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Porto Tolle - Via G. Matteotti 471
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What secrets lie hidden among the thick reeds? How far can one’s gaze reach towards a horizon that seems endless? What does it feel like at the exact point where Italy’s longest river ends its journey? Let yourself be guided by these questions to find your way around the Po Delta, a still little-known Veneto region that will leave you speechless.
The only delta in Italy and the largest wetland area in the country (as well as one of the largest in Europe), the Po Delta is the spectacular result of a portentous combination of man and nature. Over the centuries, wind, erosion, reclamation and the construction of embankments and fishing valleys have shaped the intricate network of canals and lagoons that forms the last stage of the Po’s long journey to the sea.
The landscape varies constantly: an expanse of cultivated fields may be followed by a lagoon, a system of dunes, a forest, a reed thicket or typical wetland features such as sandbars and floodplains. It is an enchanting environment, characterised by exceptional biodiversity. In just one day you can admire poplars, shrubs and orchids, flamingos, roseate gulls and hundreds of other plant and animal species.
This powerful magic does not have the same effect on everyone. Some define the Po Delta as desolate, or even worse, bleak: whether due to the monotonous expanse of the plain, the fog, or the mosquitoes, the Po Delta is not a holiday destination for everyone.
However, if you set out in the right spirit, accepting to move at a slow pace and making the peculiarities of this territory your own, you can enjoy one of the most satisfying travel experiences of your life. Perfect as a base for a relaxing and sustainable holiday in Veneto, the Po Delta can also be visited with a day trip from Venice or Padua.
To preserve the area’s delicate ecosystem, the Regional Natural Park of the Po Delta in Veneto was established in 1997.
The Veneto park covers the area from the Adige River (north) to the Po di Goro (south); the protected areas occupy an area of 130 square kilometres. There is no park covering the entire Delta territory: the lands in the provinces of Ferrara and Ravenna are part of a natural park established by the Emilia-Romagna region in 1988.
Nine municipalities fall within the territory of the Veneto Po Delta Park: Adria, Ariano nel Polesine, Corbola, Loreo, Papozze, Porto Tolle, Porto Viro, Rosolina and Taglio di Po.
The surface area of the park can be roughly divided into four large zones. The first runs from Rosolina to Porto Viro and is characterised by fishing valleys, vegetable gardens and dunes; the Venice Po and Via delle Valli fall within this zone.
To the south lies theIsland of Ariano, a vast reclaimed countryside between two branches of the Po, while inland to the east of Porto Viro, in the direction of Rovigo, lies Adria, the largest town in the park.
To the south-west of Porto Viro, on the other hand, begins the vast area of Porto Tolle, which extends to the southernmost tip of Veneto. Here the network of lagoons, branches of the Po and outlets to the sea becomes denser.
The attractions not to be missed in the Po Delta are its beautiful landscapes, natural oases, and walking and cycling routes through the greenery. However, there are also a couple of interesting museums that tell the history and traditions of these lands and some symbolic places that have entered the collective imagination, in addition to churches, villas and period rural houses, a few examples of industrial archaeology and Etruscan and Roman remains.
The list of things to see in the Po Delta presented below refers entirely to Veneto territory: you will not find famous attractions such as Pomposa Abbey, the Mesola Woods or the Comacchio Valleys because they are part of Emilia-Romagna.
The Sacca di Scardovari is the most romantic and evocative spot in the entire Delta, celebrated by artists, writers and directors: many of the breathtaking photos you have seen on websites and travel magazines were taken here, scenes from famous films such as Paisà were filmed here, and the most beautiful sunsets over the Delta can be admired here.
The Sacca is a wide bend created by two strips of land on the island of La Donzella where the Adriatic Sea cuts in, creating a stretch of water where salt and fresh water mix. It may look like a lake, but the fishermen’s huts and boats remind us that in spite of the great serenity we feel admiring this landscape, we are facing a difficult territory.
In fact, the typical activity of the Sacca di Scardovari is the harvesting of clams, a hard job that requires early rises at dawn, hours soaking in the icy water and scrupulous attention to compliance with the regulations protecting the Delta’s delicate ecosystem.
The entire perimeter of the sacca is traversed by a scenic provincial road.
A symbol of the Delta area is the pontoon bridge, the system used in the past to connect two villages on opposite banks of the river. They were widespread because they were cheaper than fixed bridges made of masonry, iron or wood and ferry boats.
Three of them survive, still indispensable today for the movement of the locals. Of these, the longest is the pontoon bridge at Santa Giulia on the branch of the Po di Gnocca.
The bridge we can cross today was built in the 1980s to replace an earlier movable bridge from the 1920s.
