A bicycle route through the Polesine lowlands between Rovigo and Ferrara. The route is completely flat, in part along a dedicated bicycle path, and in part along roads with little traffic. Only the short section along the Po between Occhiobello e Pontelagoscuro is barely cyclable due to a road that is narrow and busy with traffic.
Point of departure is the train station at Rovigo. Upon leaving the station follow along the station to the right [south] and follow the description of the Rovigo-Fratta Polesine-Monselice route as far as Fratta Polesine.
At Fratta Polesine the main attractions are two Venetian villas: Villa Badoer, a masterpiece design of Andrea Palladio, and the adjacent Villa Grimani-Molin.
In front of the second villa, turn onto the road to the right and follow it as far as San Bellino. After this village you will cross over the Transpolesana superhighway and then at Castelguglielmo you will get on to the embankment road along the Canalbianco; after a few kilometers you will reach the large Villa Nani Mocenigo next to the small village of Canda; here you cross the bridge over the canal and turn back along the other embankment; you will brush by Castelguglielmo again and then continue along the canal all the way to Bressane. Here you take the crossroad to the right to Occhiobello which in 11 km/7 miles takes one to this small city on the Po, famous above all for the severe flood of the Po River in 1951.
At Occhiobello climb on to the embankment where there is a local road that is part of the Sinistra Po [left bank of the Po] bike route; unfortunately, unlike its parallel route, the Destra Po [right bank of the Po], this road is not closed to motorized traffic, but instead it is rather dangerous, being very narrow and filled with cars which do not heed the signs recommending a moderate speed since the bike route was established.
Therefore, pedal towards the bridge over the Po, paying particular attention; only a few kilometers before you come to the bridge a bike lane on the left side of the road provides a bit of relief to the cyclist. Finally, you cross the Po and arrive at Pontelagoscuro on the outskirts of Ferrara; immediately after the bridge ride for a few hundred meters along the state highway and then turn to the left and you will run into a city street (Corso del Popolo, then Via Bentivoglio) which runs parallel to the state highway as far as Ferrara; at its end get on to the bike lane along Viale Po which passes underneath the railroad tracks; immediately after, turn to the right for a bike path which crosses through the park and takes one to the Ferrara train station. A visit to this city of art is recommended, of course, as a minimum to the city center with the Castello Estense [Este Castle] and the Palazzo dei Diamanti [Diamond Palazzo]. Ferrara is known also as a city of bicycles for the large percentage of people who use bikes for commuting.
Last visit: 2012-04-21.