Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 0432 99 81 33;
www.parks.it/riserva.foce.isonzo
;
Isola della Cona; adult/reduced €5/3.50;
9am-5pm Fri-Wed)
The final stretch of the Isonzo river's journey into the Adriatic flows
through this 23.5-sq-km nature reserve where visitors can birdwatch, horse ride, cycle or
walk around salt marshes and mudflats. The visitors centre also has a cafe.
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Laguna di Marano
At the head of the Adriatic, sandwiched between the beach resorts of Grado and Lignano,
Italy succumbs to nature - in particular birdlife - in the Laguna di Marano.
Marano Lagunare
, a Roman fishing port that was later fortified, is the only settlement on
the lagoon shore. Beyond the workaday docks and medieval streets, peace and quiet is en-
sured by two nature reserves - the 13.77-sq-km
Riserva Naturale della Foci dello Stella
, pro-
tecting the marshy mouth of the Stella river and reached by boat, and the
Riserva Naturale
della Valle Canal Novo
, a 121-hectare reserve in a former fishing valley. The
visitor centre
(
0431 6 75 51;
www.riservenaturali.maranolagunare.com
;
Via delle Valli 2; park admission adult/re-
duced €2.50/1.50;
9am-6pm Tue-Sun)
, in a characteristic reed hut, is shared by the two re-
serves.
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Lignano
Modern Lignano is one of northern Italy's premier beach destinations, with sweeping
stretches of sand set against a backdrop of dark pines in
Lignano Pineta
and
Lignano Riviera
,
and theme parks and multistorey car parks in brash, but never boring,
Lignano Sabbiadoro
.
Three camping grounds, including
Pino Mare
( 0431 42 44 24;
www.campingpinomare.it
;
Lungomare Riva 15; camping 2 people, car & tent €60)
, a tree-shaded cabin village at the mouth of
the Tagliamento river, supplement the 100-plus hotels.
The
tourist office
( 0431 42 21 69; Via dei Pini 53, Lignano Pineta; 9am-2pm summer)
can
help with holiday rentals. Lignano Sabbiadoro is linked by bus to Udine (€6.50, two
hours, many daily).
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