Italy’s ‘Little Venice’ is just under two hours away — and without the crowds

Comacchio is just under two hours away, and much less chaotic (Picture: Getty Images) Known for its winding canals, gondolas, and rich cultural scene, Venice is a hugely popular destination, and it’s visited by 30 million each year. In that sense, it’s very far from hidden. In fact, the ancient canal city has pretty much become an unwilling poster child for overtourism, plagued by everything from rising waters and overcrowding to depopulation. In 2024, the Floating City introduced a €5 (£4.29) fee for all day-trippers, which was then doubled to €10 (£8.58) – but only for last-minute travellers who book less than four days in advance. With that in mind, it’s worth casting your gaze (and wallet) towards a destination that has all the charm of Venice, but none of the crowds. Comacchio, in Emilia-Romagna, is just under two hours away, but it feels like another world. It’s technically part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, too, being Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its Po Delta. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. And it’s little surprise it’s gathered so many references to Venice, as the town is built around its network of canals. It’s part of thirteen small islands, and just like Venice, is linked by various waterways and bridges. Comacchio is centred around 13 separate islands (Picture: Getty Images) Things to do in Comacchio While Venice has the world-famous Bridge of Sighs (so famous, in fact, that replicas were built in both Oxford and Cambridge, and even given the same name), Comacchio has the Ponte dei Trepponti. It’s a 17th-century, five-point bridge, originally built as an entry point for those coming in from the Adriatic Sea. It’s stood proudly since 1638. Another green tick for Comacchio is the fact that it’s much more colourful than Venice, which is famous for having fairly earthy tones. Wander around the streets of Comacchio, and you’ll notice houses painted in joyful hues of pink, red, and blue. If you’re up for a bit of culture, the Museo Delta Antico is worth a visit. It houses artefacts dating back to the Roman and Medieval eras, all found in and around the Po Delta area, which is Europe’s second largest wetland. Win a luxurious stay for two at London hotel The Gore Stay in an opulent hotel room in London's most cultural neighbourhood (Picture: Jack Hardy) Four-poster beds, gilded mirrors and chandeliers everywhere you look... Metro has teamed up with Starhotels Collezione to give one lucky reader (and a companion) a chance to win a luxurious two-night stay worth £900 at The Gore London, a historic boutique hotel in the cultural heart of the UK capital. For your chance to win this incredible London getaway, enter your details before midnight on Sunday, 9 August 2026. Enter now Open to UK (excluding Northern Ireland) residents aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 00:01 BST on 20/07/2026 and closes at 23:59 BST on 09/08/2026. Entrant must complete the entry form hosted on Metro. 1 prize of a two-night bed and breakfast stay in a Deluxe Room at The Gore Hotel in South Kensington, London for two (2) adults including dinner at the restaurant 190 Queen’s Gate on one night only consisting of a three course meal from the A La Carte menu with one (1) complimentary glass of wine included per person. Only one (1) entry will be accepted per person or per email address. Full T&Cs here. Now, if you’re expecting to visit Comacchio and be met with a plethora of things to do, it’s time to readjust your expectations. Unlike Venice, which is best visited over the course of a few days, Comacchio is more of a day trip. If you’ve already visited the likes of Bologna or Ravenna, then it’s worth tagging Comacchio on at the end for a quieter afternoon. A foodie’s paradise If you’re a food lover, Comacchio should be at the very top of your list. The town specialises in eel fishing, and marinated eel (known locally as ‘anguilla marinata’) is a popular dish found on many menus. There’s even an Eel Festival, held across September and October each year. Plus, the Emilia-Romagna region is famously foodie. It’s largely known for simple dishes done well, and making the most of the wealth of local resources thanks to its location close to both the sea and hills. Some of the most popular foods to eat here include mortadella (a type of ham that’s been mimicked as ‘baloney’ elsewhere in the world), Parmesan, and piadina, a type of flatbread best enjoyed with something like squacquerone, a form of soft cheese that’s not hard enough to have a rind, but not mushy enough to be considered cottage cheese. Who needs a Venetian gondola when you could have this? (Picture: Getty Images) Wine drinkers should absolutely indulge in a glass of Sangiovese, a red that’s so embedded in the culture of the region that, in Romagnol (the regional dialect), it’s simply called ‘e be,’ which translates to ‘the drink.’ Though the north is a fairly wealthy part of Italy nowadays, it hasn’t always been this way – and so much of the population had to develop innovative methods of getting food on the table with what they had access to. Take, for example, one of the region’s most beloved dishes, Strozzapreti (which literally translates to ‘priest stranglers’). In Emilia-Romagna, this type of pasta – made by twisting fresh dough between the palms – is traditionally made from durum wheat, semolina flour, and water, although some more modern recipes incorporate egg whites and parmesan, breaking from the working-class roots. If you want to try an authentic version of this beloved pasta dish, you’ll be able to find it on the menu at virtually every restaurant in the area. There are fairly affordable flights from London (Picture: Getty Images) How to get to Comacchio If you’re visiting during the summer, then you can fly direct from London to either Rimini or Forli. At the moment, there are flights to the former from London Gatwick for £88 (€103) return, departing on September 19 and returning September 26. There are still some deals to be had when flying into Forli, too, as there’s a Ryanair flight from Stansted leaving on September 12 and returning on September 19 for £84 (€99). From there, Comacchio is an hour’s drive, while Federico Fellini Airport (in Rimini) is about one hour and 20 minutes away. Our Top Shopping Picks Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you There’s also the option of flying into Bologna, which is a 55-minute drive. If you fancy a late season getaway, there are return flights through Ryanair (September 26-October 3) for £41 (€48). Not too shabby, hey? I’ve visited Italy 21 times, but no other city beats this little-known gem I’ve chatted to locals in Roman bars, floated on gondolas in Venice, enjoyed countless Aperitivos in Bologna, and taken in the preserved streets of Pompeii. And while I’ve loved my trips to these famous destinations, I can’t name many cities I want to come back to again and again — apart from one. Tucked away in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, the little-known (to Brits, at least) city of Cesena is often overshadowed by its neighbour, Bologna — birthplace of bolognese (only don’t call it that: it’s ragù). But, to me, Cesena is more authentic and charming than anywhere in Italy, both in the height of the summer, when temperatures can get up to the high 30s, and in the depths of winter, when it’s not uncommon to see snow. Just last year, I was lucky enough to visit not once, but twice, and I’ll be heading there in August 2026 too. If you’d like my recommendations for exploring Cesena, also known as the City of Books, then read on. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: We splashed out on Sandals’ most expensive suite — but was it worth it? 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