Admire the beauty of the Po Delta on Italy boat breaks
If you're planning a family holiday in Europe that lets you explore truly beautiful surroundings, consider booking your break around Italy's Po Delta. The active part of Italy's longest river is a renowned Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, rich in biodiversity.
Lagoons, channels and marshes make up much of the landscape of the area, which is divided into six sections. Each part of the park has a rich heritage in local culture, fishing and agriculture and differs from the others in terms of its scenery, varying from pinewoods and dunes to lagoons.
Among the areas are Valli di Comacchio and Comacchio historical town centre, while Volano, Mesola and Goro constitue another. The Campotto di Argenta, the San Vitale pinewood and wetlands of Ravenna and the pinewood of Classe and salt pans in Cervia make up the last three sections.
You can make your way around each of these sections on foot, or to get really active at the same time, why not hire bicycles and get about on two wheels? As you journey you can take in landmarks like the Romanesque Pomposa Abbey and Estense Castle or head to the Po Delta Environmental Studies Centre to learn more about the region.
Admire the 18th century Torre dell'Abate and Torre Palu and pedal your way through the woodlands of Fasanara and Mesola, passing the Roamnina refuge as you near the centre of Goro. You can also view the stunning Comacchio coastline and the Bertuzzi, Cantone and Nuova Wetlands.
The scenery of the Po Delta is only half of what makes the region so attractive as a destination for boating holidays in Italy - the area's wonderful wildlife is its other claim to fame. Hundreds of species of bird reside here, so take your binoculars along on your canal boat break to see them.
Bird-watching is a popular thing to do on waterways and the Po Delta is no exception. There are around 300 different types to be spotted here, including curlews, egrets and marsh harriers. However, many of the visitors to the region come to see a specific bird - the flamingo.
You can catch sight of these pink creatures in the Comacchio lagoons and salt pans, which is where you'll find the largest concentration of flamingos in the area. Meanwhile, the Sacca di Bottonera is ideal for spotting seabirds and the Valle Mandriole is home to many spoonbills.
If you're travelling with youngsters, you might want to call in at some of the many resorts dotted throughout the area. These tend to be great places for keeping the kids entertained, especially as many are well-known for their lovely beaches.
Pay a visit to Lido delle Nazioni, which is home to an artificial lake perfect for taking part in a range of water sports such as canoeing, sailing and water skiing, or head to the Lido di Pomposa and the Lido degli Scacchi to make the most of the resorts' sandy beaches.
Lido di Volano is the northernmost of the resorts and was once a sleepy fishing village, having since been transformed into a modern settlement where you can sunbathe on the pleasant sand or enjoy horseback riding through the lush green scenery.
Both the Lido di Spina and the lively Lido degli Estensi also boast beautiful beaches - the former's being located between the sea and a lagoon. The latter, meanwhile, is home to a thriving port and is a great spot for indulging in some retail therapy.
Holidays often seem incomplete without a visit to the beach and if you travel through the wider area on your canal boat holiday you can stop off for a while at the lovely spots of Porto Levante and Albarella. The latter is also a wonderful place to take in wildlife such as herons, deer, pheasants and hares.
Meanwhile, you might also decide to spend some time in nearby Venice during your cruise, in which case you'll want to make sure you see the top sights like the Rialto Bridge, San Marco Square and the Bridge of Sighs.
The Po Delta is a beautiful location for bike rides and long walks, with plenty of scenery to soak up. It's also a great central spot from where to explore other parts of Italy. Why not book your break today?
