Tucked away in the Po Delta region of Emilia-Romagna, Comacchio is a charming canal town that feels like a smaller, quieter cousin to Venice but with its own unique magic. It has multi coloured houses, beautiful bridges, and pretty canals, but isn’t overrun with tourists, making Comacchio a special getaway that feels just a little bit like you’ve discovered
I recently had the chance to explore Comacchio and its surroundings, and I was amazed by how much there is to discover—especially for those who love slow travel, bike rides, and fresh seafood. Whether you’re planning a day trip or a weekend stay, here’s a guide to some of the best things to do in and around Comacchio, Italy.
Start the day with a bike ride on one of Italy’s most scenic routes
Our day began with a relaxed bike excursion on the Argine degli Angeli, a peaceful, flat trail that follows the canal and nature-rich embankments all the way to Lido di Spina on the Adriatic coast. We met our guide near Trattoria Primaro, where bikes were available to rent and the route was explained before we set off. We booked through Po Delta Tourism & Comacchio Experience.
It’s an easy and scenic ride – that I’ve seen some calling the most picturesque cycle route in Italy! It’s perfect for all fitness levels as there isn’t a set pace to go at and offers a lovely opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Po Delta. We passed reed beds, lagoons, and the highlight – spotting flamingos along the way!
It can be hot of course, so wear suncream and take plenty of water. The main part of the ride is along a narrow raised bank between the lagoons, so you’re surrounded by water. It’s a particularly excellent spot for bird watching and there are some areas to pull over to take photos and take in the scenery.
Visit the Remo Brindisi House Museum
Once in Lido di Spina, make time to stop at the Remo Brindisi House Museum, a truly unusual and fascinating space. The museum was once the summer residence of artist Remo Brindisi and remains largely as he left it: a bold, mid-century modern structure that now houses a diverse and striking art collection.
Calling it a museum doesn’t quite seem right as it feels like you’re trespassing in someone’s house, which in a way you are! The team change the displayed art works every year and each room is packed with Brindisi’s works and pieces by his contemporaries, all arranged with flair and intent. Walking through the house feels like entering an artist’s mind. Even the furniture and layout reflect his vision, and it’s one of the top things to do in Comacchio for design and art lovers.
Have lunch a peaceful beachside campsite
After our bike ride we headed to the Marina Camping Village. It’s a sprawling woodland campsite with direct access to a blue flag beach.
The beach is not just for the residents of the campsite and it has a number of on site restaurants, although we chose to eat at the one right by the sand. It looks like just a café, but serves up really fresh pasta and seafood as well as a selection of ice creams and coffees.
It’s a bit of a different place to stop for food, gives you the chance to have a bit of beach time, and is also quite fun to see how some of the (mainly domestic) tourist seems to set up site for the season!
Explore the heart of Comacchio’s historic centre
After heading back into central Comacchio, we spent some time strolling through the historic centre, which is just as lovely on foot as it is by boat. The canals and bridges that crisscross the town are incredibly photogenic, especially Trepponti, the famous triple-arched bridge that’s become a symbol of Comacchio.
I couldn’t quite believe that the area wasn’t overrun by tourists as it’s just as pretty (and historic) as Venice! The canals are lined with colourful houses with wooden shutters and it’s really lovely to just take some time to wander the streets and admire the bridges & historic buildings.
There were a number of canal boats on the water when I visited and the owners seemed happy to invite people on board!
Visit the Museo Delta Antico
We visited the Ancient Delta Museum (Museo Delta Antico), housed in a former hospital building. It’s beautifully curated and tells the story of the Po Delta, from ancient Roman times through to the present, with fascinating archaeological finds and multimedia exhibits. It gave us a much deeper appreciation for the region’s long-standing connection to water, trade, and fishing.
The collection inside is vast, with some incredibly well preserved pots, religious icons and other Roman finds, all from the region!
Learn about marinated eel at Manifattura dei Marinati
Next, we walked over to the Manifattura dei Marinati, the town’s historic eel processing factory, which has been beautifully restored. Comacchio is famous for its marinated eel, and this museum allows you to see the traditional furnaces and tools used in its preparation. It’s both a working factory and cultural site, offering insight into one of the most important traditions of the town.
It’s a really well put together museum, with information about the entire process from fishing to sale. You can see where the huge fires were lit in the many fireplaces and see the metal rods used to turn the eels.
There’s also a very well stocked shop with tinned fish, wines and gifts to take back home.
Canoe at sunset in the Po Delta
As the day turned into evening, we made our way to Stazione Foce, the starting point for one of the most serene and memorable experiences of our trip: a guided canoe excursion at sunset through the Po Delta wetlands booked through Po Delta Tourism & Comacchio Experience.
There’s something very peaceful about gliding through the still waters with only the sounds of birds and the gentle splash of your paddle. Our guide pointed out historical fishing huts, and pointed out some of the birdlife of the area including hundreds of flamingos.
You’ll be in a Canadian style canoe with others, so no prior skill is necessary and you’re unlikely to get wet so you can bring cameras etc on board – although dry bags are provided.
Enjoy apericena at Stazione di Pesca Foce
Halfway through the canoe trip, we arrived at Stazione di Pesca Foce, where we were treated to a delicious apericena, a light dinner featuring local delicacies like marinated eel, breads and sparkling wine.
The setting couldn’t have been more perfect and felt like what every tourist hopes for from Italy – good food & wine, friendly conversation and beautiful views. We had a range of seafood including fresh prawns, a type of baked polenta, homemade pastries and also some very enjoyable sparkling red wine!
Final Thoughts
Comacchio and the surrounding area packs in an impressive range of experience, whether you’re drawn by art and history, love discovering local traditions, or want to explore one of Italy’s most peaceful and picturesque natural areas.
This tranquil little town in the Po Delta is a dream for anyone seeking a slower, more immersive kind of travel. I hope this guide to the best things to do in Comacchio helps you plan your visit and discover just how special this corner of Emilia-Romagna truly is.
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