Following the secondary roads from Bosco Mesola you reach the splendid Abbazia di Pomposa or Pomposa Abbey, tha ancient seat of a monastery formed in the VII century and that reached maximum influence in the XI and XII centuries. Some of the original abbey buildings still stand today such as the Palazzo della ragione, the beautiful bell tower and the church. These buildings represent some of the most important Roman period monuments to be found in Italy and, indeed, in Europe. The temple is home to precious frescos by artists among them the Bolognese artist “Vitale”. The flooring is a monument in itself, it is divided into three area covering three different eras. Important frescos can also be found in the Aula Capitolare and the Refettorio.
The road leading behind the Abbey takes you to Volano and runs alongside the valle di Bertuzzi on the right and the reclaimed lands of Valle giralda and the Oasis of the Valle di Canneviè and Porticino.
Reaching the centre of Volano there is a large coastal pine forest. Here you can walk along the Scannone, a narrow stretch of land on the river mouth where you reach the first offshoots of the sea, or reach the Lido di Volano beach.
Before entering Volano a small deviation takes you to the Taglio della falce, at the limit of the Gran Bosco, from which there is an amazing view across the Sacca di Goro.
From Volano follow the scenic road Acciaioli that runs along the Valle Bertuzzi. The views along this stretch of road are enchanting especially in that late afternoon when the sun is falling and it highlights the colours of the water and the surrounding countryside. It is not rare to see flocks of birds especially herons and in certain periods of the year pink flamingos. The other side of the road looks onto the Lago delle Nazioni, a lake that is used for water sports on the banks of which there is a wild bull breeding farm and a horse stables that is home to the famous Delta ponies. To the south the Acciaioli road runs through the country side and along the seaside resorts of Lido delle Nazioni, Lido di Pomposa and Lido degli Scacchi with their long, wide beaches equipped with al the most up to date facilities. This road leads finally to Porto Garibaldi that is not only well known for its beaches but also for its seafood restaurants.
