Po Delta Park and Casentino Forests Park

Project

BirdWilDestination

Slow Tourism Italian Destinations

Munich, March 2015

Casentino

Forests

Park

Po

River

Delta

Park

1. PO DELTA PARK

A primary natural area

surrounded by world

cultural masterpieces…

Ravenna

Ferrara

… and natural

Adria beaches

Let's see why it is a valuable

destination

But our main focus is of coursethe natural inland wet area

Amazing Landscapes

Unique Environmental Area

One of the most important

nature parks of Europe:

54.000 hectares

The largest and most important

complex of wetlands in Italy

with an extraordinary

biodiversity

It includes:

• 11 Wetlands of International

Importance (Ramsar)

• 18 Sites in Habitats Directive

• 17 SPAs in Birds Directive

Some Resources

Nature Reserves with Flooded forests, Marshland, Fossil dunes

Pine forests, some of Roman age

Salt-pans

To be enjoyed through:

– Paths of different length to enjoy the landscape and the colors (some walking paths prepared for visually impaired people)

– Birdwatching towers to easily spot all species

– Guided tours by appointment also in the area normally closed to the public

Provided Services

• 13 Visitor Centers with museum,

didactic rooms, bookshop, etc.

• 12 Observation points

• 13 Areas with birdwatching towers

• 7 Birdwatching huts and some

shielding

• Most areas are open all year round

• Some paths accessible for

impaired people

• Several observation and

photography huts where to take

short- distance photos

• Possibility to rent bicycle and

binoculars

• Daily guided tours from the

Visitor Centers:

• on foot

• by bike, boat and electric

minibus

• on horse

HikingHiking and Nordic walking in the

pinewoods with environmental tour

guides and experienced instructors

Different paths, e.g.:

• In the pinewood and along the coastal

dune

• In the Woods of Mesola to see the deers

• From Basilica of Classe to the sea

• Following the old locks and hydraulic

plants used for lands reclamation

Supporting Services:

• Rental sticks, Maps

• Guided tours available by Visitors Centers

and DMCs

Biking- Destra PO itinerary, the longest bike

route in Italy, 124 km, the central part of

Eurovelo No.8 from Athens to Cadiz

- Coastal path is a part of Europe itinerary

that leads Ravenna to Kranjska Gora (SLO)

- A network of interconnected cycle

tourism routes (about 20):

• within the area

• around and in the center of Ferrara

- 1 itinerary from Ravenna to Comacchio

(39 km till now, but foreseen to be

enlarged )

- about 26 km of cycling routes

in the province of Ravenna to visit both

cultural and natural sites

Supporting Services

• Bike rental

• Assistance for bikers in the accommodations

• Maps

• Guided tours

Boating, Canoeing, Sailing• Different daily excursions by boats from March

to October following history and nature:

- along the internal canals, home to «casoni» the old

fishing stations, observing flora, fauna and nesting

sites

- in the saltpans by a sunpowered boat

• Canoeing: Day&Night excursions and Circuits

for canoeing

• Sailing along the Adriatic Coast

• Fishing experience with fishermen in the Po

Delta

Supporting Services:

• Guided tours by boat or canoe provided by

private operators, Visitor Centers , Campings on

the Adriatic coast

• Berths

• Motorboats rentals

• Sailing schools

Horseback ridingOn horseback in the heart of Po Delta Park with

"Po Delta horses" a breed deriving from Camargue

horses

• A variety of horse trekking in nature reserves,

through oasis, pinewoods wetlands, meadows and

cultural historic sites

• The ancient routes of water: from the Apeninns to

Po Delta Park

• The path of two seas: from Po Delta Park to

Uccellina Park (Tuscany)

Supporting Services:• several riding grounds

• riding lessons

• daily excursions and tours of more days with

specialized guides proposed by private operators

and campings

Multi-mode itineraries

Itineraries within the Po Delta Park

with different means of transport in

the same tour

• 3 itineraries using feet, bike, boat,

electric car & bus

• Guided tour departure from the visitor

centers

• Stops in farms where to taste typical

wine&food products Comacchio and its valleys

Pinewood, the Punte Alberete

and Pialassa

Wine&Food

• Typical product of the Po Delta :- Comacchio’s Marinated Eels

- Wine of the Eliceo Wood (DOC)

