Torre del Cerrano Marine Protected Area
A wonderful habitat in the lush green of the pine forest, the gold of the sand and the blue of the crystal-clear sea
What natural and faunal wonders and rarities are hidden in the marvellous corner of the Abruzzo coastline of the Marine Protected Area Torre del Cerrano, the jewel of the Adriatic, between Silvi and Pineto in the province of Teramo?
Follow us to find out what awaits you.
With a sea surface stretching up to 3 nautical miles and 7 kilometres of coastline, the protected area offers extraordinary biodiversity. The clear waters with sandy seabed are home to special plant species, such as Adriatic Gastropods, Trivia adriatica, Sabellaria halcocki, and various species of fish and molluscs, such as conger eels, sea bass, sole and bream. The sandy seabed is also characterised by extensive shoals of Chamelea gallina, or common clam.
Framing this spectacular marine habitat is a dune landscape of unique splendour. Here, among the golden sand, in addition to special insect species such as the Scarabeus semipunctatus and the rare Lamprinodes pictus, the Kentish plover nests. This rare migratory bird returns to the Marine Protected Area every year, from April to September, to lay its eggs.
Besides, specimens of Sea Lily (Pancratium maritimum), Gargano Verbascum (Verbascum niveum subsp. garganicum), Sea Soldanella (Calystegia soldanella) and Beach Spurge (Euphorbia peplis) testify to the richness of the area and its uniqueness.
The natural background is the pine forest, a habitat that preserves the continuum between sea and land, with its characteristic Pinus Halepensis (Aleppo pine) and pine nut pine, creating a particularly favourable microclimate in summer. In the southern area, right next to the pine forests, there is a dense population of the extremely rare Beach Saffron (Romulea rollii).
The guardian of the Marine Protected Area is the Cerrano Tower, an ancient coastal tower of the Kingdom of Naples that houses the International Veterinary Training Centre, the Library and the Museum of the Sea.
Ready to be amazed?
Ph credit: preview image of Mauro Cantoro (Tourist photographic archive of the Abruzzo Region)
Address
S.S.16 Adriatica Km 431, Pineto-Silvi (Te)
Contacts
tel. +39 085.9492322; www.torredelcerrano.it;
for activities not included in the event calendar, please contact the Cerrano Guides: tel. 335.7930903, e-mail guidedelcerrano@gmail.com
