The Upper Adriatic cycling route

Transcription

Adriabike
The Upper Adriatic cycling route
Kranjska Gora, Koper, Trieste, Venice, Ravenna
1
Publishing organisation:
APT della Provincia di Venezia: Paola Basso with the collaboration of Larisa Kunst and Diego Gallo
Cartography:
R. Rossi, Cirgeo Unipd – F. Pedrazzoli, Ediciclo
Photographs:
Archivio fotografico Interbike (M. Danesin, A. Ziraldo, D. Gallo),
Archivio fotografico APT Venezia
Archivio fotografico Provincia di Venezia (M. Fletzer)
Archivio Turismo Padova Terme Euganee by courtesy of the Comune di
Padova-Assessorato alla Cultura
Archivio fotografico Provincia di Rovigo (S. Lunardi)
Archivio fotografico GAL Polesine Delta del Po (L. Calzolari)
Archivio fotografico Provincia di Ravenna
Archivio fotografico della Provincia di Ferrara (F.Meneghetti, M.Marchetti, M.Baraldi)
Archivio fotografico dell’Unione di Prodotto Costa
Archivio fotografico LTO Sotočje (M. Lenarčič, L. Olmi)
Archivio fotografico LTO Kranjska Gora (B.Rojnik, M. Vidmar, I. Noč)
Archivio fotografico TIC Kanal
Archivio fotografico del Museo di Kobarid
Uroš Švigelj
Archivio fotografico TZ TIC Nova Gorica
Archivio fotografico Comune di Komen
Archivio fotografico Comune di Šempeter-Vrtojba
Archivio fotografico del Parco delle Grotte di San Canziano (B. Lozej)
Archivio fotografico TZ Portorož (U. Trnkoczy, J. Jeraša)
Archivio fotografico TIC Koper (U. Trnkoczy)
This publication can be found in electronic format at the website: www.adriabike.eu
INTERBIKE Project funded by the Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Italy – Slovenia 2007-2013, by the European
Fund for regional development and national funds.
Progetto INTERBIKE finanziato nell’ambito del Programma per la Cooperazione Transfrontaliera Italia-Slovenia 20072013, dal Fondo europeo di sviluppo regionale e dai fondi nazionali.
Projekt INTERBIKE sofinanciran v okviru Programa čezmejnega sodelovanja Slovenija-Italija 2007-2013 iz sredstev Evropskega
sklada za regionalni razvoj in nacionalnih sredstev.
Printed at: february 2015
First edition: 1000 copies
Publisher: Litocenter s.r.l. Piazzola sul Brenta (Pd) Italy
Ediciclo editore srl
Via Cesare Beccaria 13/15
30026 Portogruaro (Ve) Italy
Tel. + 39 0421.74475 – fax +39 0421.280065
www.ediciclo.it
Total or partial reproduction with any means, including photocopies, is forbidden
Contents
Introduction
5
First week’s journey
The emerald green road
6
Kranjska Gora - Nova Gorica - Koper - Trieste
The tour of the Triglav mountain, 8 – The Upper Soča Valley, 10 – The
middle course of the Soča, 12 – Crossing the Karst, – 14, The descent
towards the Adriatic, 16 – Along the Parenzana, 18
Second week’s journey
The road of the Serenissima
20
Portorož - Koper - Trieste - Venezia
The Gulf of Trieste, 22 – Between the Karst and the sea, 24 – The Marano
lagoon, 26 – Along the Lemene, 28 – The Coastline of the Veneto, 30 –
The Islands of Venice, 32
Third week’s journey
The road of the merchants and the burci
Venezia - Delta del Po - Ravenna
The Riviera del Brenta, 36 – The road of salt and sugar, 38 – The road
of the valleys, 40 – Crossing of the Delta del Po, 42 – Between the park
and the sea, 44 – Among valleys, beaches and pine woods, 46
34
Introduction
This brochure has been created thanks to the Interbike project, funded
by the Cross-border Cooperation Programme Italy-Slovenia 2007-2013,
with the aim of encouraging cycling. The project includes the financing of
infrastructure works favouring cyclists, the realisation of communication
tools and the promotion of the touristic itinerary Adriabike, cycling route
of the Upper Adriatic. The area of territories involved in the project fall
within the regions of Emilia Romagna, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia on
the Italian side and the regions of Obalno-Kraška, Goriška and Gorenjska on
the Slovenian side.
This itinerary which connects Kranjska Gora to Ravenna is part of the European
Eurovelo 8 cycling route and crosses the most fascinating areas of the Upper
Adriatic and the Italian-Slovenian border. A varied and complete route which
unites the beauty of cities of art like Koper (Capodistria), Trieste, Venice, Padua,
Ravenna, with the various expressions of nature of the Julian Alps, the Karst
Plateau, the lagoons and the Po Delta Park. The waterways are the recurring
element of each day of the journey: downhill following the Sava River then
the Soča, and finally the dense network of artificial canals which connect the
Venetian land and the branches of the Po Delta. Adriabike is an unforgettable
experience also from the point of view of the perfumes and tastes, in a
continuous intertwining of alps, plains and sea.
Three ideas for week-long journeys will allow you to live the experience of
the Adriabike itinerary:
- Kranjska Gora – Trieste: the emerald green road
- Koper – Venice: the road of the Serenissima
- Venice – Ravenna: the merchants’ road
Each proposal lasts six days, it uses cycling lanes and B roads equipped with
special signs and suggests using public transport such as trains and boats.
The route is presented in this brochure following daily stages, where the main
touristic information is indicated: a travel diary with photos and websites
where you can get more information about the places.
To complete the tools for the tourist a road-book containing detailed maps
has been prepared, a touristic website (www.adriabike.eu) and a smart
phone app.
4
A
TARVISIO
Kranjska
Gora
I
ison
e
Most na Soči
Nat
Tagliamen
to
Kobarid
č
So
zo
on
Is
a/
SI
Gorizia
Portogruaro
Padova
VENEZIA
Cavallino
Lipica
Lignano Grado TRIESTE
Sabbiadoro
Portorož
Koper
Portorose
Capodistria
HR
Chioggia
Adige
Adria
Po
Goro
mare Adriatico
Jadransko morje
Comacchio
RAVENNA
5
First week’s journey
The emerald green road
Kranjska Gora - Nova Gorica - Koper Trieste
Pedalling from the Julian Alps to the Gulf of Trieste
1
1
From the old station at Tarvisio you go towards the Fusine Lakes
along the asphalted cycling lanes and then to the Slovenian border. You pedal amidst the woods until reaching Kranjska Gora,
a well-known skiing and holiday resort at the foot of the Julian
Alps. Then, passing through towns full of history, you reach the
picturesque Lake Bled: here you catch the train – with your bike
– which goes to Most na Soči. This is the historic railway line which
connected Trieste to Vienna. Getting back on your bike, you go up
the spectacular Soča Valley going through Tolmin, then on the
left bank you reach Kobarid and you can visit the local war museum. Those who are better trained can continue to Bovec. From
here you return to Tolmin and to Most na Soči, then you reach
Kanal, with its enchanting bridge over the Soča river, then there
is a stretch of gravel cycling lane towards Solkan and here we are
at Nova Gorica and immediately afterwards at Gorizia. Now you
enter the Slovenian Karst, among monasteries, castles, churches
and villages, in the direction of Lipica, home of the famous horse
breeding and vast stables.
It is time to get onto the well-known Parenzana cycling route,
passing through Koper (Capodistria), Izola (Isola), Portorož (Portorose), the spectacular Sečovlje (Sicciole) salt mines, near Koper (Capodistria), to finally reach Trieste after passing through the
beautiful town centre of Muggia. The whole route is flanked by the
railway line which allows you to hop on a train at any time.
6
3
3
5
TARVISIO
A
Kranjska
Gora
Jesenice
Bled
Bovec
Triglav
Bohinjska
Bistrica
Kobarid
Most na Soči
2
Tolmin
I
SI
Gorizia
Nova Gorica
Komen
mare Adriatico
Jadransko morje
TRIESTE
Portorož
Portorose
4
Koper
Capodistria
1 Kranjska Gora, former Tarvisio-Llubljana railway bridge
5 Sicciole salt mines, Parenzana cycling Lane
2 Tolmin, the Tolmin gorges
6 Trieste, Unity of Italy Square
3 Kanal, bridge over the Soča
4 Tarvisio, cycling path on the former railway line
ROUTE INFORMATION
6
Lipica
Starting point: Tarvisio
Arrival: Trieste
Length: about 350 km
Conditions: route with some short stretches
of dirt roads
Indications: present in the first and sixth
stages, some stretches of the third, fourth and
fifth stages
Inter-modality: train + bike + bus (to Komen, not always available)
STAGES
1.Tarvisio - Kranjska Gora - Most na Soči
The tour of the Triglav mountain (km 52)
2.Most na Soči - Tolmin - Kobarid - Bovec Kobarid
The Upper Soča Valley (km 67)
3.Kobarid - Most na Soči - Kanal - Nova Gorica Gorizia
The middle course of the Soča (km 63,5)
4.Gorizia - Nova Gorica - Komen - Lipica
Crossing the Karst (km 77)
5.Lipica - Škocjan - Portorož
The descent towards the Adriatic (km 61)
6.Portorož - Koper - Trieste
Along the Parenzana (km 43)
7
First week | 1st day
The tour of the Triglav
mountain
Tarvisio - Kranjska Gora - Most na Soči
From the triangle of the frontiers (Italy, Austria, Slovenia)
along the Sava cycling route
ROUTE INFORMATION
A new cycling lane passes by Tarvisio station, heading towards the
Slovenian border: in the direction of the Fusine lakes, two emerald
drops set in one of the coldest areas in Italy. We are on the foundations of the former Ljubljana-Tarvisio railway line, a great example of an old unused railway line converted into a cycling lane. In a
word: greenway. Hurray!
Continuing amidst the green countryside, at Rateče you enter Slovenia, soon arriving in the centre of Kranjska Gora, a famous tourist resort, where you can admire the church of the Assumption and
the seventeenth century Liznjek House, a wonderful example of rural architecture which is now an ethnographic museum. The Sava
river leads us to the beautiful town of Mojstrana, an old mining
town, where three fantastic alpine valleys start and curve into the
Julian Alps up to Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia (2864
m): Vrata, Kot and Krma. You head towards Jesenice, an important
railway junction to then pass on towards the splendid Lake Bled,
a spa and tourist area, enhanced by the small island floating in the
centre. From here you catch the train which goes directly into the
Soča Valley, to Most na Soči.
8
Starting point: Tarvisio
Arrival: Bled (then Most na Soči by train)
Length: 52 km
Conditions: all asphalted cycling lanes, with
some exceptions in the first part
Indications: present
Inter-modality: train + bike
USEFUL ADDRESSES
Tourism FVG Tarvisio
via Roma 14, 33018 Tarvisio, tel. +39 0428 2135
info.tarvisio@turismo.fvg.it
Tourist Office Kranjska Gora
Kolodvorska ul. 1c, 4280 Kranjska Gora
tel. +386 04 5809440, info@kranjska-gora.eu
www.kranjska-gora.si
Tourist Office Dovje-Mojstrana
Savska cesta 1, 4281 Dovje-Mojstrana
tel. +386 04 5891320, info@mojstrana.com
www.mojstrana.com
Tourist Office Bled
Cesta svobode 10, 4260 Bled, tel. +386 04 5741122
tdbled@telemach.net, www.td-bled.si
Railway station: Tarvisio Boscoverde
Jesenice, Vintgar, Bled Jezero Podbrdo, Most na
Soči
Slovenian railway: www.slo-zeleznice.si
info: +386 012913332
A
&
Tarvisio
&
I
KRANJSKA GORA
Bled
&
Triglav
va
Triglavski narodni park
Sa
SI
Blejsko
jezero
Bohinjsko jezero
Bohinjska Bistrica
Soča/Iso
nzo
1
2
&
MOST NA SOČI
3
4
1 Zelenci, source of the Sava Dolinka
3 Kranjska Gora, the Russian chapel under the Vršič pass
2 The Martuljek forest, cycling path
4 Kranjska Gora, Jasna Lake
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
At Tarvisio – a border town – the AlpeAdria cycle route also crosses through,
which from north to south from
Austria leads to Italy towards Grado,
passing through Buja, Udine, Palmanova and Aquileia: a virtuous circle which
unites the three bordering countries
by bicycle, bringing other important
cycling itineraries into the network
such as the Drava cycling route.
