Mouth of the river Bevano

The Foce del Bevano area offers unique naturalistic excellences. Next to the pinewood of Classe and the mouth itself, the valley of Ortazzo and the humid area of Ortazzino are not to be missed. The Ortazzo is a wide marshland constantly submerged by the waters of the Bevano and Fosso Ghiaia rivers. Originally it was an ancient freshwater valley, dammed and obtained by the reconversion of previous rice fields. It is currently subject to the brackish influences of the water table, as evidenced by the presence of maritime rushes and puccinellieti and is characterized by a valuable alternation of ponds, reeds, Mediterranean vegetation and pine forests. The Ortazzino, south of the Bevano stream, is instead a brackish area adjacent to the beach that alternates backdune ponds, reeds, dunes and Mediterranean vegetation with coastal pinewoods. It includes the fossilised meanders of the Bevano and part of the dunes, with humid brackish meadows and dry meadows dotted with juniper and buckthorn behind. Both areas are the destination of many water birds and diurnal birds of prey (in particular, hen harriers and greater spotted eagles) which come here during the year to migrate and overwinter, consequently attracting birdwatchers from all over the world. Among the various birds, a place of honour goes to the extremely rare Kentish plovers, small wading birds in danger of extinction which nest on the beaches near the Foce. In the last few years, several dozen specimens have been counted, confirming the good conditions of the entire marine environment. In this area, between July and August, it is possible to admire expanses of flamingos, herons and other caradriforms that come here to nest. Among these, worthy of note are the black-winged stilt, the avocet, the little tern and the little tern. The walk along the dune cordon that unrolls in the brackish water is very suggestive. Here it is possible to stop and observe the birdlife through special watchtowers, from which it is possible to enjoy a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape as far as the sea.