Bosco della Mesola - State Nature Reserve

The Gran Bosco della Mesola is a State Nature Reserve covering 1,058 hectares. The main entrance is located within the municipality of Mesola, but the forest is so extensive that some of its areas also lie within the neighboring municipalities of Goro and Codigoro. In 1971, the first 222 hectares were designated as an Integral Nature Reserve known as “Bassa dei Frassini–Balanzetta”; later, in 1977, the remaining area was also designated as a Nature Reserve.

The forest develops on an ancient system of Renaissance-era dune ridges. The distribution of forest vegetation is influenced by slight differences in ground elevation and by proximity to the groundwater table. A distinctive feature of the reserve is the presence of the Mesola Italian Red Deer, which has survived thanks to the isolation of the forest, surrounded by marshes on three sides and by the sea on the eastern side.

The Mesola Deer, also known as the Dune Deer, is a subspecies of the Red Deer with a unique genetic heritage, evident in both its physical characteristics and behavior. Compared to the European average, it is smaller in size, has a simplified antler structure, and displays a spotted pattern in its summer coat that persists even in adult specimens.

During the Second World War, the species came close to extinction, with the population reduced to about ten individuals. Thanks to a national conservation program, its survival was ensured, and today the population numbers around 300 individuals.

Visitor information:
Only 100 hectares of the total 1,058 are open to the public and can be accessed on foot and/or by bicycle. Inside the reserve there are three circular trails ranging from 2 to 6 kilometers in length. Areas closed to the public can only be visited through guided tours.

Dogs are not allowed, as the area is a protected natural reserve.

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