Riserva Naturale Lago di Montepulciano

The Lago di Montepulciano Nature Reserve preserves part of the former Valdichiana marsh. Open water, reed beds and damp woodland provide habitat for migratory birds and other wetland species.

Why it matters

Together with nearby Lake Chiusi, the reserve preserves remnants of the marsh that once dominated the Valdichiana before Medici-era reclamation transformed much of the valley. The lake is part of a Natura 2000 site designated as both a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area. Its ecological role reflects the importance of wetlands along migratory bird routes between Africa and Europe.

What to notice

The reserve covers about 453 hectares, including roughly 170 hectares of open water and 167 hectares of reed beds. The shallow lake reaches a depth of about three metres. The Canale Maestro della Chiana is its main inflow and only outflow, linking the wetland to the engineered water system of a reclaimed agricultural landscape. Habitats include open water, reed beds, hygrophilous woodland and humid meadows, supporting a range of birdlife.

Context and history

For centuries the Valdichiana was a marshland affected by malaria. Medici-era engineering began a long process of converting the valley to farmland, while the lakes of Montepulciano and Chiusi remain fragments of the former wetland. The regional government established the nature reserve in 1996. The Natura 2000 site protects wetlands and associated habitats on the valley floor near the Umbrian border.