THE EUROPEAN NORTH-SOUTH CYCLEWAY, FROM TRENTINO TO VENETO AND EMILIA

STAGE 1

(Trento - Borghetto d'Avio, 53 km)

Among the extensive cycle path network of the Autonomous Province of Trento, developed since the 1990s and now totalling almost 500 km of well-paved routes, the Adige cycle path clearly stands out as the flagship. Stretching for 81 km from the South Tyrolean border at Cadino to the Verona boundary at Borghetto d’Avio, the route traverses the Trentino section of the Adige Valley – an age-old corridor that for millennia has linked the Germanic world beyond the Alps with the Latin world of the Po Valley via the Resia and Brenner passes. It is therefore only natural that it has become a key segment of the Sun Route (EuroVelo 7), which runs the length of Europe from the North Cape to Malta. The two largest towns in Trentino, the regional capital Trento, and Rovereto, are crossed by the cycle path and divide it into three equal parts, each approximately 27 km long. True to its role as a flagship route, the Adige cycle path links with several other appealing itineraries. For instance, from Trento at 200 metres above sea level, you can climb to Pergine at 500 metres – currently by train or by road over approximately 12 km, and from 2027 also via a dedicated cycle path – and from there continue along the Valsugana trail beside the Brenta River all the way to Bassano del Grappa. Other significant points along the cycle path are San Michele all'Adige (20 km north of Trento), the junction of the Rotaliana plain which then leads to Val di Non, and Mori (7 km south of Rovereto) from where you can descend to Torbole on Lake Garda, about 12 km. Riding along the Adige River, always alongside the Brenner railway line with its many stations at regular intervals, is a fascinating experience due to the variety of the route – from long peaceful stretches alongside the river to livelier ones with gentle ups and downs among the vineyards between Rovereto and Borghetto – as well as for the interest of the places you pass through, rich in history and culture. Furthermore, stops at the Bicigrills – a network of refreshment and service establishments managed by the Autonomous Province itself, which imposes a set of specifications to be complied with, and monitors their quality – allow you to recharge your batteries with a good range of food options that highlights local cuisine.

Our stage starts in Trento, the Roman Tridentum, steeped in a millennial history. From the very heart of the city, the monumental piazza del Duomo (km 0.0), we ride on via Verdi, pass under the railway tracks and come right next to the Adigetto, the canal that flows parallel to the Adige. Here we turn left (km 0.6) and continue south until the Albere park, where we cross the river Adige on the pedestrian and cycle bridge (km 1.3). We keep going left and southward, following the sign posts of the cycleway. At km 4.7 we ride past the Trento "Bicigrill"; after that, the cycleway continues for about 1 km next to Trento's Giovanni Caproni airport, named after a pioneer of Italian aviation. We then continue pedalling peacefully on the left embankment of the river until Besenello, where (km 15.2) we start riding on the right embankment, without forgetting to have a look at the Beseno Castle to the left, overlooking and presiding over the valley floor. At km 17.7 we cross the river again on a white pedestrian and cycle bridge near the hamlet of Nomi, about 100 m from another "Bicigrill". From km 21.8 we come close to the large town of Rovereto, the City of Oaks, from its Roman toponym, which houses the prestigious MART – the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto. At km 26.0 you arrive in piazza Filzi near the bridge on the Adige for Isera, then, after crossing the Leno stream (km 26.8), you can take a detour on the bike path along the stream into the old town. However, our route continues south along the river Adige, past the Rovereto "Bicigrill" and under the A22 motorway (km 29.0). After a short while, at km 29.8, after passing under the SS240 state road to Mori and the northern lake Garda, we cross onto the right bank of the Adige, and start following a power canal, until the junction of the cycleway we mentioned earlier at km 31.4, which goes through Mori and Nago and leads to the northern shore of Lake Garda in Torbole's old town. Continue and cross both canal and river (km 33.5) back onto the left bank. You will now ride for a while under the A22 motorway, then after an underpass (km 35.0) the cycleway runs between the Adige and the railway tracks, until another bridge (km 37.2) takes you to the right bank again, near the hamlet of Chizzola. Shortly after that, at the end of a pleasant, straight section set amid the lush riverside vegetation (km 38.5), there is a short climb, followed by a fun descent through the vineyards. If you look to the east, you will see Mount Zugna with the white San Valentino sanctuary, and the large sign marking the way to Buole pass underneath it, the site of fierce fighting during World War I; if you look to the south you can see, high up on the Lessini plateau, the winding hairpin bends of the challenging climb to Sega di Ala, a testing ground for seasoned riders. At km 42.8, near Pilcante, you pass under the flyover that takes you to the centre of Ala, known as the Velvet town due to its most typical product. Continue on the cycleway and, at km 45.7, you will see the intake structure of the Biffis power canal which, as we will see in the next stage, will accompany us all the way to Verona, where it rejoins the river after the last power station. We ride past the Ruotalibera "Bicigrill" (km 48.5) and on for another 5 km approximately, until the end of the Trentino section of the cycleway, at the provincial border with Verona and regional border with Veneto, near the hamlet of Borghetto d’Avio (km 53.5), where there is another train station on the Brennero line.