Give Venice a break — this nearby Italian town has the canals and fairy-tale charm without the crowds
**Discovering Comacchio: Italy’s Hidden Gem Beyond Venice**
Nestled less than two hours from the bustling streets of Venice, Comacchio offers a serene alternative for travelers seeking the charm of Italian canals without the overwhelming crowds. While Venice attracts approximately 20 million visitors annually, leading to severe overtourism challenges, Comacchio remains an undiscovered jewel, boasting picturesque lagoons, vibrant wildlife, and a rich culinary tradition centered around eel. This quaint town, often compared to its more famous neighbor, features a network of canals lined with historic, colorful buildings, creating a peaceful and timeless atmosphere that invites exploration at a leisurely pace.
One of Comacchio’s standout attractions is its proximity to Po Delta Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Italy’s largest wetland complexes. Visitors can immerse themselves in nature by taking leisurely walks, bike rides, or boat tours through the park’s tranquil lagoons, where sightings of pink flamingos and various waterbird species are common. The park’s representative highlights the unique ecosystem, describing it as a vast expanse where water meets ancient fisherman houses, making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts. Additionally, Comacchio’s wild beaches provide a refreshing escape from the typical tourist traps, allowing for quiet relaxation amidst stunning natural beauty.
Culinary experiences in Comacchio are equally enticing, particularly for those who appreciate local delicacies. The town is renowned for its eel, a historic fish that has been a staple of the local economy for centuries. Celebrated with annual festivals, eel is prepared in numerous ways — from stews to risottos — and is a seasonal delicacy that showcases the region’s unique fishing practices. Andrea Chierici, a Bologna-based blogger, emphasizes the importance of sustainable fishing methods that allow younger eels to thrive, ensuring the species’ survival. With its rich culinary heritage and beautiful landscapes, Comacchio not only offers a taste of Italy’s gastronomic delights but also serves as a gateway to nearby historical cities like Ravenna and Bologna, making it an ideal base for exploring Northern Italy.
For those looking to experience Comacchio, a variety of activities await. Recommended experiences include sunset boat tours for breathtaking views, bird-watching excursions in Po Delta Park, and tours of local eel factories to learn about traditional preservation methods. Visitors can also indulge in the town’s renowned eel dishes at local restaurants, and those who visit in the fall can partake in the Sagra dell’Anguilla, a festival dedicated to the beloved eel. With its enchanting canals, vibrant wildlife, and delectable cuisine, Comacchio stands as a testament to the beauty of Italy’s lesser-known destinations, inviting travelers to discover its unique charm away from the throngs of tourists.
Treponti Bridge
Max Cavallari for BI
Comacchio offers Venice-like canals and charm without the crowds or overtourism issues.
The town features tranquil lagoons, pink flamingos, and eel cuisine.
This article is part of ”
Undiscovered Europe
,” a series exploring overlooked travel gems.
Roughly 20 million
tourists visit Venice
, Italy, each year, shuffling shoulder to shoulder over tired bridges, crowding alleyways lined with souvenir shops, and snapping selfies from gondolas in congested canals.
For over a decade,
overtourism in Venice
has made life harder for residents.
Enter Comacchio — an
Italian city
less than two hours away with a similar landscape and vibe that most tourists have yet to discover.
Comacchio
Max Cavallari for BI
Like Venice, Comacchio is made up of islands, where you’ll find canals rather than streets and historic, colorful buildings lining the waterways. But unlike Venice, this floating city is a
hidden gem
.
“It’s a very relaxed, frozen-in-time atmosphere,” Bologna-based blogger
Andrea Chierici
told Business Insider. “It’s a place that is calm with
no crowds
, no noise, and no big groups with the umbrellas.”
Historic lagoons home to pink flamingos
A flamingo in Delta po Park
Max Cavallari for BI
The proximity to Po Delta Park — which includes the Comacchio Lagoons, one of Italy’s largest wetland complexes, according to
Po Delta Tourism
— is one of many reasons to visit Comacchio. The park is part of a protected biosphere reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage site. A representative of the locally owned tour company,
Comacchio Experience
, said it’s a must-see for visitors.
“You can imagine the lagoon like a big lake, so you cannot see the horizon on the other side of this lagoon, but it’s not totally water,” the representative told Business Insider. “Inside the water, we have a lot of banks and houses of ancient fishermen.”
Delta po Park
Max Cavallari for BI
You’ll find many waterbird species in Po Delta Park, including the pink flamingo. Both experts recommend taking a walk, bike ride, or boat tour of the lagoons.
The representative of Comacchio Experience also recommends relaxing at the area’s wild beaches, which haven’t been
taken over by tourists
.
“This is a very different experience because in Italy, we have a lot of beaches, but there are umbrellas everywhere and loud music,” he told Business Insider. “But here, you can find a quiet and very free place.”
Eels are a seasonal delicacy
Stewed eel and marinated anchovies: the three dishes that characterize Comacchio’s cuisine.
Max Cavallari for Bi
“If you like food, the main reason to go to Comacchio is the eel,” Chierici said.
The eel is a historic delicacy in Comacchio, celebrated with annual festivals.
“The original food of Comacchio, the eel, is a prehistoric fish that comes here naturally, and we’ve fished for 1,000 years,” the Comacchio Experience rep said. “This fish is so important because it was the only economy here until the last 70 years.”
Interior of Al Cantinon restaurant
Max Cavallari for BI
The eel is a seasonal food that’s fresh in the fall but is preserved to eat all year long. Chierici said that the town has a fishing system that allows all of the smaller eels to go free.
“We keep the life cycle of the eel alive, which is very important because they make a long trip to come to Comacchio,” he told Business Insider. “They come from the Sargasso Sea to the unique landscape of the Po Delta Valley, especially near Comacchio, to reproduce.”
Chierici said that restaurants around town serve eel in various ways — from grilled entrées to sandwiches and risottos.
Nearby places
Comacchio
Max Cavallari for BI
Comacchio is conveniently located about an hour away from many other historical cities, like Ravenna, Bologna, and Ferrara, making it a great base for a longer trip to Northern Italy, the Comacchio Experience representative said.
Within a half-hour drive, Chierici also suggests visiting Pomposa and Tresigallo for entrancing architecture.
6 things to do in Comacchio
Take a sunset boat tour.
Both experts say the best way to explore Comacchio is by boat. According to the Comacchio Experience representative, sunset is the best time to go.
Go bird watching at Po Delta Park.
Chierici suggests taking a bird-watching tour to find pink flamingos in the lagoon.
Tour the eel factory.
Chierici suggests touring the
Manifattura dei Marinati to see how eel is marinated and preserved.
Try eel in all its forms.
Eel is prepared various ways in Comacchio. Try it at one of Chierici’s favorite restaurants: Vasco e Giulia, La Barcaccia, and Al Cantinon.
Attend the fall food festival.
Both experts suggest visiting in the fall to attend the annual Sagra dell’Anguilla, a food festival celebrating the eel.
Visit nearby cities and towns.
Both sources say it’s worth visiting nearby places like Tresigallo, Pomposa, Ravenna, Bologna, and Ferrara.
And if you must go to Venice, it’s just an hour and a half away.
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Business Insider
