k r a p e r u t a n l a n o i g e r k r a p e r u t a n l a n o i g e r

k r a p e r u t a n l a n o i g e r k r a p e r u t a n l a n o i g e r

quality of the environmental conditions in the Park. the in conditions environmental the of quality

honey from the valley. These products reflect the high high the reflect products These valley. the from honey

cold meats, and an assortment of various types of natural natural of types various of assortment an and meats, cold

tion and a wide variety of beef and mutton products and and products mutton and beef of variety wide a and tion

- produc dairy standing long-stand a also is There valleys.

high quality wild mushrooms from the and Orba and Erro the from mushrooms wild quality high

sone”, as well as wild berries and and berries wild as well as sone”,

- Ma di “crumiri tasty the to sello” its purest sense. purest its

inhabit the area. the inhabit - Sas di “amaretti as known stries their habitat. their gives total priority to Nature in in Nature to priority total gives

- pa almond traditional the from roes and fallow deer have chosen chosen have deer fallow and roes which communities the of each in colour, landscape and sound, sound, and landscape colour, in

palities of the park. These range range These park. the of palities Appenines such as wild boars, boars, wild as such Appenines of identity cultural the promote ve 92/43/EC). The Park, so rich rich so Park, The 92/43/EC). ve

- munici various the in available hoofed animals of the Ligurian Ligurian the of animals hoofed and safeguard to but biodiversity, - Directi Conservation” “Habitat

rous production of local produce produce local of production rous ) where the typical typical the where Ligure) Campo its preserve to order in just not tion” Directive 79/409/EC and and 79/409/EC Directive tion”

- gene particularly a is There tion). those of , and and Masone Tiglieto, of those special, more the all Park the - Conserva (“Birdlife Directives

- recogni international gained has and , and “Tiglieto” in in “Tiglieto” and Cogoleto, and makes generations future to the basis of specific Community Community specific of basis the

Campo Ligure, excellence which which excellence Ligure, Campo “Lerone” in those of Arenzano of those in “Lerone” down handed be to resource of Community Interest (SCI), on on (SCI), Interest Community of

particular the filigree traditions of of traditions filigree the particular the municipality of , Sassello, of municipality the precious a Such . of part (SPA) and three proposed Sites Sites proposed three and (SPA)

as which still flourishes today (in (in today flourishes still which as

within the reserve (“Deiva” in in (“Deiva” reserve the within this of resources environmental cludes a Special Protection Area Area Protection Special a cludes

- are these of craftsmanship prided

publicly owned Regional Forests Forests Regional owned publicly the protect to reassuring, and - in it that fact the by confirmed is

towns, or discovering the rightly- the discovering or towns,

There are three important important three are There qualifying man, of presence mental value of the Beigua Park Park Beigua the of value mental

centres of the inland villages and and villages inland the of centres

Varazze, Cogoleto and Arenzano. Arenzano. and Cogoleto , significant a featured always has - environ great the Furthermore,

visiting the beautiful historical historical beautiful the visiting

waters washing the shores of of shores the washing waters Park Beigua the by covered area by the weather. the by

thways which cross it, but also by by also but it, cross which thways

they swim along the coastal coastal the along swim they The centuries. few last the of formations shaped unceasingly unceasingly shaped formations

- pa many the walking by just not

outline of whales, spurting as as spurting whales, of outline activities forestry and agricultural deposits and spectacular spectacular and deposits

this “naturally” welcoming park, park, welcoming “naturally” this

distant glimpse of the streamline streamline the of glimpse distant traditional the been have there outcrops, minerals, fossiliferous fossiliferous minerals, outcrops,

may come into close contact with with contact close into come may

the coast, it’s not rare to catch a a catch to rare not it’s coast, the recently, More 1120. in founded revealed little by little by rocky rocky by little by little revealed