- Rice of Po Delta (IGP)

- Clam of Goro

- Cappellacci (hand made pasta) with

pumpkin

- Cervia salt

- Piadina romagnola

• Itineraries:

- 2 Road of Wines and Flavours

- The road of fish

- The road of Piada

- Taste’s Museums

- Cooking class

- Several educational farms

Local People Heritage

Cultural attractions- the historic center of Ferrara and the

mosaics of Ravenna (Unesco

heritages)

- Pomposa Abbey

- Roman ship, Comacchio (Ist cent.)

- «Delizie», the Estense villas

Pomposa Abbey The Roman ship, Comacchio

Primavera Slow

Every year a wide activity programme from March to June:

− Walking

− Boat excursions

− Bike excursions

− Excursions in electric

cart

− Birdwatching

− Photography

− Guided visits

− Nature Labs

− Exhibitions

www.primaveraslow.it

Comacchio: Po Delta capital

Accommodation

Hotels

- 4 hotel 5*

- 59 hotel 4*

- 348 hotel 3*

- 81 hotel 2*

- 26 hotel 1*

- 34 residence

on the coast

in the cities

Accommodation

39 Farm houses

31 Campsites and holiday

villages

Other:- 6 youth hostels

- 253 B&B

- Apartments

31 Camping and Village

Some examplesTahiti Camping e Thermae Bungalow Park

Total number of beds / Total pax : 2400

6 different types of pitches and 8 types of accommodation

Evidences:

- Horse Riding and Nordic Walking Experience

- Motorboat tours

- Birdwachting in the Po Delta

- Excursions to Venice, San Marino, Mirabilandia Park, the

Este Court, the mosaics in Ravenna

Total rooms: 168 - Total beds/pax: 792

3 types of accommodation:

- Hotel Del Parco: 152 renovated rooms

- Hotel Superior: 14 double rooms of excellence

- Residence Oasi: 52 apartments with 2 rooms and 26

apartments with 3 rooms

Evidences:

- Orienteering and Cycle tourism: special and personalized

tracks with an environmental guide.

- Horse riding: riding center with calm Delta-Camargue breed

horses

- Trekking and birdwatching

Club Village and Hotel Spiaggia Romea

Lido delle NazioniA top-camping in Europe

Lido delle Nazioni70,000 sqm. Located on the Adriatic Coast in

a strategic position between the lake of Lido

della Nazioni e the pinewood of Volano

Some examplesHoliday Village Florenz

Total number of beds / Total pax : 1580

3 types of accommodation:

- 9 Mobile Homes

- brick structure bungalows situated by the sea or directly

behind the dunes

- large shaded pitches surrounded by greenery

Evidences:

- Walking and bike tours

- Boating and fishing

- Excursion to explore the countryside of Po Delta Park

International Camping Mare PinetaTotal number of beds / Total pax : 5000

- Villas: in the pine-wood, surrounded by the green

- Mobile Homes

- Flats Marina village: Apartments for 4 persons with sea view

Evidences:

- Sport activities and facilities

- Entertainment services

- Excursion in the Po Delta Park

Lido degli EstensiAt the heart of the Adriatic Riviera and on the

edge of what remains of the woodlands

beetween Veneto and Romagna

Lido degli ScacchiSituated directly on the sea and placed in a

pine forest, it covers an area of 80,000 sqm

Some examplesSpina Camping Village

Total number of beds / Total pax : 3680

More then 400 bungalows 10 different types:

- Big or little bungalows, for 2/6 persons

- More then 600 pitches from 80 up to 100 sqm for tents,

camper or caravan

Evidences:

- a New Water Park and other sport facilities

- Organized trips:

