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From Porto Garibaldi to Anita’s Memorial Stone: the names conveys the atmosphere of this trip which evokes the heroic gestures of the Hero of Two Worlds and his passionate love for his wife. The two of them, fleeing from Rome where the Republic had fallen, were trying to escape the Austrian- Papal troops and reach the Republic of Venice. But Anita, worn out by hardship, died in the Comacchio Marshlands. Garibaldi and his men never made it to Venice but took refuge in San Marino.
A stop in Comacchio is a must
The first leg is from Porto Garibaldi to Comacchio, a fine lagoon town characterised by bridges and canals. A visit without too much time restrictions is called for. From Comacchio you take the road for Ostellato, home of the Vallette nature reserve, and after a few kilometres you turn left and then head south, following road signs for Anita. You are at the boundary of the highly important archaeological area of the Greco- Etruscan town of Spina, but unfortunately entry to the site is forbidden. Some of the precious finds are cherished by the Archaeological Museum in Ferrara.
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Great view over the Lagoons
Leaving the Spina area and heading towards Anita you take the road of the Argine Agosta, the first stretch of which divides two reclaimed marshlands: the Valle Pega and the Valle del Mezzano. Leaving the Argine Agosta and taking the Fiume road you come to an interesting archaeological site: the remains of the Parish Church of Santa Maria in Padovetere, built in the 6th century.
After this detour you return to the Argine Agosta and arrive at the Valle Zavalea nature reserve, a freshwater zone inhabited by avocets and white herons. Slightly farther on, a stupendous view opens up over the Comacchio Lagoons and Marshlands, one of the most important lagoon areas in Italy.
Balancing on the Argine Agosta
The road is straight for another 9 kilometres, balanced between the lagoon on the left and the surrounding canal on the right. Towards the end of this stretch you glimpse the Boscoforte peninsula, originating from a cordon of dunes that emerged in Etruscan times. Pedalling on with the Comacchio Marshlands behind you, you come to the village of Anita. From here, crossing the river Reno on the ferry, you arrive in Sant’Alberto in the province of Ravenna. Continuing eastwards, near the intersection with the Romea state road, you will find on the left the Guiccioli farm where Anita Garibaldi died on 4th August 1849. Slightly farther ahead is the Memorial Stone, inaugurated on 9th August 1896. |
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