Oasi del Bottaccio and Gherardesca's lake

In the list of the things you cannot miss in Capannori you must write in the Oasi del Bottaccio: a twenty hectares protected area where it is possible to redescover the Tuscany that once was. It is home to many of those plants and animals that were common in the past. Many migratory birds come here every year: herons, cormorants, ducks, and all kind of birds nesting in humid habitats.

The reservation is under WWF protection, and is located where the ancient lake of Bientina lay before its progressive reclamation over the centuries. The area was declared a Site of Community Importance by the European Commission, and since then it has been modernised to make it more accessible to the public.

Wooden boardwalks, silent huts, rest areas and tourist information panels: the Oasi del Bottaccio offers the perfect chance to dive into the nature and the past.

The Lago della Gherardesca, a few houndred metres away, is a Special Protection Area. Walking along the shore of this small lake it is possible to explore the charm of this untouched natural area, especially during the occasional events organised by the local associations.