LIPU Oasis and Reserve Festival - Castel di Guido Oasis

A national celebration of nature, just a stone's throw from Rome

The LIPU Oasis and Reserve Festival is the annual spring event where the Italian League for Bird Protection (Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli) throws open the doors of its protected areas across the entire peninsula. In the Lazio region, the key destination is the Castel di Guido Oasis, in the western quadrant of the Municipality of Rome, in the province of Rome: a 181-hectare reserve nestled within a vast 2,500-hectare agricultural estate, established in 1999 through an agreement between the Capitoline Administration, the Castel di Guido farm, and LIPU.

What to see in the Oasis

The landscape is the classic Roman countryside: rolling cultivated hills, pastures, meadows, forests, and hedgerows that create a precious environmental mosaic for wildlife. Among the species that make the reserve famous are swallows, kites, shrikes, and bee-eaters, but there is no shortage of Hermann's tortoises, foxes, badgers, and wild boars. Two circular nature trails, accessible even to families with children, start from the Visitor Center and cross the main environments of the protected area.

The spirit of the event

The Oasis Festival is not just an open-house day: it is the moment when LIPU shares with the public its daily work of protecting biodiversity, managing habitats, and rehabilitating injured wildlife. It is no coincidence that one of the most anticipated events of the various Roman editions is the release of animals treated by the LIPU Wildlife Recovery Center in Rome, a symbolic gesture that ideally closes the circle between rescue and return to nature.

A program designed for everyone

• Guided tours along the nature trails, led by Oasis guides and volunteers
• Longer hikes for those who want to walk and observe birdlife in the wild
• Educational beehive managed by the organic beekeepers working in the Oasis
• Art workshops and games dedicated to children, from bird memory games to activities on beaks and feeding
• Inclusive routes, with tours accompanied by a sign language interpreter

Why it's worth the trip

Those arriving in Rome thinking only of the historic center would hardly imagine that just over twenty kilometers from the Colosseum, such an intact stretch of countryside exists. The Castel di Guido Oasis is part of the Roman Coast State Nature Reserve and represents one of the last bastions of the Roman agro managed with conservation criteria. Participating in the Oasis Festival means walking in silence through the meadows, learning to recognize birdsong, and understanding how much the biodiversity of Lazio depends on these spaces.

An event open to all

All activities of the Oasis Festival in Castel di Guido are free, with voluntary donations to support the reserve. Booking is highly recommended, as guided tour groups have limited spots and children's activities are organized in small numbers. During the festival, it is also possible to join LIPU at discounted rates, contributing directly to the management of Italian oases.