Fossalon Di Grado: Nature and Agriculture

Fossalon Di Grado is a fertile agricultural area within the municipality of Grado. It was created in the first half of the 20th century through land reclamation. Fossalon Di Grado is home to the Riserva naturale Valle Cavanata: the protected area covers 341 hectares, including 67 hectares at sea, and was established in 1996. It is a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention and is part of the Natura 2000 network, both as a Site of Community Importance and as a Special Protection Area. If you are planning a stay in Fossalon Di Grado, the focus is on a protected landscape, several visitor trails and the area’s agricultural character.

Wetlands, Woodland and Sea

The Valle da pesca of Valle Cavanata consists of bodies of water and canals separated by sandbanks and small islands that are periodically flooded. From the sea wall on the Percorso del mare, on clear days the view stretches across the Gulf of Trieste to part of Istria. The dense Averto forest, predominantly made up of elm trees, offers a different landscape. It provides shelter for roe deer and a refuge for waterbirds. Birds can be observed from the Osservatorio Sabbia on the Percorso della valle.

The Riserva Naturale Foce dell’Isonzo is also located near Fossalon Di Grado. It includes the Caneo area and Isola della Cona, covers 2,400 hectares and follows the last 15 kilometres of the River Isonzo.

Four Visitor Trails and How They Differ

The Riserva naturale Valle Cavanata has four visitor trails: Bosco Averto, Centro visite, del mare and della valle. The Percorso del Centro visite, approximately 500 metres long, is a walking trail with two observation posts. You can borrow binoculars free of charge at the visitor centre. The Percorso del Bosco Averto runs alongside Averto forest; along the trail, you can learn about the landscape and habitat of this forest, which is predominantly made up of elm trees.

The Percorso della valle is approximately 1,800 metres long and starts in the courtyard of the visitor centre. It runs along the northern part of the Valle da pesca, in the opposite direction to the FVG 2 cycle route coming from Grado. The Percorso del mare starts at the visitor centre car park and is 3,200 metres long up to the gate by the sea; cycling is the preferred way to travel it. The trails therefore differ not only in length: the Centro visite trail is specifically described as a walking trail, while cycling is the preferred option for the longer route to the sea. The valley trail, in turn, follows a specific section of the Valle da pesca.

The fourth stage of the Cammino Via Flavia also reaches the seaward area of the Riserva Naturale Regionale della Valle Cavanata. It uses a raised, combined cycle and footpath. This stage covers the seaward area, not all the reserve’s visitor trails.

Getting There and Fossalon’s History

From the FOSSALON Via Grado (Madonnina) bus stop, it is about a 150-metre walk to the Riserva naturale Valle Cavanata. Check the bus service and route before your trip. A bridge over the Canale di Primero, built after the Second World War, ended Fossalon’s partial isolation from Grado.

Agriculture and Local Festival Traditions

Farms in Fossalon produce fruit, vegetables and dairy products. The Festa degli Asparagi offers a culinary connection: Fossalon Di Grado hosted its 38th edition. The programme brought together asparagus, food, music and tradition; visitors could sample the vegetable at food stalls set up especially for the event. Agriculture and festival traditions thus add two more dimensions to the area alongside its nature trails.

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