Part of the Po's charm is that it is not easily accessible to large vessels, so once you leave the bustling Venetian Lagoon and join the river, you will see little traffic and enjoy a tranquil cruise. More than a thousand participants in Renaissance costumes parade to the Piazza Ariostea, where eight 'contrade' - teams representing different neighborhoods - compete in games including horse and donkey races. Star spotters may prefer to visit during the Venice International Film Festival in late August or early September, while lovers of street entertainment might like to visit Ferrara during the last week of August, when the Renaissance city holds its annual Buskers festival.ДЄnd at the end of September, temperatures may cool, but you'll still find plenty of hot air as Ferrara celebrates its Balloon Festival - the largest in Europe.ДЇerrara's most famous festival, though, is the Palio di San Giorgio, a celebration of the city's patron saint which dates from 1279 and is the oldest Palio in the world. Residents gather near St Mark's Square and create a floating bridge of barges across the Grand Canal, which people walk across for good luck before enjoying a spectacular fireworks display over the Venetian Lagoon.

These include the Festa del Redentore, which usually takes place during the third week of July. That said, some of Venice's most spectacular festivals take place in the summer months. The Po River cruise season runs from the beginning of June to the beginning of November, and traveling earlier or later in the season is the best bet if you're not good with high summer heat. This region is the source of classic Italian treats, including Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Langhirano ham, Felino salami and Mantovan garlic salami.

Provided there is no drought, a Po river cruise at this time of year is a real delight, taking you from glorious Venice to a succession of beautiful towns and charting Italy's vast history and the course of the Italian Renaissance.Д®n route, you will explore the Po Delta, passing salt marshes rich in flamingos, herons and other birdlife visit verdant vineyards and fragrant pear, peach and apple orchards take in elegant country houses dating from the 18th and 19th centuries and tuck into tasty borlotti bean stew and other rustic dishes popular in La Bassa Padana, which stretches from Piacenza to Ferrara. Its banks are dappled with sunlight, and its sparkling waters lap at pale blond beaches and around sleepy, tree-laden islands. The summer cruising season, however, finds the Po in gentler mood. When, swollen by rain and Alpine snowmelt, the Po can swamp its banks and wreak devastation. The dredging in particular has destabilized the river and contributes to fierce winter floods.

The river has been polluted, and gravel and sand has been harvested from its bed for the building industry. Its banks in some areas have been stripped of natural vegetation to create poplar plantations and its waters dammed to create hydro-electricity. But the Po River has also been exploited.