low maquis survive. The flora is of Mediterranean-type, due to the mild climate and the low rainwater availability; it has some interesting endemism, such as the Ventotene Knapweed, that settles in the rocky areas of the coast, and the Ventotene and S. Stefano’s sea-lavender. In the Ponziano Archipelago the fauna has been impoverished by the alterations of the native vegetation and the consequent disappearance of many natural habitats. Of great interest are the migratory birds, for which the islands represent an area of resting of crucial importance during the crossing of the Mediterranean. Amongst the migratory birds, there are also some rare species, like the Crane and the White Stork. Regarding nesting avifauna, the most meaningful species are those tied to the coastal habitat, like the Herring Gull and the Peregrine Falcon.

The marine environment: the geography of the coastal landscape made up of sea cliffs, beaches, small coves, capes, reefs, small islands, is transformed under the water into a varied mosaic of habitats that support the presence of many and diversified bentonic species. In the dark areas, the rock walls are covered with colonies of bright orange astroides, one of the few Mediterranean representatives of the madreporas, the organisms that build the coral reefs. In the holes and ravines of the sea debris and reefs, Octopus, Moray, Blenny, Rainbow Wrasse, White Sea Bream and Saddled Sea Bream can be sighted. Pristine is the habitat of Posidonia sea grass meadows and they extend from Ventotene to S. Stefano, thanks to the exceptional clearness of the sea. 
In S. Stefano, the meadows are of reduced extension due to the exceptional depth of the waters. Deeper than 20-25 m, on the rocky banks a sciophyte ( that grows better in dim light) community has developed, dominated by the Sea Cactus alga, the arborescent colonies of Yellow Gorgonian and by the Sertella septentrionalis a bryozoan that forms large colonies similar to delicate laces from which the common name of Sea Rose originates. Thick colonies of Red Gorgonian are present together with many sponges, Fan Worms and Bryozoans. 

CULTURE AND HISTORY

Since prehistoric age Ventotene was a trading port, connecting Palmarola (where there were obsidian mines) to the continent. The Romans, in 441 B.C., changed the name of the island to Pandaria, maintaining the Greek origin of its name. During Augustus Empire the construction of the villa, the port and the aqueducts began. The Roman port dug in the tuff, the fishing farm, the imposing archaeological remains of Villa Julia and the cisterns of Villa Stefania are evidence of the importance that the island of Ventotene had already reached in ancient times. The ancient coastal village, the Church of S. Candida, the Forte Torre and the imposing jail on the small island of S. Stefano are the most important Borbonic monuments of Ventotene.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND CRAFTWORK
Valuable, and tasty, varieties of fish present in the Islands waters are: White Sea Bream, Groper, Rockfish, Striped Red Mullet, Cods, Greater Amberjack, Saddled Sea Bream. 
Local agriculture products are: fava beans, asparagus, artichokes, capers, figs, prickly pears and the famous organic lentils cultivated in volcanic soil. 

TOURIST INFORMATION

• Azienda di Promozione Turistica di Latina - Tel. 0773/695404-07
• Pro Loco di Ventotene - Tel. 0771/85257

ISOLE EGADI

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Sicilia
Province: Trapani
Extent:

Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line- metres	
Zone A	1.067	8.933	
Zone B	2.865	18.637	
Zone C	21.962	46.422	
Zone D	28.098	0	
Total	53.992	73.922	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.I. 27/12/91; D.I. 06/08/93; D.M. 17/05/96
Management: City of Favignana - Main Office - Palazzo Florio, Via Florio, 1 - 91023 Favignana (TP) - Tel. 0923/920011 - Fax 0923/921403 - E-mail: ampegadi@virgilio.it - Web site: www.ampegadi.it
Interested Municipalities: City of Favignana - P.za Europa - 91023 Favignana (TP) - Tel. 0923/920011 - Fax 0923/921403
Port Authority: V.le Regina Elena - 91100 - Trapani - Tel. 0923/543911 - Fax 0923/26703
Medical services: all three islands have a permanent medical assistance and an emergency doctor  (Guardia Medica) in the summer. In Favignana, there is the Emergency  - Tel. 0923/921283; Levanzo - Tel. 0923/924092; Marettimo - Tel. 0923/923117
Nautical Chart: n. 17 scale 1:100.000; n. 260 scale 1:50.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: to reach Trapani follow the highway A29 Palermo-Trapani, while to get to Napoli use the highway A1 Milano-Napoli or the highway A3 Reggio Calabria-Napoli.
By bus: use the bus line SEGESTA till Trapani.
By train: get off at the Trapani station, Palermo-Trapani line.
By boat: you can reach the Egadi Islands only by sea by taking the ferry or hydrofoil service SIREMAR from the port of Trapani. There is also the Ustica Lines, from the 1st June until the 30th September, an hydrofoil from Napoli that, stopping in Ustica, arrives directly on the island of Favignana. In the following table there is a list of ferry/ hydrofoil that can also be used by people with mobility and/or sensory impairments  (Data supplied by Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003 and complemented by Association ACLI Anni Verdi, 2003) (Note 1)

Type (Ferry/ Hydrofoil /Other)	Navigation Company	
Contact Details	Routes	Accessibility	
Ferry
 (car transportation except from the15/7 to the 31/8)	Siremar	0923/545455	Trapani-Favignana-Levanzo-Marettimo	Services for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. Please make sure to contact the company before departing.	
Hydrofoil (no car)	Siremar	0923/545455	Trapani-Favignana-Levanzo-Marettimo	Services for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments not available	
Hydrofoil (no car)	Ustica Lines	0923/22200	Trapani-Favignana-Levanzo-Marettimo
Napoli - Favignana-Levanzo-Marettimo
Marsala - Favignana-Levanzo-Marettimo	Services also for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments, specifically for wheel chair users, 10% discount.
Please make sure to contact the company before departing.	
Ferry (with car)	Traghetti delle Isole	0923/22467	Trapani-Favignana-Levanzo-Marettimo	Services for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments not available	
Hydrofoil (no car)	Torrente & Cartiglio	0923/953434	Trapani-Favignana-Levanzo-Marettimo	Services for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments not available	

ACCESS

The MPA, established in 1986, is temporarily managed by the City of Favignana that releases the permits for the access to the area. This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 2). 
Accessible facilities: of the three following structures, only the City Office is accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. Detailed Information is in the following table. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name	
Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 3)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes/No	
Palazzo Florio	Information Centre	0923/920011	Via Florio, 1 - 91023 Favignana (TP) 	No	
City Office	Information Centre	0923/924089	Via Salita Scuole - 91023 Levanzo (TP)	Yes	
MPA Office	Information Centre	0923/923409	Via V. Emanuele, 24 - 91023 Marettimo (TP)	No	

Itineraries: 
By land:  means of transport are present on all territory of the MPA: services of taxi, car and scooter rental services are available.
By sea: many are the outstanding scuba diving spots.
In Favignana: Rotonda Cove, Scoglio Corrente, Secca del Toro and Punta Faraglione-Secca Sciubba;
in Levanzo : Capo Grosso, Secca del Faraglione, Secca Scaletta and Secca Sicchitello; 
in Marettimo: Punta Libeccio-Secca Cretazzo, Punta Mugnone, Punta Bassana and Punta Troia.
THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: it is very easy to discover the beauty of Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo and of the small islands of Formica and Maraone. For the colours of the vegetation that here seem to be more intense, for the beauty of the wild and rough landscapes or for the simple constructions made from tuff (rock formed with volcanic lava and ground rocks fragment), all surrounded by the intense blue of the sea, the archipelago is a true jewel in the middle of the sea where nature blends with history and ancient human presence. Favignana is represented like a butterfly whose wings have profound different characteristics. The oriental side of the island is completely flat and here you can find the main inhabited centre and numerous typical scattered houses; the coast has many coves and beaches easily accessible by a network of roads and paths. The other half of the island, dominated by Monte S. Caterina, 302 m high, has sheer cliff coasts without beaches. In the middle of the two wings lies the body of the butterfly, the tight peninsula of Punta Larga, with its small port and the town of Favignana. Marettimo is a limestone island, with hills that exceed 600 metres (Monte Falcone, 686 metres; Pizzo del Capraio, 627 metres; Punta Campana, 630 metres). Cliffs overlooking the sea, with small pebbly beaches and marine coves, form its sheer coast. The countryside of the small island of Levanzo is very hilly and its coasts characterized by numerous coves. The most characteristic plant community is the gariga with various species like Euphorbia, Rosemary, shrubs of Erica, Rockrose, Myrtle and other plants with intense scent. Various rare species can be found, like the Helychrysum and endemic ones such as the Mediterranean Honeysuckle. The fauna of the islands is rich in birds, amongst which various species of nesting birds of prey: the Peregrine, the Kestrel, the Lesser Kestrel, the Buzzard and perhaps the Bonelli’s Eagle. Amongst the sea birds the Bassana Gannet, the Shearwater and the Black Wheatear are present, while the small Storm Petrel nests on the Island.  
The marine environment: the islands sea banks have a particular morphology because of the fast erosive nature of the limestone and the consequent sedimentation processes. These physical factors determine the presence of extensive seabeds of sea grass that favourite fish abundance of the area. This peculiar morphology also supports the development of the brown alga Cystoseira ercegovicii. In Favignana, from Punta Sottile to the Scoglio delle Correnti, the coast is indented and in the south-west side there are various small islands separated from the land only by a narrow stretch of sea. The small islands of the Previto, the Galera and the Galeotto emerge from the sea banks that are only 20 metres in depth and are colonized by meadows of sea grass.
In front of Punta Larga there are rocky substrates rich of concretion. Three miles south of Punta Lunga there is Secca del Toro that culminates with two peaks at 10 metres of depth. To the west the cliff runs steep showing sciophyilous (that grows in dim light) organism and colonies of red gorgonian. To the east instead there are many sandy beaches inside small caves dug into the tuff rocks. The slope towards Sicily is high and straight. The sheer wall shows a classic arrangement in zone of brow alga with the succession of the Cystoseira and concretion biocenosis in the rocky canyons. Along the oriental slope of Levanzo, famous is the presence of the Black Coral.

CULTURE AND HISTORY

The islands were originally joined to Sicilia during the Ice Age and their separation was determined by the dissolution of the ice and the consequent elevation of the sea level. Homer mentions the beautiful Egadi amongst the adventures of the mythical Ulysses and it is told that Enea landed here after the death of his father Anchise. During the Palaeolithic Age the Sicans, the Phoenicians and many other civilisations lived in the coves. In the depths of these waters, hide the ruins of Phoenician and Roman vessels and of Spanish galleons. Favignana, after being a Carthaginian colony, in 241 B.C. became the first province of the newborn Roman Empire, while under the Normans it was transformed in a medieval village and the fortresses of S. Caterina and S. Giacomo were erected. From the end of the 800’s to the middle of the past century the islands knew their maximum architectonic and engineering magnificence under the Florio family, with the famous planner Damiani Almeyda who worked for them.
At S. Nicola, on the island of Favignana, there are numerous prehistoric graffiti, and Phoenician and Roman tombs; below S. Nicola, in the Cavallo Plateau, there is a Phoenician necropolis and beyond, caves once used for religious and pagan rituals. The ruins of the fortress of S. Caterina, together with the remains of the fortress of S. Leonardo and the XVIII century Chiesa Madre, are other important archaeological sites. Also Levanzo has a remarkable historical richness, with numerous caves containing prehistoric art graffiti of advanced Palaeolithic Age and paintings of Neolithic Age; the sea, still today, hides anchors and amphorae of the Phoenician wars times.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND CRAFTWORK

The chilli-hot flavours and the intense fragrance of the spices blend beautifully with the seafood dishes of these islands. Amongst the typical local specialties, we find fish couscous, tuna fish, spaghetti with bottarga (salted fish role), Sea Urchin, Prawns and Lobsters.

TOURIST INFORMATION

For general information:
• Azienda Provinciale per il Turismo of Trapani - Tel. 0923/29000
• Pro Loco di Favignana - Tel. 0923/921647

The following structures (Note 4) are specialized in people with mobility and/or sensory impairments (Data supplied by Guidebook Touring Campeggi e Villaggi Turistici, 2003)

Name 	Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	
Egàd	Camping and Tourist Resort  	0923/921555	Contrada Arena - 1 km da Favignana - 91023 Favignana (TP)	

It is also possible to log on the website www.italiapertutti.it, to obtain more information on accessibility in the structures and Italian infrastructures of tourist interest.

  

ISOLE PELAGIE

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area 
Region: Sicilia
Province: Agrigento
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line- metres	
Zone A	80	5.426	
Zone B	1.364	9.643	
Zone C	2.692	31.210	
Total	4.136	46.279	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.I. 21/10/02
Management: Temporarily managed by the City of Lampedusa and Linosa - Via V. Emanuele, 20 - 92010 Lampedusa (AG) - Tel. 0922/970012 Fax 0922/970027 - E-mail: amp_pelagie@virgilio.it,  the definitive management of the MPA Isole Pelagie will be given (law 9 December 1998 n. 426-art.2), to public agencies, scientific institutions or environment associations possibly linked together.
Interested Municipalities: City of Lampedusa and Linosa - Via Vittorio Emanuele - 92010 Lampedusa (AG) - Tel. 0922/970111 - Fax 0922/970027
Port Authority: Via Gitemi, 55 - 92014 Porto Empedocle (AG) - Tel. 0922/636640 - Fax 0922/636469
Medical Services: Emergency Doctor (Guardia Medica) - Tel. 0922/970604; hyperbaric chamber in Lampedusa - Tel. 0922/970604
Nautical Chart: n. 217 scale 1:25.000; n. 947 scale 1:50.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: from Agrigento take the freeway SS n. 115 and get to Porto Empedocle.
By bus: you can use the bus line LUMIA from Palermo and from Trapani to get to Porto Empedocle.
By train: get off at the Agrigento Central station, Palermo-Agrigento and Caltanissetta-Agrigento line.
By boat: a SIREMAR ferry daily operates from Porto Empedocle to Linosa and Lampedusa. In the summer time, the islands are also connected with the hydrofoils of the Ustica Lines.
By plane: Lampedusa is daily connected to Palermo.

