In 1972 Dr. Roberto Mattoni, a veterinary surgeon, created the first Zoo Park of European Fauna in the town of Poppi in Arezzo. A natural park occupying 50 hectares of land covered in pines, oaks and chestnut trees, it is the only park of its kind and specialises in European Fauna. At the centre of the park there is also a Church dedicated to St. Francesco with beautiful views of Casentino, a lake with waterfowl, the Castle of Poppi, a botanical garden, playground, restaurant and the sacred mount of Verna. The park is open all year and is the perfect place to bring children or to have family days with lots to do and see and long opening hours.
Why not find a villa with pool in Arezzo and check it out for yourself?
Poppi Zoo Park is located in the middle of the Casentino Valley, in the countryside near Poppi in the province of Arezzo. The park is open every day year round, from 9 am to sunset and the entrance fee is six euros per person, plus fifty cents for a small printed map of the park. You can also buy a portion of dry food nuggets for feeding the animals – keep in mind, however, that you need to check at each enclosure as it is not permitted to feed some of the animals.
Poppi Zoo Park is located in the middle of the Casentino Valley, in the countryside near Poppi in the province of Arezzo. The park is open every day year round, from 9 am to sunset and the entrance fee is six euros per person, plus fifty cents for a small printed map of the park. You can also buy a portion of dry food nuggets for feeding the animals – keep in mind, however, that you need to check at each enclosure as it is not permitted to feed some of the animals.
Animals in the park include brown bears, lynxes, beavers (who hide in their dens all day and have to be seen on screens that show a live-stream of what is going on inside), European skunks, weasels, blue and white foxes, raccoons, wolves, deer, mouflon (a species of wild sheep), buffalo, Siberian reindeer, donkeys from Asinara and Amiata and ponies.
There are also numerous bird species, including the golden Chinese pheasant, Eagle-Owls, owls, black kites, buzzards, tawny eagles and several ostriches and emus though they aren't European animals (the first from Africa, the second from Australia).
The park is perfect for families with a playground area, a restaurant, a coffee bar and a picnic area. It is the only zoo of its kind dedicated to hosting and conserving European species. Having almost exclusively European fauna also means that the majority of the animals can remain in their natural habitats and they also have a good reputation for animals reproducing in the park, an indication of the good work that the park is doing.
If you are visiting the Arezzo area with your family and are looking for a fun day out, Poppi Park is just the thing!
There are also numerous bird species, including the golden Chinese pheasant, Eagle-Owls, owls, black kites, buzzards, tawny eagles and several ostriches and emus though they aren't European animals (the first from Africa, the second from Australia).
The park is perfect for families with a playground area, a restaurant, a coffee bar and a picnic area. It is the only zoo of its kind dedicated to hosting and conserving European species. Having almost exclusively European fauna also means that the majority of the animals can remain in their natural habitats and they also have a good reputation for animals reproducing in the park, an indication of the good work that the park is doing.
If you are visiting the Arezzo area with your family and are looking for a fun day out, Poppi Park is just the thing!
Photo credits
picture 1: Francis C. Franklin / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Programa de Conservación Ex-Situ del Lince Ibérico
picture 1: Francis C. Franklin / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Programa de Conservación Ex-Situ del Lince Ibérico
