While the military base project in the San Rossore Park continues, the NATO base at Monte Giogo in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines Park is being decommissioned.
Editorial board
April 27, 2024
COMANO (Ms) – While the military base within the Cisam area (Interforce Study Center for Military Applications) in San Piero a Grado, in the heart of the San Rossore Parkhas already been planned during an inter-institutional table last September 6th in Rome, the Tuscan Directorate of State Property officially communicated to the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines National Park and to the mayor of the Municipality of Comano that the procedures for the concession of the area of the former NATO base of Monte Giogo are currently underway, located at 1520 meters above sea level and decommissioned for 27 years.
The National Park, in agreement with the Municipality, presented a reasoned request based on a 2021 regulation which favors the assignment to parks of state-owned areas within their territory. Although the implementation procedure is particularly complex, it appears to be coming to a conclusion and an early delivery could be achieved within the current year.
The former NATO base of Monte Giogo was a strategic place that hosted soldiers of different nationalities. The Ligurian Sea was monitored with four large parabolic antennas. In addition, the base was used as a base troposcatterfacilitating military communications during the Cold War by transmitting encrypted codes to all NATO bases in the Mediterranean.
“Here we will carry out the Gate of heavenone of the gates of the Park – he declares Fausto Giovanellipresident of the Apennine National Park – probably the most beautiful for the extraordinary perspective and vision of the landscape it offers, from the Ligurian Sea to the Apuan Alps up to the Apennines and the Alps”. One of the first actions will be to secure the area and the creation of a limited route that allows you to admire the surrounding landscape and some structures, such as the large satellite dishes currently in disuse.
The former NATO base of Monte Giogo it was built in 1956 and operated from 1960 to the 1990s, when it was abandoned. Located at the top of the mountain, the base is often windswept and, from October to May, often covered in snow and ice. Its imposing parables are clearly visible from all over Lunigiana.
