Franca

While the region of Emilia-Romagna is famous for towns like Ferrara, Ravenna, Bologna, and Modena, among others, there are obviously some lesser-known gems that are well worth exploring, particularly if you want to get away from the regular tourist crowds. One such destination is the charming town of Comacchio, known as the, “Little Venice,” of Emilia-Romagna. Located 3km from the coast in the Po Delta, 50 km from Ferrara, 35 km from Ravenna, and 110 km from the actual Venice, a villa in Comacchio offers both the chance to enjoy a beautiful, peaceful hidden gem while still being able to take day trips to some of Italy's most famous and incredible cities and to spend days exploring the wonderful beaches and seaside fun of Emilia-Romagna.

A lagoon town, steeped in history, swathed in sea air blowing in from the coast, Comacchio is now known as the capital of the Po Delta Park and boasts endless architectural gems, seven nearby beaches, and pretty canals. Best visited between April and mid-October, when the weather is pleasant enough to enjoy all of the outdoor and seaside charms of the destination, there is an endless list of things to see and do while on vacation in Comacchio . Here is our guide to some of the highlights!

If your next Italian holiday brings you to the enchanting city of Ferrara in Emilia Romagna then make it a priority to tour around the beautifully preserved Castello Estense!

This huge building is framed by four corner towers and began construction long ago in 1385. One of these towers was unfortunately damaged by an earthquake that hit Ferrara in 2012 but it’s being restored.

Stay at a lovely holiday villa rental in Emilia Romagna where you can visit Castello Estense among many other attractions in this beautiful region!

The historical centre of Ferrara in Emilia Romagna holds many treasures which is why in 1995, it thoroughly deserved its awarded place on Italy’s UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Glorious palaces, majestic churches and other buildings dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries still remain beautifully preserved here.

Tourists can choose from a great selection of stunning accommodation in the area luxury villa in Emilia Romagna where you can relax after a fun day of exploration.

Ferrara grew to become a major Renaissance city in Italy thanks to a wealthy sponsor called Ercole d'Este I.

After the Medici family, this man was one of the greatest sponsors of this era and did great work in flourishing the city with rich decorative buildings, artworks and fascinating cultural sites.

Ravenna city in the region of Emilia Romagna in north-eastern Italy is a haven of art and beauty! Nicknamed ‘The Mosaic City’, the many religious buildings, palaces and monuments of the city are adorned with intricate mosaics for you to admire. Stay in a lovely holiday villa in Ravenna where you can relax after a wonderful day of discovering the history, art and culture of the area.

There are eight incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ravenna for you to explore including early Christian monuments like the Baptistery of Neon, the Basilica of Sant ‘Apollinare Nuovo and the Mausoleum of Theodoric. These eight sites of interest would make an excellent starting point in your tour of Ravenna!

The famous Master poet of Italy, Dante Alighieri held the city of Ravenna close to his heart. He even mentioned it in his masterpiece poem, The Divine Comedy. Dante is buried in a beautiful little tomb in the city that tourists can visit.

The mosaics of Ravenna entered the common parlance and radars of a very large audience in 2013 when Dolce & Gabbana used prints of some of the works of art in their garments. However, the Byzantine mosaics created in the city in the 5th and 6th centuries have always been one of its distinguishing features and one of the things that it is most well-known for.

Even today, it is still one of Italy's greatest producers of mosaics.

If you are interested in art or are fond of awe-inspiring church interiors that glitter like jewellery boxes then find a vacation rental in Ravenna and see them for yourself.