icicletta. Padua and its province by bicycle: excursions and itineraries.

Transcription

1 icicletta. Padua and its province by bicycle: excursions and itineraries.

2 Cycleways in Padua province. Padua province is a casket of extraordinary richness: cities of art, hills, lakes, lagoons, medieval castles, villages and thermal areas, linked by a thick network of waterways. The only true access key to discover this treasure is by bike. No other means of transport, in fact, gives the voyager the ideal speed to catch the manifold beauty of the landscapes, the freedom of movement and the same physical satisfaction coming from a pleasant twowheeled trip. Through this new issue, the Province of Padova and Turismo Padova Terme Euganee invite everyone, ranging from the most skilled cyclists to families with children, to discover the nicest cycle tracks in Padua and its surroundings. A wide range of ideas and suggestions which are about to turn into proper cycle paths, which are ideal to cycle slowly, and enjoy the mild dimension of cycle tourism and smooth-running bike on flat surfaces, avoiding busy roads, with the possibility of meeting people, crossing towns, discovering landscapes and stopping over to taste gastronomic specialities. The routes described in this guide, in fact, mostly follow the banks of rivers and canals which flow through our province. This enables the tourist to get to Padua moving from the main tourist destinations in the Paduan area and in the Veneto region by cycling through panoramic and flat routes. Thanks to cycle tourism, the Province of Padova means to enhance the use of waterways, giving them a specific and brand new environmental and recreational sense. Among the new paths, the one which is going to link Padua to Treviso will be a notable exception, since it will be partly carried out on an abandoned railway, the old Treviso-Ostiglia. In this case, it will be also possible to save a piece of history of our territory in order to turn it into one of the finest cycle paths in Italy. The five excursions suggested and the five itineraries marked on the following maps are already in use and in some cases are being enhanced in terms of safety, road surface and signs. Itineraries, where possible, have been created mostly on cycle paths, or in other cases on minor streets with little traffic. By accepting our invitation to visit Padua province, you will have the chance to take a holiday of discovery, fun and wellness. 2

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4 Already existing cycle paths: 109 km Cycle paths under construction: 65 km Cycle paths at planning stage: 122 km 1 Cycling in Padua, enjoy the freedom of a cycling holiday. Padua and bike: a dual concept getting stronger with time. Thanks to its 150 km of urban cycle paths, Padua is turning into a cycling city, as well as its province, which thanks to the many tourist routes is standing as a candidate to be the very crossroads of cycle tourism in the Veneto region and in Northern Italy. Padua and its province are an ideal destination for those who really want to have a taste of the most genuine Veneto region: cities of art and science, hills and sea, spas and rural villages, waterways and faith trails, manifold landscapes and a rich gastronomic 2heritage. 4 2

5 3 Padua Cycling into town along its ancient waterways is the best way to get to Padua, while the best access to the historic centre are the monumental gates of the Renaissance walls. Following these routes, you will avoid the most traffic and you will have a precious chance to catch the true spirit of this ancient town which was founded over 3,000 years ago on the banks of the River Medoacus (today named Brenta) by the ancient Veneti people. After getting to the town centre, it is not necessary to follow a specific way: all the streets, in fact, lead to the very heart of the old town, which is characterized by a complex system of squares surrounded by elegant and historic buildings, porticoes and impressive monuments. The high towers of the medieval palaces stand out majestically, as well as the bell towers and the domes of the churches which keep the relics of famous Saints, such as St. Anthony and St. Luke. Don t miss splendid art masterpieces such as the world-famous Scrovegni Chapel by Giotto. The Euganean Hills Few kilometres from Padua, across the plain between the Rivers Adige and Bacchiglione, steep hills appear on the horizon with unmistakable lines, their pointed apexes resting on calcareous bases, unequivocal evidence of ancient volcanic events. The Regional Park of the Euganean Hills (Colli Euganei) was instituted to safeguard the peculiar features of these hills and preserve their extraordinary biodiversity and vast artistic heritage. A fertile ground and a mild weather have encouraged a developed agriculture, whose typical products have reached a real excellence thanks to skilled farmers experience. The hills are also an ideal destination for slow tourism and active holidays, thanks to the thick network of equipped paths, where bike lovers can find both challenging routes for mountain bikes and easy cycling excursions towards walled towns, villas and charming villages. Terme Euganee Spas, bike and wellness At the foot of the Euganean Hills, on the way to Padua, you will find one of the most ancient and well-known spa basins in Europe: Abano, Montegrotto and Galzignano Baths. From the mix of hot springs and bike tours, a proposal of tailor-made holiday which combines wellness and fun has been created. Hotels in this area offer a free service of bike hire and suggest easy outings to do on your own or in a group to discover this wonderful territory. A province of waters The province of Padua is also a land of waters. Not so many areas can boast such a large number of navigable waterways and a rich net of natural and artificial water flows. In the North you meet the River Brenta coming down from the Dolomites and crossing the fertile plain among rice-fields, wheat-fields and grasslands. On the border between Padua and Treviso provinces, the resurgence Rivers Tergola, Sile and Muson dei Sassi flow through the ancient Roman Grating centurial plain. The River Bacchiglione links Padua with Vicenza on one side, and with the Venetian Lagoon on the other side. In the South, the River Adige marks the border to the Polesine. Also, you can find a lot of canals some of which (e.g. the Brenta Canal, the Piovego Canal and the Brentella Canal) are among the most ancient waterways in Europe, since they were built over 800 years ago for commercial, hydraulic and defensive aims. 4 1) Padua, Prato della Valle. 2) Padua, along the River Ring. 3) Euganean Hills, Mount Fasolo. 4) Abano Terme, monumental entrance to the Montirone. 5

