Discover Porto Tolle: Po Delta, lagoons and coast

Porto Tolle lies entirely within the Po Delta area. For planning your trip, this means the town brings together several clearly distinct themes: lagoons and wetlands, flat trails, coastal landscapes, fishing and regional festivals. Choosing accommodation here can usefully be linked to the question of which of these aspects of the town you would like to get to know more closely.

Nature between dikes, lagoons and the coast

The loop on the Isola di Polesine Camerini offers a particularly tangible landscape experience. It runs almost entirely along the surrounding dike crests and passes the Busa del Canarin and Busa Bastimento lagoons. These lagoons are home to rare bird species. The route therefore describes not only a trail but also leads through a habitat that is significant for nature observation in the Po Delta.

The Oasi di Ca’ Mello is a natural oasis covering around 40 hectares on the edge of the Sacca di Scardovari. The Ca’ Mello wetland serves numerous wetland bird species as a resting and nesting site. Those wishing to compare different types of landscape will find a distinct focus here alongside the lagoons and the sea coast. The beach of Boccasette in Porto Tolle consists of fine sand and has a gently sloping seabed.

Flat routes and a fishing museum

There is also a clear difference when it comes to navigating a specific route: the Anello della Donzella is completely flat, following roads with little traffic and, in some sections, unpaved tracks.

Fishing is part of Porto Tolle not only as a feature of the landscape but also as part of the local culture. Through images, the Museo della Pesca „Pesca & Dintorni“ conveys the world of fishing in the Po Delta and shows that, alongside being a livelihood, fishing is also a way of life and a culture. The museum comprises three rooms: one on the more recent history of the area; one on the lagoon and coastal landscapes from the Po di Maistra to the Po di Goro; and one on the river branches between which the municipality of Porto Tolle extends, as well as on commercial fishing, its techniques, aquaculture and trade.

Regional specialities and dates

Another connection with the aquatic landscape is the “Cozza DOP di Scardovari”. Its typical area is the 12-hectare expanse of water of Scardovari between the mouths of the Po di Gnocca and the Po delle Tolle. Manila clams are farmed in lagoons in the municipalities of Rosolina, Porto Viro and Porto Tolle; together, these cover around 5,300 hectares and are located in the Parco del Delta del Po.

Three customary festival periods may also be relevant when deciding when to visit: the Festa di Santa Maria Assunta in Polesine Camerini usually takes place between the end of May and 2 June. The Sagra di Scardovari, also known as the Festa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo, usually takes place from the last Sunday in June to the first Sunday in July. The Sagra del Melone in Ca’ Mello usually takes place on the first Sunday in August.

More destinations for orientation

For further options, you can also view Porto Viro, Paviole, Loreo, Rosolina Mare, Boccasette, Pontecchio Polesine, Arquà Polesine and Piano.

For the overarching travel overview: Rovigo.