The route begins at the FS train station of Latisana; exit opposite the train station building by first going through the sottopassaggio [underpass], turn right, go through a rotary and continue following the direction of the train tracks until an intersection in front of a large eye-catching red commercial building, from where one direction goes to the bridge over the Tagliamento; instead of taking the bridge take the low road to the embankment, and follow the embankment to leave the town of Latisana. A more relaxed alternative is the one that is indicated on the GPS traced map: from the rotary take the street heading south (first Via Fontanini, then Via Stretta) and follow it until it joins up with the small road along the embankment (Via Sabbionera).
Continue along small roads that follow below the embankment; you will be biking on sections that are closed to traffic. It’s a shame that the embankments block the view of the river. Ride for about 15 km/9 miles until you reach another intersection to yet another bridge, that goes to Bibione; instead of going over the bridge go straight through as far as Bevazzana where there is a small revolving bridge over a side canal; it is one of few remaining revolving bridges still operating along the Veneto coast (except for the summer season from June 1 – September 30), and is limited to two-wheeled vehicles. Immediately after the bridge a bike path begins which in a few km takes one to Lignano.
Lignano is a major seaside resort, which stretches for 5 km/3 miles along the Adriatic coast from the mouth of the Tagliamento River to the Marano Lagoon; it is divided into three sectors from south to north: Riviera, Pineta and Sabbiadoro. The bike path ends in the southern sector, Lignano Riviera. From there you can go left (north) as far as the tip of Lignano on the Marano Lagoon, or turn right where, after a few hundred meters, by taking the Corso delle Nazioni, you will come to the mouth of the Tagliamento.
From the point with the beacon continue over a bridge and immediately on the right climb onto the embankment where you will find an unpaved bike/pedestrian path which follows along the lagoon as far as the cemetery of Lignano. From here drop down and follow a local road that follows along the canal that takes you back to Bevazzana.
From Bevazzana you can return to Latisana by the same route as you came, or cross the bridge over the Tagliamento and take the road to the right towards Portogruaro (about 30 km/18 miles from Lignano), relatively busy with traffic, going through Lugugnana and Concordia Sagittaria.
Latest visit: 2011-04-03
