Flora & Wildlife

The Phlegraean Fields were formed by volcanic activity that started about a million years ago .The area is still characterised by the presence of craters, from Mount Cumae to the Solfatara. At the bottom of the craters we find the formation of lakes such as Lake Averno, Lucrino, Fusaro, and Miseno. In the area of the Phlegraean Fields, situated near Lago di Patria, we can find the Licola Pine forest, which has mainly Umbrella and Maritime pine trees. Where the Pine forest opens up into clearings we can find asparagus, hawthorn, ferns, hollyhock and corn poppies and in spring we can feast our eyes on a variety of orchids. Moving further south we can find a flooded Oak Forest, which is scattered with beds of reeds and rushes, and is the last trace of the Silva Gallinara of Roman times. There is an abundance of flourishing plants such as lentisk, strawberry, and myrtle, as well as rosemary, mallow, elder, wormwood, and alaternus. The area also hosts a thriving butterfly and moth community, including species such as swallowtails, red admirals, and the famous death’s head hawk moth. We also have the chance to indulge in bird watching, having waterfowl such as coots, ducks, herons, and little bitterns and land-based birds like larks, chaffinches, siskins, and other species of songbird. The Pine Forest itself hosts an array of nocturnal birds such as kestrels, hawks, and owls, including the barn owl. Foxes and hares might cross our path, while sightings of hedgehogs and moles are common. During the Roman Empire the Romans used the wood of these forests to build and renew their fleet, destroying them. Nonetheless, this rich land continues to thrive and offer delights.

The rich vegetation that covered the area of Miseno, and captivated the Romans, that had slowly formed throughout thousands of years thanks to a volcanic land rich in humus, where the holm oak dominated. The destruction of the forests gave way to the Mediterranean maquis, which is a mix of different species of shrubs and herbage and characterised by the lack of large trees. Even though this represents an initial stage of the vegetation's degradation compared to the ancient forests, it is still a part of an extraordinary landscape of which only a few traces remain.

In more recent historical times, agriculture took hold in these extremely favourable expanses, offering a landscape dominated by grapevines, olive trees, and fruit bearing trees. The land in Miseno was intensely cultivated until the early 1960s. Terracing is still visible, now mostly covered by forest plants which used to be kept at their borders to act as wind breakers. The main cultivation in Miseno have always been grapevines trees, and fruit bearing trees such as lemon, tangerine, and orange, which are widely known. Apricots, peaches, almonds, figs, plums, sorb apples, sour black cherries, and red cherries are also grown. Legumes have also always been cultivated, especially peas, broad beans and “cicerchie”, along with artichokes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and in more recent times, potatoes, tomatoes, and chilli peppers. The produce from Miseno used to be rewarded in its price for its particular tastiness.

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