From the old former railway station in
Tarvisio you head east and then you
leave the track which goes towards
Austria and Arnoldstein and instead go
right towards the Fusine lakes and the
frontier town of Rateče, a small town
dominated by the Peč Peak (1510 m)
which marks the triple border of Italy,
Slovenia and Austria. You continue
along the nice asphalted cycling lane
that uses the old nineteenth century
railway line which connected Tarvisio
to Ljubljana: it will keep you company
for most of the day, skimming large
fields and leading into thick refreshing
woods.
After a short while you arrive at the
foot of the spectacular Planica side
valley: where there are the famous
trampolines used for ski jumping and
where many world records were set
up. With a pleasant ride you reach
Kranjska Gora, well-known place for
hosting world alpine ski competitions.
The Sava Dolinka, one of the two
source branches of the important Sava
river, offers us some magical scenery
in this rich and generous land, characterised by fields dotted with typical
wooden barns, vertical racks, where
the grass is left to dry.
At Mojstrana you can visit Pocar House
– one of the oldest farm houses in the
Triglav National Park, now used for
exhibitions – and the new Slovenian
alpine museum.
The cycling lane finishes in the town,
so go towards the densely populated
town of Jesenice and then from there
– plunging once again into the green
Slovenian alpine woods – to the wonderful Lake Bled. With an hour’s train
journey you can change valley and
reach Most na Soči, on the Soča river.
9
First week | 2nd day
onzo
Soča/Is
Bovec
The Upper Soča valley
Most na Soči - Tolmin - Kobarid - Bovec Kobarid
An enchanting bike ride along the emerald coloured river
You are at Most na Soči, where the Idrijca plunges into the Soča: it
is one of the main European prehistoric areas, as you will discover at
the local Archaeological Museum.
You follow the upper course of the Soča which, thanks to the many
rapids, is paradise for those who love water sports like rafting, kayak,
canoeing and hydro speed: it is a well-loved territory for the numerous fans of these sports.
At Tolmin – known for its eighteenth century peasant revolt – you
can find the Ethnographic Museum, the remains of a medieval
castle and the magnificent Devil’s Bridge. Then you cross the river,
thanks to the big Napoleonic arched stone bridge, reaching Kobarid, known for the famous retreat in November 1917, remembered in
the local museum and the nearby St. Anthony’s memorial.
From here those who are better trained can go up towards the
source of the Soča, where there is the chance to visit the Boka waterfall. Now there is just one more hill towards Bovec.
Then you return to Kobarid.
10
SI
KOBARID
Tolmin
I
MOST NA SOČI
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Most na Soči
Arrival: Kobarid
Length: 67 km (including the excursion to Bovec)
Conditions: almost all the route is on asphalted
road with mixed traffic
Indications: absent
USEFUL ADDRESSES
Tourist Office Tolmin
Petra Skalarja 4, 5220 Tolmin
tel. +386 05 3800480, info@lto-sotocje.si
www.dolina-soce.com
Tourist Office Kobarid
Trg svobode 16, 5222 Kobarid
tel. +386 05 3800490, info.kobarid@lto-sotocje.si
www.dolina-soce.com
Tourist Office Bovec
Trg golobarskih žrtev 8, 5230 Bovec
tel. +386 05 3841919
info@bovec.si, www.bovec.si
Railway station: Most na Soči
T
1
2
3
4
1 The Soča Valley, Tolmin
3 Glimpse of the Soča
2 Kobarid, First World War Museum
4 Kobarid, Napoleonic bridge
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
Once we get off the train which has
brought us from Jesenice (or Bled) to
Most na Soči, we enter an important
archaeological area, as shown by the
many findings of tombs from the Iron
Age: Sveta Lucija Culture.
After a walk along the paths around
the lake, where there is a beautiful view
of the town, we go back up the green
course of water towards its Karstic
source located in the Triglav National
Park.
It winds in a wild environment made
up of waterfalls, rapids and large dams
which exploit some of its energy: now
nature rules, offering thousands of
interesting views.
Near the important little town of Tolmin – the Tolmin Gorges are remarkable, located at the lower entrance of
the Triglav National Park.
They are characterised by a large mass
wedged in among the faces, from the
Devil’s Bridge, suspended at a height of
60 metres above the bright blue waters
of the Tolminka and the so-called
Dante’s Cave, where local legend has it
that the poet found inspiration for his
Inferno. Let’s remember that when we
visit his tomb in Ravenna...
Near Kobarid we cross the river thanks
to a fine Napoleonic bridge – a stone
arch – and then we can visit the town
which became part of history during
5
5 Trnovo ob Soči, bridge over the Soča
the Great War: don’t miss the museum which is dedicated to the war but
above all to peace, focusing on mankind.
We continue on the right bank passing
through the towns of Žaga and Log
Čezsoški, heading north towards Bovec,
at least for those who have been in
training. From the road you can admire
the Boka waterfall, one of the most
spectacular in Europe, 144 metres high
and 18 metres wide. Finally you reach
the Bovec plain, where the source of
the Soča can be found.
The route is a cul-de-sac and we can
turn back towards Kobarid, continuing
to enjoy the green waters of the Soča.
11
KOBARID
First week | 3rd day
The middle course
of the Soča
Kobarid - Most na Soči - Kanal - Nova Gorica Gorizia
&
Tolmin
foto venezia LAGUNA
Most na Soči
Kanal
&
Anhovo
&
SI
So
ča
/
Iso
I
nz
o
GORIZIA - NOVA GORICA
Where the alpine breezes meet the perfumes
of the Mediterranean
This trip takes us to the middle course of the Soča; you pedal among
many natural beauties, dams, bridges, lakes, waterfalls but also many
historical and cultural splendours which make the ride fascinating
and engaging.
From Kobarid you follow the left bank of the Soča reaching Tolmin,
on a panoramic road, and from here you go to Most na Soči, with
its characteristic lake squeezed in between the mountains, to arrive
then on an asphalted road up to Kanal, crossing the famous XVI
century bridge, the symbol of the town, destroyed and rebuilt many
times. You must also see the Kontrada square with its Gothic House
and the parish church of the Assumption dating back to 1431. The
route continues towards Plave, the theatre of many battles during the Great War: now the river becomes narrower and tortuous
and you can enjoy the view pedalling on a safe gravel cycling lane.
The vegetation continually changes: from beech tree woodlands to
more thermophilic formations, with the addition of Mediterranean
flora. The aromas of the mountains now give way to Mediterranean
essences. At the end of the cycling lane the railway bridge at Solkan
appears impressively, with its stone arch which is the widest in the
world, an engineering masterpiece from the beginning of the XX
century.
From Solkan you quickly reach Nova Gorica, joined to Gorizia by
Piazza Europa, symbol of fraternity between the two towns.
12
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Kobarid
Arrival: Nova Gorica
Length: 63.5 km
Conditions: mainly on asphalted road
Indications: absent
Inter-modality: train + bike (At Postaja, 2 km
from Most na Soci, you can catch the train to Nova
Gorica)
USEFUL ADDRESSES
Tourist Office Kanal
Pionirska 2, 5213 Kanal, tel. +386 05 3981213
tic.kanal@siol.net, www.tic-kanal.si
Tourist Office Nova Gorica
Delpinova ulica 18b, 5000 Nova Gorica
tel. +386 05 3304600, tzticng@siol.net
www.novagorica-turizem.com
Railway station:
Most na Soči, Avče, Kanal, Anhovo, Solkan, Nova
Gorica
1
2
3
4
1 Solkan, railway bridge
2 Kostanjevica, church of the Annunciation
3 Kanal, diving competition from the bridge over the
Soča
5
5 Nova Gorica - Gorizia, Europa Square
4 Prilesje, church of Sveti Ahac
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
You leave from Kobarid, where there
are many interesting historical places nearby as well as unique natural
sites. After crossing the Napoleonic
bridge, turn right and follow the left
river bank towards Tolmin, to then
continue towards Most na Soči and
then reach Kanal, a beautiful little town
with a Baroque influence. The symbol
of the town is certainly the bridge,
architectural archetype: with ancient
origins, destroyed and rebuilt many
times, mentioned also in Hemingway’s
Farewell to Arms, it continues to be at
the centre of the town’s social life, so
much so that it has become, from its
17 metre height, a trampoline for a
famous international diving competition. Now you follow the left bank
and the Soča becomes more tortuous,
giving us wonderful views. You pass
through the towns of Plave and Prilesje
with the Sveti Ahac church. A cycling
path next to the river leads us under
another important bridge, a railway
bridge this time: we are near Solkan
and this bridge holds a world record.
In fact with its 4533 square limestone
bricks from the Nabrežina quarries
and its length of 85 metres, it is the
longest single-arch bridge in the world
made from cut stones. After the railway
bridge, you go towards the new Solkan
bridge which leads to Nova Gorica, the
town which rose as the Slovenian counterpart of the Italian Gorizia, after the
second world war. Of historical interest
we can see the railway station, located
on the Transalpine line and just a few
metres away from the Italian border,
which you must cross to visit the fine
historical centre of this Friuli town. In
the hills at the edge of the town there
is the Kostanjevica Franciscan convent
with the church of the Annunciation,
the library and the Borbone crypt.
13
First week | 4th day
&
Crossing the Karst
Soca
GORIZIA - NOVA GORICA
foto venezia LAGUNA
SI
Gorizia - Nova Gorica - Komen - Lipica
Kr
Discovering the Slovenian Karst: pleasant up and downhill ride,
rich landscapes, perfumes and tastes of the Mediterranean
&
Ajdovščina
Komen
as
- C
ar
so
I
Sežana
&
Adriatico
Jadransko morje
Trieste
&
LIPICA
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Gorizia – Nova Gorica
Arrival: Lipica
Length: 77 km
Conditions: mainly on asphalted roads with mixed traffic and cycling lane from Vrtojba to Miren.
Some uphill. Be careful of the wind.
Indications: absent
We will get to know the Slovenian Karst better through this stage,
it is a territory with particular characteristics from a historical, nature,
cultural and gastronomic point of view.
The route meanders – with frequent up and downhills, although not
steep – in the spectacular limestone highlands which dominate the
Gulf of Trieste, giving continuous emotions. You mainly pedal along
narrow roads, open to traffic but not at all busy, surrounded by dry
stone walls which seem to lead towards nowhere. Nature rules here,
modelled by the Bora wind and enriched by unique colours, which
especially in Autumn present us with glimpses of great vitality.
Then all of a sudden, an old village appears, the remains of a medieval castle, a bell tower and we return to civilization. Then after a bend
in the road, the extensive view of the Gulf of Trieste explodes in front
of us, dominated from above.
Starting from Nova Gorica the trip continuously comes close to the
Italian border, passing through villages which have a double name,
as they were once Italian, and Austrian before that, until we reach
Lipica and its centuries-old horse stud farm.
