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Cervia
Overview
Cervia is a resort town in Emilia-Romagna, on Italy's east coast. It is a city by summer and a town by winter, due to numerous tourists arriving in the busy summer.
Facts
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Source
WBP almanac
External sources
Media
From Wikipedia1,374 words
WBP editorial3
Beyond the Beach: the salt‑pan legacy
Cervia’s coastline hides a centuries‑old salt‑making tradition that still shapes the town’s rhythm. The salt pans, fed by sea water and the wind, are worked in summer when the marshes dry under the Mediterranean sun. Visiting early in the morning, you can watch workers shoulder bales of pink‑hued crystals, a practice that links the modern resort to the ancient economic engine of the Po Valley. Small museums in the historic centre display the engineering of the medieval canals that fed the pans, and a short stroll inland brings you to a quiet lagoon where the scent of brine mixes with the salt‑air. It’s a tactile reminder that Cervia’s allure is not only the sand but also the flavours that have seasoned its cuisine for generations.
A culinary detour: Risotti al tartufo from the hinterland
While the promenade offers classic seafood plates, the true depth of Cervian gastronomy lies a few kilometres inland, where the foothills of the Ravenna plain produce truffles and hazelnuts. Families run modest osterias that serve a risotto finished with freshly shaved black truffle, a dish rarely found on the tourist‑focused menus by the sea. Pair it with a glass of Lambrusco from nearby Modena, and you’ll taste a rustic dialogue between the salty coast and the forested interior. Asking the staff for the autumn harvest calendar often yields an invitation to a truffle‑picking walk, an experience that turns a simple meal into a seasonal narrative of the region.