A day at the Biodiversity Park in Catanzaro

Fancy a break from the stress and city traffic of Catanzaro without moving too much? Plan a picnic or a simple nature walk at the Biodiversity Park in Catanzaro, a corner of paradise in the centre of the city.

The Mediterranean Biodiversity Park, the capital's green lung, is a botanical garden and an open-air museum at the same time, the right place for those who want to spend a day enjoying nature and art.

What are you waiting for? Put on comfortable clothes, pack your hiking backpack and come and relax in the Biodiversity Park in Catanzaro.

Inaugurated in 2004 thanks to the environmental redevelopment work of the Catanzaro Agricultural School, the Mediterranean Biodiversity Park is an area of great naturalistic value extending over 60 hectares right in the centre of the city.

It is an ecosystem that hosts different plant, floral and faunal varieties that can be enjoyed by visitors through a thematic itinerary that alternates nature (ponds, animal dens, aviaries, etc.), art (museums, en plein air works, installations) play areas (children's playgrounds, equipped sports trails, etc.) and recreation (bar-restaurant and picnic areas).

The main areas of the Biodiversity Park in Catanzaro? The wooded area of the Mills Valley, the Great Ring, the Ancient Aqueduct Ring and the Mines Ring. The botanical heritage includes the most important local varieties of Mediterranean maquis (around 50,000 plants) and a fauna characterised by the presence of eagle owls, parrots, eagles, crowned cranes, a Pollino griffon vulture, lanner falcons and many other species under the veterinary care of the CRAS (Centre for the Recovery of Wild Animals).

The Mediterranean Biodiversity Park is home to several must-see museums, including the "Brigata Catanzaro" Military History Museum (MUSMI).

This specialised museum has a special affective bond with the city of Catanzaro and the people of Calabria, as it represents the "shrine" of the historic "Catanzaro Brigade", which distinguished itself during the First World War but then suffered a tragic epilogue. The museum is divided into two floors: the first displays relics from the Napoleonic and Garibaldian periods; the second is dedicated to the two world wars, witnessed by weapons, uniforms and an amazing immersive trench room.

The entire area of the Biodiversity Park in Catanzaro is embellished by a prestigious "open air" exhibition of contemporary works of art.

A real must-see inside Biodiversity Catanzaro are the works acquired or donated to the city by internationally renowned artists and sculptors.

This is the complete list:

• Tony Cragg, Cast Glances
• Mimmo Paladino, I testimoni
• Jan Fabre, The man de wolken meet
•  AntonyGormley, Seven times
• Marc Quinn, Totem
• WimDelvoye, Concrete mixer
• Stephan Balkenhol, Man und tanzerin
• Dennis Oppenheim, Electrickisses
• Michelangelo Pistoletto, I Temp(l)i cambiano (III paradiso)
• Michelangelo Pistoletto, Love difference (III paradiso)
• Mauro Staccioli, Catanzaro ‘11
• Daniel Buren, La cabanneeclatè
• H.H. Lim, C'est la Vie
• Gianfranco Meggiato, Il mio pensiero libero

The Biodiversity Park in Catanzaro hosts various artistic, musical and cultural events throughout the year, especially from spring to autumn. Keep an eye on the park calendar and plan your day in the green!