Nazzano (a village of approximately 1,500 inhabitants in the Tiber valley, province of Rieti. 50km north of Rome on the left bank of the Tiber, at the point where the river valley narrows between the Sabina hills and the volcanic Cimini highlands) is the site of the Riserva Naturale Tevere-Farfa (the Tiber-Farfa Nature Reserve, the 650-hectare protected wetland at the confluence of the Farfa stream with the Tiber, created by the Nazzano dam, the first hydroelectric dam on the Tiber, built 1927) which is the most important birdwatching site within easy distance of Rome: the reservoir lake created by the 1927 dam, with its associated reed beds, willow carr, and mudflats, provides the specific wetland habitat that attracts 150+ bird species as residents, seasonal breeders, and migratory visitors. The reserve is one of the most productive Italian inland birdwatching sites for waterbirds and waders: the great crested grebe (podicipede cristato) breeds on the reservoir. The gray heron (airone cenerino) has a breeding colony in the willows. And the winter season brings diving ducks (morette, moriglioni) and the occasional rarer visitors that the convergence of the Tiber valley migration route produces.
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Nazzano: Reserve and Castle
The Riserva Naturale Tevere-Farfa
The nature reserve (open year-round, free access to the birdwatching hides, the hides are maintained by the reserve management and accessible from the main reserve entrance on the Nazzano-Torrita Tiberina road) has three bird hides positioned along the reservoir edge: the best winter viewing is from the main hide (the primary hide overlooking the deepest part of the reservoir, where the diving duck concentrations are largest in December-February). The spring migration hides (the secondary positions in the reed bed edge, best for the warblers and the herons in March-May). And the summer breeding hides (positioned for the great crested grebe and little egret colonies in May-July). The reserve provides a bird list (the annotated checklist of all recorded species, available at the reserve entrance or downloadable from the Roma Natura website).
The Nazzano Castle
The Castello di Nazzano (the medieval fortification on the limestone cliff above the Tiber, the castle that controlled the Tiber crossing at this point, held by the Orsini family in the medieval period and later by the Papacy as a river toll control point) is partially open for visits as part of the reserve's cultural program. The cliff-top position provides the specific view of the Tiber valley that the castle's medieval commanders used to control river traffic: the hairpin bends of the Tiber below the castle, the Farfa confluence visible to the east, and the Sabina hills to the north and northeast.
Q&A: Nazzano Nature Reserve
What is the best time of year to visit Nazzano for birdwatching?
December-February for the largest concentrations of wintering waterbirds (the diving ducks, the coots, the occasional rarer species driven south by northern European winters). March-April for the spring migration peak (the marsh harriers, the ospreys passing through, the warblers arriving in the reed beds). May for the breeding species at peak activity (the great crested grebe display, the heron chick feeding). The reserve is quieter in summer (July-August) for birds but the reed bed vegetation is at its most dense. Always bring binoculars (minimum 8x42) and arrive early morning for the best activity.
Internal Links
- Sabina: Il Territorio Accanto a Nazzano
- Riserve Naturali Lazio: Il Calendario della Natura
- Valle del Tevere: Nazzano e i Borghi del Fiume
- Birdwatching Lazio: Nazzano in Inverno
- Fotografare gli Uccelli a Nazzano: Tecnica
- Trekking Valle del Tevere: Da Nazzano a Torrita Tiberina
- Via Flaminia: Castelnuovo e il Tevere
