Out of place holidays: these unkwown rivers

Rivers are a metaphor of thousands of ideas: the flow of life, the patience of waiting, the way to a goal but they are also the cradles of civilizations, they are important landmarks of landscapes, geographical elements and the counterparts of rivers are the lakes in this case. In these pages the rivers are the places of leisure time and vacation, they are sometimes forgotten in favour of other destinations.

Actually there are many interesting hints related to them from the North to the South. Let’s start with the cruises along the rivers on board of the floating houses and although this type of slow tourism is less popular in Italy rather than in France or Holland the people who rent the houseboats for which they don’t need the boating license are increasing in number in our country as well. The most of the river routes are in the North of Italy mainly along the canals that cross Lombardy in the area of Mantua, along the Po Delta, in Veneto

and Friuli and there are different levels of difficulty. The lagoons are among the most liked environments since they cross the canals, the sluices and enable you to go from the river Stella to the lagoon of Marano (Udine) then reach Bibione and Caorle up to Jesolo and enter the Venetian lagoon and finally land in Burano. You can cover this route in a week and you can stop in the most beautiful villages (during your excursions you can moor your houseboat in the different landing places indicated along the routes). If you think you aren’t great

at sailing your houseboat you can chose an organized cruise: many different routes are offered like the tour of the Brenta area where you can see beautiful villas or the routes around Chioggia, Comacchio and Venice. From the North towards the South you can reach Tuscany where there are many swimming rivers. Among the different beaches that are spread around we suggest you to swim in the Arno river near Stia (Arezzo) mainly in the river park Canto alla Rana where there are two pools that can easily be used by children as well: not far from there you can find a restaurant where

you can eat after a walk along the shady paths. If you are in Tuscany you can’t miss the thermal sources where you can enter free of charge: Sasso Pisano (in Castelnuovo in the Cecina Valley), Petriolo (between Siena and Grosseto), Bagni San Filippo (Siena) up to the very famous Saturnia Thermal Baths (Grosseto), the natural show is assured and the hot bath in the open air in the natural pools is always great. After relaxing at the Thermal Baths you can go towards the South and boost your adrenaline by going rafting in the rivers of Calabria: in the National Park of Pollino in the ri-

ver Lao’s valley there are many opportunities to enjoy an exciting experience in the unspoilt nature surrounded by crystal clear water. The park also offers other attractions and it keeps unspoilt landscapes and many water streams: if you leave from Fosso Iannace you can start walking along a path that is crossed by wooden bridges. The trekking lovers can walk for a couple of hours and reach the source of the river Pitt Accurc’ and go as far as Basilicata to see the sanctuary of the Madonna of Pollino which is set in the territory of San Severino Lucano. Last but not least is Sardinia if you fancy a quiet birdwatching at the mouth

of the river Coghinas in Valledoria: a local operator (Alta Bhanda) offers a beautiful excursion by a pontoon boat (a flat large boat) upriver for around seven kilometres. During your excursion you’ll be able to see many birds and other animals like the grey heron, the egret, the marsh harrier and the lake turtles: the birdwatching can be restless especially in Spring since this is an important area for the birds’ migration. The environment around the river’s mouth is really charming especially at sunset among the cane fields and the sand dunes that separate the quiet river environment from the wild water of the Asinara Gulf.