PARCO NATURALE MOLENTARGIUS-SALINE

The Molentargius-Saline nature park, near Cagliari town center, is a pleasant place to take a stroll between the pink-hued waters and the remains of ancient saltworks. Guided tours by boat or electric minibus are available. Ask at the entrance.

The salt works are located behind the Poetto beach. For many years, salt farming was one of the town's essential resources, until the saltworks were closed in 1985. On foot or by bike (available for hire on site), you can cross the salt flats along various paths and watch the birds. The lagoon is an ornithological paradise where you can admire the famous pink flamingos(fenicotteri in Italian), as well as Italian redshanks and herons. A playground for photographers equipped with a good zoom lens, the Molentargius-Saline park is also a pleasant stroll away from the nearby city.

The pond (stagno di Molentargius), located between Cagliari and Quartu Sant'Elena, was transformed into a protected ecological area when a colony of pink flamingos took up residence there in 1993. Until then, these wading birds had not been seen in Sardinia, so their arrival came as a surprise, especially as thousands of births soon followed. Its status as a regional nature park, obtained in 1999, enabled the installation of facilities to ensure the birds' tranquillity, particularly during the breeding season. The flamingos were then imitated by avocets, seagulls, cormorants and herons.