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Laguna di Marano e Grado

The natural oasis of Friuli Venezia Giulia

About this place

In Friuli Venezia Giulia, in the northernmost part of the Upper Adriatic, is the lagoon of Marano and Grado. The lagoon stretches between the mouths of the Tagliamento and Isonzo rivers and is divided at the height of Anfora Island into the Marano and Gradese parts. The lagoon is a naturalistic oasis that combines wilderness charm with eco-friendly tourism, allowing observation of this unspoiled environment and exploration of the reserves, islands, and seaside resorts that overlook it: the historic towns of Grado and Marano.

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Why visit

01.

Unspoiled nature

The lagoon is a wild environment in which nature has a clear predominance over the human element. Visiting it by motorboat or exploring the mainland and reserves can enjoy this pristine scenery.

02.

Villages and localities

The lagoon is overlooked by the seaside towns of Marano and Grado and other villages, as well as some small islands. On the mainland, a short distance from Grado, Aquileia can be visited, while Lignano Sabbiadoro is easily reached by boat.

03.

Boat Tours

The vast lagoon area can be explored starting from Grado, Marano, and Lignano by motorboat or other types of vessels. Well known are the casoni tour and the visit to the Barbana shrine.

The oasis and nature reserves

The Marano and Grado Lagoon is a pristine nature oasis, extremely rich in wildlife and fish and famous for birdwatching. The high degree of biodiversity is safeguarded by the presence of protected areas and nature reserves.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Due to the mixing of the salt waters of the Adriatic with the fresh waters of the Soča and the Stella River, the underwater environment is fertile and rich in life. Above the water level, the scenery is wild and diverse, with marsh vegetation and reeds, forested areas and grasslands, stagnant areas and sandy areas, wetlands and resurgences. The variety of environments makes the area ideal for life for so many species including fish, reptiles and amphibians, mammals and birds.

NATURE RESERVES

The lagoon is home to 4 pristine valleys, the reserves located in the areas of the mouths of the Isonzo, Grado, and Marano Lagunare:

Soča River Mouth “Cona Island” Regional Nature Reserve
Cavanata Valley Regional Nature Reserve
Stella River Mouths Nature Reserve
Canal Novo Valley Nature Reserve

The different areas can be visited while respecting environmental protection regulations.

INTERESTING THINGS TO VISIT IN THE LAGOON

The lagoon is a rich and diverse environment where nature is extraordinary and satisfies diverse interests. The anthropogenic element in this environment blends with the landscape: there is no lack of important and historical evidence of man, who, however, has inserted himself into this landscape by molding himself to it and respecting it, adjusting his rhythms of life to the slow rhythms of nature.

Laguna di Marano

The fauna and flora

The lagoon is a unique environment, which, due to its special aquatic and terrestrial characteristics, is ideal for the proliferation of thousands of both resident and migratory animal species.

The casoni

The ancient dwellings of Grado and Marano fishermen, which can be seen on islets in the middle of the lagoon.

Shrine of Barbana

The Marian shrine on the island of Barbana, inhabited by Benedictine monks and can be visited year-round.

Motorboat tours

Tours on the lagoon to admire its beauty and discover the casoni and islands.

Birdwatching

The lagoon environment is extremely rich in avian species and is a destination for many birdwatchers who also have the opportunity to observe some rare migratory species.

Amphora Island and Portobuso

With a nice boat trip on a sunny day, it is possible to reach the island of Amphora and the village of Porto Buso.

The island of Grado

"The Island of the Sun" famous for its historical and cultural richness.

Nature reserves

The Grado and Marano lagoon is surrounded by 4 magnificent nature reserves with different characteristics.

Orio Bank Beach

A swim in the crystal clear waters of a beach in the middle of the sea.

Mouths of the Stella

A protected natural area on the Stella River estuary where fish and bird species proliferate.

Flamingos in the Cavanata Valley Reserve

Every year hundreds of pink flamingos reach the Cavanata Valley Nature Reserve where they can be observed for several months.

Marano

Marano is a historic seaside village, a fishing village whose rhythms are dictated by activities related to the sea and fishing.

The casoni

WHAT THEY ARE.

In the lagoon of Grado and Marano, on some of the countless islets, you can admire the casoni with their reed roofs. These are the traditional dwellings of the Grado and Marano fishermen who, in the days of rowing boats, would stay there to sleep since they could not return to the mainland every night.

HOW TO VISIT THEM.

The lagoon is dotted with casoni (fishermen’s huts) that can be reached and visited by convenient motorboat trips from Lignano, Marano, and Grado.

The island of Barbana

Near Grado is the island of Barbana, home to the famous shrine of St. Mary. Barbana is inhabited by a community of Benedictine monks and can be visited year-round by scheduled ferry service. There is a restaurant on the island, where it is possible to have lunch in the spring and summer period. On the first Sunday in July, the island is the destination of the striking “Perdòn di Barbana,” a votive procession of boats carrying the statue of Our Lady of the Angels from the Basilica of St. Euphemia in Grado.

Boat Tours

The lagoon is a natural environment that has retained its wild beauty and is the extraordinary setting for motorboat excursions from Grado, Marano Lagunare, and nearby Lignano Sabbiadoro.

LAGOON ISLANDS

The tour of the lagoon by boat allows you to discover the casoni, the ancient dwellings of Grado and Marano fishermen, the island of Anfora and Porto Buso, the island of Marinetta and the island of Sant’Andrea, the island of Barbana with its Marian shrine, and the Banco d’Orio, the tongue of sand that separates the lagoon from the Adriatic, renowned for its crystal-clear waters.

SEASIDE RESORTS AND VILLAGES

Motorboat trips also make it possible to visit the villages and towns overlooking the lagoon and the upper part of the Adriatic Sea. Excursions to other locations depart from each port: the renowned seaside resort of Lignano Sabbiadoro, the historic town of Grado, and the seaside town of Marano Lagunare.