The most exclusive seaside resort in Veneto (even more so than the Venice Lido!) is Albarella, a small private island in the Po Delta area.
You don’t need a boat to get there because the island is connected to the mainland by an artificial embankment… but you do need a special permit, which can only be obtained by booking accommodation. There is a wide choice of accommodation, including villas, hotels, residences and terraced houses, but they are all medium-high-end.
The island of Albarella presents itself as a resort of excellence in the name of environmental sustainability, perfect for families and sportsmen. Staying in this green oasis allows you to experience a holiday in close contact with nature, far from the hustle and bustle of the popular tourist resorts but in complete comfort.
On the island there are three equipped beaches, walking and cycling paths, golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools and children’s entertainment.
The evocative charm of the Punta Maistra lighthouse is something unique. It is not beaten by the thunderous waves of the ocean, nor does it stand remote and solitary perched on a promontory overlooking the sea: it is a white vertical element that breaks the placid horizontal continuity of the mouth of the Po di Pila, ‘planted’ on a small island on the left bank of the river accessible only by boat.
At 45 metres high, it is another landmark beloved by writers of the past and visitors today. It was built after World War II to replace a 19th-century lighthouse destroyed during the conflict.
Among the many small villages of the Delta, Porto Levante is worth a visit, located at the mouth of the Po branch of the same name in the northernmost part of the park.
This river village surrounded by greenery and water is reminiscent of a typical fishing village, and in fact lives mostly on fishing and tourism. Its location and the presence of a dock for pleasure boats make it an excellent starting point for boat trips to the sea, to the lagoon or to the river branches.
From the boundless greenery of the plain furrowed by the river rises the tall chimney of the Ca’ Vendramin water-scooping plant: this is the sign to follow to reach an interesting museum of industrial archaeology that tells the story of the work done by man to make the Delta lands liveable.
The Ca’ Vendramin water-pumping plant was built at the beginning of the 20th century and decommissioned after about sixty years. In these few decades it emerged as the protagonist of mechanised land reclamation and the transformation of the Delta territory; it became useless after the Po di Goro floods of 1957 and 1960.
The very close bond between the inhabitants of the Delta and the Po River has also given rise to original craft traditions and artistic fields. One form of handicraft typical of the area is the construction of ocarinas, musical instruments similar to whistles made of terracotta that are given the most diverse shapes.
The Ocarina del Po Museum on the Island of Ariano exhibits a collection of terracotta ocarinas made over a century by a local family.
Lavender was not a typical crop in the Po Delta, but since a farm on the Isola della Donzella posted photos of fields covered with this elegant purple plant on social media, tourism in the area has soared.
This little corner of Provence in north-eastern Italy is a pleasant diversion to add to your Po Delta travel plan.
You can walk around the lavender fields (not through them), take a selfie with a striking purple background and buy essential oils and other products… lavender-based, of course!
Do you love seaside holidays but detest famous seaside resorts with all their hustle and bustle? The Po Delta is the ideal destination for you. Here you can enjoy relaxing days on the beach, immersed in an enchanting landscape and silence.
The beaches of the Po Delta all have similar characteristics: they are wide sandy beaches washed by a calm sea, with gently sloping seabed, and are bordered behind by dunes and/or pine forests.
The best-kept is Rosolina Mare Beach9, which represents a good compromise between the comfort and services typical of a seaside resort and the tranquillity of the Po Delta.
Boccasette Beach10 and Barricata Beach11 are wilder, characterised by shrubs and tree trunks brought by the sea; in both cases, the beach is accessed by crossing a footbridge over a branch of the Po. The former is free, while Barricata beach includes both free areas and bathing establishments.
Even wilder and more solitary are the beaches that can only be reached by boat, such as Scano Boa, Bacucco and Scano Cavallari.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Yes to physical activity in the open air, no to exhausting sporting endeavours? If this slogan well sums up your desires, then the Po Delta is an ideal destination for your holiday.
The wide open spaces that can be explored on foot, by bicycle or by boat will satisfy your desire to move, even better if you love slow rhythms because they are the best for savouring the special beauty of these places.
Here is in detail what you can do during a holiday in the Veneto Delta.
Whatever means of transport you choose to arrive in the Po Delta, once here try to travel by bicycle. It is the best way to travel along the banks and dirt roads connecting the various localities and the only one that allows you to penetrate into the most remote corners of the park.
No climbs, no dangerous roads: cycling in the Delta is an activity within everyone’s reach and highly regenerating, as long as you take care to protect yourself from the sun during the day and from mosquitoes at night (don’t forget insect repellent!).
The network of cycle routes in the Po Delta includes short itineraries that can be completed in an hour or two and longer ones that require a whole day.
