Lanterna Vecchia di Valle Gorino

The Lanterna Vecchia is a masonry tower at Valle Gorino that once guided river traffic on the Po di Goro.

Why it matters

The Lanterna Vecchia was built in 1864 near the mouth of the Po di Goro to guide boats along the river's final reach. Alluvial deposits gradually extended the shore, leaving the lantern farther from the sea it was built to serve. A new tower built at the active mouth in 1950 replaced its navigational role. The old structure was conserved and adapted as a feature of the Po Delta landscape, above the Sacca di Goro and the reedbeds of Valle Gorino.

What to notice

The freshwater reedbed of Valle Gorino occupies the landscape nearest the river mouth, with marsh harriers and purple herons among its characteristic birds. Muddy pools among the reeds support waders and ducks, while the open water of the sacca and its sandspit provides habitat for terns and gulls. The modest masonry tower reflects its original function as a river-navigation aid rather than a large ocean lighthouse.

Context and history

Built near the then mouth of the Po di Goro, the lantern served fishing and river trade as navigation marks were established along the Adriatic. Sediment carried by the Po advanced the coastline, leaving the light progressively inland. The newer Faro di Goro nearer the active mouth replaced its original function. Conservation retained the old tower as a landmark of the Delta's changing geography.