14
USEFUL ADDRESSES
Tourist Office Nova Gorica, Delpinova ulica 18b,
5000 Nova Gorica, tel. +386 05 3304600 tzticng@
siol.net, www.novagorica-turizem.com
Tourist Office Šempeter-Vrtojba
Trg Ivana Roba 4, 5290 Šempeter pri Gorici
tel. + 386 05 3936117, www.gea-sp.si
Tourist Office Štanjel, Štanjel 1a, 6222 Štanjel
tel. +386 07 690056, tic.stanjel@komen.si
Tourist Office Dutovlje, Bunčetova domačija
6221 Dutovlje, tel. +386 05 7641549,
tic.dutovlje@gmail.com
Hostel Pliskovica, Pliskovica 11, 6221 Dutovlje
tel. +386 05 7640250; info@hostelkras.com
www.hostelkras.com
Tourist Office Sežana, Partizanska ulica 63 6210
Sežana, tel. +386 05 7310128
tic.sezana@siol.net, www.vinskacestakras.si
Tourist Office Equile di Lipica
Lipica 5, 6210 Sežana, tel. +386 05 7391580
info@lipica.org, www.lipica.org
Railway stations: Gorizia, Nova Gorica, Šempeter
pri Gorici, Štanjel, Dutovlje, Sežana
&
&
1
2
3
4
1 Štanjel, castle with surrounding walls
3 Šempeter pri Gorici, Coronini Palace
2 Dutovije, wine making centre
4 Lipica, horses grazing
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
We leave from Nova Gorica along the
Vipava Valley to reach Šempeter (St.
Peter), where there is the fifteenth
century church of St. Peter, the Coronini
Counts’ castle and Villa Maffei. Then
there is a nice cycling lane which reaches Miren, dominated by the wonderful
sanctuary of Saint Grado in Merna, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. Among
gentle hills and some gravel roads, you
reach Lokvica, then Sela na Krasu, from
where there is a spectacular view of the
Gulf of Trieste. At Škrbina you can visit
the painter Lojze Spacal’s house, then
you pass through the beautiful village
of Sveto with its church dedicated to
Saint Egidio, one of the leading exam-
ples of sacred architecture in Slovenia.
Then we reach Komen, which was an
important administrative centre in the
western Karst region, afterwards we
continue into the heart of the Karst
until we pass through the villages of
Pliskovica and Dutovlje, a famous wine
making centre specialised in the production of Teran, the local nectar.
You can also reach Dutovlje, passing
through the medieval town of Štanjel
which with its castle and surrounding
walls represents the most attractive
tourist spot in the Karst. Then you reach
Toma, a village where you can visit
Srečko Kosovel’s birthplace house, he
was one of the most important Slove-
nian poets. Pedalling along enchanted
roads you reach Sežana, the main
economic centre of the Karst, which
hosts a botanical orchard which is over
a hundred years old.
Finally we arrive at our goal for today’s
trip, the famous Lipica, known all over
the world as the place where horses
from the famous Hapsburg stud farm
have been bred since the XVI century,
giving origin to the Lipizzaner horses.
Here everything centres around the
horse stables: courses, exhibitions,
horseback excursions, carriage rides,
visits to the historical stables.
15
Kra
s
First week | 5th day
&
The descent towards the
Adriatic
Lipica - Škocjan - Portorož
Adriatico
Jadransko morje
Trieste
I
&
&
Koper - Capodistria
PORTOROŽ - PORTOROSE
HR
A slow, gentle ride from the Karst to Istria,
with a visit to the spectacular Škocjan Caves
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Lipica
Arrival: Portorož
Length: 61 km
Conditions: some stretches of gravel road,
mainly on asphalted roads with light mixed traffic
Indications: partial (along the Parenzana cycling
path)
USEFUL ADDRESSES
Before diving into the blue of the Adriatic, this route concentrates on
the Karst tópoi: grottos, caves, sinkholes, underground rivers, stony
territory with little vegetation.
Along the route – a very pleasant downhill ride – you can find one
of the three Slovenian sites which have been declared world heritage sites by Unesco, that is Škocjanske jame. This is a complex system of caverns and galleries covered by stalactites and stalagmites
shaped by the underground river Reka which, after 40 kilometres
underground, flows into the Gulf of Trieste near Štivan.
You head towards Kozina, on the outer edge of the Karst and from
here you reach Črni Kal with its characteristic leaning bell-tower (the
gate of Benko House is also interesting, this is the oldest farmhouse
in Slovenia).
Then you go down along the Rižano valley, reaching the old Parenzana railway line which at the beginning of the XX century connected Trieste to Poreč. This well-equipped and much-used cycling path
– which goes along beside the Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve –
leads to Koper (Capodistria), Izola (Isola) to finally reach Portorož
(Portorose).
16
C
Tourist Office Equile di Lipica
Lipica 5, 6210 Sežana, tel. +386 05 7391580
info@lipica.org, www.lipica.org
Park Škocjanske jame
Škocjan 2, 6215 Divača, tel. +386 05 7082110
psj.info@psj.gov.si, www.park-skocjanske-jame.si
Tourist Office Koper
Titov trg 3, 6000 Koper
tel. +386 05 6646403, tic@koper.si, www.koper.si
Tourist Office Izola
Ljubljanska ulica 17, 6310 Izola
tel. +386 05 6401050
tic.izola@izola.si, www.izola.eu
Tourist Office Portorož
Obala 16, 6320 Portorož, tel. +386 05 6742220
ticpo@portoroz.si, www.portoroz.si
Tourist Office Piran
Tartinijev trg 2, 6330 Piran
tel. +386 05 6734440, ticpi@portoroz.si
www.portoroz.si
Railway stations: Divača, Hrpelje-Kozina, Koper
Ferries: the Trieste-Rovinj line is active in July
and August 5 times a week with a stop at Piran
(Pirano). The number of bikes allowed on board
is limited.
ars
&
o
LIPICA
Škocjan
&
&
Kozina
SI
1 Koper - Capodistria, seafront
2 Škocjan, Škocjanske jame caves
3 Portorož - Portorose, beach
1
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
From the centre of Lipica the itinerary
continues on gravel road until reaching Lokev, where we find an imposing
fortified stone tower, erected as a
defence from the Turkish invasions,
today hosting a great collection of
arms, uniforms and other military
objects. You continue, reaching the
entrance to the Škocjanske Jame Park
– in the town of Divača – you must not
miss seeing its magnificent caves, one
of the greatest attractions in Slovenia.
After the visit carry on pedalling until
you reach the edge of the plateau, that
is Kozina where another cycling path
crosses, the Trieste-Hrpelje (which you
will use partially on the second day of
the second week), along a stretch of
2
the sediment of the Trieste-Ljubljana
railway line. Further down there is
the village of Črni Kal, nestled in the
green from where the white church
of St. Valentine stands out. Now the
road goes down with wide bends and
weaves its way into the Rižana river
valley until reaching the old Parenzana
railway track – narrow gauge and only
one track – which from 1902 connected Trieste to Poreč in 123 kilometres.
It went out of use in 1935, a few years
ago it was transformed into a cycling
lane (D8 cycling route) called “Parenzana: road of health and friendship”. Pedalling along this nice route you reach
the Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve,
greatest salt mars area in Slovenia,
3
then you reach Koper (Capodistria),
with its wonderful historical town centre of obvious Venetian influence.
To reach Izola (Isola) you pedal next
to the sea on a special cycling lane
also reserved for other users. Then
you go through a tunnel and reach
Štrungan (Strugnano), the former salt
mine area. A second tunnel allows us
to reach Portorož (Portorose), famous
tourist resort in Slovenian Istria – in
the municipality of Piran (Pirano) –
with its centuries-old spa tradition. The
mud for the spas comes from the salt
mines in Sečovlje (Sicciole), the nature
reserve 10 kilometres away from Portorož (Portorose) in the direction of the
Croatian border.
17
Kra
First week | 6 day
th
Along the Parenzana
Portorož - Koper - Trieste
s C
ar
Trieste
Adriatico
Jadransko morje
&
&
Koper - Capodistria
HR
ROUTE INFORMATION
18
I
Muggia
Along the Istrian coast to the Gulf of Trieste
From Portorož (Portorose) – the best known seaside resort in Slovenia, specialised in spas and situated in the Piran (Pirano) peninsula
– the wonderful cycling path passes by the Ŝtrungan (Strugnano)
salt mines, now a nature reserve. We must point out the presence
in this coastal town of the important sanctuary of the Vision of Saint
Mary, where many pilgrimages end.
At Izola (Isola) the Venetian dominion which lasted for centuries left
its mark, not only with the lions of St. Mark which can still be seen
but also in the urban structure, in the XVI century Town Hall and
other prestigious private villas.
Then you reach Koper (Capodistria), where the town centre looks
like a little Venice, with paved streets, the Praetorian Palace in Gothic-Renaissance style, the town loggia, the Carmine Baptistery and
the cathedral of the Assumption of Mary.
Leaving the city, you go along the Rižana valley among cultivated fields and vineyards, going gently up towards Škofije where you
cross the border into Italy. From here you soon arrive in Trieste on
mixed traffic roads.
so
Starting point: Portorož (Portorose)
Arrival: Trieste
Length: 43 km (Portorož-Trieste)
Conditions: almost everywhere there are good
separate cycling lanes, with a few stretches of
mixed traffic near Trieste
Inter-modality: bike + boat (Muggia-Trieste)
USEFUL ADDRESSES
Obala 16, 6320 Portorož, tel. +386 05 6742220
Tourist Office Piran, Tartinijev trg 2
6330 Piran, tel. +386 05 6734440
ticpi@portoroz.si, www.portoroz.si
Tourist Office Izola, Ljubljanska ulica 17
6310 Izola, tel. +386 05 6401050
Tourist Office Koper, Titov trg 3
6000 Koper, tel. +386 05 6646403
tic@koper.si, www.koper.si
IAT Muggia
via Roma 20, Muggia, tel. + 39 04 0273259
Tourist Office FVG - Trieste
Via dell’Orologio, 1 tel. +39 040 3478312
nfo.trieste@turismo.fvg.it
Ferries: the Muggia-Trieste line is active every
day (limited number of bikes)
1
2
3
4
1 Koper - Capodistria, former salt warehouse
3 Koper - Capodistria, Praetorian Palace
2 Trieste, Grand Canal
4 Sečovlje salt mines, the Parenzana cycling path
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
Leaving Portorož (Portorose), an illuminated tunnel leads us to the Štrungan
(Strugnano) salt mines – included in the
beautiful coastal nature park – and from
here the cycling path leads us towards
the town of Izola (isola) pedalling along
the foot of the hills.
Having visited the wonderful historical
centre you arrive near the coast and
can enjoy the panorama from above,
with a vast spectacular view over the
cobalt blue of the Gulf of Trieste. The
time has come to make a triumphant
entrance into Koper (Capodistria), which
is announced by its high bell-tower: it is
one of the most characteristic historical
centres in Istria and the only commercial
port in Slovenia, as well as being one
of the most important in the Upper
Adriatic.
After visiting the town carefully – not
only the splendid Tito Square but also
the smaller squares, the wells, the lions
of St. Mark, the majestic gates, the old
port – you continue cycling and immediately come to the Strunjan (Strugnano)
5
5 Strunjan - Strugnano, tunnel on the Parenzana
cycling path
Nature Reserve, a stretch of sea captured
by the mainland which reminds us how
Koper (Capodistria) was an island in the
past. It is the largest salt mars area in
Slovenia, known for the abundance of its
flora and fauna.
From here it is only a short distance to
the border: you go back up the Rižana
valley and, slightly uphill, you are already
in Škofije and at the Rabula border. Then
you head towards Trieste on a mixed
traffic road, cutting transversally across
the headland where Muggia rises.