ACCESS

The MPA, instituted in 2002, is temporarily managed by the City of Lampedusa that releases the permits for the access to the area. This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 1). The island of Lampedusa is also protected by a Natural Reserve instituted by Regione Sicilia that also includes the seashore of the island of Conigli, of Cala Pulcino and of Cala Galera, created to protect an important site for turtles to lay their eggs.  

Itineraries: 
by sea: rewarding scuba diving spots are: In Lampedusa: Capo Grecale, the beach of Conigli and Taccio Vecchio. In Linosa: secca Secchitella and the Faraglioni, in Lampione: all the western side is excellent for scuba diving.

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: the name pelaghiè means islands of the deep sea, this name was given to the Pelagie islands by the Greeks because they emerged solitarily, closer to Africa than to Sicilia. Lampedusa is only 61 km away from the Tunisinian coast, and almost 116 km from the Italian one. Lampedusa’s landscape is barren and bare. On this limestone island, the original Mediterranean maquis vegetation has been cleared by human presence in order to cultivate crops, with the result that the topsoil has been washed away by the rain; the island is now bare, covered only by Mediterranean steppe. The volcanic nature of Linosa favours instead the development of flourishing vegetation, due to the nature and conformation of the ground, which is more porous and subsequently more permeable to the rainfall.
Lampione, instead, is a small island only 700 m long, and 180 m wide, its maximum height is of 40 m; it is 17 km northwest of Lampedusa, is totally uninhabited and has a lighthouse that can be reached by a small footpath. You can get there by boat from Lampedusa within an hour; it is a real paradise for birds, that nest here undisturbed; for the scuba diving enthusiasts in the waters of Lampione there is the possibility of encountering the Sandbar shark. The most important element of the fauna in the Islands is without doubt the presence of the Loggerhead sea turtle that has chosen Lampedusa and Linosa as sites to lay eggs. The bird life is not specific to the Islands; there is the Cory’s Shearwater, the Herring Gull, the Short-toed Lark, the Sardinian Warbler and the Eleonora’s Falcon.

The marine environment: the morphology of the sea banks of Lampedusa is uneven and has a series of pyroclastic formations that possibly rose once out from the sea. The clear water banks are colonized by Sponges, Tunicate, Serpulid Tubet Worms, Madrepora, and Bryozoans. 
The area is also rich in errant fish including Greater Amberjack, Dentex and Mackerel that come from the deep waters. There is also, the Parrotfish with is typical sexual dichromatism (pertaining to colour differences between the sexes) and some species of sharks.
Linosa has rocky banks that fall steeply in depth and teeming with fish. In the waters of Linosa it is not difficult to find barracudas, in the north part brown algae and coralline algae (so named because they resemble coral in their encrusting calcareous appearance) are abundant. 

CULTURE AND HISTORY

Lampedusa has an important archaeological heritage. It is likely that the island has been inhabited since prehistoric times, even if it has been also uninhabited in some ages: the remains of a Neolithic shelter is situated at Pisana Cove. Some traces of Phoenician, Greek, Roman and Arabic settlements seem to confirm the fact that the geographic position of Lampedusa attracted many civilizations. The field studies of the Sovrintendenza di Agrigento have brought out remains of a late Roman and proto-Byzantine suburb. 

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND CRAFTWORK

Fishing, together with tourism, is the main economic resource of the island. However Lampedusa, apart from the valuable fresh seafood, it is also famous for the flourishing activity of processing the Mediterranean typical fish catch such as anchovies and sardines (pesce azzurro) in oil and salt and for the production of fishing specialties typical of the island and exported to the rest of Italy and abroad. A limited farming activity still exists and produces ricotta and fresh cheese; from the rare zibibbo grapes an excellent wine is produced, famous also is the vin cotto: renown are the capers from Linosa, others traditional dishes are those cooked with lentils. A distinctive local craft is embroidery and crochet work, along Corso Roma can be seen women from Lampedusa who still conserve the secrets of this fine craft, making small doyleys, purses, hats etc.
Along the port you can observe, the valuable sponges of the sea of Lampedusa, strung like golden dounuts, one after the other on a rope, and left to dry in the sun after a long and delicate procedure. The manufacturing of sponges is extremely difficult and the local fishermen are expert of this fine and rare art. On the island, also survive an ancient profession related to woodwork and wrought iron and there is still the master of axes a specific profession for the creation and maintenance of the wooden fishing boats.

TOURIST INFORMATION

• Azienda di Promozione Turistica di Agrigento - Tel. 0922/401352

ISOLE TREMITI

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Puglia
Province: Foggia
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	180	1.766	
Zone B	268	4.662	
Zone C	1.018	13.982	
Total	1.466	20.410	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.I. 14/07/89; D.P.R. 05/06/95 institutive of the Parco Nazionale del Gargano.
Management: Ente Parco Nazionale del Gargano - Via S. Antonio Abate, 121 - 71037 Monte S. Angelo (FG) - Tel. 0884/568911 - Fax 0884/561348 - e-mail: ampisoletremiti@parcogargano.it - Web site: www.parcogargano.it
Interested Municipalities: City of Isole Tremiti - 71040 Isola S. Nicola (FG) - Tel. 0882/463063-463009 - Fax 0882/463003
Port Authority: P.za G. Marconi, 27 - 71043 Manfredonia (FG) - Tel. 0884/587222 - Fax 0884/587388
Medical Services: Emergency (Pronto Soccorso) and hyperbaric chamber, Isola di San Domino - Tel. 0882/463234; also an emergency helicopter service is available - Tel. 0881/617961
Nautical Chart: n. 32 scale 1:100.000; n. 33 scale 1:100.000; n. 204 scale 1: 15.000

HOW TO GET THERE 
By car: take highway A14 exit Termoli. Reach the port of Termoli where you can leave the car in the parking in front and in the Garage Interporto. Vehicles cannot be taken on board of the ferries.
By bus: you can take the bus line Molise Trasporti that has a direct service for Termoli from Torino and surroundings, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena and Bologna.
By train: from Termoli station by bus or taxi to the port; from Foggia station by bus or taxi to the airport; from Manfredonia station by taxi to the port.
By ferry: various ferry companies connect the Tremiti islands during the whole year with boat and hydrofoil services operating, according to the season, from the ports of Pescara, Ortona, Vasto, Termoli, Manfredonia, Vieste, Peschici and Rodi Garganico. The port with more daily services is the one in Termoli. There is also a helicopter service that runs all year round from Foggia.
Detailed information on the ferry/hydrofoil, also for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments, is in the following table (Data supplied by Park Authority, 2003 and complemented by Association ACLI Anni Verdi, 2003) (Note 1)

Type
(Ferry/Hydrofoil
/Other)	Company	
Contact Details	Route	Accessibility (Note 2)	
Motor-ship   
       (no car transport)	Adriatica
Adria Shipping	0875/705343	Termoli-Isole Tremiti               (San Domino e San Nicola)	Not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments	
Hydrofoil
(no car transport)	Agenzia A. Galli & figlio	0884/582520	Manfredonia-Isole Tremiti       (San Nicola)	Not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments	
Hydrofoil (no car transport)	Di Brino Viaggi	0875/703937	Termoli-Isole Tremiti	Not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments	
Hydrofoil (no car transport)	A.M. Gargano di Santoro G.B.	0884/708501	Vieste-Isole Tremiti	Not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments	
Motor-ship (no car transport)	Navigargano s.r.l.	0884/707489	Vieste-Isole Tremiti	Accesible for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. Please make sure to contact the company at least two days prior to departure. 	
Hydrofoil (no car transport)	Agenzia C.T.M.	0884/701558	Vieste -Isole Tremiti	Not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments	
Hydrofoil (no car transport)	Agenzia C.T.M.	0884/964234	Peschici-Isole Tremiti
Rodi Garganico - Isole Tremiti	Not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments	

By helicopter: from Foggia all year round to the island of S. Domino.

ACCESS

The MPA established in 1989, has been initially entrusted to the Port Authority of Manfredonia. Subsequently, with the institution in 1995 of the National Park of Gargano, that includes in its perimeter also the land part of the Tremiti Islands, the management of the MPA has been entrusted to the Management of the National Park that releases permits for the access of the area.
This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 3).
Accessible facilities: none facility or service of the MPA is accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. 

Itineraries: You can visit the whole Tremiti Archipelago. 
By land: the cape is rich in historical and cultural heritage: all the towns are well worth visiting.
By sea: on the island of S. Domino there are beautiful marine coves, in particular the Grotta delle Rondinelle and the Grotta del Coccodrillo (reachable only by boat). Beautiful scuba diving spots are in the waters of Punta Secca of Caprara, here you can observe the typical Mediterranean sea life: the sea banks are inhabited by a spectacular groves of Red Sea Fan, that survives here thanks to the reduced lighting conditions and presence of strong cold currents rich in nourishing particles.

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT 

Landscape and Wildlife: the Tremiti, the only Italian archipelago in the Adriatic, comprises the islands of San Domino, San Nicola, Caprara and Pianosa, the Scoglio del Cretaccio, and just emerging from the sea various faraglioni, rocks, reefs, arches and cliffs. Altogether the islands constitute a miniature archipelago, its surface measures little more than 3 square km. The island of San Nicola in fact extends for only 43 hectares, while San Domino extends for 208 hectares. Caprara and Pianosa are respectively of 44 and 113 hectares. The Cretaccio is only a large uneven rock (4 hectares approximately), situated in the northern area of the strait that separates San Domino from San Nicola; the small island has a singular extension called Scoglio La Vecchia.
Although of limited extent, the archipelago of Tremiti offers an amazing collection of different habitat. In the short coastal landscape (approximately 20 km) are present the most meaningful morphologies: low coasts with sandy beaches, bays and sea cliffs overhanging the sea.  Mediterranean type of vegetation characterizes the Tremiti with structure and plant community different on each island. San Domino, in fact, is the island of the forest, San Nicola the island of the maquis, and finally Caprara and Pianosa the islands of the gariga.
The island of San Domino seen from above seems a forest in the middle of the sea. Aleppo’s pine is the most common in the landscape of the island and forms a particularly suggestive forest that covers most of the island. In the understorey are present the typical species of the Mediterranean maquis like Myrtle, Rosemary, European Holly and Mastic tree. A low and bare maquis covers the island of San Nicola. The dominant species is constituted by Mastic tree present with large and thick bushes. The gariga, that characterizes nearly the totality of Caprara, derives from previous thick vegetation, composed also by tree species, integrally cleared in order to leave space for the cultivation of cereals and vineyards. Despite the fact that these cultivations have been abandoned for various years, the maquis cannot recover the land because of the goat pasture still diffused on the island. Amongst the shrubby species, characteristic of the landscape is the arborescent euphorbia, locally called tutumaia, present with scattered exemplaries of remarkable dimensions. The abundant caper plants according to some authors would have determined the name of the island. The small island of Cretaccio lacks totally in shrubby vegetation, apart from some plants of Rosemary. Also Pianosa is completely lacking in tree and shrub, except for some rare bushes of Rockrose.
On the Tremiti it is possible to watch the spectacular acrobatics of the gulls that hover in the wind or the amazing diving of the Peregrine performing their hunting habits.  Moreover, the area is frequented by the European migratory bird life that, along the northern route Europe-Africa, find in the only Italian archipelago of the Adriatic an important resting point. Amongst the characteristic and typical migrant species of this archipelago there is the Cory’s shearwater, a marine bird perfectly adapted to take advantage of all the life possibilities offered by the sea. Since centuries, a colony of Cory’s shearwater reaches the Tremiti islands every year.
The marine environment: The Tremiti are for the sea organisms a rock formation amongst the vast sandy plains that characterize this sea basin. The sea banks of the islands are, therefore, of strategic importance for the conservation of the marine resources: they create in fact an area of extreme value for numerous animal communities that find here suitable conditions to feed themselves and, above all, to reproduce. The varied morphology of the coast becomes under the water a mosaic of various habitats, indeed amazing considering the small dimensions of the archipelago. Deep vertical walls, lapped by cold north east currents; masses rich of lairs and canyons; limestone cliff distinguished by many cavities; rock slopes at low depths and isolated sand banks: all create an immense variety of banks that allow the presence of sea communities highly diversified and amongst the most characteristic of the Mediterranean.
Moreover the extraordinary richness of this abundant sea life is easy to reach and be seen; in fact, in low waters, it is possible to observe numerous sea organisms: the elegant Fan Worms, the Octopus, the small Cuttlefish, the lobsters and the colourful Star Fish, the Sea Urchin and the Sponge. Also the banks formed by sand and debris contribute to increase the variety of the organisms that live in the waters of Tremiti. Amongst the most characteristic fish there are the Electric Ray, White Eye Flonder and Angler. In these areas some meadows of seagrass have also developed.

