Discover Italy: Great Travel Tips - Scenic Drives - Motorcycle Tours - Art Cities - Food & Wine

The Regional Park of the Po River Delta pic n°1- (pic n°2, located in the provinces of Ravenna and Ferrara, in the Emilia-Romagna region, was established in 1988 in order to safeguard the beautiful, native flora and fauna of this area. In fact, the Delta of the Po River is home to more than 370 species of animals, (among them nearly 300 are birds), and over 1,000 species of plants. Therefore, it is a unique environment and because of that, it was declared a human heritage site by UNESCO in 1999.

However, The Regional Park of the Po River Delta is not only the nature, but it also includes some historic, cultural, and artistic beauties you can find in many villages and cities that are located within the area.

Our tour starts out from Comacchio, a nice town established about two thousand years ago, located in the province of Ferrara. It is one of the most important centers of the Po River Delta region. Here, you can visit the beautiful Cathedral of San Cassiano, built in the eighth century, the Clock Tower, Palazzo Bellini, and the impressive architectural complex of Trepponti with five monumental staircases built in 1624.

After a walk along the pleasant streets of Comacchio, you can reach Porto Garibaldi, a small town located by the Adriatic Sea. It is a nice tourist destination, one of the seven famous beaches of the beach area called Lidi di Comacchio (or Lidi Ferraresi), where to spend some time on the beach or have a walk along the port.

Going north you will get closer and closer to river Po. On your way, you will find the amazing Forest of Mesola Natural Reserve pic n°3 covering an area of 1,058 hectares. It is one of the last well-preserved lowland forests of the ancient forests that had covered this area along the Adriatic coast until a few centuries ago. Here, you can walk along the many paths that will allow you to relax and admire many species of plants, such as oaks, holm oaks, tamarisks, and poplars, and many wild animals such as deer, fallow deer, badgers, and hedgehogs, just to name a few.

A bit ahead you will find Goro which is a small town with a nice port and a 22-meters high lighthouse built on the nearby Island of Love, the stripe of sand which separates the Adriatic Sea from Sacca di Goro. You can also visit Lanterna Vecchia, the ancient lighthouse built-in 1864 that used to lighten the way to sailors. Today, this building serves as an observatory.

Just 5 kilometers away you will get to Gorino Veneto, where you can walk, explore the surrounding areas by bike, or even take a ferry and visit the flora and fauna of the Po River Delta.

19 kilometers north you will reach Porto Tolle, a town in the province of Rovigo, surrounded and crossed by the waters of the Po river. This area is particularly dedicated to fishing and rice growing. Here, you will be able to admire the impressive landscapes of the Po River Delta all around. Porto Tolle is a rising tourist destination, thanks also to some wonderful beaches in the area (Barricata, Conchiglie, Boccasette), featuring fine sand and wild surroundings.