If Europe counts about 500 registered bird species, the valleys, marshes and lagoons in the territory of Ravenna count as much as 380 of them.
The amazing NATURA MUSEUM (Museum of Natural Sciences “Alfredo Brandolini”) offers many experiences to discover the multitude of local plant and animal species — even rare ones!
Set up in a historical 16th-century building in Sant’Alberto, just 14 km north of Ravenna, the NatuRa Museum is one of the main gateways to the Po Delta Park.
What to see
The museum organizes several meetings and workshops to get to know and protect nature, not to mention the wide range of tours and excursions to visit the surrounding natural areas. Punte Alberete, the Pine Forest of San Vitale and the Peninsula of Boscoforte are all unique places that welcome many important bird species like waders, pied avocets and bar-tailed godwits.
Moreover, the museum hosts a huge collection of animal examples and natural objects, including the greatest shell in the world. By visiting the museum, you will see the ruff in breeding plumage; the spoonbill, which nests only in Punte Alberete; the wigeon, which comes here to winter; or the many birds of prey, reptiles and mammals that come here in search of a place away from humankind.
Of course, also rare species are on display, such as the curlew, dubbed “the birdwatcher’s holy grail”; the little egret and the several storks on their massive nests (almost two metres in diametre). In order to escape the sight of the birds of prey, other smaller birds like sparrows, wagtails and starlings have learnt to nest amidst the branches in the base of the storks’ nests.
The NatuRa Museum has been acknowledged by Regione Emilia-Romagna as “high quality museum and Emilia-Romagna service and consultancy centre for independent educational institutions”.
