Twenty-five years ago, in 1997 , the former prison island of Asinara, known until then for having hosted mafia bosses and dangerous criminals in its homeland prisons, became a National Park and Marine Protected Area .

A quarter of five years during which the island, which is reflected in the homonymous gulf in front of the northwest coast of Sardinia, has come a long way, maintaining the harsh and wild spirit of an uncontaminated paradise.

Limited entry for tourists who want to land on Asinara to admire its natural beauty and visit the historic prison structures and ancient settlements: they can only reach it by ferry from Porto Torres or passenger boats from Stintino .

Dozens of projects have been carried out for the protection of biodiversity, the landscape and cultural and historical values, with the Park which has become a promoter of actions for sustainability education, scientific dissemination and sustainable use of environmental assets thanks to the collaboration with various universities and national and international bodies (such as the marine animal recovery centre, the wildlife observatory and international ornithological station, the weather observatory).

Within the protected marine area, it is also possible to carry out small-scale artisanal fishing carried out by the Porto Torres and Stintino marines, dedicated, in particular, to catching octopus, lobster and white fish . Parallel to the fishing activities, the Body promotes, in agreement with the local fishermen, fishing tourism and fish tourism activities. But the Park remains above all a natural oasis with 20 habitats of community interest, among which the priority are the Posidonia meadows, the thermo-Mediterranean and pre-desert shrublands, the temporary Mediterranean ponds.

More than 80 species of terrestrial vertebrates belonging to the classes of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are reported on the island, including several rare and endangered species.

It will be celebrated tomorrow and Monday 28 November with two events organized by the Park Authority precisely for the 25th anniversary of its birth : Friday at 9.30 at the institutional headquarters of the Park, in Porto Torres, the Forum of the European Charter for sustainable development Cets II; On Monday at the island of Asinara, departing at 9.30 from the port of Stintino, the commissioner and director of the park, Gabriela Scanu and Vittorio Gazale, will celebrate the birthday with the presentation of the volume "I Parchi d'Italia".

(Unioneonline/D)

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