- through Venezia, Ferrara, Ravenna, Comacchio or in the

natural reserve of the Po Delta park

- Sailing and horse riding

- Motorboat: 3 itineraries boarding the bouth on the Delta

Park

Lido di SpinaSpreading over 240,000 sqm is the largest

village of Emilia-Romagna

Vigna sul Mar Camping Village

Total number of beds / Total pax : 2500

Pitches or mobile homes: 11 types of various sizes, all

equipped with the necessary and functional accessories

Evidences:

- Guided tours to art cities and Po Delta Park

- Excursions on horseback, by bike, on foot

- Bicycle Rental

- Wellness centre

- Services for disabled people

- Pets’ area

Lido di Pomposa130,000 sqm situated directly on the beach

2. CASENTINO FORESTS

On the way from

Ravenna to Florence

Lands of the ancientRomagna-Toscana

Landscapes

Santuario della Verna

Ridracoli Lake

Environmental Area

Casentino Forests National

Park covers about 36,000 ha.

4 separate areas with

different protection level

Over 1,300 species included

in the recent checklist of the

Park vascular flora.

The Park is part of the network

Natura 2000 and includes:

• 12 Sites between SCI, SPA and

SIR (Site of Regional

Importance)

• 18 Habitat Sites

e.g:

Sanctuary of La Verna and the Hermitage of Camaldoli

Built after the year 1000 as a hostel. It's the place where St.

Francisprayed and received the stigmata at Mount La Verna.

Big trees: The silver Fir is the symbol of Camaldoli, the majestic

Chestnut Miraglia is more than 500 years old : 20 mt. tall with a

circumference of nine

Some Resources • the first

Integral Nature

Reserve in

Italy

e.g.:

Reserve of Sasso Fratino

Luxuriant forest and hard accessibility, have allowed the wood to

remain to its natural state, with monumental trees.

• 2 places of

great spiritual

interest

Some Resources - Other important environmental resources

• “Scalciacchi”, One of the most well known outcrops of Marnoso-

Arenacea (miocene age), a geological emergency with the presence

of many trace fossils

• Acquacheta Waterfall, A jump of more than 70 meters, described by

Dante Alighieri in the “Inferno”, that can be reached only through a

walk of about 2 hours up in the valley

• “Marmitta dei Giganti” a phenomenon of water erosion which modeled

the rocks in an impressive way

• 13 Visitor Centers with museum,

didactic rooms, bookshop, etc.; mainly

open in spring and summer

• 1 Botanical Garden with about 300

species, often rare and included in the

regional flora protected

• 1 Planetarium

• Water Ecomusem in Ridracoli Dam

• 2 Forest Museums and one

Ornithological Museum

• 2 paths with high-accessibility for

persons with disabilities

• Areas for camper

• One coach of the train LFI (La

Ferroviaria Italiana) crosses

Casentino Valley to reach Tuscany

• Excursions by mountain bike, on

foot, on horseback or donkeys

• In winter, on cross-country skis

along the paths

• Nature educational activities and

programmes for schools groups

• Rental mountain bikes

• Daily guided tours from Visitor

Centers

Provided Services

HikingA network of paths of approximately

600 km.

• Alta Via dei Parchi, a long hike in the

northern Apennines. 8 trails crossing

Tuscany and Emilia Romagna

• 34 excursions, 9 nature trails and 2

"paths for all" to discover the National

Park of Casentino Forests

• From Hut to Hut, 8 hiking rings

in a 3 days itinerary

• The Vie dei Romei the spiritual trails of

ancient pilgrims to Rome

Supporting Services:

• Maps

• A box “From hut to hut” with a passport

and all the details

• Wild Bus with guide on the way and

bicycles transport

• Tour guides, trained and authorized

Biking20 mountain bike trails

Supporting Services:

• MBK rentals

• 1 website dedicated at trekking in the

Apennines

• Associaton/Clubs for organizing

excursions with certificated

environmental guides (1 or more

days)

Horseback ridingDifferent tours and itineraries:

• 6 days Itinerary “Gli Eremi del Parco”

