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Local municipalities concerned: Cantagallo, Prato, Barberino di Mugello and Calenzano
Surface area: 4016 hectares (of which 2679 falls in the province of Prato and 1337 falls in the province of Florence)
The whole mountainous ridge of the Calvana mountains is made up of limestone rocks, numerous caves and rocky crags which are typical of Karst landscapes. The lower areas of the reserve are largely made up of abandoned agricultural land, although olive trees are still grown here. There are also wooded areas of oak and ash trees although thanks to deforestation in the past, these woods are often quite sparse. Up on higher slopes, from 700m to the ridge, there are wide open grassy pastures which used to be used for animal grazing. The beautiful landscape of these grassy pastures is one of the main reasons that the area has protected status. In springtime the pastures explode with colour as numerous flowering plants come into bloom, such as wild orchids, hawthorn and broom. These bushy pastures are also home to many rare and protected species of birds. The marshy areas of the reserve are also home to several interesting species of amphibian.
Access to the reserve:
Prato: visitors can enter from the north-east through Filettole, Castellina, S. Lucia or Canneto.
Travalle: a small town just north of Calenzano.
Croci di Calenzano: a mountain pass between the Mugello area and the Florentine plain. Easy to reach from Calenzano going north in the direction of Barberino di Mugello and then south towards Calenzano until you reach the pass.
Sofignano: town to the easy of Vaiano, the reserve is easy to reach from here by following the signs on the SR 325 road coming from Prato and before arriving at Vaiano.
The whole reserve is covered with a network of footpaths (many of them are CAI footpaths which appear on trekking maps) and wider dirt tracks.
For more information:
Provincia di Prato 0574 534331
areeprotette@provincia.prato.it
Surface area: 4016 hectares (of which 2679 falls in the province of Prato and 1337 falls in the province of Florence)
The whole mountainous ridge of the Calvana mountains is made up of limestone rocks, numerous caves and rocky crags which are typical of Karst landscapes. The lower areas of the reserve are largely made up of abandoned agricultural land, although olive trees are still grown here. There are also wooded areas of oak and ash trees although thanks to deforestation in the past, these woods are often quite sparse. Up on higher slopes, from 700m to the ridge, there are wide open grassy pastures which used to be used for animal grazing. The beautiful landscape of these grassy pastures is one of the main reasons that the area has protected status. In springtime the pastures explode with colour as numerous flowering plants come into bloom, such as wild orchids, hawthorn and broom. These bushy pastures are also home to many rare and protected species of birds. The marshy areas of the reserve are also home to several interesting species of amphibian.
Access to the reserve:
Prato: visitors can enter from the north-east through Filettole, Castellina, S. Lucia or Canneto.
Travalle: a small town just north of Calenzano.
Croci di Calenzano: a mountain pass between the Mugello area and the Florentine plain. Easy to reach from Calenzano going north in the direction of Barberino di Mugello and then south towards Calenzano until you reach the pass.
Sofignano: town to the easy of Vaiano, the reserve is easy to reach from here by following the signs on the SR 325 road coming from Prato and before arriving at Vaiano.
The whole reserve is covered with a network of footpaths (many of them are CAI footpaths which appear on trekking maps) and wider dirt tracks.
For more information:
Provincia di Prato 0574 534331
areeprotette@provincia.prato.it