6 Cycle tourism in Padua province. PROVINCIAL PLAN FOR CYCLE PATHS EXCURSIONS ITINERARIES MOTORWAY RAILWAY 6

7 Excursions 1 River Ring. Padua. 2 Euganean Hills Ring. Padua, Este, Euganean Spas. 3 Way of St Anthony. Muson dei Sassi. 4 Tour of the walled towns. Monselice, Este, Montagnana. 5 Along the River Bacchiglione. Rural Padua. Itineraries 6 From the Bacchiglione to the Brenta. Vicenza, Padua, Venice. 7 Tha Salt and Sugar Way. Padua, Chioggia. 8 Towards the Ostiglia. Padua, Treviso. 9 The Brenta Way. Trento, Bassano del Grappa, Padua. 10 The Este Family Way. Padua, Rovigo, Ferrara. Trip and holiday proposals For cycle tourists bicycle is both the reason and means for their trip. There are those who use their bike to stop over and visit a town, those who like to enrich their holiday with an easy and short outing, those who like to spend the whole day outdoor and those who organize long journeys by stages. The Province of Padua has been thinking of each of them when planning to issue this cycle routes guidebook. Each excursion is proposed in the form of a ring ca. 50 km long designed to let the tourist spend a day of relax and recreation. Each itinerary is a linear route linking Padua to the main tourist destinations surrounding it. Each single route can be either a stage of a longer journey by bike or just an easy day trip. The single routes can be combined in order to plan specific weekends by bike. Services and utilities. The Province of Padua and Turismo Padua Terme Euganee put at the cycle tourist s disposal a wide range of info services through a specific website for bike lovers, some cycle tourist maps, and a road-book with a detailed description of trip proposals. For technology lovers, through the website www. turismopadova.it it is possible to download either gpx or kml with each single route s highlights. 7

8 1 Length: 54 km Start and arrival: Padua, Porte Contarine. The place is near Padua railway station, at the beginning of Via Giotto. Signposts: present. The River Ring. Padua. 1 Rivers, canals and waterways have always been, in Padua s history, important communication routes, natural defensive systems and decisive supplying sources of water and energy. Today these waterways have turned into beautiful cycle paths from where you can look at the vital everyday life of the town. century by the Brenta Canal. This is historically the busiest and most important waterway in the Paduan area. In its first stretch, the route runs along the imposing Venetian walls, and near the university area it meets the elegant Ognissanti Gate. This is a triumphal arch with an interesting marble staircase which still allows the boats to dock. Having left behind the 16th century walls, you continue in the contrary direction to the water flow, firstly following San Gregorio Canal banks, and then going beyond the Voltabarozzo navigation lock, on the Scaricatore Canal, where the Paduans love to practice sports. Reaching the Bassanello area, it is interesting to observe the water flow: part of it enters into the town along the Tronco Maestro Canal, and a part flows in a southerly direction along the Battaglia Canal. The route proceeds along the left This easy excursion starts from the Contarine Gates (Porte Contarine), the ancient fluvial access point to the town, and gets to the Scrovegni Chapel, an art jewel which keeps Giotto s world-famous frescoes. The first waterway you come across is the Piovego Canal, an 11-km long artificial artery which has been linking Padua to Venice since the 12 th 8 2

9 Route features: mostly greenway cycle paths. Notes: GPS track and cycle tourist map available. RIVER RING Tourist info Padua IAT Railway Station Tel IAT Piazza del Santo Tel (open April-October) Bike info Attended park Padua railway station forecourt Tel Bike hire and repair Padua, Limena, Noventa Padovana. Bikeservice list on: Train+Bike Padua and Ponte di Brenta railway stations Web River Ring detour By following the inner canals, you can ride along an urban detour. When you get to the Bassanello area, follow the signs to the historical city centre cycling on the banks of the Tronco Maestro Canal; in this way you can admire the Medieval and Renaissance walls, the ancient castle and town riviere. For this route a detailed map is available. 3 bank of the River Bacchiglione, then continues along the Brentella Canal, onto Limena, a little town where you can admire some charming villas and the ancient hydraulic manufactures of the Colmelloni. Here the route crosses the River Brenta, in a natural setting of enchanting beauty. In the neighbourhood of an ancient oak, take a country road leading to the entrance of the ancient Vigodarzere Charterhouse, a large 16th-century monastic complex. Going on, the course of the river turns straight and less captivating, but after a few kilometres you reach Stra, a riverside town where celebrated Venetian villas are concentrated, like the beautiful Villa Pisani, a national monument. In the last stretch, from Noventa to Padua, you will cycle on the Piovego Canal again, along which you meet Villa Giovannelli, the last leg before re-entering the town. 4 1) Padua, Ognissanti Gate. 2) Padua, Scaricatore embankment. 3) Padua, Scrovegni Chapel. 4) Noventa Padovana, Villa Giovannelli. 9