CULTURE AND HISTORY 

The legend tells that on the islands of the archipelago rest the mortal remains of Diomede, the famous Greek hero, second only to Achille, who invaded and submitted the territories of the Gargano. In the archipelago, the island that reveals the most ancient human presence is that of S. Domino. In the centre of the Pianoro, in contrada Prato Don Michele, there are the remains of an ancient Neolithic village (VII millennium B.C.), distinguished by impressible ceramics, engraved and smooth. From the Pine wood, along the North-West slope, going towards the reef of the Cala degli Inglesi (of the Englishmen) and Cala Tramontana, there is another Neo-lithic Age village, of the IV millennium B.C.. The village is distinguished by ornamental punctuated ceramics, and red marginate bands and graffiti ceramics. During the Medium Neo-lithic Age some sacred graves were excavated and found to contain artifacts from the advanced Neo-lithic Age (first centuries of III millennium B.C.). Not far from the Western (Punta del Vapore) and the Southern coast (Punta del Diavolo) off the island of S. Domino three relicts of ancient and medieval ships were discovered. The island of San Nicola conserves traces of the protohistoric settlement of the I millennium B.C. and of the beginning of our Age. In the higher part there are holes for poles probably used for huts from the Iron Age  (IX-VII sec. B.C.). 
The sequences of the holes are interrupted by the burial graves (18 tombs have been found) and by two grotticella tombs, amongst which there is the one commonly known as the tomb of Diomede, perhaps dated back to the Classic and Hellenistic Age. To the East of the necropolis traces of a Hellenistic settlement have been discovered. In addition, the sequence of the tombs is interrupted by a more recent piece: a water basin excavated in the rocks and covered by masonry in opus incertum dated between the I century B.C. or the I century A.C.. Of similar technique is a Roman domus, which was built set up on a double elle arcade. On the lower terrace of the island, just under the town hall, was discovered a fragment of mosaic pavement, belonging to a second Roman domus. Recently, close to the port, storerooms dug into the rocks were discovered, containing amphorae contemporary to the building already described.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND CRAFTWORK

The typical handicraft and products of Tremiti are linked to the region of the Gargano and of Puglia, with the production of terracotta, woodworks and ceramics. From the gastronomic point of view, like in the rest of Puglia, we have the delicious traditional dish, orecchiette, small shell shape pasta, made with flour and water. Typical products of the archipelago are the famous Tremitian capers, the seafood dishes and the torcinelli, a mouth-watering dish consisting of fish served with locally grown vegetables.  A must is the limoncello cake, a particular speciality, made with lemons grown in the area.

TOURIST INFORMATION

For general information:
• Azienda di Promozione Turistica of Foggia - Tel. 0881/723650-723141
It is also possible to log on the website www.italiapertutti.it, to obtain more information on accessibility in the structures and Italian infrastructures of tourist interest.

MIRAMARE

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Province: Trieste
Extent:

Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line- metres	
Zone A	30	1.104	
Zone B	0	0	
Zone C	0	0	
Total	30	1.104	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.M. 12/11/86; Regulation D.I. 20/07/89
Management: W.W.F. Italy - V.le Miramare, 349 - 34014 Trieste - Tel. 040/224147 - Fax 040/224636 - e-mail: info@riservamarinamiramare.it - Web site: www.riservamarinamiramare.it
Interested Municipalities: City of Trieste – P.za dell'Unità d'Italia, 4 - 34121 Trieste - Tel. 040/6751-6754850 - Fax 040/6754907-6754945
Port Authority: P.zza Duca degli Abruzzi, 4 - 34121 Trieste - Tel. 040/676611 - Fax 040/676665
Medical Services: Ospedale di Cattinara e Ospedale Maggiore di Trieste - Tel. 040/3991111; Ospedale pediatrico Burlo di Trieste - Tel. 040/3785111
Nautical Chart: n. 39 scale 1:100.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: take the freeway SS n. 14 that takes you directly to Trieste city centre and follow the indications for Miramare.
By bus: use the SAF line that leaves from Auronzo, Ronchi dei Legionari, San Candido, Monfalcone, Tolmezzo and Udine.
By train: get off at Trieste station and follow the indications for Miramare.
By boat: a public ferry service leaves from the Molo Pescheria of Trieste direct to the MPA. In the following table there is a list of ferry/hydrofoil: not any of the listed ferries/hydrofoils are accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data supplied by Association ACLI Anni Verdi, 2003) (Note 1)

Type
(Ferry/Hydrofoil/Other)	Company	
Contact details	Rout	Accessibility	
Ferry (no cars)	Public transport of Trieste	800016675	Miramare-MPA	Not accessible to people with disabilities	

ACCESS

The MPA was established in 1986 and at present is managed by WWF Italy that releases the permits for the access of the area. This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zone A and buffer Zone) (Note 2). The buffer zone is managed by the Porth Authority.
Accessible facilities: of the nine mentioned structures, six are accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. Detail information is in the following table. (Data supplied by Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name	
Type
	Contact Detail	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 3)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Sì / No	
Castelletto, 1st floor                       (Main Office)	 Main Office 	040/224147	V.le Miramare, 349 - 34014 Trieste 	No	
Castelletto, ground floor	Information Centre	040/224147	V.le Miramare, 349 - 34014 Trieste	Yes	
Castelletto, ground floor	Environmental Education Centre	040/224147	V.le Miramare, 349 - 34014 Trieste	Yes	
Park and Historical Museum of Miramare Castle	-	040/224143	V.le Miramare, 349 - 34014 Trieste	Yes	
Miramare Park	Recreation Area	-	V.le Miramare 349 - 34014 Trieste	Yes	
Museum of Natural History	Scientific Museum	040/6758658	P.zza A.Hortis 4, terzo piano - 34100 Trieste	No	
Acquarium
	Scientific Museum 	040/306201	Molo Pescheria, 2 - Riva Nazario Sauro, 1 - 34100 Trieste	Yes	
Botanic Gardens	Scientific Museum 	040/360068	Via Marchesetti, 2 - 34100 Trieste	Yes (also for the blind people) 	
Maritime Town Museum 	Scientific Museum 	040/304987 - 040/304885	Via Campo Marzio, 5 - 34100 Trieste	No	

Itineraries: 

By land:  visiting the Castle with the Park and the Historical Museum is recommended; they can be visited all year round, an entrance ticket is necessary: visiting time from 8 am to 7 pm. In the following table, there are all the itineraries and circulation trail accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Autorithy, 2003). 

Path Name	
Departing Point	Arrival Point	Travelling time	Lenght
(m)	Maintenance
(Yes/No)	
Miramare Park	Main entrance - Trieste	Main entrance - Trieste	Various	Various	Yes	
Val Rosandra (ex-ferrovia)	Staz. di Campanelle - Trieste	Prima di Botazzo - Trieste	Various	Various	-	

By sea:  Punta Sottile and the sea banks of the small port of Grignano are good scuba diving spots.

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: Miramare, located North of Trieste, stretches into the sea with a rocky promontory. There is the Castle, which was a residence of the Asburgo. The extent of the MPA is of 121 hectares; the peculiar geomorphologic, physical and chemistry characteristics support the rich biodiversity of the biotic communities. Even if the area is in the Mediterranean Sea, Miramare’s biogeography is different in fact the depth never exceeds 25 m, against the 2.500 of theTyrrhenian or the 250 of the middle Adriatic; the water temperature differs from 7°C in February to  26°C in August. The water it is always muddy due to the many rivers that flow into this narrow stretch of sea, such as the Isonzo and the Timavo. Another element that distinguishes the Gulf of Trieste from the other seas is the amplitude of the tides. In the Mediterranean these are practically non-existent, while at Miramare, caused by the particular closed shape of the Adriatic, flows are very strong especially on the sandy shorelines, where the sea can withdraw for hundreds of metres.
Miramare, with sandy beaches and Karstic plateaux the reaches the sea, is the first rocky cape before the multitude of inlets and islands of Istria and Dalmatia.

The marine environment: a huge range of sea life is here supported by the favourable habitat; immediately at the Castle of Miramare the sea, depth reaches 10 m and at the borders of the MPA, where the yellow buoys are, the seabed reaches 18 m. The depth and the particular conformation and exposure of the cape, provokes remarkable movements of water masses and therefore a strong recycle of water, an important fact for the MPA environment, given its vicinity to the city. Important water current is the one linked to the floods of the Isonzo: enormous water masses wedge into the sea close to the MPA. 
In this particular sea there are therefore organisms that can tolerate extremely variable conditions: such as: high tidal movements (e.g. the brown seaweed Fucus virsoides); changes of salinity, due to the presence of rivers (some time even some trout-fresh water fish- have been sighted and caught); differences in water temperatures. Just below the surface, the filamentous brown alga Lomentaria scystosiphon is present and indicates that the temperature is below 10°C. 
Close to the surface the water temperature is mainly influenced by the external temperature: towards February the water appears crystalline, but is difficult to sight fish; some are hidden in canyons in a sort of lethargy, others make small movements. When the temperature increases, the snow from the mountains begins to melt and the rivers transport debris: the seawater changes from clear and cold to muddy and warm. This is the breeding period of the Sea Slug and it is easy to observe their eggs. Towards May, the fish are more active; the Blennide and Gobi fish appear together with the small Sea Horse and the Wrasse. In open waters are present juvenile of Diplodus, a Sea Bream; magnificent specimens of Brown Maegre, which aggregate in big schools, are probably the most characteristic species of the MPA. During the summer, schools of White Sea Bream appear close to the reef, where along with the Saddled Sea Bream remain for all the season.

CULTURE AND HISTORY

The Castelletto (small castle) of Miramare was built according to the plan of Carl Junker in 1858; it replicates in shapes, but smaller in size, the Castle placed on the promontory. Massimiliano d' Asburgo and his spouse Carlotta of Belgium after their return from Milan in the spring of 1859 stayed at the Castelletto for a short period, while waiting the finishing of the Castle, finished during the Christmas of 1860. The Castle is placed on a rocky cape, oriented on one side towards the Bay of Grignano. In the first half of the 1900’s, it was used as a museum furnished with some furniture of Massimiliano, by the Duke of Aosta that lived here.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND CRAFTWORK

Typical of all Friuli-Venezia Giulia is the production of a varied selection of cold meats, from the prosciutto crudo, to the salame, the sopresse and many other products of the ancient norcineria (pork meat processing) traditions of these lands. There is a strong production of traditional different cheeses of great quality. The Friulano wine, famous since the 700 century B.C., is still being produced thanks to good weather and land conditions, the vineyards are in part native and in part imported and produce a rich variety of wines.

TOURIST INFORMATION

• Agenzia di informazione ed accoglienza turistica - Tel. 040/3478312

The following structures (Note 4) can also be accessible by people with mobility and/or sensory impairments (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003 and Guidebook Touring Alberghi e ristoranti d’Italia, 2003).

Name	
Type	Contact details	Address/Place	
Greif Maria Theresia 	Hotel	040/410115	V.le Miramare, 109 - 34136 Trieste	
Jolly Hotel 	Hotel	040/7600055	C.so Cavour, 7 - 34132 Trieste	
Roma 	Hotel	040/370040	Via C. Ghega, 7 - 34132 Trieste	
Grignano 1 (Sirena) 	Seaside Resort	040/224105	Riva Massimiliano e Carlotta, 2 - Grignano (TS)	
Grignano 2 (Riviera II) 	Seaside Resort	040/224105	Strada Costiera, 22 - Trieste	
Lanterna 	Sea Resort (with areas reserved to children and women and areas reserved to men)	040/305922	Molo F.lli Bandiera - Trieste	
Topolini 	Seaside Resort	040/411079	V.le Miramare - Trieste	
Ausonia 	Seaside Resort	040/304304	Via Traiana, 1 - Trieste	

It is also possible to log on the website www.italiapertutti.it, to obtain more information on accessibility in the structures and Italian infrastructures of tourist interest.

PARCO SOMMERSO DI BAIA

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Underwater Park
Region: Campania
Province: Napoli
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	20,7	435	
Zone B	25,3	480	
Zone C	130,6	2.803	
Total	176,6	3.718	

Institution: L. n. 388/00; L. n. 179/02; D.M. 07/08/02
Management: temporarily managed by the Sovrintendenza per i Beni Archeologici (Cultural Heritage Department) of the Provinces of Napoli and Caserta, c/o Museo Archeologico Nazionale - P.za Museo 19 - 80135 Napoli - Tel. 081/440166 Fax 081/440013, the definitive management of the Marine Protected Area will be entrusted to public agencies, scientific institutions or environmental associations, possibly linked together (art. 114, c 10 law 23 December 2000 n. 388; art. 9 law 31 July 2002 n. 179), by the Ministro dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio  together with Ministro per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, after consultation with the Region and the Municipalities of the interested area.
Interested Municipalities: City of Bacoli - Lungolago, 4 - 80070 Bacoli (NA) - Tel. 081/8553111 - Fax 081/8553267; City of Pozzuoli - Via Tito Livio, 2 - 80072 Pozzuoli (NA) - Tel. 081/8551111 - Fax 081/8046004
Port Authority: P.le Pisacane - 80133 Napoli - Tel. 081/2445111 - Fax 081/2445347
Medical Services: Emergency (Pronto Soccorso) of Bacoli - Tel. 081/5234415
Nautical Chart: n. 10 scale 1:100.000; n. 129 scale 1:30.000; n. 83 scale 1:7.500 (partial)

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: From Napoli take the Tangenziale direction Pozzuoli, or follow Via Domiziana and pass the city centre of Pozzuoli. Follow the indications for Baia and Bacoli taking first via Licola-Patria, then via Miliscola (around lago Lucrino).
By bus: ANM and SEPSA line buses connected to Napoli.
By train: get off at Pozzuoli station.
By boat: CAREMAR ferries and Pozzuoli ferries operate from Ischia.

ACCESS

The Sovrintendenza per i Beni Archeologici of the Provinces of Napoli and Caserta temporarily manages the MPA established in 2002. The access is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 1).

