Overview
It was around the year one thousand, when the monks of San Vitale – Ravenna's precious mosaic abbey – Ravenna's precious mosaic abbey - planted an extensive pine forest not far from the city, which was used not only for timber but also for breeding sheep and cows: the animals grazed in the shade of the forest, eliminating shrubs and facilitating the harvesting of pine nuts. The present San Vitale pine forest is a remnant of an ancient forest, which has been regenerated several times and, once human exploitation came to an end, has gradually taken on a more natural appearance. Extending along the Romea road for more than 1,000 hectares, it borders the wetlands of Valle Mandriole and Punte Alberete (to the west) and the Pialassa della Baiona (to the east); the latter is still scattered with padelloni or bilancioni, the local traditional fishing huts (in one hut Giuseppe Garibaldi found refuge in 1849 during his escape to the north). The prevalent tree is the stone pine, although shrubs such as hawthorn and barberry grow there; in some places there are flooded areas, such as at Punte Alberete.
Due to its natural significance, the entire area is included within the perimeter of the Po Delta Emilia Romagna regional park; it can be explored free of charge by parking at Punte Alberete and then continuing on foot, or by horseback or bicycle.
