Delta Diary

The local area, events, recipes and itineraries from the Po Delta Regional Park

Cyclists at the start of Ostricando 2026 under the arch at the Pila fish market, Porto Tolle

Events 27 October 2026

Ostricando 2026 makes the news: over 500 riders and a Po Delta that won't give in to the blue crab

Over 500 riders and fully booked: Ostricando 2026 in the press, between Scardovari oysters, the blue crab and the Po Delta's boat and bike future.

Ostricando, gravel riding on the Po Delta levees in Porto Tolle

Events 19 October 2026

Ostricando 2026 in Porto Tolle: the two gravel routes from Pila and where to stay

Sunday 25 October from Pila, Porto Tolle: 60 km Sacca route or 90 km Levante route on Po Delta levees. Where to stay the night before.

The Stele of the Roses, 3rd-century AD Roman marble inscription from San Basilio, Ariano nel Polesine

On the move 16 October 2026

From the Delta to Parliament: the Stele of the Roses and the treasures of San Basilio

The San Basilio Stele of the Roses presented at the Chamber of Deputies in Rome. How to visit it from Porto Tolle: archaeology, art and breakfast at the museum.

Cappuccino and an ancient find: illustration of Breakfast at the Museum in San Basilio

Events 16 October 2026

Breakfast at the Museum: Cappuccino Day in San Basilio with Mister Caffè

Sunday 8 November 2026 in San Basilio (Ariano nel Polesine): breakfast with Mister Caffè, guided tour and VR headsets. Prices, time, booking.

Spaghetti with clams at RistòItalia, Porto Tolle

Oyster and clam 14 October 2026

Cycling the Sacca degli Scardovari: the Donzella loop from Porto Tolle

The Donzella loop by bike: 55–60 km on asphalt around the Sacca degli Scardovari lagoon, starting in Ca' Tiepolo, Porto Tolle. Route, times, stops.

Gravel cyclists on the Po Delta levees during Ostricando, starting from Pila di Porto Tolle

Events 2 October 2026

Ostricando 2026: a practical guide for visitors

Ostricando, Sunday 25 October 2026, Pila di Porto Tolle: times, routes, what to pack. Registration closed (500 riders), waiting list at ostricando.it.

Events in the Po Delta: food festivals, culture and sport

Events 29 September 2026

Events and festivals in the Po Delta: a year-round calendar

Po Delta festivals and events month by month: Festa del Riso, Eel Festival, Ostricando, Comacchio Carnival and Primavera Slow. 2026 dates and tips.

Watercolour illustration of an amphora and Attic red-figure pottery by an ancient lagoon at sunset, evoking Adria as a seaport

Events 28 September 2026

October at the Adria Museum: 2026 events and where to stay

Free admission, a San Basilio lecture, the Roman sewn boat and a pre-cinema exhibition: October events at the Adria Museum and a Po Delta weekend.

Wild beach at Scano Boa with pale sand dunes and the open sea on the horizon in the Po Delta

On the move 28 September 2026

Scano Boa, the Po Delta's last frontier

Scano Boa, the Po Delta's last land: by boat from Pila past the lighthouse and paradelli to the fishermen's cason. Groups of 10–15.

Sunrise over the Adriatic Sea seen from a boat, orange sky and a ship on the horizon

On the move 25 September 2026

Ettore's Dream

Salt pans, flamingos, pontoon bridges and lagoon islands: a dreamed bike journey from Cervia to Venice, with the real stages to ride it for yourself.

Artwork for the "Sul Delta, pedalando per il dono" ride of the D-Day Donation Day: adults and children on bicycles and the calendar page of Sunday 27 September.

Events 22 September 2026

Sul Delta, pedalando per il dono: Sunday 27 September, 20 km by bike between Porto Tolle and the Sacca degli Scardovari

On Sunday 27 September 2026, a 20 km bike ride in the Po Delta from Porto Tolle to the Sacca degli Scardovari for Veneto's D-Day Donation Day.

Runners on the levee of the Sacca degli Scardovari at dawn – Epica dell'Acqua, Po Delta

Events 18 September 2026

Epica dell'Acqua 2026: 100 km on foot across the Po Delta, with two stages through Porto Tolle

Epica dell'Acqua 2026, 16–18 October: 100 km on foot in three stages across the Po Delta. Programme, options and where to stay in Porto Tolle.

Fragment of a black-figure Attic krater with galloping horsemen beside a nineteenth-century zoetrope showing the same sequence of horses, from the poster of the exhibition "E l'immagine prese vita" at the National Archaeological Museum of Adria.

