Discover Mesola: Castle, Forest and Deer

Mesola offers several distinct starting points for planning a trip: the history of the Castello Estense, the forest and deer, and routes focused on culture and nature. If you are looking for a hotel in Mesola, you can first consider which of these interests you most during your stay. The places and routes range from the castle museum to the approximately 25-kilometre birdwatching route along the Po di Goro.

History and exhibitions at the Castello Estense

The Castello Estense di Mesola was built between 1578 and 1584 and is considered one of the Po Delta’s significant historic and cultural buildings. The first floor houses the permanent exhibition “In lode della Mesola”. The second floor features an exhibition devoted to the Mesola forest and the Mesola deer. The Museo del Bosco e del Cervo della Mesola is also located there. Mesola’s tourist information office, I.A.T., is also based in the Castello. The castle, exhibitions and information office give the building several distinct roles: it is a historic building, a museum venue and home to the tourist information office.

Forest and deer at the museum

The Museo del Bosco e del Cervo della Mesola covers more than just the forest and wildlife. Using cartographic documents, it explains how the Mesola area has evolved. Visitors can also see copies of herbarium sheets collected by Filippo De Pisis. The museum also documents traces of the Mesola deer in the history and culture of the Ferrara area. These exhibits offer different perspectives: maps reveal the area’s development, the herbarium sheets tell the story of a collection, and depictions of the deer offer a view of cultural history. Nature enthusiasts will therefore find historical and cartographic perspectives here alongside the theme of the forest.

Gran Bosco and the wetland

The Gran Bosco della Mesola, also known as Boscone, covers 1,058 hectares and is the largest forest area in the Ferrara area. The Bosco della Mesola has been a nature reserve since 1977 and is home to a native deer population. Nearby lies Taglio della Falce, a 200-hectare wetland on the southern edge of the Bosco della Mesola. The forest, deer population and wetland offer different nature themes to consider when planning: the Bosco is an extensive forest area, while Taglio della Falce is a wetland representing a different habitat.

Cycling and birdwatching routes

The “Pedalando tra la Storia” cycling loop starts at the Bosco della Mesola, leads to the Castello della Mesola and its museum, as well as the Abbazia di Pomposa, and then returns to the starting point. The approximately 25-kilometre birdwatching route along the Po di Goro starts at the Castello della Mesola visitor centre. The two routes have different focuses: the loop connects destinations associated with a castle and an abbey, while the other route is designated as a birdwatching trail. The destinations mentioned and the theme of each route can help guide your choice. A distance is provided for the birdwatching route; “Pedalando tra la Storia” is described as a loop.

Another natural area nearby is the Bosco S. Giustina, accessible on foot or by bicycle along wide paths through the forest. This adds a specific option for a forest visit to the range of routes.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Poggio Renatico, Jolanda di Savoia, Ostellato, Settepolesini, Dosso, San Martino, Macchiavella, Serravalle.

To the main travel overview: Ferrara.