22. Valli di Comacchio – Casalborsetti

Stage that lends itself to two itineraries. The first goes towards Casal Borsetti and the sea, the second towards Mandriole (Trafila Garibaldina). In this case you could also reach Ravenna, with a flat but very long stage.

ANITA VARIANT: From Anita, leaving the hostel, take Via Valle Umana, then Via Casso Madonna (cyclists can go back in Via Madonna del Bosco up to the embankment). Continuing straight, you pass near a farmhouse and then an electrical substation. Go up the bank of the river Reno up to Agriturismo Prato Pozzo.

From Prato Pozzo, you take the embankment of the Reno again. Shortly after you arrive at the ferry dock for Sant’Alberto, an ancient river port in the middle of the marshes, now reclaimed. In case of need you can take the ferry and in a few minutes you are in the center of the town. Then you can resume your journey on the left bank of the Reno. For a long stretch on the right there is the Reno river and on the left the Valli di Comacchio with a remarkable variety of fauna and still some fish farms. Below the embankment some inhabited houses, others abandoned. A memorial stone recalls the “Trafila Garibaldina”; there are old and new water management structures, fishing huts with nets always taut on the right bank of the river. This leads to the state road that bears the same name as our route: Via Romea SS 309 (access to the state road can be difficult for cyclists). After crossing the bridge over the Reno, take the road that leads to the fishing huts. Taking Via Corriera Antica, you come across a path that leads to the monument that commemorates the place where Anita Garibaldi was buried.

VARIANT OF TRAFILA GARIBALDINA: after crossing the bridge over the Lamone and arriving in Via Poggi, instead of continuing towards the SS 309-Romea, you take the embankment towards the west. After a small lake there is a cart track towards the Augusta Estate. You cross some canals, pass the SS 309-Romea under the road, continue to the next bridge without crossing it. Thus, you reach a canal and return to the SS 309-Romea. Shortly thereafter we rejoin our Via Romea Germanica. In total, this appendix is ​​6.7 km – against the 10.6 km of the main route which includes Casal Borsetti. This can be useful if you can stay in Mandriole. Otherwise, two stages have to be taken into account: from Anita to Ravenna, for a total length of about 43.3 km.

We continue our journey up to the Canale Destra Reno (where we could stop in the locality of Mandriole). Taking the SP 24 and passing over a bridge with a lock, go along Via Poggi until you reach the state road which must be crossed very carefully. Walk along the canal on the road (Via Argine Sinistro Lamone Abbandonato) which becomes a dirt road. Take the cycle path that goes around the new port and enter Casal Borsetti. A bridge crosses the canal port. There you can go to the beach, to the pier. Further south is the modern parish church of Casal Borsetti.