In the maps of the past it is evident that, in the past, the coastline was significantly shifted to the east: the action of the sea currents and the instability of the rivers determined the formation of long sandy strips, blocking the outlet to the waters and thus creating a wonderful environment of woods and swamps that has survived to the present day without excessive intervention.

Here in the 15th century the great Grand Ducal estates of the Medici family and the share cropping farms settled. The reclamation interventions carried out over the centuries, begun by the Medici family and completed around 1940, then defined the current geography of the area. The park and the estate of the same name are named after a little-known saint: a certain San Lussorio.

Who was he? Luxurius was a Roman official from Cagliari who, having converted to Christianity at the time of Diocletian, was arrested and sentenced to death in Fordungianus, the ancient Forum Traiani. Before the execution, he allegedly led two young men to conversion, Camerino and Cisello, who were also later executed.

The name “Rossore” derives from the corruption of the name Luxurius or Luxorius in Ruxurius or Ruxorius made on some Pisan manuscripts.

Thanks to the fact that the relics of the saint were kept for many years in the territories of the estate, the area, the estate and then the park took the name of the martyr, renamed in popular language “San Rossore”.

Things to do in this amazing forest of San Rossore is mainly walking, riding a bicycle and enjoying nature the sea and the animals. The route is about 30 km long on dirt and asphalted roads (as little traffic as possible).

The agricultural estate of Coltano, inside the estate, is a fascinating area of ​​the Park, an area with a particular history and nature that deserve to be discovered on a bicycle trip departing from the center of Pisa. Ancient villas, radio centres, wet canals, agricultural fields and woods with tall and ancient laurels are some of the peculiarities that can be observed and told during the cycle-walk of about 6 hours characterized by crossing the most iconic natural environments of the Estate.