The landscape of the Nabi lakes is already special by day, but it is when night falls that the real magic begins. Those who choose to walk or cycle along this path are transported into a parallel reality. The path gradually lights up and, as it glows, pushes back the darkness.

This fairytale landscape is created by a cycle path one and a half kilometres long that runs alongside the stunning Nabi lakes, within the nature reserve of the same name, in the province of Caserta.

Behind the magic lies the reality of an innovative project that has found a way to capture daylight and give it back during the night.

The luminescent cycle path at the Nabi lakes is magical for biodiversity too

The path is not merely a spectacular work from an aesthetic point of view. The materials used are recycled and form part of a circular economy project that proposes a self-sufficient lighting system, combining energy saving with respect for the biodiversity of the area. The path has been covered with borosilicate glass pebbles that are capable of absorbing sunlight and releasing it for nearly eight hours at night.

This path allows visitors to explore the lakes and admire a place that celebrates the historical memory and industrial architecture of the area.

The first luminescent cycle path is in the Netherlands

In 2014, in the Netherlands, bioluminescent roads and cycle paths were installed that transform nocturnal landscapes into futuristic paintings, such as the one in Noord Brabant inspired by the starry night of Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh. In that case, instead of pebbles, a special paint was used that nonetheless performs the same function: it absorbs light during the day to release it at night.

Another path is in Poland, but this one glows blue

The third country where a similar infrastructure can be admired is Poland: in 2016, a cycle path was built in the town of Lidzbark Warminski that glows blue at night. The road has become a genuine tourist attraction, encouraging the residents of the town itself and of neighbouring towns to cycle more, specifically to enjoy this spectacle.

Care for the environment means this too: creating sustainable solutions that add value to landscapes requiring human intervention and that allow everyone to enjoy all the magic of nature.