his vast area is framed by the green of the ancient woods, pine forests and oasis all dispersed with precious artefacts. It is the ideal habitat for an incredible quantity of fish and water birds. The Park Delta opens its uncontaminated beauty for man to enjoy. Indeed it is thanks to the people who worked on reclaiming the land who recognised the need to create a balance between the Natural and working environment that the Park Delta can offer its uncontaminated beauty for man to enjoy.
This is also why the Po Delta is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Po Delta is located between the provinces of Ferrara and Ravenna and is the largest Nature reserve in Emilia Romagna. Wetlands, agricultural fields, woods and forests cover the Delta. The Ferrarese stretches on the coastline between the Po di Goro and the Reno river mouth and is made up of towns and countryside that can be divided into three main areas.
COMACCHIO
Continuing toward the coast one comes to Comacchio, once surrounded by lagoons which the are now fertile fields as a result of the great land reclamation works of the 20th century. The historical centre of Comacchio has hardly changed through the centuries, and is crossed by a network of canals that turn it into a lagoon city.
Comacchio's economy revolves around the sea and the wetlands. In addition to fishing, environmental and seaside tourism now play a fundamental role in local economy. Near the Po Delta Park, the wide equipped beaches of the Lidi di Comacchio , seaside resorts along the Adriatic coast, are one of the most attractive Adriatic tourist venues, an extraordinary environment matched by high-quality hospitality.
THE COAST
Thanks to well timed tree planting on this coastal zone, begun in the 1930, the shoreline here was greatly improve all aspects, and began to welcome tourists to its first beach resort in the 1950s. Today the Comacchio Lidi are an important feature of the Adriatic Coast and famous throughout the world for the quality of their welcome. A wide beach of fine golden sand extending almost uninterrupted for 23 kilometres: all along Comacchios’ seven Lidi, stretches of free beach alternate with the many beach stations which are at forefront for entertainment, sporting activity and food service. Every one of them is an ideal destination for family holidays, for children: a fun time for young people and relaxation, well-being,fun for all.
Trepponti
The Trepponti is probably the most well-known civil monument At that time it was a fortified gateway to the city for those arriving from the sea towards the navigable canal. It was a contemporary hydraulic waterway which brought water rich with fish and drift-wood donating good living conditions and certain prosperity to the inhabitants of the lagoon. He called the bridges two in one and three in one due to the number of arches that supports them. he initial drawing, though not lacking in purity, has changed through the centuries adapted for practical and aesthetic reasons. These changes added two watch towers and six handsome pillars at the top of the flight of stairs which we can see today.
The Fish Shop
Built in 1600, it is one of the oldest monuments of the lagoon centre. Inside you can find many stand where it is possible to buy fresh fish every day.
The roman ship museum
The building where the Museum is placed has been recently restructured to house the Roman findings. It is in the heart of the town about 100 meters from the Trepponti. here are two distinct areas where in the first area one can see all the findings of imperial times found on the ship and in the second area the flat-bottomed Roman ship of about 20 meters long which was used to navigate in shallow waters. At the moment the skeleton of the Roman Ship being restored. The findings are exhibited on two floors.
One the ground floor one can see exhibits used on board to up keep and move the ship such as mallets, planes, axes, nails, pin racks, strips of wool for repairs, blocks and ropes for manoeuvres and small brooms for bilge water. Other exhibits for loading and unloading were standard weights, scales and inkpots.
One can see clothing, instruments for personal hygiene, medicines, tools for fishing, cooking utensils, kitchenware and gambling games to pass the time. The museum is open to the public all year long.
"Sbirri" Bridge
Built between 1631 and 1635 at the behest (like Trepponti) of Cardinal Pallotta to the design of architect Luca Danese. Made almost entirely of brick, the bridge owes its name ("sbirri" meaning "cops") from the nearby historic prison.
The Old Hospital
This hospital is valuable proof of the Pontiff’s reformism with great sacrifice by the Comacchiese community during the second half of the 1700s.
The fine front can be placed in an urban context with the same value of a cathedral. A big colonnade entrance hall supports a classic style gable where on each side two elegant bell towers are designed in a soft baroque style. On the right side is the small Church of Saint Peter and on the left a Chemist’s shop. Inside the hospital is an elegant great staircase leading to the first floor and the vast halls for admissions. These halls were bright and airy following the enlightenment medical theories of the time. The hospital functioned until the mid-1970s and has been recently renovated. Now it is used for exhibitions and in the future will be the seat of The Human Culture Museum of the Po Delta.
Bellini Palace
Palazzo Bellini can be found near to where the old prisons used to be and to Ponte degli Sbirri (Policemen Bridge). The name Bellini belongs to the original proprietor Luigi Bellini Senior (1831-1908) a local entrepreneur.
A luxurious house built on two floors with the same number of big windows framed in marble. Round arches can be found on the ground floor and triangular arches on the first floor. The triangular arches are divided horizontally by a large limestone string-course decorated with geometrical and floral shapes. A second string-course finishes the upper-part view while a balcony with wrought iron railings can be found above the main marble doorway. Many rooms have decorated ceilings by the Bolognese painter Ferdinando Torchi who married Veturia Bellini, Luigi’s daughter.