Municipalities of the Park. One One Park. the of Municipalities

surfacing rock spurs overlooking overlooking spurs rock surfacing Abbey Tiglieto the in here settled geological history of Liguria, Liguria, of history geological

facilities located in the coastal coastal the in located facilities

impervious paths and from the the from and paths impervious who monks Cistercian the of The area guards much of the the of much guards area The

more luxury accommodation accommodation luxury more

man, the wolf treads its most most its treads wolf the man, arrival the by valley Orba the far colder than nowadays. than colder far

inland areas. One may also find find also may One areas. inland

Hidden from the sight of of sight the from Hidden around area the of economy temperature in these areas was was areas these in temperature

which are quite frequent in the the in frequent quite are which

other ornithological species. species. ornithological other the on exerted influence strong far-off times when the typical typical the when times far-off

more luxury accommodation accommodation luxury more

backed Shrike and over eighty eighty over and Shrike backed the includes also It valley. Po altitude wetlands, remnants from from remnants wetlands, altitude

inland areas. One may also find find also may One areas. inland

abe, h Ngta, h Red- the Nightjar, the Warbler, the of plain the with coast the away, come across precious high- precious across come away,

bed&breakfast accommodation, which are quite frequent in the the in frequent quite are which accommodation, bed&breakfast

as the Rock Thrush, the Common Whitethroat, the Dartford Dartford the Whitethroat, Common the Thrush, Rock the as linking routes trading important between crossroads a as area shrubs typical of Mediterranean scrub and just a few kilometres kilometres few a just and scrub Mediterranean of typical shrubs

the heart of the protected area, as well as a number of inns and and inns of number a as well as area, protected the of heart the

classification - where the Golden Eagle nests regularly, as well well as regularly, nests Eagle Golden the where - classification the by played role important increasingly the by followed then Inside the Park it is possible to enjoy the sight of flowering flowering of sight the enjoy to possible is it Park the Inside

and farmhouse rentals to countryside hotels/refuges, set right in in right set hotels/refuges, countryside to rentals farmhouse and

Cheilantes marantae Cheilantes cneorum “Important Birdlife Area” according to the Birdlife International International Birdlife the to according Area” Birdlife “Important and times, prehistoric in shepherds and hunters by inhabited ). ,

modation present on the territory, ranging from holiday farms farms holiday from ranging territory, the on present modation

Viola bertolonii Viola Daphne Daphne cuneifolium Asplenium utriense Cerastium , , ( It is a nature reserve of exceptional value – acknowledged as an an as acknowledged – value exceptional of reserve nature a is It already were Beigua Mount on woods the that fact the to witness , , ,

- accom of kinds various and visit a for moment suitable most the

Frog , and others) as well as colourful endemic species of flora flora of species endemic colourful as well as others) and , biodiversity. bear which findings palaeoethnological the from Starting years.

vities and events all the year round. Visitors can therefore choose choose therefore can Visitors round. year the all events and vities

European Common Brown Brown Common European Newt Crested Newt Alpine , the the , the , the considered one of the richest areas in Liguria in terms of its its of terms in Liguria in areas richest the of one considered the over evolved area the in present settlements human the how

- acti interesting of variety wide a offers district Park Beigua The

Montpellier Snake Montpellier , , the (including fauna minor the to belonging watershed, yet close to the sea, the Beigua mountain range is is range mountain Beigua the sea, the to close yet watershed, showing museums, in partly and site on visible partly evidence

It is also possible to spot a number of unique inhabitants inhabitants unique of number a spot to possible also is It Thanks to its particular position straddling the Apennines Apennines the straddling position particular its to Thanks cultural and historic of wealth a features also Park Beigua The WELCOMING PARK WELCOMING

