Lio Piccolo: a small village in the Venetian lagoon

History of Lio Piccolo

Although Lio Piccolo today is a purely agricultural and sparsely inhabited village, the archaeological finds of the area, of which the remains of two large warehouses survived in the lagoon, describe it as an important trading post from the Roman era. In the following centuries this area, like many others in the Venetian Lagoon, was almost abandoned and only towards the end of the 1600s did it began to repopulate. The rebirth of the village was, in fact, confirmed by the construction in 1696 of a church dedicated to the Madonna della Neve, on which the noble Boldù, who later became its owner, built the current church in 1791 and restored the nearby building dating back to the end of '1600. At the end of the 18th century, thanks to the flourishing activity of the local salt mines, including that of San Felice, the centre was further populated until it reached almost 500 inhabitants, but around 1950 it began to decline again and now houses only about twenty inhabitants.

How to get to Lio Piccolo?

Lio Piccolo is a pretty village in the municipality of Cavallino-Treporti, often incorrectly referred to as an island. It actually has an archipelago structure and sits on a set of islets divided by narrow canals and sandbanks, which represent the ideal ecosystem for many species of fish and birds. The name „Lio” derives from an ancient local term that means „beach”, while the adjective „Piccolo” was used to distinguish this locality from the nearby „Lio Maggiore”, located in the municipality of Jesolo.

Lio Piccolo is easily accessible along a long and narrow panoramic road, which connects the coast to the ancient village. The best way to visit these places, admire the beauty of the lagoon landscape that surrounds it and enjoy its tranquility, is undoubtedly by bicycle.

Lio Piccolo is about 8 km from Camping Ca’Savio and you can reach it by bike in just 30 minutes. The route is easy and flat and winds through a very suggestive landscape between vegetable gardens, fishing valleys and sandbanks. Here are our indications:

• Exit the campsite, turn right and continue along Via di Ca’Savio up to the roundabout
• Continue along Via Treportina for about 3 km towards Treporti
• Cross the bridge over the Saccagnana canal, turn right and continue for about 1.2 km along Via Saccagnana
• Turn left on Via del Prà and continue for about 350 meters
• Turn right and continue on Via di Lio Piccolo for about 3 km until you reach the center of the village. If you wish, you can continue the route beyond the village and enjoy a breath-taking view of the Venetian Lagoon: on the left you will see the Olivara Valley, on the right the locality of Mesole with the nearby Falconera island and, in front of you, Lio Maggiore.

What to see in Lio Piccolo and its surroundings

Lio Piccolo and its surroundings are liked for the numerous beautiful views and the tranquillity of these areas, but also for the different species of birds that nest there, including herons, cormorants, knights of Italy, gossips, little friars, terns, mallards, egrets and the famous pink flamingos, much loved by birdwatchers and photographers. Lio Piccolo is the ideal place for a picnic or for a bike ride. Here, depending on the season and the tide, an ever-changing landscape welcomes you, which shows itself in all its beauty at nightfall with magnificent fiery sunsets.

Once in Lio Piccolo you will be immediately enchanted by the numerous vegetable gardens, where among other things the „castraure” (the first shoot of the violet artichoke) and the „zizzole” (jujube) are grown, alternating with areas of salt marshes and fishing valleys.

Even the ancient village of Lio Piccolo certainly deserves a visit. Here, surrounded by amazing nature, the small church of Santa Maria della Neve with the adjacent Armenian-style bell tower, Palazzo Boldù and a few houses rise around a tiny centre with a small square.

Excursions on foot, by bike and by kayak

Lio Piccolo is one of the most beautiful places in Cavallino-Treporti, where you can walk in silence, or set off to discover the lagoon by bicycle or kayak. Our Customer Care office staff is at your disposal at the campsite for any information on bicycle routes and guided excursions in Lio Piccolo. you can rent bicycles for your excursions and from this year also Stand – Up – Paddle to discover the lagoon from a completely new perspective.

Eating at Lio Piccolo

The rich production of the valley, including sea bream, sea bass, boseghe, volpine, eels and shrimps, and the varied horticultural production of peas, salads, tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes, cabbage and caps, are celebrated in Lio Piccolo through traditional home cooking based on zero km fish and vegetables, which you can enjoy in one of the farmhouses or restaurants in the village, among which we suggest the restaurant “Al Notturno” and the farmhouses “Le Saline” and “Le Manciane”.

Among the typical dishes not to be missed, there are the „castraure” (the first shoot of the violet artichoke, harvested in May), the fried „moeche” (small crabs caught in the lagoon only at certain times of the year, when they lose the carapace and are tender and soft) accompanied by the typical white Venetian polenta and the “masanete” (female crabs reared in the lagoon and full of eggs), generally served boiled, in the months of October and November. Traditional Venetian sweets and biscuits will certainly not fail to round off your meal.

If you too, are fascinated by Lio Piccolo and can’t wait to see it, we are here for you to help you spend a pleasant holiday in nature and discover the wonders of the area just a few steps away.