The Po River

About the Po
UNESCO Heritage Sites
Sail the Po River and Po River Delta to the Venice Lagoon on a river cruise

Ports-of-Call on the Po River

Here you can find a list of some of the more common river cruise ports along the Po River as it flows through Northern Italy to Venice.  These may be the most common, but there may be others that can be found on select river cruises.  Your River Cruise Artist can provide you with the full itinerary and all ports for any river cruise that you may be interested in, on any river cruise operator. Explore the Po River further and learn more about it’s ports-of-call.

Bologna

Italy

Bologna is well known for its Bolognese cuisine and is commonly considered second only to Venice in beauty by many. Bologna features one of the largest and most well-preserved historic city centers among all Italian cities. Its unique architectural tapestry is known for its terracotta reds, burnt oranges, and warm yellows. The extensive historic town center features miles of attractive covered walkways, known as ‘porticos,’ and is one of the best-preserved in all of Europe. Bologna is a great place to travel around on foot, a great way to find hidden gems such as local Pizzerias packed with Italians. Be a bit careful when crossing roads, though, the city center swarms with scooters and small motorcycles as cars are not allowed. Enjoy one of many museums, parks, and historic landmarks on your Po River cruise excursion to Bologna.

Burano

Italy

Burano is an archipelago similar, but smaller, than Venice. It is comprised of four small islands connected by bridges and crisscrossed by three canals. Burano is located on the northern end of Venetian Lagoon, near the island of Torcello. Burano is famous for its uniquely colored houses and for production of beautiful lace products that you can find in shops throughout the town. Don’t miss the Chiesa di San Martino Vescovo of Church of St Martin, in the Piazza Galuppi. Inside the church you can see a Crucifixion by Giambattista Tiepolo. Also worthy of a visit is the Museo del Merletto or Lace Museum where you can learn the regional history of lace making and see amazing relics of the past.

Chioggia

Italy

The town of Chioggia lies on a small island at the southern entrance of the Venetian about 16 miles south of Venice itself. Chioggia is a smaller and less touristy version of Venice, and is often called ‘Little Venice’, with a few canals, chief among them the Canale Vena, and the uniquely characteristic narrow streets known as calli. Chioggia has several medieval churches that are worth exploring. First, the church dedicated to St. Mary of the Assumption, was originally founded in the 11th century, and became a cathedral in 1110, but then rebuilt as Chioggia Cathedral in 1623 by Baldassarre Longhena. The 18th century Church of St. Andrew has a bell tower from the 11th century, allegedly the most ancient tower watch in the world. The interior of the Church of St. Andrew has a Crucifixion by Palma the Elder.

Ferrara

Italy

Although it certainly has a thriving tourism industry, Ferrara is not always on the typical tour itinerary, which makes it perfect for those Po River cruisers who want to get off the beaten path and take in some authentic northern Italian cuisine, history and culture. It’s known for its twisting, narrow, medieval cobblestone streets, a Duomo with a looming Gothic facade, and a castle straight out of storybooks, complete with towers, moat, and drawbridges. Ferrara is part medieval and part Renaissance and today its captivating, anachronistic ambiance is best explored on foot. Don’t forget to relax a bit on your river cruise excursion by finding a traditional northern Italian café and sitting down for a drink and bit of fresh and unique cuisine.

Padua

Italy

Discovering the ancient city of Padua on foot is very easy. The popular historic city center is not very big, so you can get around easily strolling the narrow cobblestone streets. Saint Anthony’s Basilica is the best-known tourist site in Padua where millions of religious pilgrims visit every year. Built immediately after ‘The Saint’s’ death in the 13th century, it houses his tomb and other ancient relics. The statues and crucifix on the main altar, and the statue of the horse and rider in the square in front of the church, are all designed by Donatello. A beautiful, frescoes, and typically empty hall on the south side of the piazza next to the Basilica di Sant’Antonio, St. Georges Oratory, is home to artistic works by Giotto’s students. There are other Roman ruins and many historical buildings to explore in Padua.

Venice

Italy

Famous Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, was built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea as far back as the Byzantine era. There are no roads in Venice, just canals, the most famous of which is the Grand Canal which is lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The popular central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering magnificent views of the city. Venice is the world’s only fully-pedestrian city and is easily walkable. Keep in mind walking and standing all day can also be exhausting, so it is best to pace yourself. The Rialtine islands – the ‘main’ part of Venice – are small enough to walk from one end to the other in about an hour, provided you don’t get lost. Your Po River cruise will spend much of its time in the Venetian Lagoon giving you unique access to this world capital of tourism.

Verona

Italy

Verona is most famous as the place where William Shakespeare set his play Romeo and Juliet, however this historic city offers so much more. Though situated an hour away from the more popular tourist destination, Venice, many people consider Verona a more relaxed and pleasant place to visit. Verona was taken over by the Roman Empire in the 1st century and many Roman-era ruins have been preserved, notably the Arena which is in the same style as Rome’s Coliseum. Most of the historical sights, however, date from the past 800 years. If you are keen on art history, Verona offers a golden opportunity to see the transition of Western European art from late-Medieval to early-Renaissance styles, with its rich offering of 12th century churches and art museums.

Your Po River Cruise Awaits!

Are you ready to start planning your Po River Cruise Vacation Your Way? A River Cruise Artist at River Cruise Your Way is ready to be your vacation concierge. Contact us today at 1-800-259-7612 or use the form below and let us know when it is most convenient to call you, we will confirm via e-mail, and then reach out at the agreed upon time and date.