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

The marine environment: the area of Baia, like all the coast of the Campania Region, has endured from the Roman Age till today a negative bradyseism (slow movement of the ground) of approximately 6 m. In other words, the entire coast, strongly influenced by the presence of man since the V century B.C., has sank during the centuries submerging buildings and infrastructures, amongst the most interesting of the ancient world. During the Roman Age the area between Punta Campanella and Capo Miseno was the heart of an elegant and aristocratic holiday resort, with private and public buildings. This phenomenon of the ground slowly sank all the buildings that now constitute a sort of submerged Pompei. In particular, the famous Roman locality of Baia lies in the sandy banks of the gulf of Baia, between Punta dell’ Epitaffio and Punta del Castello, at a depth ranging from 2 m to 16 metres.
The submerged Roman port is clearly visible from the12 poles rising from the sandy banks. Around the poles it is possible to admire a moonlike landscape, a large extent of sand with a particular light interrupted here and there only by small bubbling that indicate the presence of hot water springs, a evidence of the thermal past of the entire area. The two parallels rows of poles makes one appreciate the size of the work realized in Roman Age: these elements have by now completely integrated in the underwater landscape, acting like substrate and allowing the typical development of the animal and plant species of the shallow banks. Diving in this archaeological and fascinating area rich of mysteries, captures the attention not only for the artistic, the planning and the historical aspects, but also because, once again, it is possible to appreciate how the Mediterranean ecosystem survives, to the aggressions of time, nature and humankind.
Along with the common species like the red Cardinal Fish, Apogon imberbis, that typically hides amongst cracks created by the crumbling poles, you can find the colourful Sea Slug, like the Hypselodoris valenciennes, the Sea Anemones, the transparent Sea Squirts, Sea Snails and Bivalves, Urchin and Star Fish. An important organism present is the rare Noble Pen Shell (Pinna nobilis), the largest bivalve of the Mediterranean, that here finds its appropriate habitat of sandy and muddy banks.

CULTURE AND HISTORY

The city of Baia is placed in a charming geographic position, between land and sea. It used to be one of the most important centres during Imperial Rome, not only the best aristocratic families, amongst which the family of the emperor Claudius, used to come here, but it also was a very lively cultural centre. Many classics authors wrote about Baia in their literary works, exalting the benefits of its thermal waters, or deploring the luxurious aspects of the lifestyle that was held here. Baia had an incredible development during the Imperial Age, not only as a place of thermal bath, but especially as a meeting place, where was carried out great part of the public and political life. The presence of an active cultural life and a fine and sophisticated aristocracy made the city of Baia grow in a series of workshops of fine artistic craft, like we can see from the numerous architectonic works and furnishings that have been brought back to light in the different archaeological excavations.
In the fifties, excavating under the present archaeological area began; this brought to light some of the springs that probably fed the Baia bath. These and other elements showed: on one side that the destiny of Baia must had been linked to all the bradyseism phenomena that affect the area; and on the other side the necessity of beginning a systematic excavation under the sea in front of the coast, especially in correspondence of Punta Epitaffio. The bradyseism that involved the progressive covering with sand of an entire stretch of coast, transformed, in this case, what was a city centre in a lagoon. A sea storm in 1969 made become visible the absidale portion of a construction to which later was thought to be a nympheum. Together with the nympheum the sea storm also uncovered two beautiful statues, today exposed at the Museum of the Castle of Baia. The statues, seriously damaged by Date Mussels, after having been restored were identified as two characters of the Homeric scene of the Inebriamento of Polifemo (representing Ulysses with a vine cup in his hand for Polyphemus so that the Cyclops could get drunk).

TYPICAL PRODUCTS And CRAFTWORK
The local specialities are those typical of the flegrea kitchen. Unique dishes like the Astice alla Miseno a’mmare, with crayfish, cuttlefish, and linguine pasta garnished with small local fresh tomatoes. Smoked swordfish and mozzarella di bufala, marinated Banner fish, small cuttlefish and capsicum and smoked salmon with cantalupo; amongst the desserts, a speciality is the casatiello, which is eaten at Easter time.

TOURIST INFORMATION
• Azienda di Promozione Turistica di Napoli - Tel. 081/7594274

PARCO SOMMERSO DI GAIOLA

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Underwater Park
Region: Campania
Province: Napoli
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line- metres	
Zone A	6,4	977	
Zone B	35,2	1.008	
Zone C	0	0	
Total	41,6	1.985	

Institution: L. n. 388/00; D.M. 07/08/02
Managed: temporarily managed by the Sovrintendenza per i Beni Archeologici (Cultural Heritage Department) of the Provinces of Napoli and Caserta - c/o Museo Archeologico Nazionale - P.za Museo, 19 - 80135 Napoli - Tel. 081/440166 Fax 081/440013, the definitive management of the Marine Protected Area will be given to public agencies, scientific institutions and/or environmental associations possibly linked together (l. n. 388 23, dicembre 2000; l. n. 179, 31 luglio 2002).
Interested Municipalities: City of Napoli - P.za Municipio, 1 - 80133 Napoli - Tel. 081/7951111 - Fax 081/553016
Port Authority: P.le Pisacane - 80133 Napoli - Tel. 081/2445111 - Fax 081/2445347
Medical Services: Croce Verde di Napoli - Tel. 081/5442078
Nautical Chart: n. 10 scale 1:100.000; n. 130 scale 1:30.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: highway A1 for Napoli and take the Tangenziale; then exit L’Arenella and get to the waterfront.
By bus: you can use the Consorzio Trasporti Irpini bus line from Avellino, Ferrovia BN-NA, bus from Benevento, Consorzio Provinciale Trasporti Casertani from Caserta or the SITA line from Salerno.
By train: get off at Napoli Central station, Roma-Napoli line, or at the Ferrovia Circumvesuviana station, Napoli-Torre Annunziata line or at the Ferrovia Cumana station, Montesanto-Torregaveta line.
By boat: with CAREMAR company from Capri, Ischia and Procida or the Compagnia Libera Navigazione del Golfo from Sorrento, Amalfi and Positano.
By plane: Capodichino airport reachable from Napoli with the ANM bus.

ACCESS

The Sovrintendenza per I Beni Archeologici of the Province of Napoli and Caserta temporarily manages the MPA established in 2002. The access is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A and B) (Note 1).

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

The marine environment: the area of Gaiola, like all the coast of the Regione Campania, has endured from the Roman Age till today a negative bradisismo (slow movement of the ground) of approximately 6 m. In other words, the entire coast, strongly influenced by the presence of man since the V century B.C., has sank during the centuries submerging buildings and infrastructures, amongst the most interesting of the ancient world. During the Roman Age the area between Punta Campanella and Capo Miseno was the heart of an elegant and aristocratic holiday resort, with private and public buildings. This phenomenon of the ground slowly sank all the buildings that now constitute a sort of submerged Pompei. In front of Capo di Posillipo, where the yellow tuff cliff falls vertically, rises the small islands of Gaiola, almost attached to the land and encircled by rocks. In the part facing the islands of Gaiola there are beaches and inlets and on the extreme tip, which stretches into the sea like a thin strip that reaches Nisida, dominates an Angioin building, which was once a jail. On the islands of Gaiola rises a modern construction (even if in ruins) that has nothing to do with the precious archaeological area. 
The islands were in fact part of a complex settlement that, beginning from the Villa di Publio Vedio Pollione, included residential buildings, thermae, nymphaeum, garden with terrazzas, a theatre and an odeion (small roofed theatre), and other buildings meant for cultural activities. The present landscape looks very different from the ancient one since the ground movement has provoked the sinking of a large part of the coast, from the Capo di Posillipo till Gaiola and Nisida. Swallowed by the land, by vegetation and the sea, the remains of the villa of Posillipo were discovered in the XV century. In particular, the excavation undertaken in the XIX century has undisclosed the theatre and the odeion, while in 1840, during the realization of the new road of Posillipo, was discovered the Cove of Seiano, a huge access to the villa, dug in the tuff for approximately 800 m. 
Under the water, together with the ancient tanks for fish farming, can also be identified the semi submerged nymphaeum called School of Virgilio. The richness of the sea banks support the variety of the sea organism, constituted by species typical of the Mediterranean, like Sea Slugs, Sea Snails, Bivalves, Sea Urchins and Star Fish that dye this particular stretch of sea. The most common species of fish includes the European Bass and Gilthead Sea Bream; there are some interesting and rare fishes such as: Corb, Dentex, Groper, Striper Red Mullet.

CULTURE AND HISTORY

From an archaeological point of view the area of Gaiola is situated in a strategic territory, on the Capo di Posillipo, next to the Archaeological Park of the Pausilypon where there is the Roman Villa di Publio Vedio Pollione that later became the Villa Imperiale di Augustus. Also the landscape is very magnificent, you can observe the cove of Seiano (the underground passage that leads to the archaeological area of Capo Pausilypon) part of the same archaeological complex of the Villa di Pollione and Nisida (the island is under penitentiary surveillance). The various landslides, due to the particular geologic formation of the hill, continuously modify the aspect of these places, already deeply altered by time, by the consequences of the bradisismo, by ground subsidence and by sea waters rising.
This has also meant the slow disappearance of one of the most famous residential areas of the antiquity. Off Capo di Posillipo (the Rosebery Villa) there are the ruins, now submerged (the so called Pietra salata –salty rock - is one of these), of a marine villa that stretched into the sea thanks to artificial constructions; recently some of its arcades have been recovered. Close to the area of Gaiola, you can find the best conserved and most evocative Roman building of the area, the so-called Palazzo degli Spiriti: a two floor construction, of which the first one is currently submerged, in opus reticulatum, with numerous traces of its re-use and restorations. It is still difficult to specify its original function.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND CRAFTWORK

The local cuisine specialities are closely linked to the Neapolitan tradition: seafood with spaghetti and risotto and raw or sautéed shellfish; the tasteful dishes have the unmistakable flavour of the sea. Famous are the cheeses and the dairy products amongst which we find the mozzarella di bufala, fiordilatte and the treccia di mozzarella, excellent with tomato and basil. Infinite varieties of provoloni and scamorze (chilli, filled, smoked); the succulent ricotta (cheese produced with sheep milk) is used for salted and sweet dishes.

Tourist INFORMAtiON 
• Azienda di Promozione Turistica di Napoli - Tel. 081/7594274

PENISOLA DEL SINIS – ISOLA DI MAL DI VENTRE

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Sardegna
Province: Oristano
Extent:

Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	529	1.356	
Zone B	1.031	5.236	
Zone C	24.113	18.507	
Total	25.673	25.099	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.M. 12/12/97; D.M. 06/09/99; D.M. 17/07/2003
Management: City of Cabras - P.za Eleonora d’Arborea, 1 - 09072 Cabras (OR) - Tel. 0783/290071-0783/3971 - Fax 0783/391097 - e-mail: areamarina.cabras@tiscali.it
Interested Municipalities: City of Cabras - P.za Eleonora d’Arborea, 1 - 09072 Cabras (OR) - Tel. 0783/3971 - Fax 0783/391646
Port Authority: Via dei Calafatti - 09125 Cagliari - Tel. 070/605171 - Fax 070/605172
Medical Services: Ospedale S.Martino Oristano - Tel. 0783/74333; Emergency Doctor (Guardia Medica) Cabras - Tel. 0783/290585 
Nautical Chart: n. 47 scale 1:100.000; n. 48 scale 1:100.000; n. 293 scale 1: 40.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: you can reach the Penisola from Oristano and Cabras, where you arrive from Cagliari and Sassari by the freeway SS n. 131 Carlo Felice.
By bus: in summer time, from 1 July to 30 August, it is possible to use bus lines that leave from Oristano and get to the Sinis Penisola.
By train: get off at Oristano station, Olbia Marittima-Cagliari line.
By boat: you can reach the Isola di Mal di Ventre from the ports of Putzu Idu and Su Pallosau; in the following table there is a list of ferry/hydrofoil: not any of the listed ferries/hydrofoils are accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments (Data supplied by Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003 and complemented by ACLI Anni Verdi, 2003) (Note 1).

Type
(Ferry/Hydrofoil/Other)	Company	
Contact details	Route	Accessibility	
100 seat boat (no car transport)	Isidoro Palmas	339/7920036	Golfo di Oristano - Isola Mal di Ventre	Not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments	
Ferry (no car transporti)	Azzurra	0783/53370 - 347/8217718	Mandriola - Isola di Mal Ventre	Not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments	
Rubber Raft	Naturaventura	0783/52197 - 329/6120372	Mandriola - Isola di Mal Ventre	Not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments	

ACCESS

The Marine Protected Area, established in 1997, is managed by the City of Cabras that releases the permits for the access of the area. This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 2).
Accessible facilities: on four mentioned structures, only two of them are accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. Detailed information is in the following table (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003).

Name	
Type	Contact details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 3)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes/No	
Main Centre	Main Office	0783/290071-0783/3971	P.za Eleonora d'Arborea 1- 09072 Cabras (OR)	Yes	
Local Office 	Visitors Centre	-	P.zza della Festa - 09072 S.Giov. di Sinis - Cabras (OR)	Yes	
Local Office	Laboratory	-	Parco Comunale di Seu - 09072 Loc. Seu (OR)	No	
Shoreline path	Seu Town Park	-	Parco Comunale di Seu - 09072 Loc. Seu (OR)	No	

Shortly a project to prevent beach erosion will begin, it will include the construction of a footbridge on the shores, which will be used to protect the shore and also to facilitate the access for people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. The project includes approximately 1 km of shoreline close to the Seu Town Park.

Itineraries: 
By land: the costal ponds of the Penisola del Sinis offer a unique occasion for bird watching, observing many migratory birds that rest here during their long voyages in between Europe and Africa, amongst them there are various rare species including the Crane, the Red-Crested Pochard, the Collared Pratincole and the Flamingo.
In the following table are indicated the tracks/paths also accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. 
(Data supplied by Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name	
Departing Point	Arrival Point	
Travelling time 
	Length)	Periodical Maintenance 
(Yes/No)	
SEU path
(also with Braille characters )	Town Park in common with MPA - Cabras (OR)	Seu - Cabras (OR)	1 h	300 m	Yes	

By sea:  we suggest to dive along the sea rocks distinguished by the coralligenous, typical of all the area of the Penisola del Sinis and of the Isola di Mal di Ventre; also available are archaeological dives, in the past there have been many shipwrecks caused by the numerous reefs.  
  
THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: the coast of the Penisola del Sinis offers in less than 30 km various habitat. The stretch that delimits to the north the Gulf of Oristano has a low, sandy coast that separates the sea from the coastal ponds of Mistras. Towards Capo San Marco, the coast is higher and near San Giovanni di Sinis it becomes sandy again. Going north, the coast is sandy (here you can find the famous beach of Is Arutas formed by small white quartz sand), and it alternates to rocky cliffs that become high and imposing at Capo Mannu. Beyond, low reefs are alternated sandy coasts till the great complex of dunes of Is Arenas that stretches inland for 8 km forming a true desert area. In front of Capo San Marco, at approximately 7,5 miles, there is the Catalano, an ancient volcano of 230 m in diameter, nearly completely cracked in the middle by a deep fissure.
The Penisola del Sinis, with its complex of coastal ponds, sandy shorelines, cliffs and reefs, constitutes one of the most important wetland of the Mediterranean. The coastal ponds of Mistras, Cabras and Sale Porcus, approximately 15 hectares of swamp, shelter numerous species of aquatic birds such as the Herons, the Ducks, the Geese. Numerous are the species that nest in these lakes, like the Little Egret, the Purple Heron, the Black-winged Stilt and the Gull-billed Tern. The Stagno di Cabras also shelter the most important population of Italy of the Red-crested Pochard, a duck of Sarmantic origin threatened by extinction. The most famous bird of the lakes of the Penisola del Sinis is the Flamingo. Every year, during the winter season, the lagoons are coloured pink: the sa genti arrabbia (the red people, as they are called in Sardegna). For this elegant bird, Sardegna is traditionally an intermediate stage in the migratory route between the Camargue, the immense wetland on the Delta of the Rodano where the greatest European colony resides, and north-Africa, where they spend the winter.
Many individuals, however, spend the winter in Camargue and many other stay on the Sardinian lakes of the Penisola del Sinis and Cagliari, in the mild Mediterranean climate. In addition, on the coasts are present interesting birds like the Peregrine that lives on the high cliffs of Capo San Marco and Abbarosa and is easy to observe while it swiftly dives to capture its prey. The Isola di Mal di Ventre, a granite reef situated at approximately 3,5 miles from the coast of Capo Mannu, it is named after the north-west wind, the malu ventu (bad wind), which blows all the year. The island has wild pristine habitat. On the western side there are small beaches, like Cala dei Pastori, and inlets alternate to rocky coast, while on the western side, the inlet of Cala Maestra, the coast is higher and overhanging. Covered in low maquis, on its reefs you can find the Herring Gull, the Audouin’s Gull and the Pygmy Cormorant.
The marine environment: Also sea life is incredibly rich and flourishing, with sandy banks colonized by immense meadows of Posidonia sea grass and rocky banks with basaltic sea cliffs, with great granite blocks, coves, canyons and extended formations of coralligenous. The Scoglio del Catalano and the Isola di Mal di Ventre are connected by an underwater range. The meadows of Posidonia reach here the maximum depths of the Mediterranean, beyond 40 m, due to limpid water and pristine habitat. The waters of the sea and the sea banks are animated by a great variety of fish, mollusc and crustaceans: Dam selfish, common Cuttlefish, Octopus, Sea Slug, Blenny, Rockfish, Groper, Rainbow wrasse and the rare Sea Bug and Lobsters. At deeper depths, Corals, Madrepora and Sponges cover the rocky banks with many colours. In the waters in front of the coast it is easy to sight dolphins that follow the boats, the Loggerhead Turtle and sometime the rare Leather Back Turtle.

CULTURE AND HISTORY

The first sign of human presence in the Sinis goes back to the Medium Neolithic (4000 B.C.). On the small island of Cuccuru S' Arriu some burial sites have been found with statues that give evidence of the typical religion of the period. The discovering of many Nuragic towers give evidence of the presence in that area of the people of the Nuraghi, perhaps driven here by the abundance of fish. However, the most important historical fact of the ancient times is the expansion in this territory of a great settlement, the one of Tharros, that the Phoenicians founded in the 800 B.C. near a pre-existent nuragic centre. The coastal city became, then, Phoenician and ultimately Roman. In the Mediaeval Age the Sinis already had started a progressive decay: the settlements, numerous in Roman age, began to disappear. Subsequently to the numerous invasions of the pirates, the settlements began to move towards the slopes of the Montiferru hills. Entire populations of fishermen, sailors and tradesmen became a community of shepherds and the marshland progressively took possession of the inhabited areas.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS And craftwork

The typical products of the area are influenced by the tradition of the near by city of Oristano: bottarga (dry fish role), civraxiu, pillonca, sartizzu siccau, sweet cheeses, mustazzolus, bianchittus and gesminus are the most important specialities. As far as the craftwork, worth noting are the figoli of Oristano, tapestries, leather objects, carpets, saddlebags, manufactured baskets and woodwork.

TOURIST INFORMATION
• Ente Provinciale per il Turismo di Oristano - Tel. 0783/36831

PORTO CESAREO

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Puglia
Province: Lecce
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	173	5.302	
Zone B	3.056	0	
Zone C	13.425	27.405	
Total	16.654	32.707	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.M. 12/12/97
Management: the MPA is managed by the Consorzio di Gestione (Management Board) Porto Cesareo which includes the Cities of Porto Cesareo and Nardò and the Province of Lecce - Via Petraroli, 9 - 73010 Porto Cesareo (LE) - Tel. 0833/858111 Fax 0833/858250 -  Web site: www.comune.portocesareo.le.it/parcomarino
Interested Municipalities: City of Porto Cesareo - Via Petraroli, 9 - 73010 Porto Cesareo (LE) - Tel. 0833/569013 - Fax 0833/560755; City of Nardò - P.za Cesare Battisti, 1 - 73048 Nardò (LE) - Tel. 0833/838111 - Fax 0833/567528
Port Authority: Lungomare Marconi, 1 - 73014 Gallipoli (LE) - Tel. 0833/266862 - Fax 0833/264023
Medical Services: Ospedale S.Giuseppe Sambiasi - Tel. 0833/568111; First aid - Tel. 0833/872661
Nautical Chart: n. 27 scale 1:100.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: take the freeway SS n. 101 Lecce-Gallipoli, turning at Nardò, from here follow the freeway SS n.174 direction Porto Cesareo. The coast is also reachable through the coastal road that connects Taranto to Gallipoli.
By bus: various bus-lines leave from Bari, Napoli, Roma, Milano and Torino.
By train: get off at Lecce station, Bologna-Lecce line, and take then the summer line STP for Torre Lapillo or Porto Cesareo.

ACCESS

The Consorzio di Gestione Porto Cesareo, that releases the permits for the access of the area, manages the MPA, established in 1997. The access is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 1).
Accessible facilities: The only mentioned structure, the MPA centre, it is not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003).

Name	
Type	Contact details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 2)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes / No	
A.M.P. "Porto Cesareo"	Main Office	0833/858111	Via Petraroli, 9 - 73010 Porto Cesareo (LE)	No	

ITINERARIES: 

By sea: there are many good scuba diving spots thanks to the presence of various inlets and bays, in-between rocky pinnacles like the Strea Peninsula and the Sperone di Squillace. Around these outlets there are the fascinating sea banks, characterized by the so-called coralligeno pugliese (rocks covered with encrusting sea organisms).

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: the coastline of Porto Cesareo is particularly indented and includes areas with rocky terraced plateaux: and sand dunes, the later are found mainly inland. Reefs and small islands enliven the landscape like the Isola Grande, in front of Porto Cesareo. A particularity of the area are the spunnulate, from the dialectal expression spunnare that means to sink; they are dolinas originated by the collapse of underground carstick caves that are often filled up with water like the Palude del Capitano which is situated at approximately 2 km from Torre S. Isidoro and is fed by resurgences of fresh and salted water, that get here through a complex of channels.. The vegetation is constituted by approximately 200 species typical of the coastal environment such as the Sea Rush and the Musk grass (near the Palude del Conte at Punta Prosciutto), the vegetation type is the Mediterranean maquis
Interesting the presence of the native Statice, typical of the rocky coasts of Salento, that together with other salt tolerant plants, belongs to an exclusive plant communities of the pugliese region. The periodic flooding of the lower areas, with sand deposits and remarkable water logging, causes the colonization of these species. Due to the habitat heterogeneity, the terrestrial fauna is particularly fascinating with various endemism.
The marine environment
The beaches extend with sandy or pebbled sea banks, until approximately 7 m of depth. The habitat diversity, promotes the coexistence of numerous biological communities and marine organisms. In the inner part of the Strea inlet, the warm summer water allows the existence of thermophile (requiring warm temperatures for growth) species, while not far away are found sandy sea beds of a sea grass (Cymodocea) and of a seaweed (Caulerpa). In front of the town of Porto Cesareo the presence of wastewater favours the growth of species that tolerate polluted waters, fortunately in open sea that the marine life develops with greater richness and diversity. The rocky banks are distinguished by, in the upper part, the typical photophilous (that grows better in strong light) algae, and more in depth, by interesting formations of coralligeno (rocks covered with many sea encrusting organism), amongst the most common elements: the porifer Axinella cannabina and the Sea Slug Phyllidia pulitzer. In the area there is one of the most interesting ecosystems of the Mediterranean: the meadows of Posidonia sea grass, that here reach depths of almost 50 m.
In the marine area are present the Loggerhead turtle and the Leather Back turtle, both protected. In particular, the sight of the Loggerhead turtle off Torre Lapillo makes this seacoast one of the last areas of nesting along the coasts of the Italian peninsula. At the end of the 1970’s the presence of the Monk seal, now locally extinct, has been recorded.

CULTURE AND HISTORY
The stretch of sea that goes from Torre S. Isidoro to Torre Lapillo is rich in archaeological discoveries dating back to the Bronze Age. The coast through the centuries was subject to Arab raids, above all as a result of the seizure of Otranto in 1480. For this reason between 1532 and 1537 were constructed the defensive watchtowers of circular shape; between 1560 and 1568 others towers of quadrangular shape were built: still today they distinguish the coastal landscape.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS And CRAFTWORK
Handicrafts, working techniques and traditions have made the history of the typical craftwork of Lecce. Handmade articles made with an ancient art, inherited by the popular tradition still tied to rituals and religious symbols. The typical products of the area are oil, olives, vegetables and milled flour, together with an enormous production of cereals. Aromatic species and spices like basil, capers and oregano, make the local cuisine tasty and genuine.

TOURIST INFORMATION
• Azienda di Promozione Turistica d’Otranto - Tel. 0836/801436
• Azienda di Promozione Turistica di Lecce - Tel. 0832/314117
• Pro Loco di Porto Cesareo - Tel. 0833/569086
• Pro Loco di Gallipoli - Tel. 0833/262529
The following structures (Note 3) are accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name	Type	Contact details	Address/Place	
Lido Congedo-Cala Serena	Seaside Resort	-	Via Prov.le P.Cesareo - Torre Lapillo	
Bahia del Sol	Seaside Resort	-	Torre Lapillo	
Belvedere Lido	Seaside Resort	-	Via 529K da Denom.	
Bacino Grande	Seaside Resort	0833/565110	-	
Le Dune	Seaside Resort	0883/560660	Via dei Bacini 89	
Lido Max	Seaside Resort	0833/565143	-	
Tabù	Seaside Resort	0833/560339	Loc.tà L'Approdo	
La Pineta	Seaside Resort	0833/563283	Strada Torre Lapillo	
Stella Maris	Seaside Resort	0833/565354	Strada Torre Lapillo	

It is also possible to log on the website www.italiapertutti.it, to obtain more information on accessibility in the structures and Italian infrastructures of tourist interest.

PORTOFINO

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Liguria
Province: Genova
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line- metres	
Zone A	18	1.402	
Zone B	134	6.299	
Zone C	194	6.192	
Total	346	13.893	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.M. 06/06/98; D.M. 26/04/99; Regulation D.M. 19/02/02
Management: the Management Board is constituted by the Province of Genova, the three interested municipalities and the University of Genova - Viale Rainusso, 14 - Villa Carmagnola - 16038 S. Margherita Ligure (GE) - Tel. 0185/289649 - Fax 0185/293002 - e-mail: amp.portofino@libero.it - Web site: www.riservaportofino.it 
Interested Municipalities: City of Portofino - P.zza Libertà, 13/b - 16034 Portofino (GE) - Tel. 0185269075 - Fax 0185/269646; City of Camogli - Via XX Settembre, 1 - 16032 Camogli (GE) - Tel. 0185/72901 - Fax 0185/773504; City of Santa Margherita Ligure - P.zza Mazzini, 46 - 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure (GE) - Tel. 0185/2051 - Fax 0185/280982
Port Authority: via dei Magazzini Generali, 4 - 16100 Genova - Tel. 010/27771 - Fax 010/277427
Medical Services: Emergency (Pronto Soccorso) Santa Margherita Ligure - Tel. 0185/6831; hyperbaric chamber at the hospital San Martino di Genova  - Tel. 010/3629926
Nautical Chart: n. 2 scale 1: 100.000; n. 107 scale 1:30.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: easily reachable by the freeway SS n. 1 Aurelia, turning at Rapallo and San Lorenzo direction Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino, or by the highway A12 Genova-Livorno (exit Recco coming from the west, exit Rapallo coming from the east). Please remember that the town of Portofino is not accessible to cars: the limited number of parking spots at the entrance causes traffic jams during summer time. 
By bus: you can use line buses with stops at Camogli, Ruta, San Rocco, Nozarego, Santa Margherita Ligure, Paraggi and Portofino.
By boat: get off at Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure, Genova-La Spezia-Pisa line.
By ferry: there is a ferry line between Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo and Camogli. In the following table there is a list of various ferry lines: not any of the listed ferries/hydrofoils are accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003) (Note 1)

Type
(Ferry/Hydrofoil/Other)	Company name	
Contact details	Route	Accessibility	
Ferry (no car transport)	Alimar	010/255975	Genova-S.Fruttuoso-5 Terre-Portofino	Not accessible to people with disabilities 	
Ferry (no car transport)	Cooperativa Battellieri	010/265712	Genova-S.Fruttuoso- 5Terre-Portofino	Not accessible to people with disabilities	

ACCESS

The MPA, instituted in 1998, is managed by Consorzio di Gestione (Management Board) dell'Area Marina Protetta di Portofino (formed by the Province of Genova and the three interested municipalities) that releases the permit to access the area. This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 2).
Accessible facilities: on two mentioned facilities, both can be accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)
Name 	
Type	Contact details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 3)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes /No	
Main Office 	Main Office	-	Via alla Penisola - 16034 Portofino (GE)	Yes	
Headquarter and visitors centre 	Headquarter and visitors centre 	0185/289649	Viale Rainusso, 14 - 16038 S.Margherita Ligure (GE)	Yes	

Itineraries:
 
By land: numerous paths and routes are present along the slopes of the Mount of Portofino. The most spectacular are those of the steep southern slope, that faces the sea between Punta Chiappa and Portofino or the one that comes down to the colourful village of San Fruttuoso, in the world famous bay. This bay is an arrival point for boat excursions departing from Camogli, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo and other localities of the Riviera. It is possible to use the transport systems on the territory of the MPA: taxis and car rental are present. 

