Riserva naturale di Macchiatonda, Regional nature reserve in Santa Marinella, Italy.
The reserve is a protected coastal area north of Rome that brings together several different habitats in one space. Here you find wetland fields, freshwater lakes, brackish ponds, sand dunes, and forests of elm and laurel trees all within walking distance of each other.
The reserve was established in the 1980s to protect one of the last natural wetland areas of the Roman coast. At that time such marshland was disappearing rapidly, making this site a rare example of how the coastline originally looked.
The name refers to the historical charcoal-making tradition that shaped this coastal area for centuries. Today visitors walking through guided paths can sense how traditional land use and modern conservation work together in this space.
The main entrance is located on Via Aurelia near Santa Severa Castle and is open only on certain days. Wear sturdy shoes suitable for walking on wet ground and plan your visit for a weekend or afternoon to find the area accessible.
Observation towers stand by artificial lakes where visitors can watch rare bird species like flamingos, herons, and marsh harriers passing through. These birds use the site as a crucial rest stop during their seasonal journeys between continents.
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