Comacchio – Italian Little Venice, quiet and climatic - what is worth seeing?

Do you know Italian Little Venice? About 100 km south of the famous Venice is the so-called Little Venice, or Comacchio! Quiet, peaceful and small, yet very picturesque town. Full of bridges, pastel houses and canals. It was founded around the 6th century, before Venice became a power. For centuries, it lived from the sea and was the center of salt and fish trade. It is unfortunate that the Venetians attacked this place, as it threatened their monopoly on salt trade. To this day, Comacchio has preserved its charming, small-town atmosphere. This city definitely reminded me of Murano. Check out our guide to UNESCO-listed Comacchio!

Where is Comacchio located and how to get there?

Comacchio is located in the region of Emilia-Romagna, in the province of Ferrara, on the edge of the delta of the river Pad. This is a unique area inscribed on the UNESCO list. The city lies between land and sea, surrounded by the vast lagoons of Valli di Comacchio, which give it a unique character. Getting to Comacchio is relatively easy:

• by car: about 1.5 hours from Venice and just over an hour from Bologna. The nearest motorway is the A13 (exit Ferrara Sud or Comacchio). You can also get here in about an hour from Ravenna
• by train to Ferrara and then by bus to Comacchio
• by plane: to airports in Bologna (nearest) or Venice

It will be most convenient to get here by car, especially if you plan to explore the surrounding lagoons and the Adriatic coast. In Comacchio, we parked free of charge near the Coop store, near Trepponti, in the parking lot of Comacchio Parcheggio Via Fattibello, on Via della Chiavica.

Things to do in Comacchio What to see in Comacchio

Comacchio, although small, offers a lot of attractions and a fantastic walk along the canals, among the charming, low-rise buildings. In addition, there are restaurants and cafes that are conducive to rest on warm days. Here are the best things to do in Comacchio!

Ponte dei Trepponti - the most famous bridge in Comacchio

Trepponti is the most famous, iconic bridge with five steps. It's a symbol of the city. It looks like a set from a fairy tale and is perfect for photos. It was built in the 17th century, or more precisely in 1634, and was then the gateway to the city and the control point of the salt trade.
Address: Ponte dei Trepponti

Museo Delta Antico - museum in Comacchio

Museo Delta Antico is a museum that tells the history of the region and explains the relationship with the Po Delta. You will see, among others, a Roman ship from the 1st century AD, which has been preserved in the lagoon silt.
Address: Via Agatopisto 2

Duomo di San Cassiano - Co-Cathedral of Comacchio

The Duomo di San Cassiano is a co-cathedral in Comacchio with the title of the Minor Basilica. It is a baroque temple located in the center, with a brick facade. It hides a marble altar and 12 chapels with paintings and sculptures by local artists. The construction of the church began in 1659 under the bishop Sigismondo Isei. It replaced the earlier Romanesque temple. It gained its current form only in the next century. The stately bell tower was erected even later than the co-cathedral itself, only in 1868, as the first one collapsed during construction, in 1757.
Address: Piazza XX Settembre

Chiesa del Santissimo Rosario - baroque church

Chiesa del Santissimo Rosario is a Baroque church in Piazza del Popolo. Its interior is quite modest, but interestingly, some elements of the temple were made, as in other buildings of the city, of white Istrian stone. It is an impermeable limestone extracted on the Istrian peninsula in today's Croatia. This stone was the basic building block of the historical architecture of Istria, Venice and Dalmatia.
Address: Via Sambertolo 7

Portico Loggiato dei Cappuccini and Santuario di Santa Maria in Aula Regia

The Loggiato dei Cappuccini is a portico 400 meters long and consists of nearly 150 arcades. It leads directly to the sanctuary of Santa Maria in Aula Regia. The portico is in poor condition in some places and although I expected something more spectacular, it is a real curiosity. I thought it was above the whole street, and it was more a form of arcades.
Address: Corso G. Mazzini 192

Manifattura dei Marinati - former eel pickling factory

Under the arcades there is a former eel pickling factory - Manifattura dei Marinati. Eels are a local delicacy, Comacchio is famous for them, because they have been caught in lagoons for centuries and marinated in this factory, which today is a museum.
Address: Corso G. Mazzini 200

Valli di Comacchio - lagoons around the city

Valli di Comacchio are huge lagoons that surround the city and are habitats of wildlife. It's one of the best birdwatching spots in northern Italy. We drove to the free parking lot at Ecomuseo. We met flamingos here. Interestingly, you can go on a boat cruise or ride a bike here. There is also a free observation tower on site.
Address: Str. Foce, Ecomuseo delle Valli di Comacchio

Additional attractions and trivia

In addition to the classic sightseeing points, it is worth paying attention to a few less obvious elements:

• Old canals and alleys – they make the best impression in the morning or evening, when the city is empty and you really feel its authentic character, but even in the middle of the day it remains quiet
• Bridges - in the city you will meet about 20 bridges and bridges, each has its own history, today some connect the former islands, others lead nowhere, they make up the charm of this place
• Delta cruises – boat trips through the lagoons are organized here, often with a guide telling about the ecosystem and the history of fishing
• Parco Delta del Po - delta park - a charming place of wildlife and bird watching
• Lidi di Comacchio beaches – a few kilometers away there are wide, sandy beaches of the Adriatic, e.g. Lido degli Estensi or Lido di Spina, ideal for resting after exploring
• Cesenatico port canal
• Library and fortress in Cesena

What and where to eat in Comacchio?

The cuisine of the region is mainly based on fish. In addition to the eel, it is worth trying other fish dishes, risotto alla pescatora and local wines from Emilia-Romagna. There are plenty of restaurants serving tasty dishes in the streets of Treponti. Interestingly, we also tasted affogato - Italian dessert - espresso with ice cream. It's a delicious blend of coffee and Italy's beloved gelato. Italians can't imagine a day without ice cream, but it quickly happened to us.

When is the best time to arrive?

The best time to visit Comacchio in Italy is spring and early autumn, when temperatures are pleasant and the lagoons are full of birds. It can be hot in the summer, but then you can combine sightseeing with relaxing by the sea. In addition, Delta Padu is a region well prepared for cycling, with numerous routes leading through lagoons and dikes.

Accommodations

We visited Comacchio at the beginning of June, on the way to Cesenatico Camping Village - a wonderful campsite, at the invitation of which we visited this unique region of Italy, little known to Poles, i.e. Romania with the centrally located Ravenna. The campsite is located in the charming village of Cesenatico, by the sea. We were very eager to cool off in the camping pool every day and stroll along the sandy beaches full of shells.

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

Rent a car

Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.

What's worth seeing in the area?

If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.

• Cesenatico in Italy, distance: 57.6  km
• Cesena in Italy, distance: 62.2  km
• Venice, distance: 83.1  km