A unique, biodiverse ecosystem where nature and humans thrive in harmony
Riserva San Massimo
Riserva San Massimo spans 600 hectares in the Ticino Valley, 200 of which are used for rice cultivation; a farm featuring moorlands, pristine forests rich in springs, and plots cultivated with native fruit trees. A precious haven of biodiversity, where even wildlife finds an ideal habitat. The variety of ecosystems within the farm forms a significant ecological corridor in the Parco Naturale Valle del Ticino. Since 2004, Riserva San Massimo has been recognized as a Site of Community Importance (SCI), with part of it designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA).
Riserva San Massimo has always been dedicated to biodiversity conservation, promoting research projects to protect the environment and enhance natural resources, while demonstrating a continuous commitment to preserving the local ecosystem.
The waters
Water is an essential element, a vital resource and habitat that make the land of Riserva San Massimo unique.
The farm is rich in springs and water sources, from which clear, pure water flows down from the Alps at a constant temperature of 9°-12°. These natural outcrops allow underground water to emerge, creating stable surface microclimates. The abundance of numerous springs ensures mineral-rich water, supporting the farm’s water self-sufficiency and sustaining the local flora and fauna, thereby contributing to the preservation of biodiversity and the area’s microclimate.
These springs feed the fountains, structures located near the aquifers designed for water collection, which make up the irrigation network of Riserva San Massimo: In this manner, the water is delivered to each cultivated plot, carrying essential organic substances. The sustainable management of water, combined with the protection of native vegetation, contributes to the ecological stability of the entire area.
Biodiversity
The farm’s landscape is truly captivating, with its vast, uninterrupted natural forest spanning 400 hectares. Black alders, oaks, poplars, and willows thrive on the land, traversed by ditches and marshes, creating a hygrophilous forest that is unique on the international stage, exceptional for its biodiversity and ecological complexity. The green areas of the woods, rich in rare plants such as royal fern, are interspersed with long rows of fruit trees that line the levees of the rice paddies.
In these diverse environments, wildlife thrives in a state of natural freedom, without reliance on direct human management. The forest is home to species such as badgers, hedgehogs, foxes, hares, and fallow deer. Roe deer are also present, thanks to a reintroduction project that began in 1999, along with over 50 bird species and a variety of fish in the waters that flow through the farm. In the heart of the humid forest lies one of the most important heron nesting colonies in Italy.
The European Community has recognized and protected this exceptional habitat, and similarly, Riserva San Massimo invests time and resources in projects to preserve biodiversity through actions that maintain the integrity of the entire environmental context. Examples of this include the planting of over 80 km of fruit trees with varying ripening times, which enrich the soil and provide food for wildlife, as well as the creation of a wetland area covering more than 5 hectares to support local plant and animal biodiversity.
Read more in our magazineHistory
The woods, fountains, fruit trees, and rice paddies each tell the story of an ancient era, when the first monks settled in this valley, which led to the construction of churches and the cultivation of rice during the Middle Ages. Over the centuries, feudalism and the agronomic reforms introduced by the Sforza family made this territory even more fertile and productive. Throughout the twentieth century, the lives of farm workers and rice weeders intertwined with those of nobles and influential entrepreneurs who helped shape Riserva San Massimo. Since the 1990s, the Antonello family has managed the farm, transforming it into what it is today through their passionate and meticulous stewardship of the farm.
The family has passionately committed to producing authentic Carnaroli Classico, supported by Dino Massignani, Director of Riserva San Massimo since 2005. Rice cultivation practices rooted in respect for nature, employing innovative bio-integrated agriculture techniques. Today, Riserva San Massimo stands as a symbol of excellence, with its rice featured in restaurant kitchens worldwide.
carnaroli classico
The result of a delicate balance between nature, human touch, and technology, boasting organoleptic and aromatic qualities that reach chefs and enthusiasts in their purest form.
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