Oasi della Garzaia

At the entrance to Codigoro, in the shadow of the abandoned sugar factory and near the water pumping station of the Consorzio di Bonifica, lies La Garzaia, or the City of Herons.

This area covers approximately 8 hectares and, after the sugar factory was decommissioned, it has become a true grove of black locust, poplar, elder, and plum trees, where various species of herons have settled undisturbed: little egrets, night herons, gray herons, and great white egrets. The presence of elder trees and four settling tanks from the old sugar factory provide an ideal habitat for the birds to thrive. Thanks to a watchtower and a webcam, visitors can study, observe, and monitor the animals without disturbing them. Inside the educational room, all stages of the birds' lives—from courtship to nesting—are projected on a large screen, allowing visitors to follow them in an eco-sustainable way, regardless of the time of year.

How to get there: By car, bike, or on foot: from downtown Codigoro, head toward Massafiscaglia. After a couple of kilometers, turn right after the Consorzio di Bonifica I Circondario, follow the right bank of the Collettore Acque Alte to the bridge, and continue on foot along the canal bank.