S. Stino di Livenza-Caorle-San Donà di Piave 57 km
- S. Stino di Livenza-Caorle-Portogruaro 56 km
In recent years, Italy, too, has started to develop bike paths along rivers, which are already abundant in central Europe; in the majority of cases, though, the cyclist has to discover his own bikeable route by taking advantage of local roads with little traffic, as is the case of the Livenza river [in the Veneto conjugated in the feminine: La Livenza; in Italian Il Livenza) which starts at the Cansiglio Plateau and flows into the Adriatic at Caorle.
This second part of the route starts at the FS train station at Santo Stino di Livenza; upon leaving the station, turn to the left, go across the street-level crossing over the tracks and you will find yourself at a paved and very narrow small road that follows along the north bank of the Livenza. During the colder seasons the road has very little traffic.
This road continues for 15 km/9 miles as far as La Salute di Livenza, a small town characterized by a church in the Romanesque style. Here you cross the river by way of a bridge, and immediately, to the left, take the road that follows along the south bank of the river, a road that in the first 2 km/1.2 miles is very narrow and with heavy traffic; it therefore requires you to pay particular attention. After about 10 km/6 miles, and shortly before Caorle, you cross a characteristic drawbridge over a canal, after which you enter the village along a very busy street ending up at another canal, crowded with fishing boats. As of recently, a bike path was added, colored blue, which runs a little on the right, a little on the left, forcing the cyclist to make repeated crossings.
Caorle is a fishing village that has also become a seaside resort; this village is well worth a visit with its brightly colored houses and above all its Romanesque campanile [bell tower] with its unusual, cylindrical form.
For the return, go back the way you came as far as the drawbridge, and then about half a kilometer/.3 mile further take the road to the left [Strada Tezzon], which in 25 km/15 miles, takes you to San Donà di Piave, where there is a FS train station on the Venezia-Trieste line. The route is very relaxed along the first section, but then as you get closer to San Donà the traffic becomes more and more busy.
An alternative route along a route that is even busier, is the road to Portogruaro; get on the principal road [SP 54] (very busy) that goes to Santo Stino, but after about 2.5 km/1.5 miles, take the road to the right [Strada Riello] to San Gaetano, which is very relaxed; once you are through San Gaetano there is a long straight run [Strada R. Franchetti], at the end you turn to the right [Strada Durisi] and after a couple of kilometers you merge onto the road for Latisana [SP 42], which is very busy; after about 3 km/2 miles a crossroad to the left [Via Cavanella] takes you to Portogruaro (there are even some sections of true bike path as you travel through Concordia Sagittaria) where there is an FS train station on the Venezia-Trieste line.
Last visit December 18, 2011.