Parco delle Groane e della Brughiera Briantea, Nature reserve near Milan, Italy.
Parco delle Groane e della Brughiera Briantea is a nature reserve in Lombardy spanning around 7,810 hectares across areas near Milan and adjacent provinces. The landscape is shaped by extensive heathlands and pine forests typical of the region.
The protected area was established in 1976 and underwent major expansion in 2017 when it merged with Brughiera Briantea Park and Fontana del Guercio Natural Reserve. This consolidation created the present size and significance of the reserve.
The park contains several historical buildings like Castellazzo di Bollate and Villa Borromeo that reflect the rural heritage of the region. These structures show how people lived and worked here across generations.
The area is crisscrossed by a network of around 50 kilometers of cycling and walking trails connecting different sections and offering various difficulty levels. The main visitor center Centro Parco Polveriera in Solaro serves as a good starting point to plan your routes through the park.
The park is home to Europe's southernmost heathlands, thriving on acidic soils left behind by Pleistocene glacial retreat. This rare ecosystem makes the region a valuable and special location for nature lovers.
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