Marine protected area of Torre del Cerrano, Marine protected area in Province of Teramo, Italy.
The Marine Protected Area of Torre del Cerrano covers 3,431 hectares plus one hectare of shoreline between the mouth of the Calvano stream at Pineto and Piazza dei Pini at Silvi, in the province of Teramo. It is divided into three zones: a small square of sea off the tower, a strip reaching 2 km from the coast, and a trapezoid extending to 3 nautical miles. Near the shore lie the submerged remains of the ancient port of Atri.
The reserve protects the site of the ancient Roman-era port of Atri, destroyed by the Republic of Venice along with most Adriatic ports. Charles V later chose the spot for one of his watchtowers, the Torre del Cerrano, visible from the neighbouring towers. The marine park was listed in law 334 in 1997, a management consortium was formed in February 2008, and the founding decree of 21 October 2009 was published on 7 April 2010.
The name comes from Torre del Cerrano, a 16th century defensive tower that once guarded against sea raids in this area. This historic watchtower still shapes the coastal landscape and recalls the maritime past of the region.
Access is available from the nearby towns of Pineto and Silvi along the coast, which serve as gateways to the area. Visitors should check local conditions beforehand, as only certain activities are permitted within the protected zone.
The pine wood along the shore was designed by Luigi Corrado Filiani, named among the area's points of interest alongside the submerged remains of the Roman-era port of Atri, which lie just a few metres from the coast.
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