Colfiorito Plateau & Flamingo Marsh
Just 35 kilometres east of Bevagna over the Apennine ridge, the Altopiano di Colfiorito is a high karst plateau at 760 metres that harbours one of central Italy's most unexpected nature reserves — a shallow marsh and lake system where, in spring and autumn, flamingos, marsh harriers and black-winged stilts stop to feed on migration.
The Nature Reserve
The Palude di Colfiorito (Colfiorito Marsh) is a Ramsar-listed wetland and regional nature reserve covering about 90 hectares. A flat, well-marked boardwalk trail of around 2 km loops the main marsh, passing reed beds, water lilies and open water where you can spot little egrets, coots and — if you are lucky in April or September — the improbable flash of pink flamingos feeding in the shallows.
The surrounding plateau is equally beautiful: hay meadows full of wild orchids in May and June, ancient fortified hilltop villages (Colfiorito village itself is worth a quick walk), and the kind of big, open sky that feels genuinely rare in central Italy.
Getting There and When to Go
From Bevagna, drive east on the SS77 through Foligno and up over the Apennine pass — the road is scenic and takes about 45 minutes. There is no practical public transport link, so a car or bicycle (for the very fit) is essential.
April to early June is the prime window: orchids are flowering, migrating birds are passing through and the plateau has not yet dried out. Late September is the second-best option for autumn migration. Bring layers — at 760 metres it is noticeably cooler than the valley floor even in summer.
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