Riserva naturale guidata Bosco di Don Venanzio

The Riserva naturale guidata Bosco di Don Venanzio is a 78-hectare protected area with woodland, wetland plants along the Sinello River, and a gravelly riverbed. The reserve sits near the coast and includes different landscape types suitable for both water-loving and forest-dwelling species.

The reserve was established in 1999 and named after priest Venanzio Di Virgilio, who gave the land to Pollutri municipality in 1986. This naming honors the religious leader whose donation made the protected area possible.

The visitor center in a former 20th-century farmhouse offers programs about local plants, animals, and how the forest matters to the region. People come here to understand why this woodland area is important for the environment and its role in protecting the area.

Marked trails connect the reserve to the nearby Punta Aderci Reserve in Vasto, allowing visitors to explore both areas in one visit. The paths are clearly signposted for easy navigation throughout the protected zones.

The reserve protects one of the rare lowland forests along the Adriatic coast, sitting just 5 kilometers from the sea. This uncommon forest type so close to the shore makes it ecologically valuable and sets it apart from other protected areas nearby.