Impianti idrovori

A short distance from Garzaia stands the headquarters of the Consorzio di Bonifica Pianura di Ferrara, built between 1872 and 1874. An imposing water pumping station, it is a symbol of the extensive reclamation works carried out in past centuries and of the sweat and toil of thousands of laborers.

The system regulated the flow of water into the Volano River from what were once large areas of marshland. It was powered by powerful pumps, originally steam-powered, which lifted the water from below sea level and fed it into the large collectors. The complex, built entirely of brick, consisted of a long building containing the lifting pumps and two tall chimneys, which are still visible today.

The headquarters of the Consorzio di Bonifica is the starting point for the evocative and fascinating Bassani Trail, which intertwines history, environment, and literature, as it is inspired by Giorgio Bassani's famous novel “L' Airone”. Dutch artist Joos Peeters has also admirably painted some of the facades transcribing passages from the novel in the author's own handwriting.

The water pumping station was declared a site of cultural interest in 2008.

Info: To visit the water pumping stations, contact the Consorzio di Bonifica Pianura di Ferrara.