10 2 Length: 75 km starting from Padua; 65 km starting from Montegrottto Terme. Start: Padua IAT Pedrocchi; IAT Montegrotto Terme; Este, head office of the Euganean Hills Regional Park. Signposts: under construction (available by end 2011). Euganean Hills Ring. Padua, Este, Euganean Spas. 1 This excursion that allows for the completion of the whole tour around the system of the Euganean hills is extraordinarily rich in historical, hydraulic, architectural and natural points of interest. To fully enjoy the many beauties of this route, we suggest you to make a 2-day tour. From Padua the Euganean Hills (Colli Euganei) appear isolated on the horizon, with undulating lines and a surprising variety of shapes: conical outlines that overlook soft-lined relieves. The result is a dramatic scenery. In order to exploit and preserve this unique landscape and its rich biodiversity, in 1989 the Euganean Hills Regional Park was established. Along the route we come across numerous tourist destinations: 10 the series of Venetian villas starts at the gate of Padua with Villa Molin, continues to Battaglia Terme with the Catajo, the imposing residence of the Obizzi Family, with Villa Selvatico- Sartori, and a little farther on with Villa Emo and its well-known typical Italian garden. When you reach Monselice, visit the main square, the castle, and the nearby walkway of the Jubilee Sanctuary of the Seven Churches, which ends with Villa Duodo on the Rocca mount on the top of which is a medieval stronghold. Going south, you will cross wide areas of reclaimed land where you will find the Buzzacarini-Benetti complex and Villa Barbaro. From this spot you will admire the southern stretch of the hills: on the background, the highest peak, Mount Venda (601 m), recognisable from the high TV relay station on it, and towards the west you can discern the towers of Este Castle. After crossing the beautiful historic centre of Este, you will follow again the Bisatto Canal, which flows alongside an ancient brickworks, in the locality of Bomba, that hosts the Euganean 2

11 Route features: mostly asphalted cycle paths. The terrain is mostly level, with an easy climb in Rovolon. Notes: GPS track and cycle tourist map available. EUGANEAN HILLS RING Tourist info IAT Padua Tel Tel IAT Abano Terme Tel IAT Montegrotto Terme Tel Bike info Bike hire and repair Padua, Terme Euganee, Battaglia Terme, Monselice, Este, Bastia di Rovolon. Bikeservice list on Train+Bike Padua, Abano Terme, Terme Euganee, Battaglia Terme, Monselice, Este railway stations. Web Detour to the historic towns of the Euganean Hills From the Euganean Hills Ring you can reach the villages of the Euganean hills by cycling along paths or minor roads with little traffic. From Battaglia Terme you can turn to Galzignano Terme and Valsanzibio (don t miss Villa Barbarigo historical garden). Arquà Petrarca can be reached from Monselice. A cycle path links Este to Baone, while from Bresseo di Teolo you can reach Luvigliano (Villa Dei Vescovi) and the centre of Torreglia. 3 1) Western slopes of the Euganean Hills. 2) Praglia Abbey. 3) Baone, Lake Azzurro. Hills Geo-Palaeontological Museum which is worth a visit for fossil and mineral lovers. The route goes on towards Mount Lozzo, at the foot of which you will find the 13 th -century perfectly preserved Valbona Castle, and finishes at Vo Vecchio in a past times atmosphere. The village develops around the 17 th -century Villa Contarini-Venier, and it has an original porticoed square. In Bastia di Rovolon, you pass close by a magnificent dovecote tower and you will soon plunge into the lovely vineyards where the famous red wines and the well-known fragrant Moscato Fior d Arancio wine are produced. At the end of the country road you will find an easy climb, to then descend towards Montemerlo. On the extreme north-eastern border of the hills, you ll find the Praglia Abbey, an authentic Renaissance jewel and a remarkable Benedictine centre for spirituality. The last stretch towards Padua passes through the spa towns of Abano and Montegrotto Terme, European capitals of health and wellness. 11

12 3 Length: Padua - Loreggia 30 km one way. Start: Padua - Basilica of St. Anthony. Arrival: Loreggia. Signposts: present. The Way of St. Anthony. Muson dei Sassi. 1 The present cycle tourist route owes its name and its origin to the last journey made by the Saint, at the time dying, from Camposampiero to Padua. In order to enrich the excursion, we suggest you to come back following the cycle path along the banks of the River Tergola. This route, equipped with signposting and road layouts, takes place along the banks of the River Muson dei Sassi. This water course has its source to the north of Asolo and after 48 km joins into the River Brenta; it has a straight flow, which is the evidence of a hydraulic arrangements made by the Republic of Venice in the 17th century. The starting point of this excursion is the Basilica of 12 St. Anthony in Padua. The great church keeps the Saint s grave, and there you can also admire a large number of works of art with a strong religious meaning. In the first stretch the route crosses the historic centre along narrow and porticoed streets, then it follows cycle paths across the northern quarters of Padua, until you meet St. Antonino s Sanctuary in Arcella. The Neo-Gothic building dating back to the end of the 19th century is recognizable by a big dome covered with copper plates and by its 75-m-high monumental bell tower. The temple keeps the so called transit cell, which is the only evidence of the original medieval monastery (destroyed in the 16th century) where the Saint died on June 13, In Pontevigodarzere the Muson dei Sassi flows into the River Brenta and the cycle path leading to Loreggia starts there. On the way to Camposampiero you will cycle through the ancient Roman Grid Plan, one of Italy s best preserved examples of archaeological Roman grid planned areas. During the I century BC, the Romans 2

