The bike route from the Adige River to the Po This route, which opened in May 2013, takes one from the Adige River to the Po, or vice versa, crossing the (*)Polesine, traveling in part along dedicated bike paths and in part along country roads with little traffic, and touching upon some important Venetian villas: Villa Morosini at Polesella, Villa Grimani, and above all Villa Badoer at Fratta Polesine. Along the entire route there is effective signage which makes it difficult to lose one’s way.

On this page I describe a route that starts from Rovigo and ends at Lendinara, which therefore includes the directions on how to reach the Po and the starting point of the Adige Po bike route.

Photos Pontecchio Polesine Bike path heading to Guarda Veneta Guarda Veneta The levee along the Po Polesella, starting point of the route Polesella, juncture Horizon Canalbianco Fratta Polesine Lendinara The Adige near Barbuglio

Captions Even at Pontecchio Polesine there are Venetian villas such as this seventeenth century Villa Cappello. (photo 12 May 2013) Between Pontecchio and Guarda a bike path follows along the right side of the road. (photo 12 May 2013) Once in Guarda Veneta one finds the village contained to the south by the Po River levee. (photo 12 May 2013) At Guarda Veneta one climbs onto the Po River levee, part of the bike route “Sinistra Po” [Po left], unfortunately open to motorized traffic, in contrast to the “Destra Po” [Po right] on the south bank of the river. (photo 12 May 2013) Polesella: coming out of this underpass, it is necessary to make a U turn to get on the gravel bike path on the right; from Polesella the designated Adige to Po route begins. (photo 12 May 2013) Just out of Polesella: the route follows along this canal, you could shorten the route by first following the provincial road and then rejoining the designated route at this juncture. (photo 12 May 2013) After Polesella one traverses an uninhabited area where the horizon is all around 360° with no one “hiding in the wings”. (photo 12 May 2013) The route continues along the Canalbianco, alternating between country roads and dedicated bike paths. (photo 12 May 2013) Fratta Polesine: one arrives by biking along the Scortico Canal up to the point where one is in front of Villa Badoer. (photo 12 May 2013) Lendinara, the main piazza of the village. (photo 12 May 2013) At the end, after Barbuglio, one finds the banks of the Adige: the route between the two rivers ends here. (photo 12 May 2013)