Oasi di Cannevié

Near the village of Volano, the Canneviè and Porticino wetlands are brackish wetland areas covering about 70 hectares and represent the last remnant to have escaped the land reclamation works of the 1960s.

Shallow in depth, they are characterized by marsh vegetation, mainly composed of bulrush beds, reed beds, and rushes, with outcrops of ancient dunes, contemporary with those of the nearby Gran Bosco della Mesola, on which holm oak trees grow. The entire wetland is surrounded by shrubby tamarisk vegetation.

The wetlands provide refuge and nesting grounds for birdlife typical of the Po Delta, including mallards, moorhens, coots, shelducks, little egrets, black-winged stilts, and avocets. In recent years, stable colonies of flamingos have also been present.

The importance of traditional lagoon fish farming (vallicoltura) in this area is evidenced by the elegant Canneviè manor house, once the residence of the capo pesca (head fisherman). Its 18th-century Venetian-influenced architectural style is complemented by adjoining fishing stations equipped with fish ponds, fish traps (lavorieri), ingenious lagoon fishing devices, warehouses, and tabarre. Together, these structures document the entire cycle of lagoon fish farming, including fish marination, and were already listed among the assets of the last Duke of Este, Alfonso II.

These small brackish wetlands, already designated as Wetlands of International Importance, are protected natural oases. They can be visited via a walking route that winds through the area and is equipped with observation points for viewing the many aquatic species present.

Today, all the buildings have been converted into welcoming tourist accommodation and dining facilities.

Accessibility information:
The area can be explored on foot and includes a fully equipped nature trail for birdwatching, with observation hides and screening structures for observing birdlife.

How to get here

Oasi Canneviè is located 2 kms west of Volano, between Mesola Wood and the river Po di Volano.
By car: you can reach it from A-road 309 Romea by taking the B-road Pomposa-Volano (km 7).
By bicycle: the cycle route FE301 that run along the Po di Volano river links Pomposa Abbey with Canneviè natur reserve, the Lidi di Comacchio and Comacchio