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The House of Butterflies, in San Gavino Monreale, is a large greenhouse built near an olive grove which is over a hundred years old; the greenhouse hosts an activity aimed at the conservation and the enhancement of the biodiversity of Medio Campidano area, which is in danger of disappearing due to reckless cutting of the local woods and forests.

The creation of this special environment that welcomes numberless colourful butterflies was possible thanks to Elena Marras, a pedagogist engaged in social work.

The entrance to the greenhouse reproduces the very shape and colours of a butterfly, leading to the ideal habitat where Lepidoptera can freely thrive, feed and reproduce.

The temperature inside the greenhouse ranges between 80.6 F° and 90 F°, while humidity is kept at 60-70%: the perfect place for some 65 species of butterflies, as well as some local and exotic plants.
Temperature and humidity levels are regulated also thanks to a special micro drizzle system that would not bother visitors moving around the greenhouse. Wonderful pictures of the butterflies up close can be freely taken inside this facility.

San Gavino Monreale is also famous for the production of precious saffron (Crocus sativus), which is the true protagonist of an international trade show which takes place here in November.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)