By sea: scuba diving enthusiasts can reach the shoals of the Isuela near Punta Chiappa, Punta del Buco, Punta Torretta, Cala degli Inglesi, Punta del Faro and, obviously, the famous statue of the Christ of the Abysses (Cristo degli Abissi), in San Fruttuoso. Some scuba diving charters can accommodate people with mobility and/or sensory impairments and undertake the HAS (Handicapped Scuba Association) programs (the HSA program teaches scuba diving sports to people with disability with specifically trained instructors). In the following prospect, you can check the various marine means of transport, accessible also to people in wheel chairs. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Type	Company	
Departing Point	Arrival Point	Accessibilità	Notes	
Ferry	Servizio Marittimo del Tigullio (0185/284670)	S.Margherita Ligure	S.Fruttuoso	Accessible to people with disabilities 	www.traghettiportofino.it	
Ferry	Soc. Golfo Paradiso (0185/772091)	Camogli	S.Fruttuoso	Accessible to people with disabilities	-	

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: the cape of Portofino constitutes one of the most important outlets of eastern Liguria. It has a quadrangular shape and stretches into the sea for approximately 5 km, delimiting to the west, the Gulf of the Paradise and to east, the Gulf of the Tigullio. To the North the cliff is constituted by calcareous marl and to the south by conglomerate rock. The southern side is approximately 6 km long and comprises the two inlets Cala dell’Oro and San Fruttuoso and a series of high and steep falesie (sea cliff), that continue under the water, until deep depths (40 and 50 m), where the muddy and debris banks begin. The emerged falesie are characterized by the presence of typical vegetation of the coastal cliffs, in which dominates the Sea Fennel. Amongst the most interesting species, there is the Sea Lavender from Liguria here at the oriental limits of its range. Higher, along the slopes exposed to the south, there is the maquis with the Heath tree and the Strawberry tree. Also present is the Maritime Pine and the Aleppo’s Pine, together with the Euphorbia Tree. 
The flora of the cape is rich and heterogeneous, with more than 700 species, amongst which some endemism like the ligulate Saxifraga and the Ligurian Knapweed. In addition, the terrestrial fauna is influenced by the rich environment diversity of the cape. Numerous vertebrates are present: amongst the amphibians we note the Smooth Newt, the Common Tree Frog, the Common Newt, the parsley frog, the Jewelled Lacerta and the Mediterranean Gecko. The bird life is very rich and includes various sea birds like the Cormorant, the Gannet, the Manx Shearwater, the Common Tern, the Herring Gull and the Audouin’s Gull. In addition, some invertebrate endemism are present.

The marine environment: the sea banks of Portofino are amongst the richest and most interesting not only of the Riviera Ligure Sea, but also of the entire Mediterranean, and for this reason they are amongst the most studied and visited. The typical photophilic communities of the western Mediterranean distinguish the upper part of the submerged reefs, while in the lower part the typical sciophilous organism are present. Meadows and patches of Posidonia sea grass are present. The marine banks are rich in species and various biocenosis are present; amongst which the coralligenous, the semi dark coves and the coastal debris. There are many white, red yellow, white and pink gorgonian, the Yellow Cluster Anemone and the Sardinian coral.

CULTURE AND HISTORY

The first traces of the human presence on the Cape go back to the Bronze Age (XIV sec. B.C.), even if the people of Liguria definitely settled down at the end of the Iron Age (II sec. B.C.) around the Castellaro of Camogli. Later, the Roman take over determines the movement of the political centre on the western slopes, where the inlet of Portofino (Portus Delphini) represents one of the best natural landings of the Mediterranean. Around the 10th century, the Benedictines monks take over a feudal control of the Abbey of San Fruttuoso one of the most important ecclesiastical institutions of the Mediterranean and today amongst the most appreciated monumental complexes of the Liguria coast.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND CRAFTWORK

Ligurian gastronomic specialties are based on an essential cuisine, traditionally Mediterranean. The pesto is the most famous Ligurian dish in Italy and in the world and even if the Riviera Ligure follows the genovese cuisine quite faithfully, it does introduce some interesting innovations: as an example, in the Tigullio the pesto is made, instead of using the parmesan and the pecorino cheese, with a particular variety of cheese called Prescinseua. Between seafood, the place of honour goes to the stockfish accomodato, to fish soups and to a fish recipe called ciuppin. Whereas inland other traditional Ligurian dishes are popular including rabbit cooked with herbs, pie cooked with beet (or artichokes according to the season) called Pasqualina, Pansotti with walnut sauce, chickpea soup with zemino, the panissa, the farinata, the sage focaccia. 

TOURIST INFORMATION

• Azienda di Promozione Turistica di Genova - Tel. 010/576791
• Azienda di Promozione Turistica Tigullio - Tel. 0185/29291
• Azienda d’Informazione e d’Accoglienza Turistica di Portofino - Tel. 0185/269024
• Pro loco di Camogli - Tel. 0185/771066
The following structures are accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name	
Type	Contact details	Address/Place	
Bagni Borsetti	Seaside Resort	0185/284909	Via Paraggi a mare - Paraggi - 16038 S.Margherita Ligure (GE)	
Bagni Fiore	Seaside Resort	0185/284831	Via Paraggi a mare - Paraggi - 16038 S.Margherita Ligure (GE)	

It is also possible to log on the website www.italiapertutti.it, to obtain more information on accessibility in the structures and Italian infrastructures of tourist interest.

PUNTA CAMPANELLA

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Campania
Province: Napoli, Salerno
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	181	720	
Zone B	674	15.531	
Zone C	684	15.182	
Total	1.539	31.433	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.M. 12/12/97, D.M. 13/06/00
Management: the Management Board is constituted by six interested municipalities - V.le Filangieri, 40 - 80061 Massa Lubrense (NA) - Tel. 081/8089877 - Fax 081/8789663 - e-mail: info@puntacampanella.org - Web site: www.puntacampanella.org
Interested Municipalities: City of Piano di Sorrento - P.zza Cota - 80063 Piano di Sorrento (NA) - Tel. 081/5321478 - Fax 081/5321484; City of Vico Equense - C.so Filangieri, 98 - 80069 Vico Equense (NA) - tel. 081/8019111 - Fax 081/8016265; City of Massa Lubrense - P.za Vescovado, 2 - 80061 Massa Lubrense (NA) - tel. 081/8789083 - Fax 081/8789576; City of Sorrento - P.za Sant'Antonino, 8 - 80067 Sorrento (NA) - tel. 081/8784333 - Fax 081/8071980; City of Sant’Agnello - P.zza Municipio - 80065 Sant'Agnello (NA) - Tel. 081/5332111 - Fax 081/8771226; City of Positano - Via Chiesa Nuova - 84017 Positano (NA) - Tel. 089/875050 - Fax 089/811122
Port Authority: P.zza Incrociatore S. Giorgio, 4 - 80053 Castellammare di Stabia (NA) - Tel. 081/8711086 - Fax 081/8710078
Medical Services: Ospedale S.Maria della Misericordia di Sorrento - Tel. 081/5331111
Nautical Chart: n. 10 scale 1:100.000; n. 127 scale 1:60.000; n. 131 scale 1:30.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: from Napoli follow the highway A3 exit Castellammare di Stabia. From here follow the freeway SS n. 145 until Sorrento and then turn direction Massa Lubrense.
By bus: get to Sorrento and from there take the bus line SITA that stops in Viale Filangieri in Massa Lubrense where there is the centre of the MPA.
By train: get off at Napoli station Piazza Garibaldi and get to Sorrento by the Circumvesuviana.
By boat:  ferry and hydrofoil, operate from Napoli, Molo Beverello, for Sorrento. In the following table, there is a list of ferry/hydrofoil: not any of the listed ferries/hydrofoils are accessible to people with mobility or/and sensory impairments (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003 and complemented by Association ACLI Anni Verdi, 2003)

Type
(Ferry/Hydrofoil/Other)	Company	
Contact details	Route	Accessibility	
Ferry (cars allowed)	Libera Navigazione del Golfo	081/5520763	Napoli-Sorrento	Not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairment 	
Hydrofoil (no cars allowed)	Metrò del mare	199446644	Napoli-Sorrento	Not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairment	
Imbarcadero (no cars allowed)	Cooperativa Sant’Antonio di Marina del Cantone	081/8081638	Marina del Cantone, Marina della Lubra-Punta Campanella	Not accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairment	

ACCESS

The Marine Protected Area, established in 1997, is managed by Consorzio di Gestione Marine Protected Area Punta Campanella that releases the permits for the access of the area. This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 1).
Accessible facilities: on two mentioned centres, both can be used by people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. Detailed information is present in the following prospect. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name 	
Type	Contact details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 2)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes / No	
Main office	Office	081/8089877	Viale Filangieri, 40 - 80061 Massa Lubrense (NA)	Yes	
Visitors Centre	Visitors Centre	081/8089877	Viale Filangieri, 40 - 80061 Massa Lubrense (NA)	Yes	

Itineraries: 
By land: car rental services and taxis.
By sea: suggestive scuba diving spots are: Scoglio della Penna and Punta Campanella; special guided scuba diving tours are held at Scogli del Vervece and at the small Islands of Galli.

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT 

Landscape and wildlife: Punta Campanella is at the edge of the Sorrento Peninsula that encloses to the south-east the Golfo di Napoli. The cape comprises: the ridge from Punta Campanella to Monte San Costanzo, the two bays of Jeranto and Mitigliano and the Montalto peninsula. The limestone cape, that reaches 497 m, has a particular morphology with a high and imposing coast. Typical are the overhanging cliffs (Punta del Cavallo) and the small islands (Scogli di Vetara e dei Galli) on the southern side. All over the area the Mediterranean maquis vegetation is present with shrubby species such as:  Rosemary, Myrtle, Juniper, Mastic Tree and the Olive Tree. The rare European Fan Palm is also present. There are some nesting couples of travelling Peregrine Falcon and sightings of migratory birds can easily be made.

The marine environment: the coast is steep and indented with cavity and caves, including the Cove of Mitigliano (80 m long, located between at 8 and 16 m of depth), the Cave of Scaletta (30 long m) and the Gemelli Cave (24 m of depth). Similarly to the sea banks of nearby island of Capri, the banks of Punta Campanella are distinguished by the presence of coralligenous (encrusting and calcareous organism); unfortunately the banks have been damaged by the indiscriminate fishing activity. Furthermore the fishing of the Warty Venus strongly altered the marine ecosystem extirpating the Posidonia sea grass, as well, the illegal fishing of European Date Mussel, carried out demolishing the rocky substrate, has remarkably contributed to the destruction the habitat, with the consequent local extinction of animals and plant species.

CULTURE AND HISTORY 

The area between the river Sarno and Punta Campanella has been distinguished from the VIII century B.C. by the presence of various villages that, towards the VI century, moved on the coastline between Pompei and Stabia, and in the ports of the Sorrento Peninsula, where the Etruscan trade routes passed by. Towards the end of the V century the Osco-Sanniti, coming from the Italic populations of the mountains of the Sannio, gradually occupied all the Region of Campania, until the end of the IV century, when the Roman domination began.  During this period, the territory endured a remarkable transformation: various country villas began rising, thanks to the production of the famous Sorrentino wine and to the furnaces that made amphorae and chalices; furthermore in all the panoramic points of the coast, villas of aristocrat Roman families were built. Around the XVI century in place of some of these villas, watchtowers were built against the Saraceni attacks, while others villas were replaced by monasteries. 