19
Second week’s journey
The road
of the Serenissima
Portorož - Koper - Trieste - Venezia
Bike and boat among beaches and the lagoon
1
1
From Portorož (Portorosa) and Koper (Capodistria) you reach Trieste and the Gulf with the same name thanks to a ferry from Muggia. Then you climb the Carso using the cycling path of Val Rosandra, with splendid sea views: then you carry on towards Basovizza
and then easily descend towards Duino, embellished by the cliffs
overhanging the water and the beautiful castle. As an alternative
from Trieste you can go by train to the town of Monfalcone. Now
you are in “Bisiacaria” – a land between the rivers Timavo and Isonzo
– which you cross to reach Grado, suspended between land, sea,
lagoon, rivers and canals.
Then you pass through Aquileia, a jewel of Roman and Byzantine
art, continuing then towards the Marano lagoon and Lignano Sabbiadoro. There is also the possibility of arriving here by boat from
Grado.
Then you go to Bibione to head towards the Concordia Sagittaria
archaeological site and the beautiful centre of Portogruaro, resting on the banks of the river Lemene.
After this you go towards the coastal area along the seaside cycle
paths: Caorle, Eraclea, Cortellazzo to then reach Jesolo and Cavallino, the orchards of the Venetian lagoon.
From Punta Sabbioni, with a short motor-vessel ride, you arrive
on the island of Lido of Venice, which you can ride around and
then take the ferry to Pellestrina which takes us into an authentic
atmosphere, between the sea and the lagoon, until you arrive in
front of Chioggia.
As an alternative, from Lido you can go to Venice, a natural place to
stop during this journey on the Serenissima routes.
20
3
3
5
I
SI
Palmanova
Portogruaro
Lignano
Sabbiadoro Grado
2
Trieste
Caorle
VENEZIA
PORTOROŽ
PORTOROSE
Jesolo
Cavallino
Punta Treporti
Sabbioni
Lido di Venezia
Chioggia
mare Adriatico
Jadransko morje
HR
4
1 Portorož - Portorose, Landscape
2 Koper - Capodistria, Brolo Square
3 Grado, beach
4 Duino Castle, panoramic view
5 Bibione, beach and lighthouse
6 Venice-Mestre, San Giuliano Park
ROUTE INFORMATION
6
Arrival: Venice
Length: 400 km
Conditions: route with some short stretches
of dirt roads
Indications: an easy route with asphalted roads, suitable for everyone, except for the stage
near Trieste which has some uphill climbs and
gravel stretches which can be avoided by train.
Inter-modality: bike + boat
STAGES
1.Portorož - Koper - Muggia - Trieste
The Gulf of Trieste (km 31)
2.Trieste - Duino - Monfalcone - Grado
Between the Karst and the sea (km 100)
3.Grado - Aquileia - Lignano Sabbiadoro
The Marano lagoon (km 82)
4.Lignano Sabbiadoro - Concordia Sagittaria Portogruaro
Along the Lemene (km 52)
5.Portogruaro - Caorle - Eraclea - Jesolo Cavallino - Punta Sabbioni
The coastline of the Veneto (km 77)
6.Punta Sabbioni - Lido di Venezia - Pellestrina Chioggia
The islands of Venice (km 23)
21
Kra
Second week | 1 day
st
The Gulf of Trieste
Portorož - Koper - Muggia - Trieste
Pedalling along the seafront on a cycling path
to reach the town
s C
ar
Trieste
Adriatico
Jadransko morje
&
&
Koper - Capodistria
HR
Arrival: Trieste
Length: km 31 (Portorož-Muggia)
Conditions: a good separate cycling path almost
everywhere
USEFUL ADDRESSES
22
I
Muggia
ROUTE INFORMATION
This trip perfectly blends the sea and culture, the golden sands with
history and nature with art.
Using a spectacular cycling path right near the edge of the water
along the Adriatic you pass by the famous seaside resort and spa
Portorož (Portorose) and reach Izola (Isola) and Koper (Capodistria), where the traces of the glorious past are still present as well as
the close and intense ties to Venice.
Strolling along the picturesque paved streets you can admire many
Gothic villas, colonnades, beautiful churches and high bell-towers.
Then you cross over the border reaching Muggia – the only Italian
town which geographically belongs to Istria with particularly Venetian characteristics – which looks directly over the Gulf of Trieste.
From here you catch a ferry which quickly takes you to the central
dock of the capital city of the region.
so
Obala 16, Portorož, tel. +386 05 6742220
Tourist Office Piran
Tartinijev trg 2, Piran, tel. +386 05 6734440
ticpi@portoroz.si, www.portoroz.si
Tourist Office Izola
Ljubljanska ulica 17, Izola, tel. +386 05 6401050
Tourist Office Koper
Titov trg 3, Koper, tel. +386 05 6646403
tic@koper.si, www.koper.si
IAT Muggia
via Roma 20, Muggia, tel. + 39 040 273259
Touristic Office FVG -Trieste
Via dell’Orologio, 1 tel. +39 040 3478312
info.trieste@turismo.fvg.it
Trieste railway station
piazza della Libertà 8, Trieste
www.trenitalia.com
Ferries: the Muggia-Trieste line is active daily
(limited number of bikes)
1
2
3
4
1 Portorož - Portorose, beaches
3 Muggia, harbour
2 Koper - Capodistria, Tito Square
4 Trieste, Miramare Castle
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
To reach the pulsating heart of Trieste
from the spectacular Istrian coast we
advise you to use the sea route, which
will get you to Muggia, and tothe chief
city of the region, offering you the
breathtaking view of the town sheltering on a sort of amphitheatre overhanging the gulf.
For references to the cycling path from
Portorož (Portorose) to Muggia – see
the description of the sixth stage of the
first week’s trip.
When you arrive near the picturesque
historical centre of Muggia you must
have a good visit at the small port
(Mandracchio), the old circle of walls
showing gates topped by lions of St.
Mark and the castle which dominates
the city, and for those who are better
trained in uphill rides, the old sanctuary
of Saint Mary of the Assumption which
dates back to the XIII century; then you
can catch the convenient ferry (limited
number of bikes) which brings you
in to Trieste with spectacular views.
Once you get off you are immediately
in the heart of the city, Unity of Italy
Square, surrounded by numerous villas
and public buildings, like the Trieste
Town Hall, the building of the Regional
5
5 Trieste, Roman theatre
council of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the
Prefecture, as well as historical coffee
houses. There are so many interesting
places to visit in this city where you can
still breathe the air of Central Europe:
from the Revoltella Museum to the Natural History Museum, from the Museum
of the Sea to the Town Theatre, from
the Cathedral of Saint Justus to the
Synagogue, from the Serbian-Orthodox
church of Saint Spyridon to the Greek
Orthodox church of Saint Nicholas,
from the Miramare Castle to the Saint
Justus castle, from the Roman Theatre
to Richard’s Arch.
23
Second week | 2nd day
Between the Karst and
the sea
Trieste - Duino - Monfalcone - Grado
Pedalling between land and water, sea and lagoon,
canals and groves of reeds
From Unità Square, heart of the city, you reach the San Giacomo district, where the Giordano Cottur cycling path starts from, a constant,
gentle uphill ride, it leads to the Karst overlooking the Rosandra
Valley, one of the most interesting nature sites in the territory.
Then you go to Draga Sant’Elia, you leave the cycling path which
you followed here from Trieste to go towards Basovizza; continue
alongside the Karst Plateau and then easily ride down to Duino,
where there is the famous castle, also celebrated by Rainer Maria
Rilke. You soon reach Monfalcone: for those who are not so well
trained we advise catching the train from Trieste to Monfalcone.
From here a splendid route starts along the estuary of the Soča,
among nature parks, reeds, valleys, gulfs, canals, lagoons, little islands (the sanctuary of the Madonna di Barbana), a paradise for nature lovers and birdwatchers.
You then arrive in the historical centre of Grado, enhanced by its
insularity and the presence of extraordinary monuments such as
the Cathedral of Saint Euphemia, the baptistery and cathedral of St.
Mary of Graces.
24
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Trieste
Arrival: Grado
Length: 100 km from Trieste (40 km from
Monfalcone using the train service from Trieste to
Monfalcone)
Conditions: some long stretches are on protected
cycling paths (Trieste – Draga S. Elia and Punta
Sdobba – Grado), others on mixed traffic roads
Indications: present from Monfalcone to Grado
route FVG 2
Inter-modality: bike + train
USEFUL ADDRESSES
Tourist Office FVG - Grado,
Viale D. Alighieri, 66 tel. +39 0431 877111
info.grado@turismo.fvg.it;
Trieste Railway Station
piazza della Libertà 8, Trieste
www.trenitalia.com
Monfalcone Railway Station
piazza della Stazione 1
Monfalcone - www.trenitalia.com
1
2
I
So
o
nz
Iso
/
ča
Monfalcone &
Kr
Duino
as
Ca
rs
o
&
GRADO
3 Grado, lagoon
2 Duino, view of the Karst towards Slovenia
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
This route starts from the spectacular
cycling-walking path, named after the
champion from Trieste Giordano Cottur,
from Trieste it leads to the Karst using
the nineteenth century Trieste-Hrpelje
railway line, using the narrow viaducts
and tunnels. At the start from the San
Giacomo district, there is also an information centre. You go back up the wild
Rosandra valley, the route of an ancient
spice and salt road, dominated by a
picturesque little church, Holy Mary in
Siaris – clinging to a rock spur. At Draga
Saint Elijah at the Slovenian border,
go towards the left in the direction of
Basovizza; you pass through Opicina,
Borgo Grotta Gigante, Rupinpiccolo
and Sgonico, on the far side of the Karst
&
Adriatico
Jadransko morje
3
1 Trieste, Audace pier
TRIESTE
Plateau, to then descend to the sea at
Sistiana and Duino, a well-known resort
for its castle as well as the wonderful
Falesie di Duino Nature Reserve and for
the panoramic “Rilke Path”.
Having crossed the Timav, you enter
Bisiacaria, (an unconfirmed word
origin says it derives from the Latin bis
aquaei), a historical region between
the estuaries of the Timav and the Soča
with its traditions, history, culture and
language. You then arrive in Monfalcone: we advise this route only for
those who are well trained, while we
suggest that all the others catch the
train from Trieste to Monfalcone.
From Monfalcone a pleasant cycling
path starts which touches three very
SI
important nature areas: the Regional
Nature Reserve Estuary of the Soča, the
Nature Oasis of Caneo and the Cavanata Valley Regional Nature Reserve.
When you reach Punta Sdobba and the
huge reed beds among mudflats and
sandbanks at the estuary of the Soča,
you cycle along a spectacular river bank
where there is a blending of the sounds
of the backwash, the smell of the sea,
the view of the Istrian coast and the
never-ending expanse of the Bonifica
della Vittoria (Victory Land Reclamation).
Remaining on a cycling path you reach
the splendid town of Grado, a jewel of
art and history.
25
Second week | 3rd day
The Marano Lagoon
Grado - Aquileia - Lignano Sabbiadoro
From Grado and Aquileia to the Marano Lagoon and the
estuary of the Tagliamento river near Lignano Sabbiadoro
This stage can be carried out by bike and by boat, it makes its way
into the lagoon habitat of Grado and Marano until reaching the seaside resort of Lignano Sabbiadoro. It is a private service and must be
booked, with the possibility of embarking at Grado, Terzo di Aquileia
(estuaries of the river Ausa), Marano and Lignano Sabbiadoro.
