Comacchio: a city to be experienced slowly

Nestled between the lagoons of the Po Delta and the Adriatic Sea, this city on the water preserves a heritage of authentic beauty, far from the most beaten paths by mass tourism. To reach it is to choose to stop — and to be surprised.

From Delta Open Air Resort, it takes very little to dive into this extraordinary world. Cycling, kayaking, a simple walk: every means of transport becomes good when the destination is so full of suggestions.

The city of Trepponti and canals

The heart of Comacchio is one of the most particular historic centers of the Po Valley. Built on thirteen small islands connected by bridges, the city has a Venetian soul but a voice of its own — less hectic, more collected, genuine. The absolute symbol is the Trepponti, the sixteenth-century five-arched bridge that dominates the intersection of the canals: photographing it at sunset, when the orange light reflects on the water, is an experience that remains etched in your mind. Getting lost in the streets and canals of the historic center is the best way to understand what it means to live on the water. The pastel-colored buildings, the fishermen's boats moored under the house, the scent of smoked eel coming out of the shops: everything contributes to creating a unique atmosphere, impossible to replicate elsewhere.

The cuisine of the valleys

Stopping in Comacchio also means eating well — indeed, eating real. The local cuisine is the direct daughter of the landscape: marinated or smoked eel, fish broth, clams from the Adriatic sea, the freshly baked Ferrara couple. The restaurants in the historic center serve dishes that change with the catch of the day, often accompanied by wines from the Hills of Ferrara. For the more curious, some shops in the center offer guided tastings of the traditional eel in saòr, an ancient recipe that the fishermen of Comacchio have jealously guarded for centuries. It is one of those flavors that you take home in your memory.