San Giuseppe
San Giuseppe: a village with a holy name
San Giuseppe, also known as "La Funtàna" in the local dialect, is a hamlet of the municipality of Comacchio, located in the province of Ferrara. This village, which has around 3000 inhabitants, takes its name from the eponymous saint to whom its church is dedicated, known as "San Giuseppe in Bosco Eliceo."
The origins of San Giuseppe
San Giuseppe is located in the Po Delta Park and is 8 km away from Comacchio and about 50 km from Ferrara. The first settlement of the village dates back to about two centuries ago and was located near the Pelandri area, on the western side of the Romea state road. This area is the oldest in the village, and here was the famous fountain, which was for many years the only source of water for San Giuseppe and the nearby towns of Comacchio, Codigoro, Porto Garibaldi, and Lagosanto. The fountain has become a symbol of the town, and the inhabitants call it "La Funtana" in dialect. The people of San Giuseppe, instead, are called "Funtanar."
Over the years, the Pelandri village has grown and merged with the nearby church of San Giuseppe in Bosco Eliceo, located on the eastern side of the Romea state road. This is how the hamlet of San Giuseppe officially came about. Today, the village is one of the many small rural communities in the lower Ferrara area. In the past, after the Guagnino canal on the extreme west of the town, the area was characterized by the Valle Isola. After the reclamation works carried out by the fascist regime in the 1920s, the road linking the village to the municipal capital was built.
The economy of the village
San Giuseppe has greatly expanded in the last 10 years and has been chosen by many people to settle down and start a family. The village has a good craft area, a nursery, and an elementary school. San Giuseppe is also the cultural center of Bosco Eliceo, a vast vineyard area between Romagna and Lower Emilia. This area, once largely developed along the north-central coast of Comacchio, in the Piallazza area, is now almost entirely disappeared due to the massive urbanization caused by the construction of seaside resorts such as Lido delle Nazioni, Lido di Pomposa, and Lido degli Scacchi. It is the symbol of the rural community of the municipality of Comacchio. San Giuseppe is in fact the first center in the valley area to have an agricultural vocation, as well as the classic fishing, thanks to the fact that once the village overlooked the Valli di Comacchio.
The festivities of San Giuseppe
The feast of San Giuseppe is celebrated on March 19, in honor of the patron saint. Every year, for about three or four days, "La Funtana in Festa" is celebrated, a festival that is very dear to the inhabitants of the village and also attracts many visitors. This festival is an opportunity to taste local specialties and to enjoy the music and traditions of the place.
In conclusion, San Giuseppe is a welcoming village rich in history, where the traditions of the old and the new mingle. Its location within the Po Delta Park and its proximity to the sea and the Valli di Comacchio make it an ideal place for those looking for some peace and tranquility in nature.
