For all lovers of the northern lagoon the salt marshes, fish farms and
small townships of Treporti, Lio Piccolo and Le Mesole are areas of
great interest, hidden corners to be discovered, vantage points for
for discretely observing lagoon flora and fauna.
The landscape along which this long but most interesting itinerary unfolds touches upon several scenic backdrops, ranging from fish farms to small rural villages - Le Mesole and Lio Piccolo - the courgette and artichoke market gardens that make this corner of the lagoon particularly picturesque.
The environment is one of the most evocative ones, its main feature being the fish farms; and there are cormorants, and white and grey herons in wintertime; common redshanks, stilt plovers and egrets in summertime, and sandbank formations with their characteristic flora and fauna.When following the long road that coasts alongside the embankments separating the fish hatcheries, you almost feel as though you are advancing into the waters of the lagoon. Beyond Sacchetta Valley you can visit the village of Le Mesole, known for its special fruit and vegetable crops, and reach an oratory (with an ancient curved cypress in the garden) and the restored 16th century monastery.
Northwards we find the village of Lio Piccolo, with its 17th century church and Palazzetto Boldù (late 17th century) overlooking the piazza. The road runs along the west embankment of Valle Paleazza, a most important area from the point of view of wildlife: the fish farm, in point of fact, acts as a refuge for ducks during storms. Moreover, the low vegetation characteristic of salt marshes conceals a wide variety of interesting fauna.
August 2010 
