Valle di Comacchio

The Valle di Comacchio is a vast system of brackish lagoons, marshes, and reed beds stretching north and east of the town across the Po Delta, covering roughly 12,000 hectares. It is one of the most important wetland habitats in the Mediterranean, supporting enormous colonies of waterbirds — flamingos, herons, egrets, spoonbills, avocets — as well as the eels that have defined Comacchio's economy for centuries.

Boat tours of the lagoon run from the town landing in spring and summer, lasting one to two hours and passing through channels bordered by rushes and the traditional wooden fishing structures (lavorieri) that have caught eels here since medieval times. Cyclists can follow dedicated paths through the valley on flat, well-maintained tracks. The spectacle of flamingos feeding in the shallows with Comacchio's bell tower visible on the horizon is one of the most distinctive sights in Emilia-Romagna. Visit in spring for migrating birds or in autumn for the traditional eel season.

things to do sight wildlife
A story
The Valle di Comacchio forms part of the Po Delta Regional Park, one of Italy's largest protected areas. The eel migration that has supported Comacchio's economy for two millennia is itself a natural marvel: European eels hatch in the Sargasso Sea near Bermuda, cross the Atlantic as larvae, enter the Mediterranean, and eventually reach the Po Delta's brackish lagoons where they spend most of their lives before returning — once only, to breed and die — back across the ocean. The journey takes three years each way.