A “NATURALLY” “NATURALLY” A SAFEGUARDED BE TO BIODIVERSITY OF HERITAGE A MAN OF TRACES

NATURE RAMBLING regional nature park A HILLSIDE BALCONY

There is a wide variety of excursion routes in the Beigua Park OVERLOOKING THE SEA covering an area of 500 km. Visitors therefore have a great opportunity to admire and fully appreciate the beauty of this Uncontaminated natural environments to be glimpsed on tiptoe, environmental, historical and cultural landscape. breathtaking scenery and views stretching as far as the eye can Following the park trails on both sides of the hillside (Tyrrhenian see, curious traditions waiting to be discovered, local products and specialities to be tasted and important monuments to be and Po valley) or along the watersheds on the Alta Via dei Monti How to get there Liguri – tracing the backbone of this protected area – is rather visited. Graphics: www.7vicocrema.it Graphics: www.7vicocrema.it like leafing through a magnificent book where the history of By train: Linea F.S. Genova - : stations of , Arenzano, - SV Tipograf Printed by Coop The Beigua Park, the largest regional nature reserve in Liguria,

Cogoleto, Varazze, Ligure, Albisola; Linea F.S. Genova - Acqui Printed on Freelife ecological paper man and nature are told and offers all this. It covers an area of 8,715 hectares straddling the Terme - Asti: stations of Campo Ligure e . provinces of and , illustrated. By bus: ATP Genova tel. +39 010 546741; TPL Savona tel. +39 019 22011. To make the Park excursions By car: SS 1 Aurelia; SP 334 del Sassello; SP 456 del Turchino; SP 542 and is a perfect example of the even more inviting, the Park Varazze - Sassello. contrasting elements so typical of Motorways: A10 Genova - Ventimiglia motorway tollgates of Genova - Authorities have also set up Liguria. Voltri, Arenzano,Varazze, , Albisola; A26 Genova - Gravellona This protected area overlooks theme trails, supported by Toce motorway tollgates of Masone. interpretive panels and leaflets, the sea as if from a spectacular hillside balcony. Its twenty-six which can help the visitor get to Useful phone numbers know and better appreciate some kilometres of mountain ridges Arenzano, Lungomare Kennedy tel. +39 010 9127581 at a stone’s thrown from the of the naturalistic topics that can Campo Ligure, Via della Giustizia 5 tel. +39 010 921055 be seen along the chosen trail. Sassello, Via G.B. Badano 45 tel/fax +39 019 724020 Ligurian Rviera, running from Within the protected area and Varazze, Corso Matteotti 56, Palazzo B. Jacopo tel. +39 019 935043 the Colle del Giovo hills to the the surrounding territory you Passo del Turchino. will come across unattended The reserve follows the coastline shelters, refuges and other types passing (1,287 m), of accomodation, enabling Cima Frattin (1,145 m), Monte visitors to make the most of Rama (1,148 m) Monte Argentea the opportunity to plan and (1,082 m) and The Centro Servizi Territoriali (CST) in Sassello acts as the operational (1,183 m) and includes meadows choose a longer stay in the area structure for the promotion and the enjoyment of the Alta Via dei Monti and therefore enjoy the park Liguri and the Beigua Park. and rare wetlands, thick beech, The CST provides an integrated service for transportation and trails itineraries to their best. The Park oak and chestnut forests, guides supported by qualified personnel with long experience in the Park steep slopes and patches of Authorities have created a well- activities. The service is available throughout the year on Saturday and on Sunday Mediterranean scrub. organised network of picnic areas (with obligatory reservation). with amenities offering visitors a Via G.B. Badano 45 tel/fax +39 019 724020 relaxing break. e-mail: [email protected] Toll free number Photos: A. Aluigi, L. Baghino, E. Biggi, M. Burlando, M. Campora, A.Chiossone, D. Franchello, M. Menti, M. Saettone, R. Cottalasso Aluigi Antonio Maurizio Burlando Editorial Co-ordination: Text: - Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica “A. Ghigi” Territorio del Tutela Drawings by Umberto Catalano. Ministero dell’Ambiente e della A.Chiossone, D. Franchello, M. Menti, Saettone, R. Cottalasso Aluigi, L. Baghino, E. Biggi, M. Burlando, Campora, A. Photos: regional nature park regional nature park THE BEIGUA GEOPARK MUSEUMS AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

In March 2005 the Beigua Park territory joined the Global Geoparks million years ago), rarely appearing so frequently in the . The ideal “geological adventure” would imply an excursion to the MUVITA Science Centre Via Marconi 165, Arenzano (GE), Network supported by UNESCO and the European Geoparks In the Geopark area, you may visit the various sites of geological meanders of the Orba River in the Tiglieto flat lands, where tel. +39 010 910001, www.muvita.it Network. Such a prestigious form of recognition has officially interest (“geosites”) where you can look out for the fascinating the first Cistercian Abbey to be built outside was constructed Civico Museo della Filigrana Pietro Carlo crowned admission of the Beigua territory among the International evolutionary history of the Beigua territory, such as the spectacular in 1120, or an excursion in search of ophiolite outcrops at Passo del Via della Giustizia 1, Campo Ligure (GE), Geoparks, thanks to documentation illustrating the great geological canyons, in the shape of conglomerates as in the Gargassa Valley Faiallo, austere guardians of the precious “garnets”, wonderful deep tel. +39 010 920099 / +39 010 921166, www.museofiligrana.org and geomorphological heritage. It represents the various disciplines (Municipality of Rossiglione) or the rich variety of fossil flora, made red stones which are crystal clear. Museo Civico “Andrea Tubino” Piazza Castello 2, Masone (GE), related to Earth Sciences and reveals the particular importance in the up of overland plants in the form of tree trunks and abundant Last but not least, a visit to the fantastic “blockstreams” and tel. +39 010 926003 / +39 010 926493 Museo “Perrando” Via Dei Perrando 33, Sassello (SV), reconstruction of ’s geological history and the understanding of leaves, in the palaeontological area of Stella Santa Giustina. Another “blockfields” in the watershed regions of the Geopark - at Torbiera tel. +39 019 724100 / +39 019 724357, www.sasselloweb.it the evolution of the Alpine chain and its relationship with that of amazing attraction is the fossil barrier reef present in Ponte Prina - del Laione, Prariondo, Pian Fretto - illustrating the geomorphological Casa di Via Muzio 42/1, Stella San Giovanni (SV), the Apennines. La Maddalena (in the Municipality of Sassello) with its characteristic processes which came about in the peri-glacial environment. tel. +39 019 706194, www.assopertini.it The area boasts a large quantity of serpentinite outcrops with an brightly-coloured colonies of coral, directly impressed on the The Beigua Geopark covers an area of 39,230 hectares, taking in Esposizione Archeologica Permanente Piazza IV Novembre - Alpine, metamorphic imprinting that represents a fragment of the ophiolithic substrate or the curious lherzolite spheroids (an intrusive the Municipalities of Arenzano, Campo Ligure, Cogoleto, Genoa Frazione Alpicella, Varazze (SV), tel. +39 019 93901 original, Jurassic, ocean basin (therefore originating about 160 dark green rock) in Lago dei Gulli (Municipality of Sassello). (as far as the Valle del Cerusa and districts of Crevari, Sambuco Orto Botanico Villa Beuca Località Villa Beuca, Cogoleto (GE), and Fiorino are concerned), Masone, Rossiglione, Sassello, Stella, tel. +39 010 9170200 Tiglieto and Varazze. The “Beigua Regional Nature Park” lies at the Giardino Botanico di Pratorondanino Località Pratorondanino, heart of this vast territory. Campo Ligure (GE), tel. +39 010 6988624 (G.L.A.O.)

VISITORS CENTRES AND INFORMATION POINTS Centro Visite “Palazzo Gervino” Via G.B. Badano 45, Sassello (SV) Centro Visite “Villa Bagnara” Via Montegrappa 2, Masone (GE) Centro Ornitologico e di Educazione Ambientale “Vaccà” Loc. Vaccà, Arenzano (GE) Casa del Parco “Foresta della Deiva” ingresso Foresta Deiva, Sassello (SV) Punto Informativo “Bruno Baccocoli” Loc. Prariondo, Cogoleto (GE) Punto Informativo “Banilla” Viale Rimembranze - Loc. Banilla, Tiglieto (GE)