Lagoons, sandbars and flamingos
Where Italy's longest river, the Po, flows into the Adriatic after 652 kilometres, it divides into several branches and forms a vast delta of about 400 square kilometres, constantly changing, one of the largest wetlands in Europe. The Veneto part, around Porto Tolle, Porto Viro and Rosolina, is protected by the Regional Park of the Veneto Po Delta and, together with the Emilian part, is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
It is a landscape of water and light, suspended between land and sea: lagoons ("sacche") and brackish valleys used for fish farming, reed beds, river islands, dunes and long sandbars, the "scanni", thin strips of sand that separate the lagoons from the sea, such as the Scanno Boa. The delta is a paradise for birds: herons, egrets, cormorants, avocets, black-winged stilts and colonies of pink flamingos, which have returned to nest here in recent decades. The best way to discover it is by boat, on excursions that leave from Ca' Tiepolo, Gorino or Porto Levante, or by bicycle along the embankments. The delta is also known for its cuisine of fish, eels and clams, and for the Delta rice.
Tip: spring and autumn are the best seasons for birdwatching; bring insect repellent in summer. The lighthouse of Pila marks the main mouth of the Po.
Where it is
More things to see in Veneto
Where to stay near Porto Tolle
Tours and activities nearby
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