Riserva naturale Bosco dei Rocconi, protected area in Italy (EUAP1009)

The Riserva naturale Bosco dei Rocconi is a protected area of about 371 hectares in the municipalities of Roccalbegna and Semproniano, along the Albegna River. Its high hills reach around 500 m, and the Albegna at the confluence of the Rigo stream cuts deep gorges partly covered by holm oak woods. The holm oak stands shelter maples, Phillyrea, lentisk and some hackberry; 28 orchid species grow in the deciduous woods.

The sources do not record when the reserve was founded or how it was assembled; they state only that about 130 of its roughly 371 hectares belong to the WWF, which set up the Oasi Bosco di Rocconi there, entered from State Road 323 at kilometre 49. Part of the reserve also falls within the Monte Labbro and Alta Valle dell'Albegna conservation and special protection zone.

The reserve lies along the Albegna where the Rigo torrent joins it, and its holm oak woods survived coppicing only on the steepest, most inaccessible slopes. The WWF oasis is entered from State Road 323 at kilometre 49. The panorama over the gorge is easily seen from the small village of Rocchette di Fazio.

The WWF Oasi entrance is on State Road 323 at kilometre 49, between Roccalbegna and Semproniano, about 35 km from Grosseto. The reserve lies on high hills reaching roughly 500 m, with the Albegna and Rigo streams cutting deep gorges. The wider panorama is easily seen from the small village of Rocchette di Fazio.

The reserve's caves shelter a cave cricket, Dolichopoda letitiae etrusca, discovered in these grottoes and named for the Etruscan region. The rare butterfly Zerynthia cassandra also lives here, its caterpillars feeding on Aristolochia rotunda. The caves are little visited and hold no marked trails.