NATURAL STATE RESERVE CRATER OF ASTRONI

The crater of the Astroni is situated in the zone of the Phlegrean Fields ;yet known by the Romans, the Astronis were used as thermal bathes ,for the abundance of healthy sources of water. Placed in the territory of Pozzuoli, the Reserve of the Astroni includes a volcanic crater of the Phlegrean Fields among Agnano on the east , the Mount Leucogeo on the south , the Pianura on the north and the Mount Barbaro on the west. The oasis is characterized by a notable variety of habitat. In the zone of the little pondsthere is a lake vegetation with reeds, rushes, cattails and willows, while on the fund of the crater and along its inside slopes, damp has favored the settlement of species as the chestnut tree, the oak, the farnia, the elm, the hornbeam, the robinia, to which the Canadian poplar and the red oak are added. The superior part of the crater is covered instead by the mediterranean stain. Varied the animals that find shelter in the oasis, among which amphibians as the green frog, reptiles as the snake and the biacco, and small mammals as the fox, the doormouse, the dormouse. Many the birds, among which the Sardinian warbler, the blackcap, the wren, the blackbird, the magpie, the coot, the ashy heron, the garzetta, the lapwing. For four kinds particularly, water's gallinella, the jay, the robin and the great red woodpecker, the crater of the Astroni represents the only point of certain nest-building for the phlegrean area.

HOW TO ARRIVE

It's situated in province of Naples at 10 kms. from the city.

From Naples (highways): Take Tangential of Naples toward Pozzuoli. Exit n. 11 Agnano. On the intersection, turn on the right in direction Pianura. Continue along the road that climbs on the hill until to arrive to the adjacent square to a hairpin bend that continues in slope toward Pianura. It's possible to park in the wide square from which you can enter the park.

From Naples (center - central station of Piazza Garibaldi )

Direction port - Piazza Municipio. Continue for Mergellina and Fuorigrotta. There is here the possibility to take the Tangential direction Pozzuoli, or to continue for Domiziana and arrive to Agnano going beyond the racecourse and overcoming, continuing right the entry of the Tangential. Continue along the road that climbs on the hill until to arrive in the adjacent square to hairpin bend that continues in slope toward Pianura. It's possible to park in the wide square from which you can enter the park.

By bus: from Piazzale Tecchio, up to the racecourse of Agnano and then afoot.