Porto Tolle: Nature, Fishing and Coast in the Po Delta

Porto Tolle lies entirely within the Po Delta area. The municipality brings together several clearly distinct aspects: dike crests and lagoons, a wetland with resting places for birds, a sandy beach on the coast, and a fishing culture presented through images at the Museo della Pesca “Pesca & Dintorni”. Porto Tolle is therefore particularly interesting for you if you want nature observation, regional ways of life and excursions among aquatic landscapes to come together on the same trip.

Delta Landscapes between Lagoons and Coast

The Oasi di Ca’ Mello is a nature oasis of approximately 40 hectares on the edge of the Sacca di Scardovari. The Ca’ Mello wetland serves as a resting and nesting site for numerous wetland bird species.

The loop route on the Isola di Polesine Camerini also shows the character of the delta landscape: It runs almost entirely along the surrounding dike crests and passes the Busa del Canarin and Busa Bastimento lagoons, where rare bird species can be found. At Boccasette Beach, the ground consists of fine sand; at the same time, the seabed there has a gentle slope.

Fishing as a Way of Life and Culture

The Museo della Pesca “Pesca & Dintorni” presents the world of fishing in the Po Delta through images. In Porto Tolle, fishing is not only a livelihood but also a way of life and culture. The museum comprises three rooms: one is dedicated to the area’s recent history, another to the lagoon and coastal landscapes from the Po di Maistra to the Po di Goro, as well as to the river branches between which the municipality of Porto Tolle extends. The third room covers commercial fishing, including its techniques, farming and trade.

Anello della Donzella: Flat Cycling Loop

The Anello della Donzella runs entirely on flat terrain along roads with little traffic and partly on unpaved sections.

Mussels from the Lagoons and Festival Periods

The typical production area of “Cozza DOP di Scardovari” is the 12-hectare expanse of water in Scardovari between the mouths of the Po di Gnocca and the Po delle Tolle. Vongole veraci are farmed in the lagoons of the municipalities of Rosolina, Porto Viro and Porto Tolle. These lagoons cover a total of approximately 5,300 hectares and are located in the Parco del Delta del Po.

The Festa di Santa Maria Assunta in Polesine Camerini usually takes place between the end of May and 2 June. The Sagra di Scardovari is also known as the Festa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo and 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.

Further places for your own orientation: Castelguglielmo Rovigo, Castelnovo Bariano, Ceregnano, Loreo, Arquà Polesine, Ariano Nel Polesine, Giacciano Con Baruchella, San Martino Di Venezze

For the higher-level travel overview: Rovigo.