In the valleys of Comacchio the eel finds its natural habitat which allows it to live and develop. Taking advantage of the influence of the tides on the eels’ instinctive movements, ancient fishing techniques are still used today, such as the simple and ingenious lavoriero, an intricate system of movable weirs and grids, in ancient times made of wood and cane, in the shape of an arrow, placed near the mouth of the canals that connect the valleys to the sea. There are forty-eight different eel dishes, ranging from the most delicate risotto to the grill on which the eel releases all its intense aroma, making it a gastronomic ritual impossible to resist.
Marinated eel from the Comacchio Valleys" is the most typical preparation of fish from the valley. This is why the ancient method of processing eels (laid down in a regulation dating back to 1818) has been restored at the Manifattura dei Marinati in the centre of Comacchio.
