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

STAGE 4

(Mantova - Mirandola, 74 km)

From Mantua, we continue riding toward Bologna, following the river Mincio for about 25 km until it joins the Po just after Governolo. After crossing it near San Benedetto, the route heads toward the embankment of another river – this time a right-bank tributary: the Secchia, which flows down from the Reggio Emilia Apennines. We ride for about 20 km between Quistello and Concordia on the Secchia embankment path, then deviate eastwards onto a route which is currently on back roads – but we hope it will soon become a segregated path – to reach Mirandola in about 10 km, from whose station we will begin the last stage taking us to the capital of Emilia.

This stage mostly unfolds through lush riverside scenery, well away from towns, for a peaceful and relaxed ride. In this regard, the Mincio Park Authority – the Ministry's contracting authority for the Sun Route in Lombardy – must be acknowledged for carrying out in recent years a significant improvement project on the route throughout its Lombardy part in the province of Mantua. Not only have large portions of the existing route, over 80 km between the Veneto border at Volta Mantovana, below Valeggio sul Mincio, and the Emilian border at Moglia, above Concordia sulla Secchia, been renovated, but various new, segregated sections have also been implemented, with commendable attention to the quality of the works.

From the centre of Mantua, Piazza Sordello (km 0.0) we take via San Giorgio again, going around the castle, and we cross the ring road on the cycle and pedestrian crossing, down into the gardens on the shore of the Lower Lake. Here (km 0.5) we keep right and head south. Shortly after, across the pedestrian and cycle bridge of Porto Catena (km 1.0) you continue following the signs through the lakeshore park of the Valletta Valsecchi district; at km 2.4 you leave the park by crossing Strada Diga Masetti on the cycle–pedestrian crossing, then continue on the path opposite, making a sharp turn down the lane that leads back into the Baden Powell park. Follow the park paths and pass under the SP28 through a narrow tunnel; soon you will come to the entrance to Bosco Virgiliano, Virgil's Park, where you will also see the sign of the municipal dog pound (km 2.8). Our aim is to reach Pietole Vecchia (the ancient Andes, traditionally identified as the birthplace of the “Supreme Poet” Virgil, located within the Vallazza Regional Nature Reserve in the heart of the Mincio Park, just over 2 km away as the crow flies. Inside Virgil's Park there is a fun single track alongside the river, more suitable for mountain bikes; however, we will describe the route that is suitable for the average cycle tourist, prioritising safety and comfort over length. Instead of entering Virgil's Park, we continue to the right along the main road, eventually emerging onto the SS62 State Road near the Monselice railway level crossing (km 3.5). Here, we cross the road, then turn left to head south along the cycle path running parallel to it. You will now ride for about 2.5 km on a segregated bike path alongside the SS62 State Road until Cerese, where the Town Hall of the Borgo Virgilio Municipality is located. Here we take a left (km 6.0) into Strada del Corriere, which after 500 m (km 6.5) turns to gravel, gradually entering a section of the Mincio Park that features farmland. At km 8.4, as you come close to the river Mincio again, is the end of the single track for mountain bikes alongside the river in the Bosco Virgiliano which we mentioned before, just 2.1 km long, instead of the 5.6 km we have just described. A short while later (km 9.1) we leave the bank of the Mincio and turn right into the hamlet of Pietole Vecchia (Andes), which we mentioned before. We then follow the signs into via Argine Fossetta, the start of a very peaceful and open rural stretch, teeming with waterfowl flitting among the waterways, which soon reaches the embankment of the Fossetta canal (km 11.0); we ride past the hamlet of San Biagio, and under the A22 motorway near the Mantova South interchange (km 13.9). At km 15.6 you go through Bagnolo San Vito, situated between the Mincio and the Po, which is now close by. Shortly after leaving the village, opposite the large hydraulic structure of the Travata sluice (km 18.0), a scenic section runs along the Mincio’s right bank, starting on a well-maintained dirt path and later turning to tarmac again, where a detour to Governolo is possible at the Via Molinara junction (km 25.6), the perfect place to stop for refreshments. At km 26.8 the embankment path moves away from the Mincio, by now near its confluence with the Po, and moves to the left bank of the Po near the hamlet of Correggio Micheli (km 28.5). The route now requires crossing the Great River on the recently completed, monumental SS413 bridge. As the wide cycle–pedestrian lanes do not have dedicated access ramps yet, cyclists must proceed cautiously along the road ramp (at km 30.6, a dirt track can be used to shorten the approach) and cross the bridge carefully in the regular traffic lanes. Immediately after the bridge, take the first right exit to reach the lower Via Argine Nord (km 32.8), continuing along the Po until km 37.8, where you leave the embankment path on the left to enter San Benedetto Po: from its thoroughfare via Enrico Ferri turn left into piazza Matilde di Canossa, overlooked by the monumental complex of the Polirone Abbey. At the end of the piazza, turn right again into via Enrico Ferri, which upon leaving the village becomes via Villa Garibaldi. Follow the cycling signs and turn left into strada Moretta (km 40.0), then right into strada Foriere which, after crossing a drainage canal, climbs onto the right bank of the river Secchia (km 42.1). While riding along the Secchia, which as mentioned before, we will follow for about 20 km, with the green landscape of orderly cultivated fields below, you will first go past Quistello (km 45.4, on the opposite bank) then Bondanello (km 54.3). Shortly after the extensive Mondine pumping station, at km 58.9, in the municipality of Moglia, you cross into the province of Modena and the Emilia region. At km 63.2 you leave the embankment path and cross the bridge into Concordia sulla Secchia, where you continue following the river on via per San Possidonio, which runs under the left bank, eventually breaking away to proceed past the SP5 intersection onto Via Malcantone. After that, turn left into via Andreola (km 65.6), then turn right at the end into via Fratelli Cervi and the centre of San Possidonio at the crossroads to piazza don Andreoli (km 66.6). Here, you turn left, then right after 200 m into via Federzoni, and after another 300 m left into via Molinetto (km 67.1) following the Sabbioncello canal. At km 68.7 you cross the canal to the left into via Prati, which goes through the countryside and leads to San Martino Carano (km 71.9), just before the main town Mirandola. Continue straight on via San Martino until the crossroads (km 73.8) with via Giovanni Pico – the famous Renaissance philosopher was born in the small town – then turn left into the old town: Piazza della Conciliazione with the Cathedral and Piazza Costituente, the end point of this stage (km 74.4).