Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
However, the most speci
c geological publication is the
rst attempt to make a geosite accessible to
tourists was the Equi Terme Cave (Fivizzano Municipality),
followed in 1967 by the Wind Cave, in the village of
Vergemoli. The latter is a 4,570-m long karst system in
which three equipped trails have been set up for a total of
1,250 m and it now represents a well-established tourist
attraction managed by a private enterprise.
In order to enhance the appeal of the Park to tourists, the
Park Authority has identi
In 1964, the
“
”
(Carmignani et al.
2000
). The work was funded by the Park
Authority and the map is accompanied by geological cross-
sections and tectonic and stratigraphic schemes.
In 2001, the Park Authority produced a CD entitled
Geological Map of the Apuan Alps Park, scale 1:50.000
“
The
Park for the
ood: documents and accounts on events and
actions 5 years after the
”
(Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane
2001
). It contains vid-
eos, photographs and thematic maps as well as text and oral
accounts of the
ood in Versilia and Garfagnana
ed a number of geosites that, due
to their geological signi
cance and/or their extraordinary
beauty, merited investment in the creation of appropriate
infrastructure to support tourist activities. Three main cul-
tural/tourism developments are described below.
ood of 19th June 1996 in the central-
southern part of the Apuan Alps. The
ooding caused about
300 debris
ows of watercourses destroying a
large number of buildings and killing local residents. This is
a multi-media essay containing scienti
ows and over
c explanations in a
more accessible language about the complex relationship
between vegetation, soil and bedrock and, consequently, the
different levels of hydrogeological instability of the valleys
stricken by the natural disaster.
7.1
Archaeomining Area of the
“
Bardiglio
Cappella
”
Marble
In 2005, the Park Authority opened to the public an old
quarrying area, probably in use since the Middle Ages, situ-
ated close to the Romanic St. Martin
6.1.3 Apuan Alps Geopark Website
The Geopark website (
http://www.apuanegeopark.it
), dedi-
cated to the geodiversity of the Apuan Alps, is accessible
directly, and from the portal of the Nature Park of the Apuan
Alps (
http://www.parcapuane.it
). It contains many links to
geosites, geotourism (excursions and itineraries, guide
availability, recommended accommodations, etc.), museum,
conferences, education and geological documents (scienti
s Chapel, in the
municipality of Seravezza (Fig.
4
). A short guided walking
route was set up, allowing visitors to observe traditional
quarrying techniques in an area where a precious marble
(
'
“
”
), in demand for its unique intense
blackberry grey colour, was excavated. The colour of the rock
depends on the widespread presence of microcrystalline
pyrite, which is also responsible for a typical sulphurous smell
when the rock is crushed. The quarrying industry of this area
became famous for the production of squared marble
Bardiglio Cappella
c
articles, maps, old books) of the Apuan Alps Geopark. The
content, in Italian and English, is regularly updated.
oor
tiles, columns, door jambs and slabs. Two small quarries have
been turned into museums reconstructing the main phases of
excavation: the extraction of irregular blocks from the quarry
face by blasting or the use of iron tools and the squaring of
small and medium-sized marble blocks on the spot (Fig.
14
).
The tour also shows the
7
The Existing Tourist Facilities
To welcome tourists, the Apuan Alps Geopark manages,
directly or in agreement with local authorities or tourist
promotion agencies,
, the technique histori-
cally used to move marble blocks to the valley. The area
enjoys a wonderful view from the Versilia Valley to the main
ridge of the Apuan mountain range. The visit does not require
a ticket payment.
“
lizza
'
s way
”
Centers (Massa, Castel-
nuovo Garfagnana, Seravezza, Bosa di Careggine and Equi
Terme).
The Geopark has organized its territory so that excursions
can take place within a hunting-free area where animals are
free to roam in an environment where human pressure is
kept at a controlled level. Hiking trails in the protected areas
are equipped with interpretative panels, in Italian and Eng-
lish, about geological and geomorphological topics. The
Serenaia Valley Trail is equipped with facilities for disabled
persons. The entire Apuan network of footpaths is served by
16 mountain huts, offering visitors the chance to spend the
night, especially during summer months and on weekends
during other seasons. These facilities, which are sometimes
located quite far away from the main roads, ensure that
people continue visiting the Geopark
ve Visitors
'
7.2
Karst-Palaeontological Park of Equi Terme
Caves (Fivizzano Municipality)
The Park of Equi Termi Caves offers tourist facilities and
trails including some designated geosites and archeosites in
close proximity to each other. This park includes a cave
produced by temporary karst resurgence (Fig.
15
), caves of
palaeontological and palaeoethnological interest, thermal
springs (sulphur radioactive water) and routes along a deeply
incised river valley (the Equi Gorge).
'
s geosites.
