Molentargius Saline Park, Cagliari

Molentargius Saline Park is one of the youngest and most significant European nature reserves. It was founded in 1999 and is located to the east of the Cagliari city near Poetto beach, another well-known place. The main lake formed 30 years ago and was exploited as a salt source.

The nature of Molentargius Saline Park

Molentargius is a wetland, covering more than 1500 hectares. This is the best wintering place for endangered bird species, such as:

• great black cormorant,
• cattle egret,
• oriental stork,
• common pochard,
• greater flamingo.

Besides the rare birds, the park is a home for many lizards, snakes, vipers, and turtles. You can also see hedgehogs, hares, bats, weasels, and coypus by the reservoirs. Flora had adapted itself to the marshland, and now reed, carex, and scrubby trees are growing and blossoming here.

The unique feature of the park is its neighborhood with freshwater and salt lakes, which tend to be divided by narrow pieces of land. This is the reason why reserve ecosystem is so diverse and active. Moreover, the nature of the park is beautiful at any time of the year. In spring flower fields are blooming wildly, while in summer water in lakes acquires a red tint and the coast is fringed with snow-white salt.

Fun facts

Molentargius gulfs are natural sodium chloride sources where salt was mined for many centuries. The said salt was transferred on pack mules, to whom locals referred as “molenti” in their own dialect. This way the reserve got its name. The vastest salt deposit in Sardinia had been being developed till the 1990s; after that, the area became protected.

Within the park territory, you can find a building, which previously served as a salt storehouse. It is designed in Art Nouveau style. Built in the 1930s and newly reconstructed, it is currently the park administration office. Here ecological conferences and expositions.

Flamingos in the park

Unique flamingos are the center of attention in the park as their habits and life never cease to interest the visitors that come here from all over the world. The feathers become of the pink color because of the food they consume, such as crustaceans which have pink pigment.

Mild Sardinian climate and rich in food reservoirs made Molentargius Saline Park in Cagliari a perfect place for flamingos to spent winter and nest. Local workers started breeding mussels and putting them into ponds, so the birds can settle in completely and never left the place, even in winter.

The park offers specially designed tourist tracks for bikes and walks on foot and even waterways. During the sightseeing, tourists are encouraged to travel down these roads and keep their voices down, so they don’t disturb reserve inhabitants.

How to get

You can get to Molentargius Saline Park by the public transport if you take the bus line №3. The get off at Aquilone or Tramontana stop, walk down the Via Tramontana street, turn right to Via la Palma, where the entrance to the park is. Walk to the park takes 5-7 minutes.