Page 138 - DK Eyewitness: Back Roads Northern and Central Italy (Travel Guide)

136 BACK ROADS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ITALY

Right top The impressive red-brick Treponti
Bridge, Comacchio Right below left Boats
in the harbour at Porto Garibaldi Right
below right Detail of the façade at the
Abbazia di Pomposa

VISITING COMACCHIO
Consorzio del Parco Regionale
del Delta del Po
This office provides information on
bike hire, boat tours and walking
trails throughout the Po Delta.
Via Cavour 11, 44022; 0533 314 003;
www.parcodeltapo.it

3 Castello di Mesola ª Return to Gigliola, then turn left at
Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna; 44026 Via Vecchia Corriera and right at Strada
One of the last Delizie (pleasure Giralda Centrale, continuing to Abbazia
lodges) built by the Ferrara dukes, di Pomposa and car park.
WHERE TO STAY AROUND the Castello di Mesola was part of a
IL BOSCO DELLA MESOLA huge hunting estate. Building started 5 Abbazia di Pomposa
L’Oasi di Valle Canneviè-Porticino in 1578, creating a central block with Via Pomposa Centro, 12, Codigoro
inexpensive four towers surrounded by a semi- Ferrara; 44020
Combining tourism and wildlife circular porticoed courtyard. The This superb Romanesque abbey was
preservation, this mini ecopark near former stables and granary now first established in the 7th century,
the Lido di Volano is run in conjunction
with the Province of Ferrara and offers contain bars, a restaurant and a local and by 1001 it had been made
accommodation and a restaurant and produce shop. The filmic nature of a royal abbey by Emperor Otto III.
bar as well as guided tours of the the setting was used by director However, after several centuries of
surrounding wetlands (in Italian). Mario Soldati for his 1954 film La decline, the last monks left Pomposa
Via per Volano 45, 44020 Volano di
Codigoro; 0533 719 014; tours: Apr– Donna del Fiume, with Sophia Loren. in 1671. The abbey was built in the
Sep daily, closed Mon Oct–Mar; ª Head east on Via 25 Aprile, then style of a basilica, with a central nave
also offers bicycle hire right at Strada Statale Romea/SS309. and an aisle on each side, using
Fork left to Bosco Mesola and Gigliola, material salvaged from other sites.
turning left and following the signs to The two carved roundels came
Bosco della Mesola and car park.
Below The square-turreted 16th-century Below Fishermen unloading the day’s catch at
Castello di Mesola 4 Il Bosco della Mesola Porto Garibaldi
Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna; 44026
Once an extensive forest, only 1,000
hectares (4 sq miles) of Il Bosco della
Mesola (www.parcodeltapo.it) remain
and are now under the protection of
the Corpo Forestale. Explore the forest
on foot or by bicycle (hire available
near front gate) along the 1.5 km
(1 mile) of paths. These lead through
an attractive setting of English oak,
holm oak and pine, inhabited by the
shy red deer of Mesola, the only
native population of red deer in Italy.
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €100; moderate, €100–€200; expensive, over €200

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