13 Route features: flat route on asphalted cycle paths in town, and greenways along the River Muson dei Sassi. Notes: GPS track and cycle tourist map available. THE WAY OF ST ANTHONY Tourist info IAT Padua Tel Tel Bike info Guarded park Padua railway station forecourt tel Bike hire and repair Padua, Cadoneghe, Vigodarzere, Campodarsego, Camposampiero Bikeservice list on: Train+Bike Padua, Campodarsego, Camposampiero railway stations Web Detour along the River Tergola Near Borgoricco an ancient canal bridge lets the River Muson dei Sassi flow above the River Tergola. From that spot it is possible to return to Padua by following the greenway path along the River Tergola bank. Arriving in Vigonza, we suggest you to get to the River Brenta bank and follow it to go back to town after few kilometres. 3 carried to completion a project to arrange the territory with agricultural techniques, civil engineering works and legislative measures that was directed at favouring the settlement of local communities, the practice of agriculture and political and military control. Seen from above, this area still looks like a large chessboard where the fields and the road network faithfully follow the original arrangement of the territory. In Camposampiero, a detour leads to the sanctuaries dedicated to St. Anthony and kept by the Conventual Franciscan Friars. A short distance from the main square where the medieval high tower built by the da Camposampiero Family stands out, you will meet the Walnut-tree Sanctuary (Santuario del Noce). According to tradition, in this place Baby Jesus appeared to the Saint, and that episode originated the popular Antonian iconography. In the last stretch of the route, you will ride through the former Treviso-Ostiglia railway, along which another new and interesting green route across the Veneto plain is being carried out. 1) Padua, Prato della Valle and Basilica of St. Anthony. 2) Padua, St. Antonino s Sanctuary in Arcella. 3) Camposampiero, Walnut-tree Sanctuary. 13

14 4 Length: Monselice- Montagnana 30 km Start: Monselice, IAT Tourist Office Via del Santuario 6. Arrival: Montagnana, IAT Tourist Office St. Zeno s Castle. Signposts: absent. Tour of the walled towns. Monselice, Este, Montagnana. This route crosses the Southern part of the province of Padua, between the Euganean Hills and the Scodosia area. Along the route you will meet numerous Medieval buildings: strongholds, castles, isolated towers, walled towns. At the start you follow the course of the Bisatto Canal and the River Frassine; on the way back, you can either take a train using bicycle transportation service, or follow little paths along the Rivers Fratta and Frassine banks. The first walled town you come across is Monselice, which in the past was a Roman vicus (=Roman smallest administrative unit, village), then a Byzantine castrum (= a fortified area where a stable military unit used to live, e.g. a legion), and a remarkable urban centre during the Longobard rule. The building of the walls began in the 12th century and they were later enhanced by Frederick II of Swabia 14 with the construction of the donjon, the civic tower and the castle. In the 14th century the town was conquered by the Da Carrara Family, lords of Padua, who improved the defensive system with five encircling walls. After the decline of its military role, the town started to change its face until it assumed a similar aspect to that of today: villas and palaces were built (Villa Nani-Mocenigo, Villa Pisani and Villa Duodo), some important religious buildings and institutions were established (the Jubilee trail of the Seven Churches, St. George s Oratory and St James Monastery) and the stone industry started to become an important economic activity. In the Retratto di Monselice, a great reclamation project of the Venetian Republic of this area, you will meet the Virgin 1 of Ave s Oratory; this building has incorporated an ancient wall, which was a vestige of Mount Buso old fortification. Soon you reach Este, passing in front of Ca Mori, which is the Euganean Hills Regional Park 2

15 Route features: flat route on both asphalted and greenway paths along river banks. Notes: cycle tourist map available. TOUR OF THE WALLED TOWNS Tourist info IAT Monselice Tel IAT Este Tel IAT Montagnana Tel Bike info Bike hire and repair Monselice - Este - Montagnana Bikeservice list on Train+Bike Monselice, Este, Ospedaletto, Saletto, Montagnana railway stations Web Detour along the Rivers Fratta and Frassine As an alternative route to return to town, from Montagnana along the ordinary roads, you can get to the ancient village of San Salvaro, hamlet of Urbana. From there you can start riding along the right bank path of the River Fratta-Gorzone. When you get to the old Ponte delle Tre Canne in Vighizzolo d Este, leave the River Fratta and follow the River Frassine- Santa Caterina up to Este. When you get to Carceri, we suggest you to turn off and stop over for a visit to the imposing old Camaldolite abbey. 3 Hills to the east, the Berici Hills of Vicenza towards the west, and Montagnana to the south, this last town is the final destination of our excursion. The walled city developed in the 14th century taking on the new imprint that we can still admire today. In that period the Carrarese Family completed the defensive system with the Rocca degli Alberi stronghold in The walls have m-high towers. The highest one (with its 38 m) belongs to the most ancient military building of the town: St. Zeno s Castle. The visit to the inner city allows you to admire noble charming mansions, including Villa Pisani by Palladio, and the Cathedral, which style harmonizes the Gothic elements with those of the Renaissance. headquarter, and across the ordinary roads you get to the centre of the town where you find the large Piazza Maggiore (main square). There s a number of views which are worth some photo shots: the civic tower with its clock, the mansions, the churches and the Carrarese Castle. After a look at the Cathedral (with its original elliptical shape) and the Este National Museum with a number of precious archaeological finds, take the bank path along the Bisatto Canal again, until you get to the hydraulic junction at Sostegno, from where you go on cycling along the River Frassine. From the top of the embankment, the view stretches from the Euganean 1) Montagnana. 2) Monselice, Mazzini Square. 3) Este. 15

