PO DELTA BY MOTORCYCLE (PART 1): ITINERARY ON TWO WHEELS THROUGH THE ROMAGNOL PLAIN UP TO POMPOSA

An evocative, exciting and unique territory, straddling the provinces of Rovigo, Ferrara and Ravenna. This is how a motorcycle ride along the Po Delta could be described in a nutshell. Given the immensity and density of things to see, Roadsitalia will tell you about this first part of the journey in eastern Romagna, to discover a unique landscape close to the Adriatic coast, made up of water, river branches and protected areas. An immense green area where pine forests and oases alternate, endless reeds, rare free bird species and centuries-oldwoods, skilfully mixed by skilled human and architectural engineering.

The motorcycle itinerary on the Po Delta Part 1 will start from Cervia and arrive in Pomposa, and then rejoin in the second stretch from Pomposa to Ferrara. A long route (also feasible in the opposite direction) all on the flat, where the average speed remains low and devoid of particular "panache" behind the wheel, but capable of giving strong landscape emotions (especially with the lights of sunset or early morning) . Not surprisingly, one is immersed in a unique heritage in the world that boasts two UNESCO awards: 64 thousand total hectares, over 400 animal species and almost 1,000 plants - distributed over 2 Regions - are some of the numbers that the Po Delta Park boasts. Let's go and find out together.

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PO DELTA BY MOTORCYCLE (PART 1): THE ROADSITALIA ROUTE

It starts from Cervia in the direction of Ravenna, following the SS16. As soon as we leave the center we immerse ourselves in a dense intertwining of cultivated fields and farms, where we will cross the Cervia Salt Pans. We leave the SS16 to get to Lido di Classe, defined by the people of Ravenna as a "living room by the sea" for its accommodation facilities and special hospitality. After a eventual coffee stop (perhaps by the sea) let's get back on the saddle and, leaving Mirabilandia behind, we arrive in Ravenna. The city is a real architectural concentrate where the signs and influences of a glorious past, made up of various dominations, are clearly recognizable. Ravenna is in fact the only city in Europe to have been the capital of three empires (Western Roman Empire, the Theodoric Empire and the Byzantine Empire). It houses the largest mosaics heritage in the world, with 8 UNESCO sites and several must-see basilicas.

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Our motorcycle trip on the Po Delta now enters the beauty, leaving the inhabited centers behind to immerse yourself in the densest and most uncontaminated nature. We follow the SS309 (also known as Statale Romea) meeting Marina Romea on one side and the Oasis of Punte Alberete on the other, and then immerse ourselves in the boundless Comacchio Valleys. With its 11,000 hectares of surface, the Comacchio Valleys are an area of ​​brackish water dedicated to eel fishing, where various protected species of birds live together. Comacchio city - even just for its architecture - deserves a stop and a visit on foot. Also known as "little Venice" and surrounded by its 7 beaches, Comacchio is a village in close contact with the water, which can also be visited on a batana (small local boats) that will envelop you in the colors of its colorful houses. Not to be missed here, the iconic Trepponti, the nineteenth-century Palazzo Bellini and the Manifattura dei Marinati, perfectly restored and back into operation.

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Mappa GPX - Clicca per Scaricare

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Leaving Comacchio, let's re-enter along the Romea state road (after a couple of kilometers on the SP15 and SP58), meeting after about twenty kilometers the Abbey of Pomposa. Already visible from a distance for its 48-meter bell tower that stands out from the green plain, the monastery and the abbey are a must for every passer-by and for every motorcyclist. Inserted among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and located right at the intersection of the "Roman roads" (which led to Rome through the eastern passes of the Alps and the Apennines), the Abbey of Pomposa is composed of 3 main bodies: the church , the monastery and the Palazzo della Ragione. Next to the basilica stands the bell tower, built in 1063.

His monastery had a glorious past and welcomed illustrious personalities, including Guido d'Arezzo (the monk inventor of musical writing based on the seven-note system). The entrance to the church costs a few euros and is worth every penny, while all around a beautiful garden with attention to detail, two kiosks, a restaurant and a large parking area, make it perfect for a lunch and a little rest after the visit. Back in the saddle, from the abbey we arrive towards the end of the first part of the itinerary by motorbike along the Po Delta, towards Lido di Volano (or if you prefer also Lido delle Nazioni or Lido degli Estensi). This long stretch of coastline is famous for its pine forests and protected green areas, scattered here and there close to the coast. A perfect setting for bike excursions, walks, water sports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing - given the frequency of light but not annoying winds - or for a bit of relaxation by the sea under an umbrella, fully enjoying the beach.

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USEFUL ADVICE ON THE ROUTE BY MOTORCYCLE (PART 1) ALONG THE PO DELTA

A first part of the route of 120-30 km out of a total of about 300. Provincial and state roads with two lanes, 100% flat and passable all year round (although spring and the season close to autumn emphasize their colors , views and allow you to leave the summer humidity behind). No difficulties along the route to report, but always with the usual caution and one exception: be careful when the sun goes down, because especially in the Delta area, the lighting is poor.