Delight all members of the family with a trip to the Casa delle Farfalle (Butterfly House) in Milano Marittima. Nestled inside a pine grove in Cervia, this natural educational reserve is home to hundreds of colorful butterflies and insects that fly around freely in their specially designed habitat.
Walk through the impressive 5,382-square-foot (500-square-meter) greenhouse, which is heated to around 82 F (28 C) with a humidity of 70 percent, creating perfect rainforest conditions. Inside are blooming flowers of all colors, and tropical plants, shrubs and banana trees from all over the world. Together they create an ideal habitat for butterflies, reptiles, insects and fish.
Look carefully and you might see caterpillars emerging from the hundreds of chrysalises hanging from the vegetation. Every week some of the caterpillars will turn into magnificent butterflies, which will go on to lay their own eggs here and maintain the cycle of life.
In addition to the butterflies you can spot other insects such as crickets, praying mantises, bees, beetles, ants, ladybirds and a whole host of invertebrates. Chameleons, iguanas and turtle doves add to the tropical collection of wildlife. There are even fish to spot if you look closely at the little lake inside the greenhouse.
Outside of the main greenhouse, walk along a botanic track created from local species of trees and plants found in Cervia’s pinewoods. It is a lovely place to enjoy a quiet picnic amid nature. Check out the fascinating educational exhibition on insects and invertebrates and peruse the well-stocked gift shop.
Casa delle Farfale operates between March and November. It is open daily except Mondays, with longer opening hours during the peak season summer months. There is an entry fee and plenty of car parking available. Alternatively, it is just a 15-minute walk from Milano Marittima. There is a small snack café but it is recommended to bring your own food to enjoy in these beautiful surroundings.