16 5 Length: 48 km Start and arrival: Padua, Bassanello. Signposts: absent. Along the River Bacchiglione. Rural Padua. 1 Leaving the urban outskirts, one penetrates rural surroundings with historical villages, interesting landscapes, and delicious food-andwine opportunities. The route utilises the embankments of some canals fed by the same river: the Bacchiglione. Padua sinks its roots deep into the countryside. This strong link between town and country is still revealed in those villages of the province which maintain a strong rural identity. The start of this route is the Bassanello hydraulic junction, where the River Bacchiglione gives origin to three canals: the Tronco Maestro, the Battaglia Canal and the Scaricatore Canal. The latter in 16 the vicinity of Voltabarozzo takes the name of Roncaiette Canal; following its course, we cross the village of Ponte San Nicolò. Make a stop in the neighbourhood of Isola dell Abbà, a striking rural hamlet which name reminds of the ancient reclamation work made in that area by the monks of the Basilica of St. Giustina in Padua. The canal separates the ancient churches of St. Fidenzio s in Roncaiette and St. Leonard s in Isola dell Abbà. From that spot you can admire the beautiful Villa Rezzonico, on which walls is a nice statue of the Virgin made of Istria stone. Going on in the direction of Polverara, a celebrated community for the characteristic hen of the same name, the countryside becomes delightful: in the fields arranged in a traditional Paduan manner the vegetable crops mix with cereals, and the old typical rural houses alternate with large farms, locally called boarie. Many architectural features attract our attention: the chimneys, jutting out from the walling, the wooden window shutters, the variety of chimneypots, the large porticoed stables, and the barnyards paved with the Euganean Hills stone. An original and ancient dovecote tower stands out of one 2

17 Route features: flat route on both mostly asphalted cycle paths and streets with little traffic. Notes: GPS track and cycle tourist map available. ALONG THE RIVER bacchiglione Tourist info IAT Padua Tel Tel IAT Battaglia Terme Tel (open May - Spetember) Bike info Bike hire and repair Padua, Ponte San Nicolò, Battaglia Terme, Abano Terme, Montegrotto Terme Bikeservice list on Train+Bike Padua, Terme Euganee, Battaglia Terme railway stations. Web Detour towards Candiana Candiana, little village south of Bovolenta, still keeps a notable art heritage. St. Michael Archangel s Cathedral was built in 1502, and it is the most important vestige of the former Augustinian monastery. In Pontecasale you can admire the 16thcentury Villa Garzoni by Sansovino. In this area, the gourmet speciality is the famous Friularo wine. of the farms. Further on, near Bovolenta, the Bacchiglione waters mix up with those of other canals and create a complex hydraulic network. The strong embankment encircling the village centre are impressive. Here you can admire the Cathedral dating back to the 11th century, Villa Martinengo and the Accademia dei Concordi Palace. After leaving the Roncaiette Canal, you cycle up the Vigenzone Canal, staying on the left side of it. From that point on, you will meet three 16 th -century villas: Villa Mocenigo- Randi in Gorgo, Villa Malipiero- Gosetti in Cagnola and Villa Grimani-Fortini in Pontemanco. This last village rose during the Middle Ages near two old mills which went on working until the second half of the 20 th century. Taking again to the embankment in the vicinity of the ancient Ponte di Riva Bridge, observe the bell tower of the former Abbey of St. Stefano in Due Carrare with the enchanting profile of the Euganean Hills on the background. In short time, you will get to Battaglia 1) Due Carrare, typical farmhouse. 2) Battaglia Terme, the Catajo Palace. 3) Polverara hen. Terme where you can visit the River Navigation Museum. The town was built on the banks of an old waterway ( ), and it has many original hydraulic features, and some interesting historical and architectural attractions, that you can admire in the last stretch of the route, on the way back to Padua. A

18 6 Length: Vicenza-Padua: 40 km Padua-Venice: 40 km Start and arrival: Vicenza, IAT Piazza dei Signori 8; Padua, IAT Galleria Pedrocchi; Venice, IAT Piazzale Roma. Signposts: absent. From the Bacchiglione to the Brenta. Vicenza, Padua, Venice. 1 Padua lies half way between Vicenza and Venice. These three cities of art are must-see stops for those who want to cross the Veneto region by bike. The following itinerary crosses fascinating landscapes such as those of the embankments of the River Bacchiglione and the Brenta Riviera. From the centre of Vicenza, a town which strictly links its name to the world-famous architect Palladio, take the cycle path which follows the old railway running along the Berican Riviera. After few kilometres you will meet the wonderful Villa Capra Valmarana, named La Rotonda, which is considered the symbol of all Veneto villas. In Longare leave the cycle path and cycle along the country 18 roads leading to Montegalda, from where you will see the Villa Grimani Sorlini towering on the very top of the hill. It was built on the ruins of a Medieval castle. After a few yards, take the left bank of the river and enter the province of Padua. During the route, you will pass by three nice villages: Santa Maria di Veggiano, where you will see a number of typical farmhouses in a poetic rural landscape; Cervarese Santa Croce, where in the vicinity of an old mill, a foot-bridge will let you cross the river and get to the St. Martino della Vaneza Castle, inside of which you can visit the interesting River Bacchiglione Archaeology Museum; and finally Creola, surprisingly keeping important historical monuments, such as Sansovino s Arch, the Barchessa Pisani and 2 the little Santa Maria del Carmine s Church. The route goes on in a green landscape along the river until the edge of the town. Near the Bassanello hydraulic junction you can either enter the town cycling along the urban cycle paths, or go on in the direction of Venice by following the Piovego Canal and the Brenta Canal. These two waterways were carried out during the Middle Ages to allow river navigation from the Venetian lagoon up to the Paduan hinterland.

