Cagliari, the city of pink flamingos: a unique spectacle in the heart of the Mediterranean
There is a place in Cagliari where, every spring, the landscape transforms into a sea of pink. It is neither an African reserve nor a lagoon far from civilisation: it is the Molentargius-Saline Regional Nature Park, just a few minutes from the city centre and a short distance from the cruise port.
Here, amongst old industrial salt pans and stretches of water that lie between Cagliari and Quartu Sant’Elena, some 9,000 pairs of pink flamingos now live, making Molentargius one of Europe’s most important urban nesting colonies.
Every year, from March onwards, the Bellarosa Maggiore lagoon comes to life with the arrival of the flamingos. These elegant birds build their characteristic mud nests on the banks, lay their eggs and raise their chicks, which are born with grey plumage and remain close to the nests for several weeks before learning to fly.
An extraordinary natural phenomenon which, surprisingly, has not always existed. For much of the 20th century, in fact, the flamingos had abandoned the Cagliari area. Their permanent return dates back to 1993, the year in which the colony resumed nesting in the park. Since then, their numbers have grown steadily, rising from the 6,000–8,000 nests recorded in 2012 to around 9,000 pairs recorded in recent seasons.
Studies carried out using identification rings fitted to the chicks have also revealed the international nature of this colony: many of the birds originate from France, Turkey and Algeria, confirming Cagliari’s strategic role in Mediterranean migratory routes.
Whilst the renowned Camargue in France is Europe’s most famous flamingo nesting site, Molentargius offers something even rarer: the chance to observe thousands of wild flamingos just a few kilometres from the centre of a town with a population of 150,000.
For cruise passengers arriving at Cagliari Cruise Port, the park offers one of Sardinia’s most fascinating and unexpected encounters with nature. Just 5–7 kilometres from the cruise terminal, visitors can enjoy a close-up encounter with one of Europe’s largest flamingo colonies, set against a backdrop where nature, history and the city coexist in perfect harmony.
