The ancient Selva di Terracina forest

The Terracina forest in the Circeo Park grew on the antique coastal dunes. Small parts of the large, wild forest is still here in the park despite several attempts of cutting it down and drain its humid areas in 2000 years of history. Visitors can still admire the natural 'pools' typical of the nearby marshlands, filled in autumn and winter by the rain. The woodland constitutes a typical example of Mediterranean plain which in Europe is now almost disappeared. This factor enhances the actual importance of the forest of Circeo.

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Today the forest is called "Selva di Circe", and even in Italy is the only example in of plain forest with a natural vegetation dominated by the presence of deciduous oaks; despite the hydraulic reclaiming, given the geo-morphological features of the territory where it vegetates, an old coastal dune which consolidated during the centuries shows still today wide areas called "piscine", seasonally flooded by seasonal rain and natural flooding canals’ water. From the location called

Cerasella, right in the heart of the forest, there are many itineraries for nature lovers offering the opportunity to have a pleasurable walk either by foot or by bicycle in touch with Mother Nature. In around half an hour, the visitors can reach a small wooden bridge, which takes to the Piscina della Verdesca (Verdesca natural pool), one of the pools where rainwater stagnates, thus recreating the scenario of the original impenetrable forest of the ancient marshes.



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