Area Industriale – Discover the port, lagoons and trails

Area Industriale offers an unusual way to experience the surroundings of Ravenna: here, industrial and port landscapes meet lagoons, pine forest, cycle paths and traces of cultural history. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment for their trip can tailor their stay to the experiences they want – for example, cycling tours along the Candiano, nature observation at the Pialassa della Baiona or circular routes through the Darsena.

Port landscapes and paths along the water

An important connection for cyclists is Route RA6. It runs through the eastern part of the industrial and port area along the Candiano before continuing to Marina di Ravenna. For around 4 kilometres, Via Baiona follows the southern side of the Pialassa della Baiona, connecting the SS 309 with the Canale Candiano. It also passes through the former Enichem industrial site and other industrial infrastructure.

Ravenna’s industrial canal port connects the city centre to the sea along a route of more than 11 kilometres. Walks along the port’s piers offer views of the open sea, the coast and sailboats. The approximately 2.5-kilometre pier at Porto Corsini is also suitable for walking and cycling. This makes it possible to combine short routes along the water with longer excursions through the port landscape.

Lagoon, pine forest and unique natural experiences

The Pialassa della Baiona is a lagoon of approximately 1,100 hectares between the Pineta di San Vitale and Marina Romea. Tidal basins alternate with freshwater basins, which are kept isolated to protect the Pineta di San Vitale from the intrusion of salt water. The lagoon provides a habitat for overwintering ducks, migratory birds and rare breeding bird species.

You can reach the Pialassa della Baiona on foot or by bicycle through the Pineta di San Vitale, or by boat from the landing stages in Marina Romea and Porto Corsini. Guided tours with biologists and environmental guides are offered by the Museo NatuRa di Sant’Alberto for a more in-depth experience. From the first access point on Via Baiona, an approximately 200-metre footpath also leads over the southern embankment to the Capanno di Garibaldi.

For active days, there is an easy mountain-bike loop around the Pialassa Baiona. It is 10 kilometres long and begins and ends at Ca’ Quattrocchi on Via delle Valli. A short section from the rest area to the shore is covered on foot or with the bicycle pushed; after a few kilometres, the cycle path leads to a lookout tower with views across the lagoons. On the return journey, the route follows Via Baiona to Ravenna. In the Pineta di San Vitale, hikes are regulated as a permitted form of access under the management plan.

Industrial history, street art and the Darsena

The Darsena also offers several clearly distinct travel ideas. The industrial archaeology loop is just over 4 kilometres long and takes in disused industrial architecture as well as traces of the area’s industrial, economic and commercial development. The street-art loop in the Darsena can be completed on foot in around two hours. Anyone who prefers exercise by the water can follow a loop of just under 5 kilometres around the harbour basin of the Darsena di città for walking, jogging and relaxing by the water.

Other special destinations lie in the maritime surroundings: Isola degli Spinaroni can be reached by environmentally friendly boat from the landing stages in Porto Corsini and Marina Romea; from April to September, guided tours are organised there by ANPI. Since 2016, CESTHA has been located in the historic premises of the former fish market in Marina di Ravenna. During the summer months, you can take part there in the release of sea turtles into the sea.

Choose your accommodation based on your travel plans

When searching for a holiday apartment in Area Industriale, it helps to first decide on the daily rhythm you want. For a cycling-focused trip, RA6, the loop around the Pialassa Baiona and the paths towards Ravenna provide useful points of reference. Anyone wishing to combine lagoon landscapes with guided nature experiences should consider the access routes through the Pineta di San Vitale and the boat landings in Marina Romea and Porto Corsini. Those interested in culture can combine the Darsena, industrial archaeology and street art in different ways.

The distances and route lengths range from approximately 200 metres to more than 11 kilometres. This allows you to plan both short visits and extended cycling and walking routes for your trip. For families, the combination of port views, lagoon landscapes, history and wildlife experiences is particularly appealing, without requiring every day to have the same focus.

More places for planning your trip

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Area Industriale, you can include Il Palazzone, Classe, Lido Adriano, Cotignola, Santerno, Ravenna, Fognano and Castel Bolognese in your further search.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Ravenna.