19 Route features: asphalted cycle paths, greenway paths, and some busy secondary streets. Notes: GPS track and cycle tourist map available. FROM THE BACCHIGLIONE TO THE brenta Tourist info IAT Vicenza tel IAT Padua tel IAT Venice tel Bike info Guarded parking Padua railway Station forecourt tel Bike hire and repair Padua Bikeservice list on: Web Planning a cycle path along the Bacchiglione In order to complete the provincial project of cycle paths, the Province of Padua has planned a cycle path along the River Bacchiglione. From Cervarese Santa Croce to Padua, bank paths will be improved, street crossings will be secured and the proper tourist signposts will be put along the way. In the first stretch along the Piovego, you will ride along a greenway but comfortable cycle path. As you get to Stra, you will leave the canal and start following the right bank of the Brenta Canal. The route goes on along secondary roads and crosses the famous Brenta Riviera. This is indeed one of Italy s most famous river landscapes, due to the number of villas and river villages: Stra, Fiesso d Artico, Dolo and Mira. When you finally get to Mira, the Riviera ends triumphantly with the world-famous Villa Foscari named la Malcontenta, climax of the Palladian architecture. Further on, near Marghera, the landscape is less interesting since there are plenty of factories all 3 1) Cervarese S. Croce, St. Martino della Vanezza Castle. 2) Vicenza, Villa Capra Valmarana named La Rotonda. 3) Strà, Villa Pisani. around, and roads are busy. When you get to Mestre, we suggest you to leave your bike at the guarded parking of the railway station and take a train to Venice. One of the features making Venice unique in the world is that bikes are not allowed among its calli and campielli. 19

20 7 Length: Padua-Battaglia T.-Chioggia: 63 km Padua-Bovolenta-Chioggia: 54 km Start: Padua, IAT Tourist Office Railway Station. Arrival: Chioggia,IAT Tourist Office Sottomarina Lido. Signposts: absent. The Salt and Sugar Route. Padua, Chioggia. 1 This itinerary, that links Padua and the Euganean Hills to the Venetian lagoon, follows an old waterway which in the past was used by typical local wooden boats, called burci, for the transport of local products, such as the trachyte stone from the Euganean Hills, the salt from Chioggia and the sugar from Pontelongo. You can get from Padua to Chioggia and the Venetian lagoon by following an unforgettable route. For the first stretch, from Padua to Bovolenta, you can choose either of the following routes: the first one borders the Euganean Hills and turns towards the sea starting from Battaglia Terme; the second one follows the course of the Roncajette Canal. If you choose the first option, in Battaglia Terme 20 you will leave the Hills behind you and go eastwards, following the winding course of the Vigenzone Canal. Over the course of the bike ride you will meet white numbered stones hammered into the ground, brick bridges, stone posts and elegant villas. They are all evidence of the existence of an ancient important waterway for the river navigation. The names of the villages of the area are another evidence of the waters civilization: Gorgo (=little water vortex), and Bovolenta (=water whirlpool). The next village, which name, Pontelongo (=long bridge), is self-explanatory, owes its own development to the presence of a large sugar refinery built in the 19th century and still working. The Town Hall is the beautiful Villa Foscarini Erizzo, recently restored. After the sugar village, you will meet Correzzola, famous village with an imposing Benedictine court, built by the monks in the 16th century. A metal foot-bridge allows you to reach both the Benedectine court and St. Leonard s Church. On these lands monks have been working hard over the centuries to carry out important 2

21 Route features: mostly asphalted bank paths, excepting a little greenway stretch. Some stretches of the route may be busy. Notes: GPS track and cycle tourist map available. THE SALT AND SUGAR WAY Tourist info IAT Padua Tel Tel info@turismopadova.it IAT Battaglia Terme Tel (open May-September) iatbattaglia@gmail.com IAT Sottomarina-Chioggia Tel info@chioggiaturismo.it Bike info Bike hire and repair Padua, Battaglia Terme, Chioggia Bikeservice list on: Web Detour towards the Millecampi Valley and the Saccisica The Saccisica is the most Eastern part of Padua province and originates its name from the town Piove di Sacco. This area still keeps some original features, such as the Millecampi Valley (a natural area inside the Venetian Lagoon) and its last casoni, that is, the old traditional cane roof houses. To explore this area, you will leave the River Bacchiglione near Codevigo, and follow the course of the Brenta up to Corte di Piove di Sacco. reclamation works, and when the reclamation was concluded they built characteristic rural houses with a stalls, haylofts and granaries in order to spread agriculture. Today, at least 60 of these remain and still keep the name of the saint to which they were dedicated. Taking the route on top of the left embankment, after a few kilometres a tourist notice informs you that you are in the neighbourhood of Castelcaro. On the place where today is an oratory, the Carrarese Family had built a military outpost in the 14th century, in order to defend their salt way. Chioggia, that was by the time a few kilometres away, had one of the most important salt-works in the Mediterranean. Along the last stretch the landscape changes noticeably, the thick net of canals gives way to the brightening expanses of the Venetian lagoon, from which appears the historic centre of Chioggia, final destination of our itinerary. 3 1) Saccisica, river landscape. 2) Pontelongo, Procession of Vow. 3) Chioggia. 21

22 8 Length: Padua-Camposampiero 20 km; Padua-Treviso 55 km Start: Padua, IAT Tourist Office Railway Station. Arrival: IAT Tourist Office Treviso. Signposts: present from Padua to Camposampiero only. Towards the Ostiglia. Padua, Treviso. 1 By 2012 Padua and Treviso will be linked by a very suggestive cycle tourist route which develops along the already existing cycle path of the river Muson dei Sassi and the under-construction path along the former Treviso-Ostiglia railway line. There is a number of tourist attractions along this route: the religious fascination of the Way of St. Anthony, the historic charm evoked by the ancient railway, the relaxing rural landscapes and the views of the River Sile Natural Park. After leaving Padua you will cross an ancient Roman grid planned area. The regular scansion of the grounds, the orthogonal crossing of ditches and streets, makes this territory a proper archaeological rural area. Throughout the fertile 22 country, you will meet double-faced villages: the dynamic and modern face of the industrial districts, and the suggestive one of historic centres. In Camposampiero, you will leave the path which runs along the river Muson dei Sassi and take the under-construction cycle path of the former Treviso-Ostiglia railway. The railway was built in 1930 for military aims, but it was abandoned during World War II due to the big damages provoked by the bombings. The tracks were never restored, so that the soil has turned into a natural green way linking the River Po to Treviso, through the Veneto country. The route is 100 km long, 30 of which are in Padua province. As for voyagers during the last centuries, you will pass by some old stations which are being improved at the present time. In Piombino Dese, we suggest you to make a detour for a visit to two splendid villas: Villa Cornaro by Palladio, and Villa Marcello, a very elegant 17th-century complex still inhabited by the heirs to that noble family. Not far from Levada, in the Fontanassi Wood, you can admire the resurgent springs of the River Sile. 2