Among these, one of the most famous is the Donzella Loop, a circular route of around 60 km starting from Porto Tolle, and the Via delle Valli, which includes four routes between Rosolina, Porto Viro and Porto Tolle of between 20 and 60 km in length (some circular, others straight).
The Po Delta is the ideal area for those who enjoy relaxing, easy and risk-free walks. You can walk for hours and hours along the banks of the Po, without encountering climbs, challenging passages, busy areas… or a living soul.
Compared to cycling, walking allows you to cover shorter distances but gives you the opportunity to stop at any time to take a photo, contemplate the beauty of the landscape or simply listen to the silence. As with biking, the only risks are sunstroke and mosquitoes: go equipped.
Some of the most beautiful walking routes in the Po Delta can be found within the WWF Oasis of Panarella, rich in educational trails, the Porto Caleri Botanical Garden and the Ca’ Pisani Golena Oasis.
Many cycling routes can also be travelled on foot, but care must be taken with distances so as not to risk finding yourself walking on deserted roads when darkness has already fallen.
An experience not to be missed during your trip or holiday in the Po Delta is an excursion by boat: navigating along the canals is the best way to fully appreciate the peculiarities of this area.
The proposals of local operators are very varied. The most popular are excursions by motorboat or small flat-bottomed boats lasting from one to three hours, but you can also choose longer trips that also include lunch on board or return by bicycle.
For the same eco-friendly experience, you can opt for excursions by sailing boat or canoe, two slow means of transport with a low environmental impact.
In recent years there has been a considerable increase in the number of fish tourism and fishing tourism proposals: you can have a professional fisherman accompany you on your boat trip on the Delta, fish with him, and on the way back stop at a typical casone to eat fresh fish dishes prepared with ingredients you have caught yourself.
The great natural heritage of the Po Delta offers countless subjects for memorable photos: rare birds, romantic sunsets, the river that meets the sea, the simple charm of rural civilisation… This is why the Delta is so popular with both professional photographers, who come here to add breathtaking shots to their portfolio for resale, and enthusiasts who want to improve their technique.
For birdwatchers, it is a true paradise because there are so many species that can be observed and in many places there are special lookout towers so as not to disturb the animals.
The best areas for birdwatching and nature photography are the Ca’ Mello Oasis, the Via delle Valli Sud (particularly the stretch between Porto Levante and Po di Maistra) and Valle Canelle. For sunset photos, the best area is the aforementioned Sacca di Scardovari.
It is possible to participate in photo tours or sightings in the company of environmentalist guides.
The town in the Po Delta that offers the greatest choice of hotels and flats is Rosolina Mare: it is a well-known seaside resort and accommodation is mainly designed for families who want a typical seaside holiday. There are also campsites and holiday villages in the Rosolina pine forest, while moving inland one can find modern 3- or 4-star hotels, including a spa hotel.
The most important centre of the Delta is the town of Adria, from which the Adriatic Sea takes its name. It is a town of 18,000 inhabitants, with shops and services, but it does not have a tourist vocation and therefore accommodation is very scarce. It can be a good base for those travelling by public transport, provided you book well in advance to secure one of the few available rooms.
For those travelling by car, the best solution is to book one of the many agritourisms, B&Bs or holiday homes scattered throughout the Delta: this allows you to fully immerse yourself in the landscape and its slow pace. The locations we recommend are Porto Viro, Porto Tolle and Taglio di Po. The comfort and charm of these accommodations vary greatly: they range from no-frills structures to well-kept period villas.
If you are looking for something exclusive, to experience nature in the utmost comfort, the best place to sleep is on the Island of Albarella. It is a private island with restricted access, reserved only for guests of the villas, residences and hotels.
The recommended way to reach the Veneto Po Delta is by car. The nearest motorway exits are those of Rovigo (A13) and Ravenna (A1), from which you continue along the road 309 (Romea).
You can arrive by public transport if you are willing to put up with changing vehicles and long waits. Three towns in the Po Delta have railway stations (Adria, Loreo and Rosolina), but these are minor stations designed for local traffic and served only by regional trains on the Rovigo-Chioggia and Venezia Mestre-Adria lines.
If you want to arrive by train, the recommended station is Adria: from there you can take a bus to all the main towns in the Delta. If Adria is your final destination, you can also reach it by bus from Rovigo. It is strongly recommended to consult train and bus timetables to plan your journey.
The closest airport to the Veneto Po Delta is Venice, about 70 km away. There are no direct connections.
The Po Delta is located in the south-eastern part of Veneto, which administratively corresponds to the province of Rovigo. It borders the province of Venice to the north and the province of Ferrara in Emilia-Romagna to the south.
The distance from the centre of Venice can vary from 60 to over 100 km, depending on the location.
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