Ciciu del Villar, Regional nature reserve in Villar San Costanzo, Italy.
Ciciu del Villar is a regional nature reserve in Piedmont featuring unusual mushroom-shaped rock formations created by natural erosion over time. These distinctive earth pillars topped with large stones dominate the landscape throughout the protected area.
The regional government designated this area as a protected reserve in 1989 to preserve the geological formations and biodiversity. This official status ensured the long-term conservation of both the geological features and the natural habitat.
Local residents organize the annual Ciciufestival in June, bringing together nature enthusiasts to celebrate regional traditions and environmental conservation.
Visitors should contact the Pro Villar tourism office on Piazza Giovanni Giolitti to arrange guided tours of the reserve. Walking with a guide is the recommended way to explore the formations safely and learn about the site.
The stone mushrooms form through a geological process where harder rock layers protect softer earth underneath from erosion. This natural phenomenon creates formations that appear almost sculpted by human hands.
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