This townhouse built in the mid-1800s is now the premises of the local Library L.A.Muratori and the Town Hall’s Historical Archives. Art exhibitions can often be found here.
Wheat Loggia
In the centre of the city in Via Ugo Bassi one can see the Wheat Loggia. At one time the Loggia stood between the magnificent Piazza Bridge which was demolition in 19th century. Beneath this arched bridge the water flowed from San Pietro crossing the town from north to south into Carmine Port in Valle Isola. The waterways while following their course have their own names. The largest canal in the centre was called Marchesina Canal as was the street parallel to it (now called Via Edgardo Fogli). Here was the seat of the temporal power of the governor and spiritual power of the Bishop of Comacchio. The Tower, after being completely destroyed in 1816, was reconstructed in 1800s and based on an old 1300s tower.
In the semicircular niche a Madonna with Child dating back to 1600s has been inserted. A mechanical clock was added in 1872.
The Wheat Loggia is one of the first works wanted by the Pontiff in 1600 and was built during Cardinal Giacomo Serra’s legation (1615-1623). The columns are of Istria stone and pillars are built in brick.
These columns and pillars supported the public granary stock in a rectangular room. The brick face has distinctly framed square openings. This building has recently been attributed to the architect Giovan Battista Aleotti from Ferrara, also known as l’Argenta.
Clock Tower
Raised around the year 1330, the tower collapsed on March 22nd 1816, then was rebuilt in 1824. Its irregular octagonal shape is set on a foundation of Istria stone. A niche at the centre of the tower hosts a stone staue depicting the Blessed Virgin and Child (late 17th century).
San Cassiano Comacchio's cathedral
The first - romanesque - cathedral was built in 708 and dedicated to San Cassiano. The current one, consecrated in 1740, would have looked huge in the urban context of the time. It has a single nave with twelve side chapels, housing precious artworks. The bell Tower was built in 1751: It collapsed after only 6 years, was rebuilt in 1868 but remains incomplete.
Loggiato dei Cappuccini
This evocative colonnade runs halfway down via Mazzini on the right hand side, supported by an equivalent number of marble pillars. Cardinal Donghi had it built in 1647, to link the church of Santa Maria in Aula regia, in the west of the town, with the centre. Especially venerated is the anchor in painted wood which holds the statue of the Virgin. Next to Santa Maria in Aula Regia is the Marian Museum of Contemporary Religious Art and halfway along is the entrance to the Eel Works, The Manifattura dei Marinati.
S. Maria in Aula Regia Church
On the west side of the town is a long portico of 142 arches built around mid-1600s which leads to the Church of Saint Mary in Aula Regia, the Madonna of the People. Near the end of the portico is the old Fish Factory where one is able to visit this magnificent example of industrial archaeology. Lagoon fish especially eels were cooked in salt and marinated. Not only was it Cardinal Legate Stefano Donghi (1644-1648) intention to save Comacchio from the Po River in 1645 but also his wish that the long open portico should lead to the centre of the town so offering visitors on dry land the perspective of Comacchio being larger. Before the arrival of the Friars in the monastery little is known about the origins of the Church. In the 1600s the chapels were opened on the right side and probably incorporated into the church, increasing the height and lengthening the outer walls. Works were concluded in 1686 with the newly covered vault. The renovation of the Church was also followed by interior renovation. In the sanctuary is a single nave and the main wooden altarpiece has a memorial inscription written Saint Mary in Aula Regia and Madonna with Child, patroness of the town in fine terracotta of 15th century.
SS. Rosario Church
Adjacent to the Piazza del Popolo, now called Via Vincenzino Folegatti, it was built between 1622 and 1640 by the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary. Its elegant brick face is embellished by a fine portal in Istria stone. The internal structures are particularly striking. There is a single nave with depressed circular vault and a deep apse where the brothers prayed. This nave is separated by a powerful arch placed on the side walls. Restoration after the second world war left the church bereft of any decorative elements that beautified the church and the walls were covered in naked and cold marble slabs. Of particular interest is a grand painting of the Virgin of the Rosary by Cesare Mezzogori, a painter and sculptor from Comacchio (after 1689). The Virgin of the Rosary is being rejoiced by the angels with Saints Giustina and Domenico and half way up in the background on the left is the battle of Lepanto.
The original pictorial elaboration of the famous painting by Guido Reni ‘Pala della Peste’ of 1631 was once used as a curtain within the altarpiece of the choir. However the real treasure of the church is the beautiful 1600s statue of the Madonna of the Rosary. The Virgin is dressed in a white tunic while sitting on a rich chair and is holding the Child standing on her knees.
Rione S. Pietro
Marks the entrance to the oldest and most evocative quarter of Comacchio's old town centre. Now completely restored, the bridge dates back to the 18th century
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