Caorle’s lagoon was a special place for Ernest Hemingway. It gave him calm and beauty that inspired some of the most moving parts of his novel Across the River and Into the Trees.
Here, fresh and saltwater meet, and light shines over quiet waters — a landscape that deeply touched him.

One important spot is the small village of Borgo San Gaetano. Hemingway wrote about the traditional lagoon hunting called “caccia in botte” and the unique feeling of this place, which is still alive today. You’ll see old estates once owned by the Franchetti family, farm buildings, peaceful fishing ponds, and calm waters that reflect the sky.

The Valle Franchetti area has kept its charm and is perfect for exploring by bike on quiet nature paths.

If you want to go further, visit the Fishermen’s Island (Isola dei Pescatori). Here, you can still find the “casoni” — simple huts made of wood and reeds, where fishing families used to live.

Today, this area is a protected nature reserve — a hidden gem best explored by bike. Follow the Strada Palangon to Falconera, passing salt marshes, wild orchids, dragonflies, and many birds like herons, coots,  wild ducks and more.

In this calm and beautiful place, Hemingway found peace — and a story written by nature itself.