Lipu Centre

I've lived in Racconigi all my life and, as long as I can remember, there's been a Lipu centre in Racconigi, one of the few good things about the town. It's a centre where birds of almost every breed are kept in their natural habitats and protected. First of all, it's a stork centre; in fact there are many of them and they're very beautiful. Then there are ducks, swans, and a thousand other types of water birds, land birds, etc.... The centre stretches over land set aside specifically to host them, and woods, lakes, plants, meadows, etc. have been built and strengthened for them... there are birdwatching hides and you can walk peacefully amid nature with countless birds all around you to observe.

The place is in open countryside, at the bottom of the park of the Savoy castle in Racconigi; the entrance fee is 5 euros, there's a route made of little paths, marked out to follow for the complete tour of the estate, with benches here and there to sit down and trees to stand in the shade of a scorching summer sun. The place is very natural and very green, with numerous lakes and ponds made specifically for water birds and even a watercourse that serves as a little stream. You can rent binoculars to observe birds from a distance; the binoculars cost nothing, you just need an ID document. The area is fairly large and the complete tour can last up to two hours. You can observe, up close and from afar, many types of colourful and sprightly birds hopping about the meadows and along the paths, by now quite used to tourists.

Every so often you'll see a brood of little ducklings or little storks with their parents. Storks' nests and cages with the larger ones, swans preening on the pond and lots and lots of multicoloured ducks. It's a lovely place to spend a Sunday afternoon, even with children. The centre also has a bar and the usual souvenirs.