23 Route features: the first stretch follows the Muson dei Sassi river; the second stretch follows secondary roads which are being substituted by the new under- construction cycle path along the former Treviso-Ostiglia railway. Notes: from Padua to Camposampiero GPS track and cycle tourist map available. TOWARDS THE ostiglia Tourist info IAT Padua Raiway Station Tel IAT Treviso Via Sant Andrea 3 Tel iattreviso@provincia.treviso.it Bike info Bike hire and repair Padua, Camposampiero, Piombino Dese, Treviso Bikeservice list on: Web Planning the Treviso-Ostiglia cycle path The project of a Treviso-Ostiglia cycle path is being developed and it is involving the provinces of Mantova, Verona, Vicenza, Padua and Treviso. It is foreseen that the total length of the route will be 118 km and it will cross the Po Valley from the River Po to Treviso. The historical and natural features of this area are protected by the River Sile Natural Park, and they can be discovered thanks to the cycle route named GiraSile, which links the sources of the river to the historic centre of Treviso. Near the village of Badoere the route crosses an original square, two white porticoed semicircles facing each-other have been protecting the craftsmen s houses and workshops for more than 300 years. From Badoere, you go on cycling towards Treviso, with a must-see stop at the Cervara Nature Reserve where you will be welcomed in a modern Visitor Centre carried out inside an old mill. Following the Sile s limpid waters, you will get to Treviso which centre you can cross from Santi Quaranta Gate to Garibaldi Gate, by following a part of the ancient wall perimeter. 1) Historical train. 2) Levada di Piombino Dese, Ca Marcello. 3) River Sile Natural Park. 3 TREVISO 23

24 9 Length: Trento-Padua: 140 km Bassano-Padua: 50 km Start: Trento Railway Station. Arrival: Padua Railway Station. Signposts: present from Levico to Bassano only. The Brenta Way. Trento, Bassano del Grappa, Padua. 1 Apart from being one of the most important rivers of the Alps, the River Brenta is also an essential cycle route between the Trentino-Alto Adige cycleways and the Veneto ones. The Province of Padua is developing a cycle route that will allow cycle tourists to get to Padua passing through dramatic nature landscapes and beautiful historic villages. with an alpine lake surrounded by high mountains with bright rocky faces, and lines of orchards on the bottom of the valley, mixed up with historic villages with fortresses and castles. In the first stretch, between Levico and Valstagna, you will cycle along one of the nicest and best equipped cycle paths in Trentino. At the end of this first stretch you will use some ordinary roads (with no traffic) to get to Bassano del Grappa, a picturesque historic town which links its fame to the worldfamous Bridge by Palladio, and to the production of its excellent grappa liqueur. After crossing the historic centre, the landscape changes its face: the mountains are substituted by a lush country crossed by many resurgences, canals and irrigation ditches with limpid waters. These are the main features of the Northern Paduan plain, which originated by the The River Brenta originates from the Levico and Caldonazzo Lakes, and, after crossing the Valsugana Valley, it flows throughout the Northern areas of the Paduan plain. In its last stretch, between Padua and Chioggia, its waters flow through large embankments until they flow into the Adriatic south of the Venetian lagoon. This route, along the Brenta s waters, starts in a charming mountain setting, 24 2

25 Route features: along the Valsugana Road the route is on cycle paths; in Vicenza province the route is on some secondary, sometimes busy streets; in Padua province the route is on bank paths and country roads. THE BRENTA WAY Tourist info IAT Trento Via Manci, 2 Tel IAT Bassano del Grappa L. Corona d Italia, 35 Tel IAT Padua Railway station Tel info@turismopadova.it Bike info Bike hire and repair Padua, Piazzola sul Brenta Bikeservice list on: Train+Bike Trento, Bassano del Grappa, Padua railway stations. Web Planning the Brenta cycle path The project of a long cycle path is being developed by the Province of Padua in order to make the River Brenta and its territory more valuable. The project is under construction and it will end in This cycle path will be 38 km long and it will cross areas of great natural value, such as stable grasslands, plain woods and artificial lakes. sediments transported downhill by the river over the past geological ages. In Padua province the cycle path is designed to run along the course of the river in an enchanting river landscape, where stable grasslands alternate to alder woods, poplar woods and willow woods. Along the route, you can also visit important historical buildings, as the famous Villa Contarini - G. E. Ghirardi Foundation in Piazzola sul Brenta: a wonderful palace surrounded by a huge historic garden immersed in a large estate and introduced by an elegant porticoed square. After this detour, you will go back and cycle near the river; from Limena to Padua you can already use an equipped cycle path. In this area you will admire some typical venetian villas. When you get to Pontevigodarzere, you will leave the Brenta banks and enter the town by using its urban cycle paths. 3 1) Piazzola sul Brenta: the Brenta nature area. 2) Bassano del Grappa. 3) Piazzola sul Brenta, villa Contarini - G.E. Ghirardi Foundation. 25

