Casa delle Farfalle

The Casa delle Farfalle is an environmental education centre beside Milano Marittima's pinewood. Its tropical greenhouse, insect displays and planted outdoor spaces introduce different forms of insect life within a designed botanical setting.

Why it matters

The centre connects the study of tropical species with attention to local biodiversity. It presents insects as part of ecological relationships involving plants and habitats, rather than as isolated specimens.

What to notice

The principal greenhouse combines tropical vegetation, including ficus and banana plants, with free-flying butterflies. The Casa degli Insetti broadens the subject to other invertebrates, while the garden and the Il Bruco greenhouse focus attention on species associated with Italy and the local environment. These contrasting settings distinguish a recreated tropical habitat from the landscape beyond the glass.

Context and history

The municipality developed the centre with regional funding and entrusted its management to the environmental-education cooperative Atlantide. Its facilities expanded around insect education; the addition of Il Bruco in 2013 introduced a greenhouse dedicated to local butterfly species. The complex belongs to Cervia's broader association with its pinewood and other coastal habitats.