THE NATIONAL PARK OF CIRCEOTHE NATIONAL PARK OF CIRCEOThe National Park of Circeo, established

in 1934, is one of the oldest natural protected areas in Italy. It is extends

from Anzio to Terracina.

HISTORY

The park was established in 1934 by Benito Mussolini

to protect the Pontina plain. It is the only Italian and European national park which extends completely in a flat

and maritime environment.

Apart from this, it is also a natural reserve of the

UNESCO since 1997.

THE TERRITORYTHE TERRITORY

The Park consists of five fundamental habitats:-The forest-The promontory-The littoral dune-The wet zones-The island of Zannone

The The ForestForest

The Forest represents the most extensive plain in Italy. It is a varied

and rich ecosystem covered with Mediterranean macchia, pine trees but also turkey oak, evergreen oak, laurel, cork and flowering ash which can be seen as you walk or cycle along the different footpaths. You can admire different species of

vegetation belonging to the different climatic conditions.

It is the highest part of Monte Circeo , 541 m, According to the Odyssey, on the Circeo a witch called Circe lived and

transformed Ulysses and his companions into pigs.

From a distance the Circeo looks like a sleeping woman which gave origin to the

legend of Circe. The promontory of the Circeo is famous for its numerous and beautiful caves and the

most famous is the Guattari Cave.

The promontory

LITTORAL DUNELITTORAL DUNEIn the park there is a long coast which consists of about 22 km. The beach is formed of thin sand and is the ideal habitat

for small plants and numerous animal species. The environment is rather harsh because of the high

temperatures and the long droughts, the infertile land and the strong winds make the survival of the vegetable species

difficult to adapt.

WET ZONESWET ZONES

There are four coastal lakes: Paola, Caprolace, Monaci and Fogliano, that is what remains of the old " pontine marshlands", small basins of nipper water and the ideal refuge for many

species of aquatic birds even because the water is not very deep. On the

sides of the lakes there are different types of flora like saltworths while

the other areas are used for fishing.

Zannone is a small island which became part of the Park in 1979 and it is uninhabited

and covered with woods full of oaks and evergreen oaks.

Zannone island