Giannella between Lagoon and Coast

Giannella between Lagoon, Sea and Nature Reserve

Giannella combines a distinctive coastal landscape with the natural and cultural features of the Oasi di Orbetello. The Oasi is designated as a Zona Speciale di Conservazione (IT51A0026), a Zona di Protezione Speciale (ZPS IT51A0026) and a Ramsar site. For your travel planning, this means that you can combine a stay by the sea with nature observation, a museum visit and historical destinations without limiting the region to days spent exclusively at the beach.

The Tombolo della Giannella is a defining feature. It is a sandy strip of land that separates the lagoon from the sea and is covered with woodland and Mediterranean maquis. This landscape creates a clear contrast between bodies of water, the coast and the vegetated strip of land. If, during your stay in Giannella, you would like to alternate quiet hours on the beach with excursions into nature, you will find various options here for planning your days.

Nature Experiences and the Pelagos Museum

At the Oasi di Orbetello, you can observe thousands of birds. These include flamingos, herons, cranes, waders, birds of prey and numerous songbirds. The birdlife is therefore a reason in its own right to include the Oasi in your travel plans. You do not have to plan your stay solely around classic sights; you can also make the landscape and its wildlife the focus of a day.

Since August 2023, the historic Casale Giannella has housed an interactive museum dedicated to the Pelagos Sanctuary. Using immersive projections and interactive installations, the museum provides information about the species of the Pelagos area, the threats to its biodiversity and possible conservation measures. A visit to the museum complements nature observation with a thematic perspective and provides a specific cultural attraction during your stay in Giannella.

The Casale della Giannella is the starting point for guided visits to the Oasi di Orbetello. Visitors then drive approximately seven kilometers to the entrance of the Oasi in their own car or on a motorcycle. The entrance cannot be reached on foot or by bicycle. You should take this requirement into account when choosing your accommodation and planning your days, especially if you want to combine several interests and different means of transport.

Beach, Cycling Route and Coastal History

The Spiaggia di Giannella stretches for eight kilometers between Santa Liberata and Le Saline. Giannella therefore offers a pronounced coastal character that can be combined with the natural features of the lagoon. Access to the Spiaggia di Giannella is via the Albinia exit of the SS Aurelia; then follow the signs to Porto Santo Stefano.

A cycling route from Orbetello to Santa Liberata also offers a possible perspective on the landscape. It provides views of the Tombolo della Giannella and reaches the town of Santa Liberata after the Diga. This route should be considered separately from access to the Oasi: The entrance to the Oasi cannot be reached on foot or by bicycle, while the cycling route follows its own course between Orbetello and Santa Liberata.

The historical side of the coastal landscape includes Torre e Forte delle Saline. The coastal fortification at the mouth of the Albegna was built in 1660 at the direction of Philip IV to protect the Via Aurelia and the isthmus of the Tombolo della Giannella. A stay in Giannella can therefore be explored not only through its beach and lagoon, but also through the historical function of the coast.

Which Accommodation Search Is Right for Giannella?

If your main aim is to combine beaches, birdwatching and the landscape between the lagoon and the sea, Giannella is a logical area in which to search for accommodation. If you are planning a visit to the Oasi, however, you should include the journey to the entrance by car or motorcycle. For travelers interested in culture, the Pelagos Museum and Torre e Forte delle Saline add a range of historical and natural-history topics to the stay. What matters, therefore, is less having the most extensive possible list and more whether you would rather spend your days at the beach, in nature, on a cycling route or visiting cultural attractions.

For other places in the same area, you can also view Talamone, Fonteblanda, Albinia, Ansedonia, Orbetello Scalo and San Donato Vecchio.

For the higher-level travel overview: Orbetello.