From Vicenza to Padua by bike
- Travelling time: 3 hours
- Difficulty: Family
- Why we love it: Because Vicenza and Padua are two beautiful cities, because along the way you will admire some of the most important Italian artworks
- Length: 45 km
- Total Elevation Gain: 0 m
- Way to travel: by bike
- Cost: 0 €
- Our Advice: In Padua you can visit the world's oldest academic botanical garden
The starting point of our itinerary is Vicenza, a town famous for its architecture. Its inner city is full of Renaissance palaces and ancient villas, but what makes this beautiful city even more famous is the architect Palladio, with his harmonious mansions and buildings with his unique style.
If you like spend more time exploring the art treasures of this city, here you can find all the best eco-friendly accommodations in Vicenza and surroundings
After a visit to the city, we bike on along the cylepath of Riviera Berica “Casarotto", and after a few kilometers we will reach one of the major works of Andrea Palladio, the Villa Capra Valmarana. From here we say farewell to the city of Vicenza and head towards Longwood, at the foot of the hills of Berici. Our guide is the Bacchiglione river, which was once the main communication channel between Padua and Vicenza. This area is full of old military buildings that, when they lost their military function, were transformed mostly into villas. The first castle we encounter is the Castle Grimani Sorlini, located on a hill in Montegalda.
Then, after a few kilometers away we encounter the beautiful villa that was the residence of the writer Antonio Fogazzaro. A few more biking and we are in the Padua area. Here we arrive at Santa Maria di Veggiano, typical village made of rustic buildings surrounded by a charming rural landscape. We go forward, in the company of the green of the river, until we arrive at Cervarese Santa Croce, where we cross the Bacchiglione thanks to an elegant walkway, near an old mill. We arrive at another castle, the castle of San Martino of Vanezza, which today hosts the Museum of the river. Before reaching the destination we meet also the village of Creola.
We continue biking immersed in a sweet nature, until we reach Padua through the channel Scaricatore and then the city cycle-path, which will lead us straight into one of the biggest squares in Italy, Prato della Valle. The square is characterized by an island in the center, surrounded by a small canal, itself surrounded by a double ring of 78 statues. Padua has a great cultural tradition: its University was the second in the country and among the firsts in Europe, and the town offers many medieval frescoes. On that account, do not miss the Scrovegni Chapel, one of the masterpieces of Western art.
In Padua you can choose an eco friendly bed and breakfast or a bio hotel, here you can find all the best eco accommodations in Padua and surroundings!
With this itinerary, in just a few hours of biking you will experience an exciting day surrounded by nature discovering some of the greatest masterpieces of Italian art.
Author: Chiara Marras