Alternatively, the cycling route goes around the Marano lagoon
touching on important historical sites. You pass through Aquileia, a
magical archaeological site, a rich empire during Roman times and
the administrative centre during the X Reign (Venetia et Histria). It took
on an important role with the arrival of Christianity, becoming the
largest diocese of the whole Middle Ages (Patriarchy of Aquileia). It
is a Unesco World Heritage site due to the exceptional value of the
enormous archaeological areas and the early Christian mosaics in the
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, which represent a fundamental stage in Italian history of art.
When you arrive at Cervignano, turn to the west towards Torviscosa,
an example of urban rationalism during the fascist period, or go north
for 10 kilometres following the cycle path indications. This way you
reach the fortress city of Palmanova, a masterpiece of Friuli military
architecture thanks to the nine-pointed star shape and the hexagonal central square. At the gates of the town there is the picturesque
medieval village Strassoldo which still treasures the Upper and Lower castles and the church of Holy Mary in Vineis. Taking once again
the road towards Lignano Sabbiadoro, you pass through reclaimed
countryside and come upon the centres of Marano lagoon, Preceicco
on the Stella river and ride alongside the edge of the lagoon until
reaching the well-known seaside resort.
26
1
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Grado
Arrival: Lignano Sabbiadoro
Length: km 82
Conditions: a long stretch of cycling path from
Grado to Cervignano, then the route progresses
on very light traffic roads (except CervignanoTorviscosa)
Indications: present (except some parts)
USEFUL ADDRESSES
Infopoint Turismo FVG
Grado: tel. +39 0431 877111
Aquileia: tel. +39 0431 919491
Lignano Sabbiadoro: tel +39: 0431 71821
Transport: SAF – Società autoservizi FVG
tel. chiamata gratuita 800 915303 (from land line)
+39 0432 524406 (from mobile)
e-mail: numeroverde@saf.ud.it
Boat service: www.friuliinbarca.it
tel +39 339 633 02 88
www.lagoonboatexcursionsaquileia.it
tel. +39 333 257 12 59
2
3
Palmanova
Stella
Cervignano
del Friuli
Tag
liam
&
Ausa
Aquileia
&
So
o
ent
Marano Lagunare
ča
/I
so
nz
o
Laguna di Grado
&
LIGNANO SABBIADORO
4
1 Grado, Cathedral of Saint Euphemia
3 Grado, tourist harbour
2 Marano, casoni in the lagoon
4 Aquileia, archaeological area
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
You leave Grado following the cycle
path built alongside the trans-lagoon
bridge, up to Belvedere where the route
connects to the new path built on the
former railway line Cervignano-Belvedere.
At Aquileia, one of the capitals of history
and art in Friuli, you park your bike to
relive the fascination of history strolling
in the archaeological area, to visit the
national museum and the Cathedral of
St. Mary of the Assumption. Follow the
cycling path again to reach Cervignano
and, if you have time, you can make a
short detour to the north on the Alpe
Adria cycle path to reach the village of
Strassoldo and the fortress city of Palmanova. Turning back, pedalling with
no difficulty, head towards Torviscosa,
an urban centre built during the fascist
period following the development of
the cellulose and artificial fibre cloth
industries.
Now the route leads into lower Friuli
among artificial and natural canals,
passing close to the villages of San
Giorgio di Nogaro and Carlino: head
south towards the Marano lagoon to
reach the beautiful centre, where you
can feel the centuries-old influence
of the Republic of Saint Mark. Among
canals and squares we can admire the
nice fishermen’s houses, the loggia, the
Palace of the Proveditors and the thousand-year-old tower. Continue along
the spectacular edge of the lagoon and
you pass through Precenicco and then
you reach the Foci dello Stella Natural
&
GRADO
Reserve. Then you head south, towards
the beautiful peninsula where Lignano
Sabbiadoro rises between the sea and
the lagoon. In the 1960’s it became one
of the most well-known resorts on the
Adriatic. The stage has another “flavour”
if you do it by boat: the environment of
the lagoon is exalted by the perspective
from the water. In an hour’s slow sailing
you can be absorbed into the silence
of a natural environment full of aromas
and golden reflections. The boat goes
close to the fishermen’s islands with
the characteristic casoni of the valley.
We advise you to embark at the source
of the Ausa river in the town of Terzo di
Aquileia and reach the tourist resort of
Lignano Sabbiadoro.
27
Aquileia
Second week | 4th day
Along the Lemene
Lignano Sabbiadoro - Concordia Sagittaria Portogruaro
From the pine woods to one of the most interesting
archaeological areas in the Veneto region,
Concordia Sagittaria
Once you have visited the three centres on the Lignano peninsula
(Sabbiadoro, Pineta and Riviera) you head towards the estuary of
the Tagliamento river, crossing this means entering the Veneto region: we are already in Bibione, another well-know tourist resort
situated at the estuary of the Tagliamento river and which can be
reached with a detour on a protected cycling path.
We are now alongside the canals and fishing areas north of the
Caorle lagoon, with beautiful swans and casoni - characteristic fishing huts made out of wood with thatched roofs, also used by the
fishermen for sleeping – with landing areas, boats and wooden
bridges; fields stretching out as far as the eye can see.
After Lugugnana you head towards Castello di Brussa, where we suggest a detour to visit the magnificent Vallevecchia area, with thick
Mediterranean pine woods and a beautiful natural beach. Once you
arrive near Sindacale, you head north and reach Concordia Sagittaria, an important Roman town with impressive monuments like
the Cathedral of St. Stephan, the Bishop’s Palace and the XI century
Baptistery.
Just a few kilometres away, on the banks of the river Lemene, there
is the picturesque town of Portogruaro.
28
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Lignano Sabbiadoro
Arrival: Portogruaro
Length: 52 km
Conditions: almost all the route is on mixed
traffic roads, although light traffic apart from a
couple of stretches along B roads
USEFUL ADDRESSES
IAT Tourist Information Office Caorle
Rio Terrà delle Botteghe 3
30021 Caorle
tel. +39 041 5298711
info@turismovenezia.it
1
2
Stella
liam
&
Tag
PORTOGRUARO
&
o
ent
Laguna di Marano
Castello
di Brussa
Le
m
en
e
Laguna
di Caorle
LIGNANO
SABBIADORO
&
Bibione
3
1 Concordia Sagittaria, Cathedral of St. Stephan
3 Bibione, pine wood and lighthouse
2 Portogruaro, historical centre on the Lemene
4 Bibione, beach
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
You leave Lignano Sabbiadoro pedalling along the lively main road of the
tourist resort, then you go once again
into the marshy, salty area, among
fishing areas and tortuous water flows,
until you cross the Tagliamento bridge
which brings you into the province of
Venice. Here we are at Bibione, a spa
and tourist resort just recently created
with one of the busiest beaches in
Italy.
The route goes along narrow roads
which lead into a vast territory which
was reclaimed at the beginning of the
twentieth century and that transformed the marshy land into stretches
of fields where, among others, the
4
Caorle
famous white asparagus of Bibione is
cultivated.
When you arrive in Lugugnana after a
short stretch on a B road, head south
towards the Brussa Castle: nearby
there is the nature area called Vallevecchia (or “Brussa”), which deserves a
thorough visit. Carrying on pedalling
among river banks and canals, you
go west towards the offshoots of
the Caorle lagoon, at a place called
Sindacale you cross the B road and
go up the Nicesolo canal, which flows
into the Lemene river in the direction
of the lovely town, Concordia Sagittaria. The town is of Roman origin
(Julia Concordia) and still has a large
archaeological area enriched by the
presence of the cathedral and baptistery. Following the calm waters of
the Lemene river, continue north until
you reach Portogruaro, a beautiful
town with a typical Veneto influence;
Gothic buildings line the main street,
the fourteenth century town loggia
and the Cathedral with its leaning
bell-tower. It also gives us some magical views thanks to the bridges and
mills on the Lemene. Don’t miss a visit
to the Concordia National Archaeological Museum.
Portoguaro is in the centre of the area
well-known for its wine production
Lison Pramaggiore.
29
Second week | 5° giorno
The Veneto coast
Portogruaro - Caorle - Eraclea - Jesolo Cavallino - Punta Sabbioni
Pedalling along the coastal cycling path
More water and reclaimed land, drawbridges, water pumps, drop
nets, casoni, canals, river banks. Also infinite horizons and red sunsets on twinkling water.
From the historical centres of Portogruaro and Concordia Sagittaria we go towards Caorle, riding alongside the network of canals
which make up the Veneto coastline, a waterway which connects
the Gulf of Trieste to the Venetian lagoon. You pedal along the socalled “Cycle path of the beaches”.
There are many opportunities for observation and places to visit,
from the Caorle lagoon to places like Brian and its “vinciane locks”
which stop the salt water from coming into the network of canals in
the reclaimed area.
Don’t forget a visit to the Eraclea mare pine woods – planted to
protect the reclaimed land behind it from high tides – as well as
the monumental water pump at Torre di Fine, showing the great
drying operation carried out in the marshes. Then the Laguna del
Mort – the old estuary of the river Piave, now a natural oasis - , and
the bridge made out of boats on the present estuary of the Piave, at
Cortellazzo. Then you arrive in the town centre of Jesolo, with the
flow of the river Sile and the Venetian lagoon, which accompanies
us to Cavallino, Treporti and Punta Sabbioni, which are also wellknown tourist resorts.
30
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Portogruaro
Arrival: Cavallino-Treporti-Punta Sabbioni
Length: 77 km
Conditions: almost all the route is on mixed
traffic roads, although light traffic apart from a
couple of stretches along B roads
Indications: present, cycle path I 3
USEFUL ADRESSES
IAT Tourist Information Office Caorle
Rio Terrà delle Botteghe
30021 Caorle, tel. +39 041 5298711
IAT Tourist Information Office Jesolo
piazza Brescia 13, 30016 Jesolo
tel +39 041 5298711, info@turismo venezia.it
IAT Tourist Information Office Punta Sabbioni
piazzale Punta Sabbioni, 30010 Cavallino Treporti
tel. +39 041 5298711, info@turismovenezia.it
PORTOGRUARO
&
&
Liv
en
za
Le
m
en
Piav
e
Sile
Laguna di Venezia
1
Caorle
Jesolo
&
&
e
Eraclea Mare
CAVALLINO - TREPORTI
PUNTA SABBIONI
2
1 Caorle, casoni on the fishermen’s island
3
3 Jesolo beach and the lighthouse at the Sile estuary
2 River Sile, bridge made of boats
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
From Portogruaro you turn back passing through Concordia Sagittaria and
Sindacale once again: from here you
turn towards the south-east heading
towards Caorle and its lagoon. Then
you pass near Ca’ Corniani, a rural village, which deserves a stop due to its
particular urban structure, developed
around a large agricultural industry
which employed a great number of
farm workers. See the cellars and the
two squares enclosed in the rural
buildings.
Then you cross the Livenza thanks to
a characteristic bridge and we reach
a very particular environment, which
bewitched even Ernest Hemingway,
the writer who set his novel Across the
River and into the Trees in this place.
We suggest a short detour on a cycling
path to reach Falconera, one of the
most impressive natural areas in the
Veneto region, silence, rustling leaves,
birds calling, and the many casoni
(fishing huts) with their characteristic
thatched roofs. In Caorle you must visit
the XI century cathedral, characterised
by its cylindrical bell-tower in Romanesque style, visible from far away.
Continue to Porto Santa Margherita
– a tourist resort well-known for its
well-equipped marina– to reach the
Laguna del Mort, the dead branch of
the estuaries of the Piave river which
has become a precious nature oasis.
Then we are at the sea in Eraclea – the
umpteenth tourist resort – you go
over a picturesque bridge made out of
boats which crosses the river Piave, the
river with its estuary which flows out
into the sea here in Cortellazzo.
