7. THE PO DELTA:
FROM FERRARA TO POMPOSA
In quel loco fu'io Pietro Damiano,
e Pietro Peccator fu' ne la casa
di Nostra Donna in sul lito adriano...
(Pd., XXI canto)
 Ferrara, The Castle |
|---|
 Archaeological Museum, Ferrara |
 Archaeological Museum, Ferrara |
 Palace Schifanoia, Ferrara |
 Ponte degli Sbirri, Comacchio |
 Trepponti, Comacchio |
 Museum of Roman ship, Comacchio |
 Pomposa |
 Pomposa |
 Pomposa |
 The Po Delta |
 Comacchio Valley |
 The Po Delta |
 The Po Delta |
 Mesola |
 Mesola |
The lands of the Po Delta, which even Dante got to know, enjoy an extraordinary tourist position, which allows a holiday in nature to be combined with culture and the beach. Those who love cities of art and museums can visit important cities like Ravenna and Ferrara, with day trips that allow them to relive the medieval and Renaissance atmosphere of these areas. If instead you prefer travelling through nature, the Po Delta Park and Comacchio offer countless possibilities: excursions on bike, by boat or on horseback.
Contact our expert:
Itinerary
Duration: two nights, three days.
Way of transport: by car and bike
Itinerary: Ferrara, Comacchio, Mesola, Pomposa
DAY 1 – FERRARA
Arrival in Ferrara. Visit these landmarks: the Este Castle, Palazzo Schifanoia, the Archaeological Museum with the findings from Spina, the Jewish Museum and Ghetto, the Casa Romei, the Boldini Museum and lastly the Diamond Palace, a centre for temporary exhibitions.
DAY 2 – COMACCHIO AND COMACCHIO VALLEYS
We'll head over to Comacchio, taking the motorway from Ferrara and driving about 50 km. Explore the city, so-called "Little Venice" because of the canals.
Must-sees: the Trepponti, a monumental bridge from the 17th century, the Roman Ships Museum and the Eel Pickling Factory.
Visit the Valleys by boat: you can book any day from March to October.
DAY 3 – MESOLA AND POMPOSA
We'll head over to Mesola and visit the Castle and small town. Inside, we can visit the Wood and Deer Museum of Mesola, a hunting reserve of the Este family where 150 deers still live. You can access the Woods through tours guided by the State Forest Rangers. The Reserve is open to the public on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and holidays from the 1st of March to the 31st of October (excluding Easter). Free entrance. For information and reservations, please contact the Tourist Information Office of Mesola, which also offers nature guides.
We'll then head back to Comacchio. On the Romea state road we'll find the Pomposa Abbey, an ancient Benedictine monastery. Its current configuration dates back to the 11th century. It was a centre of religious and cultural life. It's rich with works of art. Among the famous people who stayed in the abbey are San Pier Damiani (1007-1072), a monk and theologian from Ravenna, with whom Dante imagines a conversation in the XXI Canto of the Paradiso. The saint tells the poet of his stay in Pomposa.
We absolutely recommend, just a few kilometres to the south, a fish lunch at Porto Garibaldi, one of the most important fishing centres of the Northern Adriatic Sea, near the Comacchio historical centre.
Those who love biking can choose from dozens of bicycle routes along the level banks of the Valley. For more information, please contact the Comacchio Park Centre.