Looking to explore Italy from a new perspective? River cruising is a wonderful way to discover this beautiful country. Whether this is your first time in Italy or one of many, an Italian canal cruise will help you soak up scenery and culture in a new way. Adria is an ancient Etruscan town connected to the coast via the Canal Bianco, and taking a river cruise is undoubtedly the best way to see the city.

Adria is a town rich in Etruscan history. In the sixth century BC, it was a paleo Venetian settlement along the northern bank of the Canal Bianco. During this time the Greeks traded heavily in the region and Adria itself was subject to various rulers. By the second century BC, the canal dried up and the town lost viability as a commercial port and, after its decline, it was assumed under the authority of the city of Venice. Today, the remains of the Etruscan city can be found beneath the modern one.

When you stop in Adria as part of your Italian canal cruise, make sure to visit the town’s famous archaeological museum. The museum was built in 1961 as a project headed by architect Benati and engineer Scarpari, with a view to preserving the town’s past.

Adria is also home to many beautiful cathedrals. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta is the oldest church in the city and rises up off the remains of a Roman-era tomb – hence it is often referred to as Della Tomba. This beautiful building houses the statue of the assumption in the main portal, as well the works of Paduan sculptor Giacomo Contiero, and many other artistic works from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Have you been on a river cruise in Adria? Share your stories below!