Keeping to the orographic right on the
Cavetta canal – theatre of bloody battles during the Great War – you arrive
in the town of Jesolo. Going up the Sile
river (or old Piave), on the right bank
you arrive at the Cavallino Navigation
Lock, with its old harbour built by the
Serenissima in 1632. From here you
follow the Casson canal and then go
along the evocative via Pordello, you
ride alongside the lagoon until you
reach Cavallino, Treporti and Punta
Sabbioni, where you embark for Lido
and Venice.
31
Second week | 6 day
th
Punta
Sabbioni
&
Venezia
The Islands of Venice
&
&
Punta Sabbioni - Lido di Venezia
Pellestrina - Chioggia
&
&
Cavallino - Treporti
LIDO DI VENEZIA
Malamocco
Pellestrina
Adriatico
Jadransko morje
CHIOGGIA
Discovering the islands of the Venetian lagoon,
among the ancient capitals of the Doges,
natural oasis, picturesque fishermen’s villages
Pedalling along the narrow strip of land which divides the sea from
the lagoon means perceiving the delicate balance maintained for
centuries between these two different environments and the great
effort the Serenissima made towards this end.
Having arrived at the Lido of Venice with the ferry from Punta Sabbioni, you pedal alongside famous hotels which bring the Belle
Epoque to mind, to then continue along the murazzi, a centuries old
barrier system to defend the Lido from the sea. You reach the small
historical centre of Malamocco, which still has its fascination of days
gone by, when it was even the capital of the Venetian dogate.
Touching the edges of the lagoon you reach Alberoni – an interesting natural oasis - here you catch the ferry for the island of Pellestrina.
Now you enter the fishing kingdom: most of the inhabitants of the
three main districts – Portosecco, San Pietro in Volta and Pellestrina – still carry out this activity to this day. Among glimpses of the
lagoon, moored fishing boats, sheets hung out to dry and fishing
casoni, you reach the southern tip of the island, where you can visit
the Ca’ Roman natural oasis and enjoy the splendid view of Chioggia which is opposite.
32
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Punta Sabbioni
Arrival: Chioggia
Length: 23 km
Conditions: route on mixed traffic roads, with
some kilometres of asphalted cycling path and
one stretch (on the Pellestrina island) dirt road
USEFUL ADRESSES
IAT Tourist Information Office Punta Sabbioni
piazzale Punta Sabbioni, 30010 Cavallino Treporti
IAT Tourist Information Office Chioggia
Centro storico, Palazzo Ravagnan, Riva Vena 895
30030 Chioggia, tel. +39 041 5298711
IAT Tourist Information Office Venezia
1 Lido of Venice, view over the lagoon
2 Venetian lagoon, fishermen’s houses
3 Venetian lagoon, gondola
1
4 Malamocco (Venice), historical centre
2
3
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
The Lido of Venice island offers many
ideas for excursions, from the many
Liberty style villas to the important
monastery of Saint Nicholas, from the
monumental Jewish cemetery to the
more recent Votive Temple.
Starting out from piazzale Santa Maria
Elisabetta head towards the promenade
passing by the huge former Hotel Des
Bains and Hotel Excelsior, with their
characteristic Moorish style. You pedal
on a cement surface along the ancient
walls reaching Malamocco, the ancient
Metamauco, where there is the beautiful
XV century Palace of the Podestà and the
church of Holy Mary of the Assumption.
Then – after a panoramic ride with a
view of some little islands – you reach
Alberoni, where there is a prestigious
golf club and the interesting oasis of
the Alberoni Dunes, managed by the
WWF. When you reach the entrance to
the canal which connects the sea to the
lagoon – the harbour mouth - , you catch
the ferry-boat which gets you to Pellestrina island in about 10 minutes. Here
you continue on a well signed cycling
path into the small town centres on this
picturesque little island. The first place
is San Pietro in Volta, which you cross
on the lagoon side, riding past many
moored fishing boats. In the doorways
4
you can still see some old ladies working
tombolo lace, a tradition which can be
seen in the local Lace Museum.
Long rows of clothes hanging out to dry
at the windows welcome the cyclists,
and you can often see the locals organising barbeques on the banks, roasting the
fish which has just been caught.
Then you pass through Portosecco
and reach Pellestrina, where there is
All Saints’ Church. When you get to the
landing stage of the ferry for Chioggia,
you can instead continue along a route
at the edge of the lagoon, unprotected,
which in 2 kilometres leads you to the
very interesting Ca’ Roman natural oasis.
33
Third week’s journey
The road of the
merchants and the burci
Venezia - Delta del Po - Ravenna
By bike from the city of the Doges
to the capital of mosaics
From Venice you head to Padua along the Brenta canal, where
many villas are reflected; in the city of the Saint (Padua) you can
enjoy visiting monuments such as the Scrovegni Chapel, St. Anthony’s Cathedral, the Specola.
Then you reach the foot of the Euganean Hills (Colli Euganei)
where there are the spas of Abano and Montegrotto; from here
you follow the ancient waterway until reaching Chioggia. Then
you go towards the Po Delta with an amphibian route through
the estuaries of the rivers Brenta, Adige and Po.
Finally you reach Adria, a small, very old town, as can be seen at
the National Archaeological Museum.
Now you are in Polesine and you carry on to enter Emilia Romagna
and visit the Bosco Mesola Nature Reserve: from here you quickly
arrive at Goro and Gorino.
Then you ride past the famous IX century Pomposa Abbey to
reach the historical centre of Commacchio; now it is time to pass
through the fishing areas (for the eels) and the former salt mines,
visiting the places of “Garibaldi’s march”.
Going alongside the Ravenna pine woods and beaches you are
coming to the end of your journey, which finishes in the extraordinary historical centre, which hosts eight Unesco monuments:
the Basilica of Saint Apollinaire Nuovo, the Basilica of Saint Apollinaire in Classe, the Mausoleum of Theodoric, the Mausoleum of
Galla Placidia, the Basilica of Saint Vitale, the Arian Baptistery, the
Neonian Baptistery, The Archiepiscopal Chapel.
34
1
1
3
3
5
VENEZIA
Padova
Parco Regionale
d. Colli Euganei
Chioggia
mare Adriatico
Jadransko morje
Adria
2
Goro
Comacchio
Parco Regionale
d. Delta del Po
Parco Regionale
d. Valli di Comacchio
RAVENNA
4
1 Venice, St. Mark’s Square
2 Padua, Villa Dolfin-Kofler
3 Adria, Canalbianco
4 Lidi di Comacchio, beaches
5 Comacchio, fishing for eels
6 Ravenna, mosaic from the Arian Baptistery
ROUTE INFORMATION
6
Starting point: Venice
Arrival: Ravenna
Length: 350 km
Conditions: easy route, mainly asphalted,
suitable for everyone
Inter-modality: bike + boat, bike + train
STAGES
1.Venezia - Padova
The Riviera del Brenta (km 50)
2.Padua - Abano e Montegrotto Terme - Chioggia
The salt and sugar road of (km 66)
3.Chioggia - Porto Viro - Adria
The road of the valleys (km 84)
4.Adria - Goro
Crossing the Delta del Po (km 46,5)
5.Goro - Comacchio
Between the park and the sea (km 32)
6.Comacchio - Sant’Alberto - Ravenna
Among valleys, beaches and pine woods (km 65)
35
Third week | 1st day
The Riviera del Brenta
Venezia - Padova
The ancient road of the Burchiello where the villas of the
nobles are reflected in the river
1
The Rivera del Brenta has been mentioned by many travellers and
writers, first of all Carlo Goldoni, as an ideal place for a holiday where
the Venetian nobility between the XV and XVIII centuries built luxurious summer homes, transforming it into the fashionable canal, ideal extension of the Grand Canal itself.
You can still breathe in an idyllic atmosphere along the canal, that is
the old riverbed before it was deviated by the Serenissima outside
the lagoon, to avoid it being covered.
You pedal amongst willows, secular parks, dozens of historical villas
(even monumental ones, such as Villa Widmann and Villa Foscari
“La Malcontenta” in Mira) which are reflected in the calm waters
of the waterway which for centuries has seen the passage of the
famous Burchiello, the boat which every day connected the Serenissima to Padua, the well-known university town.
You continue to Stra, in front of the splendid National Villa, you leave
the canal and follow the Piovego canal which leads into Padua the
city of the Saint, with its numerous jewels: the Scrovegni Chapel
frescoed by Giotto, the old palace of the university (the Bò), St. Anthony’s Cathedral, the Regional Palace, the central piazze delle Erbe
e della Frutta, the huge Prato della Valle. You can visit all these on
your saddle.
36
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Venezia
Arrival: Padova
Length: 50 km
Conditions: mixed traffic route on light traffic B
roads, dirt cycle path from Stra but easy, up to the
centre of Padua, where it is asphalted
USEFUL ADDRESSES
IAT Tourist Information Office Padova
tel. +39 049 8752077, info@turismopadova.it
IAT Tourist Information Office Venezia
Regional Institute Venetian Villas, Villa Venier
Contarini
via Capitello Albrizzi 3, 30034 Mira
tel. +39 041 5235606, www.irvv.net
villevenete@pecveneto.it
Supervised bike parking:
Padova, piazzale Stazione, tel. +39 049 8759608
Bike hire and repair in Padua:
list of bike services on the website
www.turismopadova.it, www.padovainbici.it
Railway stations: Venezia S. Lucia, Venezia-Mestre, Mira-Mirano, Dolo, Vigonza-Pianiga, Ponte di
Brenta, Padova
2
&
Brent
a
&
&
&
&
Riviera
nta
del Bre
&
VENEZIA
lione
Bacchig
PADOVA
Mira
Dolo
Stra
Mestre
3
1 Padua, Scrovegni Chapel
2 Padua, Prato della Valle
3 Villa Giovanelli-Colonna
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
From Venice you go over the bridge
– Ponte della Libertà (while waiting
for the opening of the cycling path)
passing by Mestre train station and the
centre of Marghera on urban cycling
lanes; then you cycle along the winding
and pleasant via Colombara, next to
the old towers – Torre Colombara – the
nineteenth century Tron Fortress to
reach Oriago, a town mentioned by
Dante in the V canto of his Purgatory.
Here you go to the orographic right
of the Brenta canal and the numerous
and famous villas start to appear: it
is certainly one of the most famous
river towns in Italy and the light traffic
allows you to enjoy it. You go past the
pleasant towns along the river which
are reflected in its waters, characterised
by the presence of many locks and
also a fair movement of boats, not only
touristic. The towns are vivacious, there
is no lack of squares and shops and the
factories remind us that we are in the
famous shoe-making area of the Riviera
del Brenta.
Passing through Mira and Dolo, you
reach Villa Pisani in Stra, “The Queen of
the Venetian Villas”, a national monument which contains among others
some of Giambattista Tiepolo’s famous
frescoes. Don’t miss the large park, with
a maze, orangery and green houses.
Now leave the flow of the Naviglio and
– following the precise cycling indications – head towards Padua, riding
alongside the Piovego canal, which is
part of the network of canals around
Padua.
Keeping the canal on your left you
pedal on a dirt road and reach Noventa
Padovana, in front of the eighteenth
century villa Giovanelli-Colonna, with
a monumental staircase and Classic
pronaos. Then you pass the outskirts of
the town up to the cycling path built
on the banks of the San Gregorio and
Scaricatore canal, which leads into
the centre of Padua. You enter the city
through Prato della Valle, one of the
biggest squares in Europe.
