Parco naturale lombardo della Valle del Ticino, Regional park in Lombardy, Italy
The valley is a regional park in Lombardy that stretches along the Ticino River from the northern hills to the southern plains. The area contains river habitats, woodland, meadows, and farmland that together create a varied natural environment.
The area became Italy's first regional park in 1974, setting a new model for protecting river valleys. Before this, the region was known for defensive towers and castles that controlled the valley since medieval times.
The landscape here reflects centuries of farming practices that shaped how the river valley looks today, with fields, forests, and wetlands coexisting throughout the area. You can see these connections in the networks of canals, meadows, and scattered woodlands that people have maintained and used.
The park is accessible through marked trails and has visitor centers offering information throughout the area. It is helpful to learn about different protection zones before visiting, as some areas have stricter restrictions than others.
The area functions as an ecological corridor linking the Alps to southern mountains, allowing wildlife to move between northern and southern habitats. This role as a connecting pathway makes the valley especially valuable for species conservation across long distances.
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