Paludi di Ostiglia

Paludi di Ostiglia Nature Reserve

“The life flowing among the bodies of water and the reeds”

The Paludi di Ostiglia Nature Reserve represents a rare example of raised marshland, the last testimony to the huge Veronese Valleys, a vast marshland system – over 30,000 hectares – whose drainage began around 1850, but was not finished until the 1970s.

The wilderness area, set up in 1984, extends over 120 hectares in the town of Ostiglia, on the border with the Veneto region. It hosts 175 species of birds, as well as some particularly rare and prestigious habitats which have led to recognition on a European (the Reserve is part of the Europe-wide ecological network, Natura 2000), and even worldwide level (the Paludi di Ostiglia are one of the 51 Wetlands of International Importance in Italy). Due to its importance from a birdlife point of view, the Paludi di Ostiglia are part of the Italian League for Bird Protection (LIPU). Among the most important species are the Italian agile frog, a red frog which lives only on the Po Plain, the bittern and the red heron (two rare reed thicket herons), as well as the western marsh harrier, the viviparous lizard and the wetland tortoise. There is a convenient turf path inside the wilderness area which connects the visitors’ centre to the observation points. The reserve is open and freely accessible on foot or by bike all year round.

It is to be noted that a LIPU operator is at visitors’ disposal, as well as a very comprehensive environmental education program, which for over a decade has been involving the schools of the Mantuan Oltrepò in themes regarding nature and the sustainability of lifestyles.

The Paludi di Ostiglia are connected to the wilderness areas of the Mantuan Oltrepò Parks System by the Parks Cycle Route, and also lie along the Via Claudia Augusta – a cycle path which retraces the route of the Roman road which linked the Danube and Po rivers – and the Province of Mantua cycle route 9.

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Information

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Paludi di Ostiglia Nature Reserve

You can enjoy the following surprising experiences in the Paludi di Ostiglia

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What happens in the marshland through the seasons?

SPRING

• The thickets of young reeds are dotted with the yellow blossoms of kingcups and the white blossoms of spring snowflakes
• Migratory birds are back from Africa and the heronry is teeming with purple herons again
• The reed thicket is alive with the song of the reed warbler and great reed warbler
• The courting displays of the Western marsh harriers begin
• The wetland tortoise basks in the sun to get warm

SUMMER

• The scarlet rose mallow and white water lily begin to blossom
• The song of the reed warbler, the great reed warbler and the water rail resonates in the air
• The wetland tortoise basks in the sun to get warm

AUTUMN

• The marsh is quiet. Many water pools are carpeted in floating fern
• The reed warbler and great reed warbler have migrated, but the mysterious great bittern is back
• Dozens of great and little egrets gather on the poplars at sunset
• Hundreds of wild ducks circle in the sky or swim in the Busatello

WINTER

• The marsh is quiet, the water is frozen and the reeds are dry
• Dozens of great egrets, little egrets and cormorants gather on the poplars at sunset
• Hundreds of wild ducks circle in the sky or swim in the Busatello
• By February you can already hear the song of the Italian agile frog