Lido di Volano

The northernmost part of the Comacchio coast takes its name from one of the older branches of the river Po. It is surrounded by the pine forest of the Foce di Volano Nature Reserve, with its unspoiled charm.

From here you can enjoy direct contact with unspoiled nature to the fullest: the beaches, with their sandy shore made for long walks and sunbathing, are protected by a large pinewood and look towards the great Po Delta and the Sacca di Goro.

Today this most unspoiled of the Seven Lidi boasts a modern tourist port near the bridge over the Volano. Due to its slightly isolated position, open to the winds and marine currents, it is the best place for specialized sports like kite surfing and windsurfing.

Its pinewoods (pineta) are owned by the government and are there to guide the local development of environmental tourism; they are a nature reserve where you can wander for relaxation. The area is made up of recently deposited stretches of sand, which were planted with trees in the mid-1930s to save them from being eroded by the sea. As well as the Common Pine and the Maritime variety (more tolerant of salty ground), other species have been introduced like the ilex and the farnia oak.

The airfield of Valle Gaffaro is ideal for flights by hang-glider or microlight planes. It's just round the corner from the Lido di Volano and is perfect for airborne excursions over the Po Delta as far as Ferrara, Ravenna or Venice. Its grass runway is 900m long and 45m wide, has an excellent sandy base and is equipped with hangars and emergency equipment.

On foot or by bike from the little port, you can go into the Scannone di Volano, a strip of land a couple of kilometres long covered in maritime pine and ilex bushes, from which there is a splendid panorama over the shoreline. It is also possible to walk the circular trail on the Scannone from the beaches and come back to the port. The walk is best in the spring and autumn.

The Po Delta Park envelops Comacchio with its woods and lagoons: just outside the town are the Comacchio Lagoons themselves, which can be visited by bike or boat; to the north, Valle Bertuzzi (10 km) offers splendid landscapes at dusk, while the woodlands at Mesola and Santa Giustina (20 km) are ideal for a cool evening walk among the green leaves after a day on the beach. The Cannevié nature reserve is located near the village of Volano, between Mesola Woods, the Po di Volano, and the sandbanks at the mouth of the river. Its history in fishing goes back to the 17th century, and this is confirmed by the interesting buildings you can still see today. The woods are laid out with nature trails, and on foot you can cross the little bridges to hideouts made for watching the wide range of birdlife.

Don't miss a visit to Comacchio, the "little Venice", an enchanting lagoon town: it's neat and unfeigned, endowed with a vitality that comes from a strong respect for its own history and for the environment that surrounds it.