Trip to Comacchio
Saturday, June 10th, 2017
During this stay I haven’t gone anywhere except to the rugby game at Parma and that really doesn’t count since I only saw the autostrada and stadium. I had wanted to go to Sardegna for a long weekend but decided that I really didn’t want to do that alone. One of my conversation partners at Scioglilingua (I did a post about this that you can find HERE) was talking about having gone to Comacchio which is on the Adriatic coast east of Ferrara. So I talked to my friends, the Palmieri sisters Liu’ and Monica. It turns out that neither of them had ever gone there either so we planned a day trip.
First go to near Ferrara and then to Comacchio
It takes about 1½ hours to get to this little town. The terrain is mostly very flat since this area, the Pianura Padana, is very flat and fertile, much like the central valley in California. As such it is also wall-to-wall farms, as is the central valley. Unlike the central valley it is an alluvial plain, having been formed by rivers rather than a sea and therefore has lots of water – rivers, streams and canals.
Comaccio, like Venice, was originally built on a number (13 to be precise) islands and so canals and bridges still exist. There is a large marshy lagoon next to it and apparently, until a bit over 100 years ago, the marsh surrounded the town. The marsh is a favorable environment for eels and they are both an economic benefit and a characteristic food there. For lunch I opted for a mixed seafood plate but found the eel so delicious that should I visit again I’ll go for all eel – which is served with polenta.. Very good!
The Trepponti (three bridges) bridge. A symbol of the city.
One of several canals that we crossed on the way to the restaurant
The street and canal where our restaurant was located.
Monica left (looking very serious for some reason) and Liu’. Note that we are seated at a table in a boat on the canal.
Interesting translation . from “scaletta” to ladder. Should be “flight”. Also note that there must be a lot of german speaking tourists.
Now how they got “nipples ” as translation for “little sepie (cuttlefish)” is a mystery.
Monica’s pasta with scampi (the real thing) and pomodorini (little tomatoes).
My fish plate. The eel (anguilla) as at bottom left.