• Classic pilgrimage itinerary to Assisi

• Horse trail of sacred forests: trekking alla

Verna

• 2 Days Excursions to the waterfall of

Dante Alighieri

• daily excursions

Supporting Services:

- Private operators

Boating and conoeing

Electric boatRidracoli Lake is the starting point for tours with electric

boat

Canoa- Introduction to the practice by expert instructors

- Excursion to discover the hidden corners of the lake

Supporting Services: - Guided experiences

- Idro Ecomuseo delle Acque di Ridracoli

- Excursionist associations

Canoeing in San Benedetto dell’Alpe

Multi-mode itineraries- To the ancient forest of Lama …

in Bike and Bus

- Discover the forest with bus and

electric boat. In summer every

Sunday

- Canoa & Trekking with an

instructor. An original excursion at

Ridracoli lake

Supporting Services:

- Guided tour departure from Visitor

Centers

- Associations organizing excursions

WellnessInside the area, Bagno di Romagna is a renown

spa&wellness town since the times of the Romans.

Here the water outflows hot – from 39°C to 47°C –

and is considered to be:

- Physiological: it contains active elements that

correspond to those of the human body

- Curative: able to change and positively influence

the conditions of the body

- Tolerable: it does not have the side effects of

drugs.

Guest can enjoy it in 3 modern spa centers: Terme

S. Agnese, Terme Roseo, Euroterme, where a

supply of rooms is available from 4* hotels to B&B

and agriturismo.

Wine&Food

Itineraries:

1 Road of Wines and Flavours in the area

Local traditional products of the Park

Cheese:

• Raviggiolo (Slow Food Presidium)

Fruit & Vegetables:

• Mugello Chestnut (Protected Label)

Meat:

• Romagnola Cow Breed (Slow Food Presidium)

• Chianina Cow Breed, the meat used for the

Fiorentina steak

• Salsiccia Matta Ciavar

• Sambudello Casentinese, two sausages made

from pork, similar ingredients but different

dressing and consummation

• Gota (Protected Label), a particularly tasty

sausage made from pork jowl

Other:

• Honey, produced during the whole year

• Tortello alla lastra, pasta of wheat flour and

pumpkin, cooked on a sandstone slab

Local People Heritage

Cultural attractions

Modigliana Camaldoli

Castrocaro

Terre del Sole Kripta, Abbey in San Benedetto

Autunno Slow

Every year a wide activity programme from September to October :

− Hiking

− Workshops

− Exhibitions

− Festivals

− Birdwatching

− Photography

− Guided visits

− Nature Labs

− Tasting of typical

− products

www.autunnoslow.it

Autunno SlowSome example:

• Fall Foliage, to discover the most colorful

forests of Italy ... on foot or by bus

• Guided tour dedicated to the world of

mushrooms

• Educational tour for teachers

• “Safari sound”, the roars of the deer in the

night

• Donkeys trekking along the Nature Trail

• Seminar on forests and day bird-

biowatching by LIPU

• Appointments to dinner with tasting of

typical products in cottages and inns

• Gala’ Taste: a triumph of taste to taste the

typical products of the Apennines, expertly

prepared by local chefs.

• etc.

Accommodation

Hotels

- 5 hotel 4*

- 11 hotel 3*

- 12 hotel 2*

- 6 hotel 1*

5 Mountain Huts

Accommodation

34 Farm houses

31 Campsites and holiday

villages

Other:- 6 youth hostels

- Apartments

- Few B&B

8 Campites and holiday

villages

Just to recap…

Casentino

Forests

Park

Po

River

Delta

Park

- A different way of touring Italy

- Areas adding value to a holiday

in Adria

- New destinations in itself

Slow Tourism Destinations

A deeper interaction with the destination, the environment,

the people living and working there

Local Community

Environment

TourismSuppliers

Guests

EMOTION

LENGTH

TEMPO

SUSTAINABILITY

AUTHENTICITY

CONTAMI-NATION

CASTLE:The 6 principles of Slow Tourism

"Slow" does not only mean doing things

in more time, but taking time for immersive experience that really

gets guests into the place

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION