Sacca di Goro

At the eastern edge of the Po Delta, the Sacca di Goro is a shallow lagoon partly sheltered from the Adriatic by the sandy scanni, including the Scannone di Goro. Its waters and shifting sandspits support both shellfish farming and rich birdlife.

Why it matters

The lagoon lies between the mouths of the Po di Volano and the Po di Goro, where river-borne sediment continues to shape the coast. Much of the surrounding land emerged from the eighteenth century onward. The sacca is part of the Ramsar wetland and Natura 2000 site IT4060005, a protected landscape that also includes river reaches, marshes and nature reserves. Fishing and mussel farming remain central to Goro’s economy.

What to notice

The lagoon brings working waters and natural habitats together. Poles and racks mark mussel and clam beds, while mudflats, tamarisk scrub and dune grasses shape the scanni. The Scannone di Goro, also known as Isola dell’Amore, is a recent formation and a refuge for birds. The opening to the sea between the Volano scanno and the Scannone has widened over recent decades.

Context and history

The Sacca di Goro is a landscape still in motion. Its shallow bed of alluvial mud and sand reflects the meeting of river water and the Adriatic; the balance shifts across the lagoon, influencing how water and sediment move through it. Long-term ecological monitoring begun in 2008 tracks these changing conditions and the interaction of fresh and salt water.