Delta del Po

The flow of the Po River formed the Po Valley. Transporting earth and sand for thousands of years it has built the territory of Ferrara. In the final part of its course, the Park of the Po Delta came to life. The lives of inhabitants of the Delta have always been influenced by the events on the river and the changes in its course. Also, the formation of new hotbeds generated new possibilities for settlements along its banks, and therefore economic and social development, leaving traces of past civilizations. In this way, the Po has been a resource for water supply, fishery, irrigation and as a way of communication. But the Po hasn’t always been so generous: the population had to survive periods of flooding and those of drought, adapting itself to the will of the river. The attention that has been dedicated in the past to the river and the precaution we take today will grant to towns a more serene and secure life.

Today the Po and its Delta, preserved by wise management of the territory, generate more wealth and preserve a fascinating landscape of natural beauty. For these reasons, the Po Delta joins "Ferrara, City of the Renaissance and its Po Delta" as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a dynamic environment, still in evolution, where nature is free to give new land or recover parts of it. The mouth of the great river is the perfect location for many species of aquatic birds where man is only a guest observer.

THE WOODS OF MESOLA

In the territory of Mesola survive some vestiges of coastal forests dating back to the Middle Ages that originally extended to the mouth of the Tagliamento. Among these, the Natural Reserve Bosco della Mesola, the largest forest area of Ferrara, is best known for its Mesola Deer, also known as Deer of the Dunes, the only descendant of the Red Deer that originally inhabited the Po Valley. The wood developed on a system of ancient sand dunes with the typical vegetation of the Mediterranean macchia, consisting mostly of oaks. There three routes of different lengths are accessible to the public, easily identifi able thanks to the signs. The last testimony to the great forest of the Estense Estate is represented by the Grove of Santa Giustina, where the absence of ungulates allows the renewal of dense undergrowth, a refuge for numerous birds. A network of trails allows you to cross it from the Po di Goro until the XVIth century Torre dell'Abate.

The town of Mesola, framed by its pine woods and river, is what remains of the ambitious urban project that the Este planned to counter the military and commercial power of Venice in the Adriatic. The Estense Castle, half fortress and half luxury home, now houses exhibition and conference activities including the Museo del Bosco e del Cervo della Mesola, illustrating the evolution of the territory of Mesola. The pine forests scattered throughout the area and the “fossils Dune” of Massenzatica, located in the hinterland, are valuable evidence of the evolutionary history of the Po Delta dating back to the Xth century BC.

THE PO DI GORO AND ITS MOUTH

Along the fl ood plains bordering the river Po in the territory of Berra, in the place known as the Gateway to the Delta, you'll arrive at the first fork in the river. Walking on the embankment or better sailing a small boat, you can see a well-preserved habitat characterized by stagnant water and fl ooded basins which were dug long ago for the extraction of clay, rich in fl ora and fauna. Following the Po di Goro, a river of great naturalistic value, you encounter some meanders formed as a result of the abandonment of the bed by the river. Of great interest for birdwatchers is, towards the mouth, Valle Dindona that features, in its dry part, an interesting riparian forest typical of areas which are regularly flooded. During spring, on the white willows, you can see numerous herons and cormorants while the large reedbeds become an ideal habitat for several species of ducks.

Near Gorino, you can find one of the last pontoon bridges that connects the Venetian and Emilian shores, a wooden structure resting on concrete barges. Immense reed beds precede the outlet to the sea where you'll fi nd the Scannone di Goro, also known as the Island of Love, once the refuge of lovers who met here far away from prying eyes. On this island of sand, the Goro Lighthouse stands, built in 1950 and accessible only by boat.

THE SACCA DI GORO

The Sacca di Goro is one of the largest brackish lagoons of the Northern Adriatic; the Scannone di Goro, a recently formed strip of sand where a characteristic lighthouse rises, partially separates it from the sea. The presence of fresh and salt water, low water depths and other ecological peculiarities allow the settlement of important plant communities. Extended reed beds and grasslands of Glasswort, Sea Lavender, Sharp Rush, Beachgrass and Puccinellia become the inevitable habitat for numerous species of birds such as sandpipers, oystercatchers, water pipits, grebes, herons, terns and gulls. Through the years, thanks to the shape of the Northern Adriatic coast, it was possible to take advantage of the lagoons for fish farming but after the great reclamation works of the last 150 years, the area has radically changed and today the Sacca di Goro represents an important reminder of delta environments that once reigned supreme.

Currently the Valli di Gorino and part of the Valle Goara are the only basins still used for the traditional fi shing of eel, shrimp and fl ounder, while the biggest share of the lagoons' area is exploited for the breeding of clams that since the mid-eighties represent the most signifi cant part of the local economy. Goro, once a small settlement of cane huts situated on the right bank of the Po, is a quaint fi shing village today with a modern marina which also boasts interesting tourist activities. There are numerous opportunities for navigation which aid the visitor in the discovery of this environment of transition between land and sea. Along the way, you can see the Lanterna Vecchia, which once lit the way for sailors, and the Lighthouse of Goro.