Tuscania Nature Reserve

The Nature Reserve

The Tuscania Nature Reserve, set up in 1997 by Regional Law 29, covers 1,901 hectares, entirely within the municipality of Tuscania. The Reserve Managing Agency is the Province of Viterbo which manages the area in collaboration with the Municipality of Tuscania. Its statutory mission is to protect the Park's territory, enhance local natural and cultural resources, safeguard and rehabilitate natural habitats, preserve animal and plant species, promote the economic and social development of the local communities and enhance natural resources for educational and recreational purposes.
The Park's land is mainly hilly, ranging from a maximum of 224 m asl at San Savino (in the northern portion of the Reserve) to the 170-190 m of the town of Tuscania and reaching a minimum elevation of 30-40 m along the Marta river and in the southernmost reaches of its territory. The terrain is cloven by ravines and gullies of great scenic impact, with lush vegetation, through which run the Marta and its tributaries. All around are signs of past geological eras, and some places offer us a variety of landscapes typical of this part of Italy: the proud harshness of inland Maremma Laziale, the gentle slopes of the coastal Maremma Litoranea and the sequence of plains and canyons of inland Etruria near Viterbo.
The Marta river, the only river flowing out of Lake Bolsena, flows for about half its length (70 km) in the territory of Tuscania, cutting across most of the central portion of the Park, and in part marking its borders. Some of the most idyllic countryside areas in the Reserve lie along the banks of this river and its main tributaries: Maschiolo and Traponzo.
The Park's territory consists mainly of farmland, more than 60% (some 1,200 hectares) is cultivated with olive groves and cereal crops. This use enhances the Parks' role as a primary economic and environmental resource since it is perfectly in line with today's concept of sustainable development where agriculture, apart from its productive function, is also an element that safeguards the land.
The attractive historic town of Tuscania, marked by the warm tones of tufa stone, still surrounded by its curtain walls and guard towers, is also located in the protected area.