There Lombardy it is a region that has a lot to offer, not only for its important cities, and for its mountains, but also for its parks and its natural reserves, true green lungs, which allow you to organize trips out of town, where you can breathe some clean air, away from traffic and smog. Lombardy has 67 regional natural reserves, well distributed across the territory, which include the main natural environmental typologies of Lombardy. Let’s discover the 10 most characteristics together.
most beautiful nature reserves in Lombardy
Paluaccio of Oga
The Paluaccio of Oga it is a peat bog characterized by modestly sized sphagnum domes, not joined together to form a single central hill, but distinct from each other. It can be easily reached from the Bormio basin and at the end of the walk in the Reserve it is possible to visit for free (15,000 visits per year) the neighboring Fort Dossaccio, built between 1909 and 1912 to defend the border with Austria.
Val di Mello Nature Reserve
There Val di Mello nature reserve it is the largest in Lombardy. It is located in the province of Sondrio and is a protected area very popular with hikers, climbers and mountain enthusiasts. Fishing is permitted in the streams, but any form of hunting is prohibited.
Valsolda nature reserve
There Valsolda nature reserve it occupies 328 hectares, in the Mountain Community of the Lepontine Alps. Thanks to the presence of mountain pine and shaggy rhododendron thickets, it constitutes a habitat that allows the presence of important fauna species, as well as chamois, deer and roe deer. The golden eagle nests on the rocky walls and in the territory of nearby Switzerland the presence of the wolf has also been reported.
Bosco Ronchetti
The reserve occupies a flat space between the bank of the Po river and its embankment (floodplain) in the territory of the municipalities of Stagno Lombardo and Pieve d’Olmi. It protects a stretch of river floodplain, in the province of Cremona, which contains strips of residual natural vegetation of absolute exceptionality throughout the Po valley.
The Mincio Valleys Reserve
There Mincio Valleys Reserve includes one of the most important and extensive wetlands in northern Italy. It is characterized by a suggestive landscape, with extensive reed thickets accompanied by sedges that frame the banks of the open water, in summer covered by floating vegetation: made up of water lilies, lotus flowers, water chestnuts, hibiscus and buttercups .
Rocca del Sasso and Lake Park
There Rocca and Sasso Oriented Nature Reserve it is the first example of a lake reserve in Lombardy. It also hosts the Rocca di Manerbasito of archaeological importance where the remains of settlements dating back to the Bronze Age and the ruins of a medieval castle can be seen.
Lake Ganna Nature Reserve
There Lake Ganna nature reserve it is a protected natural area part of the Campo dei Fiori regional park. The oasis includes Lake Ganna, the Pralugano peat bog, the meadows and hydrophilic woods that surround the two wetlands.
WWF Valpredina Oasis
Since 1985 the territory of‘WWF Oasis it is recognized as a Regional Nature Reserve of forestry and landscape interest. It extends for over 90 hectares, along the southern slope of Mount Misma in the Bergamo Lakes Mountain Community, on the border with the Seriana Valley in the province of Bergamo. In the reserve there is a “nature route” which starts from the botanical garden at the visitor center where plant species of both Valpredina and from other continents. Educational ponds, a composting area (waste recycling), a turtle enclosure and an area dedicated to butterflies and bees have also been set up.
Pian di Spagna
There Pian di Spagna nature reserve – Lake Mezzola is a complex ecosystem in which there are areas of reeds, wet meadows and agricultural surfaces. The real heritage of the Reserve is made up of the avifauna, both nesting and migratory. Many species of aquatic birds have been recorded, including the little grebe, the little grebe, the gray heron, the cormorant, the mallard.
Acqualunga Abbey
There Acqualunga Abbey Nature Reserve it is located in a lowland forest, in the municipality of Frascarolo, in the province of Pavia. In addition to walking, it is also possible to visit the abbey (by appointment) and the castle of Frascarolo, a national monument since the first decade of the 20th century and fully furnished.
