Tenuta San Guido Reopens the Padule di Bolgheri Wildlife Refuge to the Public—Italy’s First Private Wildlife Sanctuary

The Padule di Bolgheri Wildlife Refuge reopened through guided experiences intended to build understanding of biodiversity through direct observation. Visits run from November through April, when overwintering wildlife is most abundant, and are limited to 15 participants with qualified environmental guides.

Private visitors and families may attend monthly Sunday visits; birdwatchers and wildlife photographers have two Friday opportunities each month; tour operators and organised groups are accommodated subject to availability. Fourth- and fifth-grade pupils from local primary schools participate in a programme combining classroom study and outdoor workshops. All visits require reservations.

Mario Incisa created the protected area in 1959, and it later became associated with WWF Italy. The Refuge remains part of Tenuta San Guido and extends along the coast between Donoratico and Cecina, with the Viale dei Cipressi defining its inland side. It encompasses an 80-hectare seasonal freshwater marsh fed solely by autumn and winter rainfall, together with more than 440 hectares of lowland forest, humid meadow, pinewood, dune, cultivated ground and natural pasture.

The habitats form a Natura 2000 Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area and have been a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance since 19 December 1977. More than 250 bird species have been recorded, alongside European pond turtles, Hermann’s tortoises, crested newts, beech martens, porcupines and wolves.

Agricultural management supports biodiversity through grasses, nectar plants, hedgerows and humid grasslands. Research with the Centro Ornitologico Toscano includes annual bird counts, studies of amphibians, reptiles, beetles and butterflies, water and soil assessment, and work on habitat resilience. Practical conservation includes restoring flooded areas, building canal bridges, installing nest boxes, removing shoreline plastic and retaining driftwood and seagrass for erosion control.