This time Massimo takes us to a territory on the border between the land and the sea, caressed by the southern branch of the Po river.

A bit of history:

Comacchio:
Already known since the Iron Age, the village probably originated from a Roman castrum built between the 7th and 8th centuries BC.
As evidence of early Christianity, 5th-6th century AD, there remain the monasteries of Santa Maria in Padovetere (in the Pega Valley) and Santa Maria in Aula Regia.
It was strenuously defended by Byzantium from the invasion of the Lombards and therefore, unlike neighbouring territories, not subjected to the invaders.
The territory, between the 7th and 8th centuries, was donated to the monks of San Colombano di Bobbio.
Between the 7th and 9th centuries it had one of the most powerful fleets in the Adriatic.
The Serenissima could not accept the presence of a strong naval competitor close to it and therefore besieged and conquered it five times in the early Middle Ages.
In 1860 the territory was annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Valli di Comacchio:
Until about a century ago it was one of the largest brackish areas that characterized the south-eastern part of the province of Ferrara.
Even today, despite human activity, it represents the largest complex of brackish wetlands in the region and one of the most important in Europe.
They currently cover approximately 11,400 hectares (44 sqmi).
They were formed by the lowering of the Po delta in the Etruscan-Roman period and of the surrounding interfluvial basins, particularly in the Middle Ages, and therefore by the entry of brackish waters.
In addition to naturalistic assets, the valleys also preserve precious historical and cultural testimonies (see the Marinati museum).

Read more:
wikipedia: Comacchio
wikipedia: ponte dei Trepponti
www.parks.it: parco delta Po
www.imarinatidicomacchio.it: manifattura dei marinati

Thanks to our friend Massimo for the material of this special report.