Northern Lagoon & Lio Piccolo

Far from the tourist crowds, Venice’s Northern Lagoon is a vast expanse of brackish water where land meets sea. Salt marshes – little islands covered in wild plants such as sea lavender, which turns purple in summer – alternate with ‘casoni’, the reed huts once used as shelters by fishermen.

In the municipality of Cavallino-Treporti, a narrow road between fish farms leads to the tiny hamlet of Lio Piccolo, with its little church and a handful of houses: a perfect place to cycle to and watch pink flamingos, herons and egrets. At weekends car access may be restricted.