26 10 Length: Padua-Este: 30 km Padua-Rovigo: 65 km Padua-Ferrara: 100 km Start: IAT Tourist Office Padua, Arrival: IAT Rovigo or IAT Ferrara. Signposts: absent. The Este Family Way. Padua, Rovigo, Ferrara. 1 This last route starts in Padua, borders the Euganean Hills, goes through the Polesine area, crosses the River Po and gets to Ferrara. The fascination of this itinerary derives from the historical events of the noble Este Family which left the town of Este in the 13th century to move to Ferrara, where they created one of the most refined and cultured courts of the Renaissance. historical and archaeological viewpoint, which gave its name to the noble family of the Estensi, you will leave the Bisatto Canal bank and follow the course of the River Frassine. In Ponte della Torre Place, you will run along a perfectly preserved 14th century stronghold, and you will go on cycling across the country, among cereal fields. After few km, we suggest you to make a detour and visit the impressing Carceri Camaldolite Abbey, also known as the Montecassino of Northern italy, due to its imposing architectural structures. In Sant Urbano you will go up the River Adige bank and follow it until Boara Pisani. In a short time you will get to Rovigo, the Polesine capital, which was ruled by From Padua, in the Bassanello area take the cycle path along the Battaglia Canal: it is a linear route, higher than the ground level, and this will enable you to take a look at some interesting villas on the background, until you get to the walled town of Monselice. In the first stretch, the landscape is dominated by the profiles of the Euganean Hills. In Este, interesting town on the 26 2

27 Route features: from Padua to Este, Battaglia Canal and Bisatto Canal bank paths. From Este to Rovigo, Brancaglia - Santa Caterina Canal and River Adige bank paths. From Rovigo to Ferrara, asphalted cycle paths. Notes: GPS tracks available. THE ESTE FAMILY WAY Tourist info IAT Padua Raiway Station Tel info@turismopadova.it IAT Rovigo Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 20 Tel iat.rovigo@provincia.rovigo.it IAT Ferrara Castello Estense Tel infotur@provincia.fe.it Bike info Bike hire and repair Padua, Monselice, Este. Bikeservice list on: Train+Bike Padua, Monselice, Rovigo, Ferrara railway stations Web Detour in the Adige lands The southern part of the province of Padua, crossed by the River Adige, is an ideal area for cycle tourism: quiet country roads, well preserved rural landscapes, a silent environment, and some historic rural villages. Going up the river, you will meet the villages of Piacenza d Adige, Merlara, Castelbaldo, Masi; in the other direction, on the way to Anguillara Veneta, you will get to the lands of the Arca del Santo (once properties of the Basilica of st. Anthony in Padua). 3 where some well equipped cycle paths will easily lead you to Ferrara. From the late Middle Ages to the Renaissance, the town lived a period of splendour under the Este Family rule; they revolutionized the urban features of the town, and made it one of Europe s most important cultural centres. In 1995 Ferrara was awarded of the UNESCO World Heritage Site title as a Renaissance town. MONSELICE the Este Family from the 13 th to the 15 th century. Evidences of that glorious period are the ruins of the castle and the 66-m high Donà Tower, one of the highest Medieval towers in Italy. During the following Venetian rule, the Cathedral and many more palaces were also built. Going south, you will take the cycle path leading to Guarda Veneta. When you get to the River Po, you will go up its course on the left bank, and pass on the Ferrara side of it, near Polesella, 1) Este, the Castle walls. 2) Baone, Blue Lake and Euganean Hills. 3) Rovigo. 27

28 Padua Railway Station At the Railway Station Padova Tel Fax infostazione@turismopadova.it Open: Monday-Saturday Sunday Piazza del Santo Piazza del Santo Padova Tel infosanto@turismopadova.it Open from April to October Abano Terme Via Pietro D Abano Abano Terme (PD) Tel Fax infoabano@turismotermeeuganee.it Open: Monday-Saturday / Sunday (Sunday and feastdays opening only during the High Season) Montegrotto Terme Viale Stazione Montegrotto Terme (PD) Tel Fax infomontegrotto@turismotermeeuganee.it Open: Monday-Saturday / nd Sunday of the month Bacino Turistico della Saccisica Piove di Sacco Piazza Matteotti 4 - Tel. e Fax turismosaccisica@gmail.com info@turismosaccisica.it Battaglia Terme Via Maggiore 2 - Tel. e Fax iatbattaglia@gmail.com Open from May to October Cittadella Porte Bassanesi 2 Tel Fax turismo@comune.cittadella.pd.it Este Via G. Negri 9 Tel Fax iateste@virgilio.it Monselice Via del Santuario 6 - Tel. e Fax turismo@comune.monselice.padova.it Montagnana Castel S. Zeno - Tel. e Fax prolocomontagnana@tiscali.it Dial the following free number from your handphone and you will receive an sms with instructions to obtain further information on Padua and its province by bicycle. Tel Fax info@turismopadova.it Created with the help of: Photos: Archivio Turismo Padova Terme Euganee/Matteo Danesin, Luigi Zilli, Luciano Tommasin. Archivio Ca Marcello. Archivio Renato Tuzza, Este. Archivio Comune di Padova - Gabinetto Fotografico. Archivio Consorzio di Promozione Turistica di Padova. Archivio Consorzio di Promozione Turistica Vicenzaè. Archivio Provincia di Padova. Archivio Associazione Veneta Treni Storici/Hans Rosenberger.