TYPICAL PRODucts And craftwork

The tradition of dairy production is a benchmark in the history is Massa Lubrense. In many other towns of the Lattari Mountains (the name derives from the great production of milk: in Italian latte), numerous cheese factories continue to produce chesees of high quality. In Massa two particular qualities have been granted with the European Union trade mark: the treccia (mozzarella cheese with a particular shape) and the caciocavallo (partially seasoned cheese shaped in the form of a big pear). Another valuable product is the oil, that for its taste, characteristic and distinguished aroma has obtained the D.O.P. trade-mark (appellation guaranteeing the origin of the product) from the European Union. Numerous liqueurs are also produced amongst which Limoncello and others made with:  Myrtle, Finocchietto (from the wild fennel, using the leaves, seeds or the steles), Carrubo (dialectal name: sciuscella), Laurel and  Basil.

tourist information

• Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno e Turismo di Sorrento e Sant’Agnello - Tel. 081/8074033  
• Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno e Turismo di Positano - Tel. 089/875067
• Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno e Turismo di Vico Equense - Tel. 081/8015752
• Pro Loco di Massa Lubrense - Tel. 081/5339021
The following facilities (Note 3) are accessible to by people with mobility and/or sensory impairment. (Data Guidebooks Touring Campeggi e Villaggi Turistici, 2003 and Touring Alberghi e ristoranti d’Italia, 2003)

Name 	Type	Contact details	Address/Place	
I Pini 	Camping and tourist resort	081/8786891	C.so Italia, 242 - 80063 Piano di Sorrento (NA)	
Bellavista 	Hotel	081/8789181	Via Partenope, 26 - 80061 Massa Lubrense (NA)	
Aequa 	Hotel	081/8015331	Via Filangieri, 46 - 80069 Vico Equense (NA)	
Eden Bleu 	Hotel	081/8028550	Loc. Marina di Equa - Via Murrano, 9 - 80066 Vico Equense (NA)	
G.H. Cesare Augusto (2)	Hotel	081/8782700	Via degli Aranci, 108 - 80067 Sorrento (NA)	
G.H. Cocumella (2)	Hotel	081/8782933	Via Cocumella, 7 - 80065 Sant’Agnello (NA)	
Cristina (2)	Hotel	081/8074253	Via Privata Rubinacci, 6 - 80065 Sant’Agnello (NA)	

SAntuario per i mammiferi marini 

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: International Marine Protected Area
Countries: France, Italy and Principality of Monaco
Interested Regions in the Italian side: Liguria, Sardegna and Toscana
Institution: International agreement 25/11/99; approved with L. n. 391/01
Management: Committee still to be established (D.M. 07/02/03 - G.U. n. 45 24/02/03; D.M. 26/01/04 - G.U. n. 34 11/02/04)

IN BRIEF

The Santuario per i Mammiferi Marini (Sanctuary of Marine Mammals) (Note 1) is a protection area for marine mammals and for their habitat that live in the stretch of sea in between Punta Escampobariou near Tolone (France) and Capo Falcone (Sardegna) to the west, and Capo Ferro (Sardegna) and the Foce of the Chiarone to the east (Toscana). This immense stretch of sea represents an international protected area (in the Mediterranean), created according to an International agreement between France, Italy and Principality of Monaco, to guard the immense stretch of sea constituted by marine areas situated between the French Republic, the Italian Republic and the Principality of Monaco and the adjacent areas of sea. For its immense extension, for the particular binding and the complexity, it is difficult to compare it to the other Italian marine protected areas. The Sanctuary of Marine Mammals has been inserted in the list of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance – (SPAMIs), provided by the protocol concerning the Specially Protected Areas and the Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean (SPA Protocol) of the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Convention of Barcelona). 
In the establishment agreement, it has prohibited the capture of marine mammals and fishing with pelagic nets, adopting all the appropriate measures for the conservation of marine mammals and their habitat, including the prevention of all types of pollution. Moreover the different countries will have to adopt national strategies aiming to the progressive abolition of the drainages of toxic substances in the Sanctuary, giving the priority to those listed in the Annex I of the Protocol of the Convention of Barcelona regarding the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against the pollution deriving from land base sources and activities. At present specific relative measures for the safeguard in the area have not yet been established, except for the prohibition of the motorboats competition. 

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

The marine environment: in the region of sea in between Provence, Principality of Monaco, Liguria, Sardegna and Corsica, thanks to the dominant winds and the hydrographical conformation of this area, in the summer months up welling currents, transport and suspend in the water, plankton, Krill and nutrients that feed the marine creatures that live in this area. It is for this reason that Fin Whales, numerous species of dolphins, Cuvier’s Whales and Sperm Whales are sighted in the Ligure-Provenzale sea basin where they feed in abundance to compensate the shortage of food in the winter period. Eight species of marine mammals live in its approximately 90,000 km2 of extent: amongst which 1.000 whales and 25.000 dolphins striped. What emerged from recent studies has turned out to be really interesting: it has been assumed the existence of populations of the different species of cetaceans permanently living in the Liguria-Provenzale sea basin. From researches undertaken taking samples of skin from these mammals, it has been discovered that their DNA differs from that one of the oceanic specimens. 
It can therefore be said   that the cetaceans that live in this sea belong to a specific population even if the exchanges with the Atlantic Ocean specimens are remarkable. Moreover it has been observed that the cetaceans adopt peculiar social behaviours, probably due to the narrow shape of the sea basin, the scarcity of predators and the lack of migratory requirements. What you can immediately note is the lack of large pods, often the animals swim in small groups or in couples or even alone; the breeding seasons also varies. 
The insufficient production of biomass from organisms due to the deficiency of an uprising movement of the water of the Mediterranean, does not characterize instead the western Mar Ligure, where it is very abundant. It is therefore certain that in this relatively circumscribed portion of the Mediterranean, in determined periods of the year blooms an extraordinary marine richness formed by numerous micro-organisms of different dimensions and characteristics (abundant is the Meganictyphanes Norvegica belonging to the family of the Eufasiacei). In particular, ‘baleen’ whales sieve these planktonic organisms (named Krill from the Norwegian word meaning whale food) through fringed horny plates in the mouth.

TOURIST INFORMATION
• Ufficio Turistico di Capalbio - Tel. 0564/896601 
• IAT di Genova - tel. 010/2462633 
• Ufficio Turistico di Stintino - tel. 079/520081
• Pro Loco di Porto Torres - tel. 079/515000

SECCHE DI TOR PATERNO

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Lazio
Province: Roma
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	0	0	
Zone B	1.387	0	
Zone C	0	0	
Total	1.387	0	

Institution: L. n. 394/91; D.M. 29/11/00
Management: Ente Regionale Roma Natura - Villa Mazzanti - Via Gomenizza, 81 - 00195 Roma - Tel. 06/35403436 - Fax 06/35491519 - e-mail: torpaterno@romanatura.it - Web site: www.ampsecchetorpaterno.it
Interested Municipalities: City of Roma - P.le di Porta Metronia, 2 - 00186 Roma - Tel. 06/67109301-2-3 - Fax 06/67109304; City of Pomezia - P.za S. Benedetto da Norcia - 00040 Pomezia (RM) - Tel. 06/911461-91146255 - Fax 06/91146231-91146529
Port Authority: Guardia Costiera di Fiumicino - V.le Traiano, 37 - Tel. 06/65617349 - Fax 06/65617303
Medical services: Ospedale G.B. Grassi di Ostia - Tel. 06/56481; Emergency (Pronto soccorso) - Tel. 06/6584250; hyperbaric chamber- Tel. 06/7008953-7008953
Nautical Chart: n. 7 scale 1:100.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: easily reachable by car following the freeway SS n. 601 (via Severiana) that connects Ostia to Anzio.
By bus: bus line COTRAL from Roma and other places of the Region Lazio.
By train: get off at the Roma Termini station and take the underground (metro) to Ostia.
By boat: from the Coast the Secche can be easily reached with private boats from the Ostia port.

ACCESS

The Marine Protected Area, established in 2000, is managed by the Ente Regionale Roma Natura that releases the permits for the access of the area. This is restricted within only one zone with protection status (Zone B)(Note 1).
Accessible facilities: of two mentioned centres, both can be used by people with mobility and/or sensory impairments.  
Detailed information is in the following table. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name	
Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 2)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes/No	
Villa Mazzanti	Main Office	06/35403436	Via Gomenizza, 81 - 00195 Roma	Yes	
Casa del Mare	Visitors-Information Centre, Casa del Parco	-	Via del Canale di Castelfusano, 13 - 00122 Ostia (RM)	Yes	

Itineraries: 

By land: the MPA does not include coastal areas and is located off the shore. There is a transport system that allows you to move mainly on the territory of the nearest coastal towns
 of Ostia and Pomezia: there are minibus, taxi, bus and shuttles from and to  the airport Leonardo da Vinci (located in Fiumicino).
By sea: there is a specific service of boat rental accessible for wheel chairs users: in the following table are indicated the details of the service. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Type 	Company	
 Contact Details	Departure Point	Accessibility	Notes	
Sail boats	Associazione Mareaperto	06/5180123	Ostia and  Fiumicino	-	The Association Mareaperto organizes sailing courses also for people with disabilities	

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

The marine environment: The Secche di Tor Paterno are not far from the inland Protected Areas of Castel Fusano and Castel Porziano where in the Pine forest the Kestrel, the Hoopoe and the Tawny Owl nest and where, in the Mediterranean maquis vegetation, there is the Tortoise. The Secche di Tor Paterno is an area of approximately 10 hectares, entirely submerged, called the Secche  (the shallow waters) for the presence of a wide reef formation that rises on the sandy flat banks of the Roman shoreline. The Secche have an isolated structure, developed towards the north-east/south-west, with a length of approximately 2 km and a width of little more than 500 m. The maximum height above the surrounding banks is of approximately 20 m, while the maximum depth is of approximately 60 m.
In the Secche, sediment suspended in the water is scarce and it is limited to erosion or detritus and in particular to the mattes (dense stratum of Posidonia’s rhizomes and dead leaves filled with sediment) in the Posidonia meadows. In the benthos zone (the sea lower region including the bed) the Secche have a very particular environment, whose essential characteristic is the presence of coralligenous formations mixed to Posidonia sea grass. This determines a remarkable variety of microhabitat, which is an element of great importance and beauty from a naturalistic point of view. The numerous sea organisms make these banks spectacular, with corals, Gorgonian and fishes such as the Striped Red Mullet, the Gilthead Sea Bream, the Corb, the Rockfish, and the Octopus.

CULTURE AND HISTORY

The area of Ostia and its inland has been populated since the ancient times, gathering civilizations of various origins. Towards the half of the IV century B.C. a Castrum rose, between the Laurentina and the Ostiense way, it was the original fulcrum of the village of Ostia. In Roman age, during the first Phoenician war (264-241 B.C.), Ostia was used as a base for war operations. From the I century B.C. until the III B.C. Ostia had a constant development. Subordinate to the barbaric invasions and the Saracen incursions during the Middle Ages; the town had a successive stability during the Renaissance. The modern city of Ostia rose in the second half of the XIX century, during the unification of Italy, with the recovery of the nearby swampy areas.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND craftwork

In these areas are conserved the traditions of the Roman countryside (Campagna Romana). Important products in this particular area are: the dairy product (ricotta and Roman caciotta), the Roman fava beans and the oil produced in an area at the borders of the Sabina D.O.P. (appellation guaranteeing the origin of the product)

TOURIST INFORMATION

The following facilities (Note 3) are accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments such as children, elderly people and people with disabilities.
(Data Guidebooks Touring Campeggi e villaggi turistici, 2003 and Touring Alberghi e ristoranti d’Italia, 2003) 

Name	Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	
Delfino 	Camping	06/9158781	Loc.Tor Vaianica, Via Siviglia, 9 - 00040 Pomezia (RM)	
Country Club Castelfusano 	Camping and Tourist Resort	06/56185490	Loc.Castelfusano, P.zza Castefusano, 1 - 00121 Lido di Ostia (RM)	
Internazional Camping of Castelfusano 	Camping and Tourist Resort	06/5623304	Via Litoranea al km 1,2 - 00121 Lido di Ostia (RM)	
Enea 	Hotel	06/9107021	Via del Mare, 83 - 00040 Pomezia (RM)	
Selene 	Hotel	06/911701	Via Pontina al km 30 - 00040 Pomezia (RM)	

TAVOLARA - PUNTA CODA CAVALLO

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Protected Marine Area 
Region: Sardegna
Province: Sassari
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line - metres	
Zone A	529	4.447	
Zone B	3.113	23.425	
Zone C	11.715	48.222	
Total	15.357	76.094	

Institution: L. n. 979/82; D.M. 12/12/97; D.M. 28/11/01
Management: temporarily managed by the Cities of Olbia, San Teodoro and Loiri-Porto San Paolo - Corso Umberto I snc - 07026 Olbia (SS) - Tel. 0789/5200 Fax 0789/25007 - E-mail: dragaglia@comuneolbia.ss.it - Web site: www.comuneolbia.ss.it, the definitive management of the MPA will be given, (art. 2, c 37 L. n. 426/98), to public and scientific institutions and/or environmental associations possibly linked together.
Interested Municipalities: City of Loiri-Porto San Paolo - Via Dante, 1 - 07020 Loiri (SS) - Tel. 0789/41106 - Fax 0789/41016; City of Olbia - Corso Umberto I - 07026 Olbia (SS) - Tel. 0789/52000 - Fax 0789/25007; City of San Teodoro - P.zza Emilio Lussu, 1 - 08020 San Teodoro (NU) - Tel. 0784/865723 - Fax 0784/865192
Port Authority: V.le Isola Bianca - 07026 Olbia (SS) - Tel. 0789/21243 - Fax 0789/27737
Medical Services: Ospedale San Giovanni di Dio d’Olbia - Tel. 0789/552200; Oxygen therapy at hyperbaric pressure at La Maddalena - Tel. 0789/791200; Emergency Doctor (Guardia Medica) Porto San Paolo - Tel. 0789/40566
Nautical Chart: n. 42 scale 1:100.000; n. 43 scale 1: 100.000, n. 322 scale 1:25.000

HOW TO GET THERE

By car: to get to Porto San Paolo take from Olbia the freeway SS n. 125, while to get to Golfo Aranci take from Olbia the road SP n. 82.
By bus: it is possible to use the bus line ARST from many Sardinian cities.
By train: get off at Olbia station, Olbia-Cagliari line or at Olbia Marittima station, Genova and Civitavecchia line. 
By boat: Isola di Tavolara is reachable by sea from the small pier of Porto San Paolo with boats that in 10 minutes reach the beach of Spalmatore di Terra. From Golfo Aranci in the summer time boat tours are organized with stops in the most beautiful places of Tavolara, Molara e Molarotto. In the following table are mentioned the type of marine transport: not any of the listed marine transports are accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments.  (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003 and complemented by Association ACLI Anni Verdi) (Note 1)

Type  (Ferry/Hydrofoil/Other)	Navigation Company	
Contact Details	Route	Accessibility	
Ferry (car transport)	Onda 3	348/3515523	Golfo Aranci-Isola di Tavolara	Not accessible to people with disabilities	
Ferry (no car transport)	Tavolara gite e traghetti	338/6467684	Porto San Paolo-Isola Tavolara	Not accessible to people with disabilities	

By plain: Costa Smeralda airport is reachable from Olbia with bus n. 2.

