Brief history
Since 1999, the Veneto Region has invested considerable resources in injecting new life into its lagoons, which stretch from the Delta del Po to the eastern part of the Veneto region. Firstly, with the IMP (Integrated Mediterranean Programme, regulation EEC No. 2088/85) and then the "Management of the Lagoons of the Delta del Po" scheme, which the Consorzio di Bonifica Delta Po Adige was commissioned to carry out, as per section 29 of the Italian Regional Law no. 7/99, receiving the appropriate annual funding.
Primary and secondary channels have been dug - for environmental reasons - and have brought new water and life to places where previously there was just marshland and anoxia. At the same time a network of routes has also been created which are easy to navigate with small boats. This has opened up new possibilities for tourism; new perhaps for Italy and the Veneto region but well-known in other countries in Europe: river and lagoon navigation.
This project is part a wider scheme "Water, environment and territory on the Delta and reclaimed land. Improving the environment and the informative system in the area" and its main aim is to bring together the river and lagoon navigation systems.
The aim is twofold: firstly to be able to travel along the Canal Bianco to the lakes of Mantua and secondly to join up all the lagoons of the Po Delta, overcoming any small obstacles which are preventing this at the moment (sometimes it might just be a bank or a canal which have not been dug deep enough), allowing tourists and boaters to reach the Venice lagoon - without ever having to go by sea.
The route starts from the Goro lagoon, Ferrara (the southern edge of the Delta) and passes through the lagoons of Scardovari, Canarin, Basson and Barbamarco, reaching Albarella and Rosolina and the lagoons of Vallona and Caleri respectively. Then it continues along the Po di Levante (the eastern side of the river) and the Canal di Valle to Chioggia.
The countryside and places to visit along the route are breathtaking, some of the best sights in Europe.
The waterways stretch for more than 500 kilometres, and to make the route more enjoyable and interesting, several projects have been developed to equip the river banks and make it easier to visit the sights along the way, as well as to enjoy the local culture, food and wine.