Orbetello, in the province of Grosseto, is a characteristic village able to fascinate any visitor you are wandering around the narrow streets. Besides an interesting downtown Orbetello is fortunate to have in its territory, a beautiful nature reserve.
The Oasis of Orbetello lagoon extends to 850 hectares and is a wetland of international importance. The site includes sandy beaches, a brackish lagoon, freshwater ponds, small wooded areas, pine and cork forests and farmlands. The lagoon is also home to many water birds, including flamingos, hundreds of legiadri and is an important area of migration and wintering.
Fisheries and aquaculture are vital to the economy of the town. Both activities have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries and fishermen still use the traditional networks both in the lagoon in the three areas that link the lagoon to the sea.
In addition to professional fishermen the lagoon is open to fishermen "passion".
The remarkable fish production of Orbetello is a renowned Italian aquaculture success story. Sea bass, sea bream, mullet, eel, shrimp and mullet are some of the main species caught are worked on site or distributed in numerous domestic and foreign markets.
Orbetello is one of the few places in Italy where it is still made bottarga (salted mullet roe). The process leading to the creation of this delicacy requires considerable skill and is jealously guarded.
The Orbetello lagoon and its approximately 30 km long are presidio Slowfood.
Photo Credits [iltirreno.gelocal.it]
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