37
Third week | 2nd day
The salt and sugar road
Padova - Abano and Montegrotto Terme Chioggia
From Padua to Chioggia along ancient canals
1
This stage coincides with the old trade route which connected Padua to Chioggia. Leaving the historical centre of Padua you head towards the river ring of the city, on the right bank of the Battaglia
canal, heading towards the pointed outlines of the Euganean Hills.
In the distance you can see the famous hotels of the biggest spa resort in Europe: Abano and Montegrotto. You reach Battaglia Terme,
natural gateway to the Euganean Hills Park and important river
junction: you can visit the interesting Civic Museum of River Navigation and admire the spectacular waterfall, regulated by the old
hydraulic post of “Arco di Mezzo”. From here you continue alongside
the winding Vigenzone canal towards Chioggia. The ancient canal
was the strategic waterway which hosted the “burci”, large transport
boats, which carried salt from Chioggia, sugar from Pontelongo and
“masegne” trachyte from the hills. The route first leads to Bovolenta,
then to Pontelongo – the sugar town – characterised by the fine
town hall and Villa Foscarini Erizzo, and finally you reach Correzzola
a small centre with a sixteenth-century Benedictine court founded
by the monks who carried out important reclamation works in the
area.
On a river bank you pass by the Ca’ di Mezzo natural oasis and then
head towards Brondolo and Chioggia, a characteristic fishing town.
38
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Padova
Arrival: Chioggia
Length: 66 km
Conditions: easy route, almost always on
river banks, mostly asphalted, except for some
stretches of dirt road
Inter-modality: bike + train
USEFUL ADDRESSES
IAT Tourist Information Office Padova
tel. +39 049 8752077, info@turismopadova.it
IAT Tourist Information Office Battaglia Terme
tel. +39 049 9115996,
iatbattaglia@gmail.com
www.museonavigazione.eu
IAT Tourist Information Office SottomarinaChioggia
tel. +39 041 5298711,
Railway stations:
Padova, Terme Euganee-Abano-Montegrotto,
Pontelongo, Chioggia
2
&
PADOVA
Bacchig
Abano
Terme
&
Laguna
di Venezia
lione
Montegrotto Terme
&
Battaglia Terme
&
Parco Regionale
dei Colli Euganei
3
1
Bovolenta
&
Pontelongo
Brent
a
CHIOGGIA
&
4
1 Abano Terme, sources of the Montirone river
3 Due Carrare, Veneto countryside
2 Battaglia Terme, Civic Museum of River Navigation
4 Chioggia, Vena canal
Adige
Font Myriad pro
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
At Bassanello, where there is the cycling bridge over the Scaricatore canal,
you cross the water and then continue
on a dirt road alongside the Battaglia
canal.
After a long, straight route you reach
Battaglia Terme, where the waters join
the Bisato canal to form the Vigenzone
canal: here the water has been life,
energy source, means of communication and transport for more than eight
hundred years. From your saddle you
can observe the magnificent Castle of
the Catajo, a spectacular building with
350 rooms built in the XVI century by
the Obizzi family.
At Battaglia Terme – the gate to the
Euganean Hills Park – the role played
by rivers and canals is shown by the
Museum of River Navigation which reconstructs the history of the important
river port bringing together the history
and traditions of this centuries-old
activity.
Now the route continues winding
along the left bank of the Vigenzone
canal which touches on small villages
that evoke the water civilization –
Gorghizzolo, Gorgo, Bovolenta – characterised by the presence of walled
bridges, ancient mills, water pumps.
At Bovolenta you go onto the Bacchiglione heading towards Pontelungo (long
bridge – another name connected to
water) and its sugar refinery which has
been active since 1910. Don’t miss the
much felt “Votive Procession”, the first
Sunday in May, to thank the Madonna
who freed the village from the plague
in 1676, with a wooden votive bridge
over the Bacchiglione.
Now the river leads us towards
Correzzola: a metallic footbridge gets
you to the other side to reach the
sixteenth-century Benedictine court
built by the monks who began the
process of reclaiming the territory. You
soon approach the lagoon, the panorama flattens out and you begin to
see the twinkling surface of salt water
through the villages of Ca’ Bianca, Ca’
Pasqua and Brondolo, to then reach
the picturesque town on the lagoon
which welcomes you with a triumph
of fishing boats and brightly coloured
lugsails.
39
Third week | 3rd day
CHIOGGIA
The road of the valleys
Rosolina Mare
Chioggia - Porto Viro - Adria
An amphibian route amidst water and land
in the heart of the Po Delta Nature Park
You start out from the historical centre of Chioggia pedalling triumphantly among the narrow streets and passing right next to the
water along the picturesque Vena canal, which reminds us how the
main economic activity here is still fishing. Then you can gaze onto
the Lusenza lagoon and with a short detour you can visit Sottomarina, a well-known tourist resort.
Then it is time for the estuaries of the Brenta river followed by that of
the Adige, where you can find the Nordio Woods, precious remains
of an ancient wet woods plain area surrounded by great stretches of
fields where radicchio, “the rose of Chioggia” is also grown. Once you
have crossed the river Adige you can make a detour to reach the estuary, the beaches of Rosolina Mare and the Coastal Botanic Garden
at Porto Caleri, an important natural oasis.
Now you go onto the “road of the valleys”, a narrow asphalted road
which leads into a rarefied and isolated environment: here you can
come across colonies of pink flamingos. Near Albarella island the
road is interrupted, but a ferry gets you to the other side near Porto
Levante.
From the little fishing village you take up the road of the valleys once
again and go by one of the most fascinating areas of the Po Delta
Park until you reach Villaregia, where you meet the Po coming from
Venice. You go up onto the wide embankment of the great river until
Porto Viro, where the regional park is. Just a few more kilometres and
you reach Adria which is reflected in the waters of the Canalbianco.
40
&
Brenta
&
Adige
&
ADRIA
Po
Porto Viro
&
Parco Regionale Veneto
del Delta del Po
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Chioggia
Arrival: Adria
Length: 84 km
Conditions: easy route, on secondary roads and
embankments mostly asphalted
Inter-modality: bike + boat to Porto Levante
USEFUL ADDRESSES
IAT Tourist Information Office Rovigo
tel. +39 0425 386290
iat.rovigo@provincia.rovigo.it
www.polesineterratraduefiumi.it
IAT Tourist Information Office Rosolina
tel. +39 0426 326020
iat.rosolina@provincia.rovigo.it
Pro Loco - Tourist Office Adria, piazza Bocchi 1
tel. +39 0426 21675, info@prolocoadria.it
Railway stations : Chioggia, Cavarzere, Adria
Ferry:
Navigazione Marino Cacciatori
via G. Matteotti 304, Porto Tolle (Ca’ Tiepolo)
tel. +39 0426 380314
cell. +39 368 3817750/+39 338 8155581
www.marinocacciatori.it, info@marinocacciatori.it
1 Chioggia, historical centre
2 Po Delta, valleys
3 Po Delta, flamingos
1
4 Adria
2
3
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
Once you have left the centre of Chioggia and the beaches of Sottomarina,
go beyond the river Brenta towards
Brondolo, Ca’ Lino, Sant’Anna, this land
is dedicated to market gardening. In
fact, the agricultural landscape is characterised by small plots with huts and
tunnels where mainly radicchio, carrots,
onions and potatoes are grown. You
ride close to the Bosco Nordio Integral
Nature Reserve, where among the holly
oaks, and maritime pines there are
badgers, stone martens and many birds
such as marsh falcons and serins. When
you pass Cavanella d’Adige and cross
the river Adige, you enter the road
of the valleys, which greatly satisfies
birdwatchers: large fishing lakes and
lagoons, red sunsets, coots, herons and
pink flamingos. The narrow asphalted
road makes its way into the Boccavecchia valley, Canelle valley, Passarella
valley, Spolverina valley, Capitania
valley, Veniera valley; you can also visit
some centres where there are eel, sea
bream, sea bass and mullet nurseries.
It is advisable to make a detour to reach
Rosolina Mare beach and the Porto
Caleri Botanical Garden, a fascinating
oasis spread over 40 hectares.
Continue along the left bank of the
Po di Levante, behind Albarella island
which formed thanks to an accumulation of sediment carried by the great
river and which is now an exclusive
tourist resort. At the estuary of the
Po di Levante, a ferry service gets you
across the river so you can continue
4
the route along the delta, enhanced
by magical views. Continue inside the
Veneto Regional Park of the Po Delta,
then you go to the orographic right
of the Po di Maistra and then the Po
di Venezia, passing through Villaregia
and from the top of the riverbank you
overlook never-ending stretches planted with cereals. You reach the town of
Porto Viro and right after there is the
Volta Grimana lock, with its beautiful
naturalist oasis, which connects the
Po di Levante to the Po di Venezia.
Following the Canalbianco canal along
its right bank you reach the beautiful
old town of Adria, which gave its name
to a whole sea.
41
Third week | 4th day
The crossing of the
Delta del Po
Adria - Goro
&
ADRIA
Parco Regionale Veneto
del Delta del Po
Po di Venezia
Po di Goro
Mesola
Parco del Delta del Po
Emilia - Romagna GORO
&
Gorino
The Delta del Po, up to the estuary of the great river
The exploration of the Po Delta continues, this land whose history
has always been tied to water, formed by seven branches, different
environments which change and are modified from one season to
another. It is a young and wild territory, an incalculable treasure trove
of biodiversity, whose beauty attracts photographers and tourists
and also poets and writers.
Leaving Adria and its National Archaeological Museum you enter
the so-called Ariano island. Pedalling along the right bank of the Po
di Venezia you reach Taglio di Po where you go south in the direction of San Basilio. You must see the fossil dunes, the old medieval
church and the surprising archaeological area with Roman finds.
Start pedalling again following the flow of the river Po, go up along
the Po di Goro embankment until the gates of the village Porto Viro
– where at Ca’ Vendramin there is the Regional Reclamation Museum – then you head south along a B road to reach the bridge which
leads to Emilia-Romagna. You are in the town of Mesola, dominated
by the impressive sixteenth century castle, one of the nineteen Delizie Estensi (delights of the Este dynasty). Now you pedal along the
well-known cycling path of the Destra Po, passing alongside both
the Dindona Valley and a lovely bridge made out of boats on the
left – you can reach the Gorino lighthouse of Ferrara, where the Po
flows into the sea.
42
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Adria
Arrival: Goro (Gorino)
Length: 46,5 km (58 km to the estuary)
Conditions:easy route, on secondary roads and
embankments mostly asphalted, some stretches
with heavier traffic
USEFUL ADDRESSES
Pro Loco Tourist Office Adria
piazza Bocchi 1
tel. +39 0426 21675
info@prolocoadria.it
IAT Tourist Office Rovigo
tel. +39 0425 386 290
iat.rovigo@provincia.rovigo.it
www.polesineterratraduefiumi.it
Parco Regionale Veneto del Delta del Po
+39 0426 372202
info@parcodeltapo.org, www.parcodeltapo.org
2
1
3
1 Ariano nel Polesine, old Saint Basilio Church
2 Po Delta, water pump
4
4 Po Delta, flamingos in flight
3 Po Delta
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
From Adria you follow the right bank of
the Canalbianco, which you then leave
at Piantamelon to turn right towards
Bottrighe. Go over the bridge which
crosses the Po di Venezia going right
into the Po Delta, precisely into the
so-called Arian island, that vast territory
which originated from floods contained
within some branches of the Po di Goro
to the south, the Po di Venezia to the
north and the Po della Donzella to the
south-east. You are in an area called
Polesine and this area is subdivided
among the towns of Ariano nel Polesine,
Corbola and Taglio di Po.
When you have crossed the bridge,
turn left following the flow of the Po di
Venezia and you go along the cycling
path on top of the river bank, accompanied by Venetian villas and rural
farmsteads which developed here.