ACCESS

The MPA, established in 1997, is temporarily managed by Consorzio di Gestione (Management Board) dell’Area Marina Protetta Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo that releases the permits for the access to the area. This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 2).
Accessible facilities. Only the main office of the Consortium of the MPA is accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments.  Detailed information is in the following table. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name	
Type	Contact Details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 3)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes / No	
City of Olbia - MPA	Main Office	0789/52172	Via Dante, 1 - 07028 Olbia (SS)	Yes	

Itineraries: 
by sea: numerous scuba diving spots in the area are particularly scenic, amongst which the Secca del Papa or the close island of Molarotto, near the reef of the Fratelli, where there is the Omega, a fishing boat that was wrecked during a storm. With one of the small boats that leave from Porto San Paolo it is possible to circumnavigate the island and discover its spectacular coastal morphologies.

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT 

Landscape and wildlife: the Sardinian coast in between Capo Ceraso and Capo Coda Cavallo is formed by various small caves and capes of sand and of granite and it is enriched by the imposing shape of the island of Tavolara. The island, for its size, appears in all its 565 m of height, with steep and inaccessible cliffs that raise vertical from the water. This impressive prismatic limestone lies on a granite base that extends throughout the other smaller surrounding islands. Only the southern part of the island extends towards the Sardinian coast with a narrow strip of sand and cliffs, the Spalmatore di Terra. This part, nearly totally plain, is the only reachable part of the island. Here are present two beaches, small typical houses of the island and some small approaching piers for boat landing. The rest of Tavolara has the aspect of an inaccessible mountain, desolate and with cliffs that fall sheer into the sea. For the presence of a NATO military base, the two thirds of this island are off-limits, with denied access from the sea and from land. The objective difficulties in approaching this part of the Island, has allowed the conservation of some rare botanical species like the Sardinian Sea Daffodil, and the species of Sea lavender and Strawflower.
In the steep valleys lives the celebrated gold teeth goat, a wild goat, and on the rocky sea cliffs that fall sheer to the sea, birds such as the Peregrine, the Eleonora’s Falcon, the Audouin’s Gull, the Pygmy Cormorant and the Storm Petrel nest. In front of Tavolara, towards south, separated from a tight stretch of sea, lies the island of Molara, completely different from the greater island. Of entirely granite, Molara is a low island, covered by rare bushes of Mediterranean maquis. Two miles to the east there is Molarotto, not much bigger than a rock; as Molara is entirely of granite with some fig trees that grow resisting the fury of the winds and with the presence of the Pygmy Cormorant with numerous individuals that stand on the cliffs drying their feathers. Here lives a blackish lizard, Podarcis tiliguerta ranzii, an exclusive species of this ‘rock’. In the stretch of sea in between Tavolara and Porto San Paolo, not far from the Sardinian coast, there is an island named Piana.
The marine environment: the white vertical cliffs of Tavolara contrast with the rounded shapes of the granitite islands that surround it: Molara, Molarotto and the other smaller ones. This diversity of morphologies is also obvious under water and originates a great variety of habitat populated with numerous organisms, from the great Groper to the small Sea Slug. The sea banks of the south-east sector of Tavolara rapidly descend until 15-20 m of depth, where there’s a step beyond which the slope becomes more gentle; to the north-west the slope has a gentler trend. While Molara has banks with numerous canyons and coves those of Molarotto are deep and tormented, with blocks and slabs that go up almost until the surface. The spectacular underwater scenes are found in the more isolated places, like rock-edges and shallows. Multicoloured sponges and Star Corals cover the banks with several different shades of colour. In depth there are also several surprises, from the rare Noble Pen Shell to the Lobster, from the Sea Bug to the large specimens of Groper, together with various archaeological founds like the relics of Roman ships and Spanish galleons

CULTURE AND HISTORY

The Romans were the first to give to the island the name of Hermea Insula, name that is supposed to derive from the Greek God Hermetes. During the Roman domination, the ships docked at the island to get fresh water, but there are no evidences of long-lasting settlements. Successively the island has been uninhabited for a long time, due to malaria and to invasions that stuck  the Gallura Region, which caused the resettlement of the populations towards the inland. Then the island was renamed as Teraio and endured successive transformations, until the present denomination of Tavolara. Around 1807 the Corsicans (from the Island of Corsica) settled in Gallura. Giuseppe Bertoleoni became the owner in 1820 and his son, Paolo, became the first king of Tavolara. In 1861, thanks to the strategic importance of the island, the Mercantile Navy built, in the Spalmatore di Fuori, a two-storied lighthouse; the building was constructed by the convicts of the detention camp present at the time. The lighthouse remained active until 1920, when it was replaced by a new one constructed at Punta Timone. The principal activities of the inhabitants of Tavolara were hunting, fishing, stock farming and the lime burning oven works.

TYPICAL PRODucts And CRAFTWORK 

The gallurese cooking specialities are the one of the humble poor dishes developed over centuries by shepherds and peasants using local food and land products. From this rural culture come delicious dishes of lamb, baby goat and sucking piglet. The fishing plays a marginal role in the island’s economy and the traditional seafood dishes are historically typical of the cities of Olbia, Maddalena and to the centres along the coast

TOURIST INFORMATION:
• Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno e Turismo d’Olbia - Tel. 0789/21453
In particular, we suggest the following facilities (Note 4) that, according to the available data, are easily accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. 
 (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003, Guidebooks Touring Campeggi e Villaggi turistici, 2003 and Touring Alberghi e ristoranti d’Italia, 2003)

Name	
Type	Contact details	Address/Place	
Tavolara 	Camping and Tourist Resort	0789/40166	Loc. Porto Taverna - 07020 Loiri-Porto San Paolo (SS)	
Cugnana-Porto Rotondo 	Camping and Tourist Resort	0789/33184	Loc. Cugnana - 07026 Olbia (SS)	
Cala d’Ambra 	Camping	0784/865650	Loc. Cala d’Ambra - 08020 San Teodoro (NU)	
San Teodoro-La Cinta 	Camping	0784/865777	Via del Tirreno, 89 - 08020 San Teodoro (NU)	
Luna Lughente 	Hotel	0789/57521	Loc. Pittulongu - 07026 Olbia (SS)	
Martini 	Hotel	0789/26066	Via G. D’Annunzio - 07026 Olbia (SS)	
Cavour 	Hotel	0789/204033	Via Cavour, 22 - 07026 Olbia (SS)	
Stella 2000 	Hotel	0789/51456	Via Aldo Moro, 70 - 07026 Olbia (SS)	
Porto Istana 	Beach accessible to people with disabilities	-	Porto Istana - 07026 Olbia (SS)	

TORRE GUACETO

BASIC INFORMATION

Description: Marine Protected Area
Region: Puglia
Province: Brindisi
Extent:
Zone	Surface - hectares	Coast line – metres	
Zone A	179	3.495	
Zone B	163	2.300	
Zone C	1.885	2.610	
Total	2.227	8.405	

Institutution: L. n. 979/82; D.M. 04/12/91; D.M. 04/02/2000.
Management: The Management Board (Consorzio di Gestione) of the Marine Protected Area Torre Guaceto is constituted by the City of Brindisi and Carovigno and WWF Italia - Via S. Anna, 6 - 72012 Carovigno (BR) - Tel./Fax 0831/990882 - e-mail: cgtorreguaceto@libero.it -  info@riservaditorreguaceto.it - Web site: www.riservaditorreguaceto.it
Interested Municipalities: City of Brindisi - P.zza Matteotti - 72100 Brindisi - Tel. 0831/229376-229111 - Fax 0831/229376; City of Carovigno - Via Verdi, 1 - 72012 Carovigno (BR) - Tel. 0831/992481 - Fax 0831/992020
Port Authority: V.le Regina Margherita, 1 - 72100 Brindisi - Tel. 0831/521022 - Fax 0831/568113
Medical Services: Ospedale di Brindisi - Tel. 0831/537111; Emergency (Pronto Soccorso) Tel. 0831/519822
Nautical Chart: n. 29 scale 1:100.000; n. 30 scale 1:100.000

HOW TO GET THERE
By car: it is easy to reach following the freeway SS n. 379 Bari-Brindisi and then exit Serranova at km 35.
By bus: you can use the public transport from Taranto and from Lecce.
By train: get off at the station of Brindisi, Bologna-Lecce line.
By plane: Papola airport is reachable from Brindisi with a city public service.

ACCESS
The Marine Protected Area, created in 1991, is managed by the Consorzio di Gestione of the Marine Protected Area Torre Guaceto that releases the permit for the access of the area. This is restricted according to a subdivision in zones with different protection status (Zones A, B and C) (Note 1).
Accessible facilities: on three mentioned structures, two of them are accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. Detailed information is in the following table. (Data supplied by the Marine Protected Area Authority, 2003)

Name 	
Type	Contact details	Address/Place	Accessibility/Visitability (Note 2)
(art. 3 Decreto Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici 14 giugno 1989, n. 236)
Yes/ No	
Management centre	Main Office	0831/990882	Via S.Anna, 6 - 72012 Carovigno (BR)	No	
Information Centre	Information Centre	0831/989885	Serranova - 72012 Carovigno (BR)	Yes	
Museum	Museum	-	Serranova - 72012 Carovigno (BR)	Yes	

Itineraries: 
By land: worthwhile is a visit to the Guaceto Tower (1531), today centre of the WWF environmental education office, and the ruins of a Neolithic village recently discovered.

THE MARINE PROTECTED AREA ENVIRONMENT

Landscape and wildlife: the small territory between land and sea of Torre Guaceto encloses a great variety of environmental, historical and naturalistic values. Inland the remnants of the great swamps of Puglia are associated with by wide tracts of Mediterranean maquis vegetation. Abundant are the swamps with Reeds alternated by fresh water ponds connected to the sea through artificial channels. Due to the presence of a rich sea bird life, the area is of international interest according to the Convention of Ramsar (for humid zones). Amongst the numerous species of birds, we highlight ducks like the Mallard, the Wigeon and the Baikal Teal; the Rails such as the Common Moorhen and Coot; and the elegant Ardeides amongst which the Purple Heron, the Grey heron, the Little Egret and the Bittern.
In the area north-west of Torre Guaceto there is a stretch of low maquis, with thick shrubs of Sea Prickly Juniper, Mastic tree, European Holly and Myrtle, protected by the sea by dunes that are approximately 10 m high that start from the Punta Penna Grossa beach. The dunes are colonized by the typical pioneer plants of the sand that tolerate the extreme conditions of this environment characterized by strong winds, elevated salinity and aridity. Amongst the most common species, there are the Sea Holly and the Sea Rocket. The beaches and the great sandy dunes of the northern areas leave space towards south to a high and articulated coast characterized by capes and coves. The promontory of Torre Guaceto, dominated by the Tower, encloses a small sandy bay and dominates three little islands that emerged on the surface of the water. More to the south, the Apani reefs, two small islands of dark colour rock, mark the southern border of the protected area.
The marine environment: the articulate and diversified morphology of the sea banks gives to the marine environment a remarkable naturalistic importance. The sea in front of Torre Guaceto encloses, in an area of limited extension, several and rich communities, from the simple ones of the sandy banks to the most complex ones of the rocky substrates. In the banks in front of Punta Penna Grossa develop a wide bed of Posidonia sea grass, which offers shelter to numerous organisms like the Regular Sea Urchin, the Cerianthus Anemone and numerous sessile Polychaeta. The rocky banks are instead characterizes by, in the first metres, an enormous development of algae like the Cistoseira, the Umbrella Seaweed from the typical shape a small umbrella and the Marine peacock’s tail. With depth increasing the algae become more rare and become more abundant encrusting organisms, like the sponges Crambe crambe and Aplysina aerophoba that colour in orange and yellow the rocky walls. 
Along the rocky coast, there are cavities and small coves colonized by typical sciophilous (dim light) populations; in some of these cavities the Shrimp Lysmata seticaudata finds shelter. The reduced fishing activity in the MPA has determined a remarkable increment of the fish species. In the waters of Torre Guaceto are present numerous fish such as the Flathead Mullet (that often penetrate in the fresh water channels), the Salema. The herbivores fish such as, the White Sea Bream and the Dentex are easy to sight while they attempt to graze. Amongst the benthonic species (that live in tight contact with the banks), abundant is the Rainbow Wrasse that builds small nests with Posidonia fibres fragments in which it places the eggs.

CULTURE AND HISTORY

From the prehistoric Age, in Torre Guaceto were present human settlements, favoured by the presence of fresh water, by the safe docking, by the abundant fishing and by the inland woodlands. The strategic position between the sea and the Via Traiana was used by the Romans that used this area as landing place for the passage of the ships which transported agricultural products and amphorae produced in the furnaces distributed along the coast. The Saracens then used this landing place for their raids, against the inland villages. Progressively Torre Guaceto loses its importance; in the 1500 it was used as a small pier for the wine and oil trade, until decay with the opening of the nearby port of Brindisi.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS AND CRAFTWORK 

For the richness of the resources, for the variety of kind and for the fantasy of the shapes the Province of Brindisi can also be labelled as the land of craftwork. Carovigno, Fasano and Ostuni are the main production centres of embroidery, baskets, wrought iron articles, carvings, and artistic ceramics. The agricultural resources have resulted in the creation of oil, wine, food and fruit conserve factories and increased the traffic of the Brindisi port, which is also popular for tourists going to and from Greece and Asia. 

TOURIST INFORMATION

• Azienda di Promozione Turistica di Brindisi - Tel. 0831/562126
• Ufficio Informazioni e d’Accoglienza Turistica di Brindisi - Tel. 0831/523072
• Ufficio Informazioni e d’Accoglienza Turistica d’Ostuni - Tel. 0831/301268

In particular, we suggest the following structures (Note 3) that, according to the available data, are easily accessible to people with mobility and/or sensory impairments. (Data Guidebooks Touring Campeggi e Villaggi Turistici, 2003).

Name 	Type	Contact details	Address/Place	
Pineta al mare	Camping and Tourist resort	0831/987821	Loc. Lido di Specchiolla - SS n. 379 - 72012 Carovigno (BR)