Events 16 September 2026

Adria, September 2026: the exhibition "E l'immagine prese vita" and the Heritage Days at the National Archaeological Museum

An exhibition on pre-cinema, the museum stores open after dark and the Etruscan dig at San Basilio open to visitors: late-September dates an hour from Porto Tolle.

RistòItalia in Porto Tolle at dusk, with the dining room lit and the restaurant sign above the entrance.

The dish 16 September 2026

Cicchetti, Carnaroli and paranza: the Rice Festival menu at RistòItalia

Venetian cicchetti, fisherman's risotto with Carnaroli rice from the Delta and fried paranza from the Pila fish market: the RistòItalia menu for the 16th Rice Festival of Porto Tolle, 17-20 September 2026. 45 euros per person, minimum two people.

The mouth of the Po di Pila, where the river water meets the Adriatic, in the Po Delta in Veneto.

On the move 15 September 2026

The Po Delta by boat: the Pila mouth, dawn in the lagoon, the full moon

Three boat trips in the Po Delta: the mouths of the Po di Pila, breakfast at dawn in the lagoon and a full-moon crossing.

Eel trap in a lagoon of the Po Delta near Porto Tolle, in autumn morning mist

The dish 14 September 2026

Eel of the Po Delta: the dish, the place, the festival

Eel from the Po Delta: how we cook it at RistòItalia, where to stay in Porto Tolle and how to reach the Comacchio Eel Festival 2026.

Trono del Gusto 2026 poster, street food in Porto Tolle

Events 10 September 2026

Il Trono del Gusto comes to Porto Tolle: three days of street food in the Po Delta

From 11 to 13 September 2026 Porto Tolle hosts the International Street Food festival, filmed by Rai 2. Where to sleep, what to eat and what to see in the Po Delta.

Risotto made with Po Delta PGI rice and shellfish, the dish at the heart of the Festa del Riso in Porto Tolle.

Events 10 September 2026

Festa del Riso in Porto Tolle 2026: the Po Delta celebrates its rice

From 17 to 20 September 2026 Porto Tolle hosts the 16th Festa del Riso, devoted to Po Delta PGI rice: gala dinner, food stalls, market, fireworks and guided walks.

Bicycle leaning on a levee in the Po Delta with the fishing lagoons behind, near Porto Tolle.

On the move 8 September 2026

Cycling in the Po Delta: three ways to set off from Porto Tolle

Bike rental, the Serenissima loop and bike & boat: three ways to cross the Po Delta by bicycle from Porto Tolle.

Vegetated dunes at dawn at Porto Caleri, on the coast of the Po Delta in Veneto.

Seasons of the Delta 3 September 2026

Barefoot at dawn in Caleri: the Delta coastline before the heat

A dawn walk through dunes, pine wood and lagoon at Porto Caleri, on the coast of the Po Delta, province of Rovigo.

Gravel tracks along the levees of the Po Delta, the Ostricando route

Events 22 August 2026

Ostricando 2026: gravel riding in the Po Delta

Sunday 25 October at Pila di Porto Tolle: 60 or 90 km of levee tracks, oysters shucked by the fishermen and lunch in the Delta.

Historic building of Albergo Italia in the centre of Porto Tolle, in the Po Delta

Sleeping here 21 July 2026

Where to stay in the Po Delta: a guide to Porto Tolle

Hotels, farm stays and self-catering rooms in Porto Tolle: the perfect base for exploring the Po Delta Regional Park, between nature, history and good food.

Wetlands and fishing lagoons of the Po Delta at sunrise, ideal for birdwatching

Seasons of the Delta 15 March 2026

Birdwatching in the Po Delta: the complete guide

The best hides, the ideal seasons and the species you can spot in the Po Delta Regional Park.

Cozza di Scardovari DOP mussels served in a light tomato broth at RistòItalia

Oyster and clam 8 March 2026

The Cozza di Scardovari DOP, queen of the Delta

History, farming and recipes of the first Italian mussel to earn PDO status, the symbol of our kitchen.

Cycle path along the levees of the Po Delta, with the river alongside

On the move 1 March 2026

Cycling in the Delta: five routes not to be missed

From the cycle paths along the levees to the islands of the lagoon: routes for every level, starting from the village centre.

Summer in the Po Delta: events, beaches and flavours

Events 22 February 2026

Summer events in the Po Delta

Fish festivals, celebrations on the water and cultural highlights to enjoy during your stay.