Po Delta Park (Italy) – Man and Biosphere UNESCO
One of the most important wetland areas in Europe, the biggest in Italy. Its biodiversity makes it a perfect destination for naturalists, biologists, tourists and birdwatchers.
The Park in Emilia Romagna region is divided in stations, areas characterised by specific nature and landscape
Station 1: Volano–Mesola–Goro
This is the northernmost station of the Po Delta Park in the Region Emilia Romagna. The whole park covers a surface of over 12,000 hectars. This land was mainly reclamed from the waters of the river over the centuries and is rich in artistic and natural treasures. The border of the station is marked by the 20 km of the river Po di Goro. The Park includes the Inlet of Goro, the mouth of the Po di Volano, the wetlands of Valle Bertuzzi, Cantone and Nuova and the Great Woods of Mesola
Station 2: Histoic centre of Comacchio
Comacchio is the capital city of the Po Delta Park. It was founded on thirteen small islands and is now a unique lagoon city. Visitors cannot miss its monuments: Trepponti, the three bridges symbol of the city; the 18th century hospital Antico Ospedale degli Infermi; the 19th century Palazzo Bellini, with its many exhibitions; the Museum of the Roman Ship; the 17th century loggia called Portico dei Cappuccini with ots 143 arches; the ancient elle and fish processing plant Manifattura dei Marinati.
Station 3: The ComacchioLagoon
The landscape of the Comachio lagoon is almost unreal in its beauty, with the strong colous of breackish waters and the long sand dunes creating unique geometric patterns. The wetlands host many bird species, including spoonbills, flamingos, oyster catchers, shelducks, coots, blackwinged stilts. Boat tours start at the Casone di Foce , an old fishing hut south of Comacchio and continue through the wetlands, among the ancient fishing huts.
Station 4: Pinewood of San Vitale and Pialasse in Ravenna
The station includes some unique natural areas: the wide oinewood of San Vitale, the breakish wetlands of Pialasse di Ravenna, connected to the sea; the oasis of Punte Alberete with its beautiful flooded forest; Valle Mandriole, with its herons; the wetland of Pirottolo; the meadows of Bardello. In this natural mosaic, pinewoods give place to breakish and freshwater wetlands.
Station 5: Pinewood of Classe and Salina of Cervia
The station includes the wetlands of Ortazzo and Ortazzino and the moth of the river Bevano, one of the wildest areas of the Province and of the whole Adriatic coast. The Pinewoods of Classe and Cervia are the relics of the ancient pinewoods of Ravenna. The Salina of Cervia, still working, has Etruscan origins and has many water basins with different salinity degrees, as well as oversalted marshes, separated by a network of low banks with halophilous vegetation
Station 6: Campotto di Argenta
The Ecomuseum of Agenta, part of the Po Delta Park, is divided into three sections: Museo delle Valli di Argenta (Museum of the Argenta Wetlands), Museo della Bonifica Land Reclamation Museum) and Museo Civico (Civic Museum). The basins of the wetlands of Argenta and Campotto are the result of land reclamation works and can be visited on foot or by bike. The Museum of Land Reclamation and the hydraulic plant of Saiarino are the hydraulic section of the station
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The Park in Veneto region is a big “scattered museum” safeguarding natural, environmental, historical and cultural values part of the delta area. The Park is located on the districts of Adria, Ariano nel Polesine, Corbola, Loreo, Papozze, Porto Viro, Porto Tolle, Rosolina and Taglio di Po. The Park territory comprehends the Po Delta from the Adige river in the north, to the Po di Goro in the south, from the Po Grande – Po di Goro fork in the west, to the sea in the east, even if essentially the protected area comprehends the many Po river branches (Po di Maistra, Po di Venezia, Po di Levante, Po di Pila, Po delle Tolle, Po di Gnocca, Po di Goro) with their flood plain areas, the woods, the ancient riverbeds, part of the lagoons and the brackish fishing lagoons, partially the sandbars. The landscape elements one could enjoy throughout the river and its Delta are the following: countryside, active and fossil delta, fossil dunes, riverbanks, flood plains, fishing lagoons, lagoons and brackish inlets, sandbars and sand strips.
The visitor centers are:
– Ca’ Vendramin Regional Land Reclamation Museum – Ca’ Vendramin – Taglio di Po (Ro)
– Coastal Botanic Garden of Veneto – Porto Caleri – Rosolina Mare (Ro)
– San Basilio Cultural Tourist Center – San Basilio di Ariano nel Polesine (Ro)
– Ca’ Pisani flood plain – Cà Pisani di Porto Viro (Ro)
How to reach the Po Delta Park
Airports
Bologna “G. Marconi”
Tel. +39 051.6479615 – +39 051.6479615
website
GET A RIDE
Easy Transfer from Bologna Airport to Ferrara: website
Rimini “F. Fellini”
Tel. +39 0541.715711 – +39 0541.715711
website
Venezia “M. Polo”
Tel. +39 041.2609240/2606111
website
Verona “V. Catullo”
Tel. +39 045.8095666 – +39 045.8095666
website
Railway Stations
The nearest railway stations to the different Po Delta Park areas are Ferrara, Ostellato, Codigoro and Ravenna
More info to times and costs on the websites:
Italian Railways
Emila-Romagna Railways
Autobus
Transports are carried out by:
FERRARA / LIDI DI COMACCHIO
RAVENNA / LIDI DI COMACCHIO
Times and info:
tel. +39 0532 599411
website
Flixbus – Long distance bus provider & transportation company www.flixbus.com