The Gran Bosco della Mesola Nature Reserve is a forested area covering 1,058 hectares within the Po Delta Regional Park. The land, shaped by ancient alluvial deposits, offers visitors a variety of landscapes: from coastal woodland strips to inland zones slightly above sea level; from marshy wetlands rich in aquatic vegetation to open grasslands.
Today, the Gran Bosco della Mesola, also known as the Boscone, has experienced a significant decline in wildlife due to land reclamation projects that have driven away many species typical of wetland habitats. However, a new protected area known as Elciola has recently been established to welcome herons, night herons, ducks, coots, and waders.
The unique climate, characterized by heavy rainfall in autumn and spring, hot summers, and cold winters, combined with the distinctive soil, has created an extraordinary ecosystem.
One of the most iconic species is the Mesola Deer, the last remnant of a type of red deer that once roamed the Po Valley. Other mammals include fallow deer, foxes, hedgehogs, polecats, and badgers. Along the suggested trails, visitors may encounter birds such as wood pigeons, turtle doves, golden orioles, woodpeckers, and hoopoes, as well as birds of prey, reptiles, amphibians, and a variety of fish species.
The flora is equally diverse, with species typical of sandy soils (juniper and sea buckthorn), Mediterranean scrub (holm oak and flowering ash), wetland areas (pedunculate oak, narrow-leaved ash, white poplar, elm, and European hornbeam), and aquatic zones (rushes and reeds).
Visitors can explore the Reserve’s natural beauty on foot or by bicycle, following educational trails that are also accessible to the visually impaired.

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