The
Marano Lagoon, contained between the last coastal point of Lignano Sabbiadoro and the
Grado Lagoon, is a
landscape of extraordinary beauty that hosts
unique fauna and flora of significant naturalistic importance. Protected from the open sea by a series of islands and islets, like Sant'Andrea, also known as
Isola delle Conchiglie, it is characterised by swampy vegetation and the unique fishermen's lodgings, the typical "casoni", built with cane and wood, that make Marano Lagoon one of the
most interesting places in the Upper Adriatic Sea.
The nature reserves
There are
two nature reserves in the Marano Lagoon:
the
Riserva delle Foci del Fiume Stella (Reserve of the Mouths of the Stella River) that takes in the entire delta of the river, and can only be visited by boat, and the
Riserva della Valle Canal Novo (Canal Novo Valley Reserve) that covers an ex-fishing of around thirty-five hectares
Discover the lagoon by boat
You can choose among different
boat trips on the lagoon, with motorships that will allow you to observe the
unspoiled nature in these places. Before leaving you should visit the old city centre of
Marano Lagunare with its thousand year old tower, and a labyrinth of
alleys and small squares that bear testimony to the Venice's Republic domination that governed this area from the 15th century until the end of the 18th century.
An event not to be missed:
The
Procession of San Vito, every year on the 15 June or the following Sunday. A
rite that dates back to the 14th century to
fend off the perils of the sea and an occasion to commemorate those fishermen who lost their lives. Boarding on one of the boats in the procession on the lagoon is a
highly evocative experience.