Then you go through the village of
Taglio di Po, which gets its name from
the hydraulic work carried out by the
Venetian Republic, the work of “cutting”
the Porto Viro began on May 15 1600
and was finished on September 16
1604. The route now expects you to
cross Ariano island, passing by Grillara,
interesting for its Museo dell’Ocarina
and the fossil dunes. You reach San
Basilio where – on top of a fossil dune,
remains of a proto-historic era – there
is a Romanesque church, founded
in the X century by the Benedictine
monks of Pomposa.
From the embankment you reach Ca’
Vendramin, where there is the Museo
Regionale della Bonifica, you continue until you get to the bridge made
out of boats between Goro Veneto
and Gorino Ferrarese, where there is
the sixteenth century castle, one of
the so-called Estensi Delights. A little
further south there is the Bosco Mesola
Nature Reserve. Now you ride along
the cycling path on the right of the Po
which leads to Goro and you continue
to Lanterna Vecchia and the Gorino
Ferrarese lighthouse, where the Po
plunges into the Adriatic.
43
Parco del Delta del Po
Emilia - Romagna GORO
Between the park
and the sea
Goro - Comacchio
Po
&
COMACCHIO
From Gorino and Goro, just where the Po flows into the Adriatic,
you head south towards your destination, Ravenna, with a short
stage to the beautiful Comacchio.
You can admire a beautiful and very particular natural environment,
the Sacca di Goro, a vast shallow lagoon, with mullet, sea bream,
eel, sea bass and shellfish nurseries. Watching the cockles and mussels being collected in the early hours of the morning is a really
unique experience. Then you pedal inside the Bosco della Mesola,
along a cycling path on the border between the sea and the forest
and then you reach another natural oasis, the Canneviè-Porticino
valley.
From here we suggest an excursion to visit the Pomposa Benedictine Abbey, a real jewel of Romanesque architecture, which stands
alone in a land which in ancient times was surrounded by marshes.
After this detour you go back to the coast and go through the Lidi
di Comacchio, later passing through the picturesque centre of Porto Garibaldi, to then pedal to the splendid Comacchio. In summer
in the beach towns you can sense the holiday atmosphere, while
in autumn, when a light fog embraces the numerous churches and
old palaces, the historical centre fascinates the tourists.
44
Lido di Volano
Lido delle Nazioni
Lido di Pomposa
Lido degli Scacchi
&
&
&
&
&
From the Goro inlet and the thousand year old Pomposa
abbey to the Comacchio coast with its famous beaches
&
&
Porto Garibaldi
Lido degli Estensi
Laguna di
Comacchio
ROUTE INFORMATION
Starting point: Goro
Arrival: Comacchio
Length: 32 km
Conditions:easy route, on secondary roads and
embankments mostly asphalted, some stretches
with heavier traffic
USEFUL ADDRESSES
IAT Tourist Office Goro, via Cavicchini 13, tel. +39
0533 995030 turismo@comune.goro.fe.it
IAT Tourist Office Codigoro, via Pomposa Centro
1, Pomposa
tel. +39 0533 719110, iatpomposa@libero.it
IAT Tourist Office Comacchio, via Agatopisto 3
tel. +39 0533 314154
comacchio.iat@comune.comacchio.fe.it
www.turismocomacchio.it
Bike hire:
see the website www.ferrataterraeacqua.it
3
1 Comacchio, sunset in the lagoon
3 Pomposa Abbey
2 Lido di Comacchio, beach
4 Comacchio, the Marinating Production
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
The cycling tourist indications are good
and lead you from Goro to Comacchio.
From the old fishing village, today
a modern port, with a large fleet of
fishing boats, and which overlooks the
wide half-moon shaped inlet between
the sea and the lagoon, you ride on a
path which is higher than the sea. An
original cycling path gets you through
the Bosco della Mesola Nature Reserve,
where a precious colony of deer from
the Pianura Padana lives undisturbed.
Amidst the thick Mediterranean vegetation you can glimpse deer, badgers,
a varied avifauna and the rare marsh
tortoise.
1
2
4
5
During this stage the route has been
obtained from ancient dunes so for this
reason it has been left as a dirt track.
In some short stretches it might be
more comfortable to get off your bike.
At the Taglio della Falce, you reach the
Canneviè-Porticino valley oasis, where
a nature route leads you to the casoni
and the typical working area, a fishing
system similar to a maze made of reeds
and trellis.
Now, in the distance, to the right you
can see the long narrow shape of the
beautiful Romanesque bell-tower of the
Pomposa Bendectine Abbey, spiritual
and cultural centre placed along the
5 Historical nature route of the Comacchio Valleys
ancient road of Popilia, which led from
Rimini to Aquilea passing through
Ravenna and Adria. We really advise
you to make a detour (about 9 km each
way) to visit the extraordinary basilica
which contains a precious series of frescoes and a mosaic floor with precious
marble inlay from between the VI and
XII centuries. Returning to the coast
road, which alternates between the
woods, the sea and urban cycling paths,
you go through Lido di Volano, Lido
delle Nazioni, Lido di Pomposa, Lido
degli Scacchi, Porto Garibaldi to then
reach the beautiful Comacchio.
45
Among valleys, beaches
and pine woods
COMACCHIO
&
Laguna di
Comacchio
Reno
Comacchio - Sant’Alberto - Ravenna
Pedalling towards Ravenna, Byzantine art capital
and Unesco heritage site
&
&
Sant'Alberto
&
RAVENNA
Casalborsetti
Marina Romea
Porto Corsini
Marina di Ravenna
&
Punta Marina Terme
&
Lido Adriano
Lido di Dante
ROUTE INFORMATION
From Comacchio you head towards the famous valleys, one of the
vastest humid areas in Italy with its 15,000 hectares. You ride round
the perimeter observing the various fishing casoni and the look-out
towers for the herons, egrets, terns, black winged stilts and pink flamingos.
You reach the Boscoforte peninsula – a narrow dune strip dating
back to Etruscan times, about 6 kilometres long – which penetrates into the valleys: crossing the Reno river by ferry, you reach
the Sant’Alberto Natural Museum, full of ornithological and entomological collections, where it is also possible to have a guided tour.
You continue towards Mandriole to visit the former Guiccioli Farm,
where Garibaldi sought refuge and Anita died.
Once you reach the coast of Ravenna, you find an extraordinary
natural ecosystem: the Nature Reserve of the Reno river, the Nature
Reserve of the Coastal Dunes of Porto Corsini and the Pialassa della
Baiona. The beaches have an atmosphere of relaxation and holidays.
It is time to reach the splendid Ravenna, the city of mosaics, on the
Unesco Heritage list: enjoy the Mausoleum of Galla Placida, the Arian Baptistery, the Neonian Baptistery, the Mausoleum of Theodoric,
the Church of St. Vitale, the Basilica of Saint Apollinaire Nuovo, the
Basilica of Saint Apollinaire in Classe and the Archiepiscopal Chapel.
46
Starting point: Comacchio
Arrival: Ravenna
Length: 65 km
Conditions: easy route, mainly on secondary
roads with light traffic, some stretches of dirt
cycling paths in the Comacchio valley
Inter-modality: bike + ferry
USEFUL ADDRESSES
IAT Tourist Office Comacchio, via Agatopisto 3
tel. +39 0533 314154
comacchio.iat@comune.comacchio.fe.it
www.turismocomacchio.it
IAT Tourist Office Casalborsetti, viale delle Viole 1
tel. +39 0544 444912, proloco@casalborsetti.it
IAT Tourist Office Porto Corsini
via Lamone 18, tel. +39 0544 447688
iatportocorsini@ravennareservation.it
IAT Tourist Office Marina di Ravenna, piazzale
Marinai d’Italia tel. +39 0544 531108
iatmarinadiravenna@ravennareservation.it
IAT Tourist Office Punta Marina, via della
Fontana 2
tel. +39 0544 437312
iatpuntamarina@ravennareservation.it
IAT Tourist Office Ravenna, via Salara 8/12
tel. +39 0544 35404, iatravenna@comune.ra.it
www.ravennaintorno.it
1
2
3
4
1 Commacchio, Treponti or Pallotta Bridge
3 Great crested grebe
2 Ravenna, beach
4 Ravenna - Sant’Alberto ferry on the river Reno
TRAVELLERS’ DIARY
The route starts from the seventeenth
century monumental complex Trepponti, which with its five large stairways is
the symbol of Comacchio, this lagoon
city founded by the Etruscans, surrounded by water and canals which betray its
origins as an island.
You start off on a journey through the
famous valleys and the just as important
former salt mines, for many centuries another great source of earnings. Using a
pleasant asphalted road, which becomes
gravel, you ride along the outskirts of
Valle Campo, Fattibello, Fossa di Porto,
Lido di Magnavacca observing little
bridges, drop nets, casoni, accompanied
by the flight of thousands of birds: it
seems like a place suspended in space
and in time...
Once you reach the Reno river, you can
take a ferry which gets you to the other
side: you enter the province of Ravenna and shortly afterwards you get to
Sant’Alberto, where there is the Nature
tour centre dedicated to the particularities of this valley and coastal area (pine
woods, marshland, valleys, hygrophilous
woodland...).
Along the right bank of the reclamation
of the river Reno canal you reach Mandriole, where there is the former Guiccioli
Farmstead, with an interesting exhibition inside showing mementos from the
Garibaldi period seeing as it was here in
1849 that Anita Garibaldi died. Then you
head towards the beaches of Ravenna
and splendid pine woods: you cross the
river Reno Nature Reserve and then pass
through Casalborsetti to go alongside
the Porto Corsini Coastal Dune Nature
5
5 Ravenna, Mausoleum of Galla Placida
Reserve and the Pialassa della Baiona,
also in Porto Corsini but this time on the
right.
Then you pass through Marina di Ravenna and the Pineta di Ravenna National
Nature Reserve until you reach Punta
Marina di Ravenna, where you can continue with the alternative route towards
the south which leads to the beaches of
Adriano and Dante. The coveted goal of
our journey remains the splendid Ravenna, which was the capital of the Eastern
Roman Empire, of the Ostrogothic Kingdom and the Byzantine Exarchate.
The extraordinary traces of this great
past, the famous Byzantine mosaics are
in front of us and we must enjoy them to
the full, remembering all the beauty that
we have come across along the Upper
Adriatic cycling route.
47
Partners of the Interbike project
Regionalni razvojni center Koper
Centro regionale di sviluppo Capodistria
Provincia di Venezia
Provincia di Ferrara
Provincia di Ravenna
Provincia di Rovigo
Provincia di Padova
Provincia di Trieste
Provincia di Gorizia
Provincia di Udine
Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia
GAL Venezia Orientale
Delta 2000
GAL Polesine Delta del Po
Občina Cerkno
Občina Kranjska Gora
Občina Kobarid
Občina Brda
Občina Miren-Kostanjevica
Mestna občina Koper
Comune città di Capodistria
Občina Komen
Razvojna agencija ROD Ajdovščina
Posoški razvojni center
RRA Severne Primorske
Progetto INTERBIKE finanziato nell΄ambito
del Programma per la Cooperazione Transfrontaliera
Italia-Slovenia 2007-2013 dal Fondo europeo
di sviluppo regionale e dai fondi nazionali.
Projekt INTERBIKE sofinanciran v okviru Programa
čezmejnega sodelovanja Slovenija-Italija 2007-2013
iz sredstev Evropskega sklada za regionalni razvoj
in nacionalnih sredstev.
INTERBIKE project funded under
Program for Cross-Border Cooperation
Italy-Slovenia 2007-2013, by the European
Regional Development Fund and national funds.

The Upper Adriatic cycling route

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