Comacchio, a canal town in Emilia-Romagna, offers a Venetian-style experience without the overwhelming crowds, just under two hours from Venice. Known as Italy’s ‘Little Venice,’ it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and features colorful houses, historic bridges, and a rich culinary tradition.
A Venetian Alternative
Venice attracts 30 million visitors annually, leading to overtourism issues and entry fees. In contrast, Comacchio, built on thirteen small islands, is linked by waterways and bridges, reminiscent of Venice but far quieter. Its 17th-century Ponte dei Trepponti, a five-point bridge built in 1638, serves as a historic entry point from the Adriatic Sea.
The town’s streets are lined with houses painted in pink, red, and blue, offering a more vibrant palette than Venice’s earthy tones. For culture enthusiasts, the Museo Delta Antico houses artifacts from the Roman and Medieval eras found in the Po Delta, Europe’s second largest wetland.
A Day Trip Destination
Comacchio is best suited for a day trip, unlike Venice which deserves multiple days. It can be easily combined with visits to nearby Bologna or Ravenna for a quieter afternoon.
Culinary Delights
Food lovers will find Comacchio a paradise, specializing in eel fishing. Marinated eel, known locally as ‘anguilla marinata,’ is a popular dish, and an annual Eel Festival is held in September and October. The Emilia-Romagna region is celebrated for simple, high-quality dishes using local resources, including mortadella, Parmesan, and piadina flatbread with squacquerone cheese. Wine enthusiasts should try Sangiovese, a red wine so integral to the region that it’s called ‘e be’ in the local dialect, meaning ‘the drink.’
One traditional pasta, Strozzapreti, literally ‘priest stranglers,’ is made by twisting fresh dough between the palms, traditionally with durum wheat, semolina flour, and water. It’s available at virtually every restaurant in the area.
Getting There
During summer, direct flights from London to Rimini or Forli are available. For example, flights from London Gatwick to Rimini on September 19 returning September 26 cost £88 (€103) return. From Rimini’s Federico Fellini Airport, Comacchio is about one hour and 20 minutes away. A Ryanair flight from Stansted to Forli on September 12 returning September 19 costs £84 (€99), with an hour’s drive to Comacchio. Alternatively, flying into Bologna offers a 55-minute drive, with return flights from September 26 to October 3 available for £41 (€48).
