Overview

The Natural Park formed by the salt marsh a stone's throw from Cagliari

Between Cagliari and Quartu Sant'Elena, in the far south of Sardinia, lies the large Molentargius Saline Regional Natural Park, one of the most important wetlands in Europe. It is a large area that includes two freshwater basins, Bellarosa Minore and Perdalonga, and one of saltwater, known as Bellarosa Maggiore or Molentargius, where a true symbol of Cagliari, a large colony of pink flamingos has been living undisturbed for decades.

Until 1985, the Molentargius wetland was used for salt extraction, but thanks to extensive redevelopment work, it is now one of the most species-rich bird sites in the whole of Sardinia. Discovering this place and experiencing it with the utmost respect for the precious species that live there is as simple as leaving your car in the car parks and walking or cycling along the many well-marked paths. For those who want to explore it more comfortably, they can opt for an excursion by boat or electric minibus.

There is free access to the park for those who wish to explore the reserve independently, either from Cagliari or from Quartu Sant'Elena via the Poetto waterfront. For an educational experience, the information centre provides tourists and visitors with microscopes, audiovisual aids and computer equipment to better understand the dynamics of this precious ecosystem.