BETWEEN THE BERICI AND THE EUGANEAN HILLS

(Cologna Veneta – Piazzola sul Brenta, 66 km)

After covering the Mantua-Veronese stretch between Ostiglia and Cologna Veneta, mostly through the boundless flat expanse of Valli Grandi, the Green Tour itinerary continues along the former railway to Treviso, on the narrow strip of flat land that lies between the Berici and the Euganean hills. Here, you can enjoy the view of the nearby hills, within easy reach by bike, which hold amazing environmental and artistic treasures, as well as plenty of opportunities to taste fine food and wine, and are undoubtedly among the most picturesque and interesting areas in the whole region. 

The former railway line in this stretch of the tour, almost wholly in the province of Vicenza, is also still pending redevelopment into a cycling and walking path, but is however a constant presence along our journey, either because the tree-lined disused railway line, its old stations and gate houses are often in plain view, or because some stretches of it can actually be ridden.

You leave the centre of Cologna Veneta (km 0.0) by crossing the river Guà and riding on a back road along the former railway line again (km 1.2), with the interesting sight of a surviving iron bridge over the Guà, until you reach the San Felice Hermitage (km 2.1). You then ride on country lanes until Spessa (km 7.4), the provincial boundary between Verona and Vicenza. After that, you enter the hamlet of Teonghio (km 10.0), part of the Orgiano municipality, at the southern tip of the Berici range, where you can ride for a while on the former railway line and past the old station (km 11.0) until the charming town of Sossano (km 15.8). After leaving Sossano, the route leaves the Ostiglia line and there begins a very enjoyable exploration at the foot of the Berici hills, in a lush and panoramic setting, first touching Toara (km 21.4) and then Villaga (km 27.2). You will not cross the Ostiglia railway again until later, in Ponte di Barbarano (km 29.7), in a point where it runs parallel to the other disused railway line, the Riviera Berica, which we will deal with in more detail below. After a while (km 33.8) you head towards Ponte di Nanto (km 36.8), Villaganzerla (km 39.0) and Ghizzole (km 41.1). Just after Ghizzole you cross the Bacchiglione river cycle path (km 42,6), part of regional itinerary I-1 Garda-Venice, and come to a roundabout where, next to a former crossing gate house, is the start of the already restored section of the former Ostiglia railway line (km 43.8), now a cycling and walking path. And so, you pedal smoothly on tarmac, laid over the old railway tracks until, in Barbano, in the municipality of Grisignano di Zocco, you ride past another former crossing gate house. This one, however, has been turned into an info point for the many cycling tourists who enjoy this area (km 47.6). Grisignano di Zocco is one of the most important nodes of the regional road network linking Verona-Vicenza-Padua-Venice. Here is a toll station of the A-4 motorway, it is crossed by the SR11 Padana Superiore regional road and there is a very convenient railway station as well. It is also the last part in the province of Vicenza along our itinerary: in the hamlet of Pojana di Granfion (km 53.1) begins the most well-known and enjoyable stretch of the former railway line. You will now pedal leisurely under the lush green canopy of this former railway line, which has been given a new lease of life as a slow mobility thoroughfare. Half-way through, you cross the municipality of Campodoro and its historical hamlet Bevadoro (km 54.9) until you finally reach the end of this stage, Piazzola sul Brenta, with the magnificent villa Contarini (km 61.6).

Possible detours

• In Cologna Veneta you cross the Colognese cycle path, the main branch of which goes from Cologna to San Bonifacio in about 20 km (www.percorsodelcolognese.it).

• In Orgiano and Sossano you come across the cycle touring route Meraviglie della Pianura Berica ("Wonders of the Berica Plain", signposted as GB1), which helps you discover the beauty of the Vicenza area between the Berici hills and the Noventa and Pojana Maggiore flats.

• In Orgiano and Sossano, as well as in Villaga, you can venture on the Altavia dei Berici itinerary (the "High Route of the Berici", signposted AV) which lets you explore the Berici hills, through a maze of quiet back roads, some of which are best tackled by cyclists used to steep climbs.

•  In Ponte di Barbarano you come across the 30km-long, virtually straight former Riviera Berica railway, linking Vicenza and Noventa Vicentina on the eastern side of the Berici hills, currently one of the most popular cycle paths in the whole Veneto region. Cycle north through Longare and, just before the chief town, you will enjoy the beautiful sight of Andrea Palladio's villa Almerico Capra Valmarana, the so-called "La Rotonda".

• The Euganean Hills Loop (which is dealt with separately as an appendix to the main Green Tour Loop) can easily be reached over 8 km of quiet back roads from various points of this stage.

• From Montegaldella and Montegalda you can take the Bacchiglione cycle path, a high-quality part of regional cycle path I-1 Garda-Venice, on the right and left bank of the river respectively. Worth a mention is Cervarese Santa Croce, a stone's throw from Montegalda, where you can visit the Bacchiglione park and the San Martino della Vaneza castle.

• In the municipality of Grisignano di Zocco (VI), just after entering the hamlet of Pojana di Granfion on the segregated section of the former Treviso-Ostiglia railway, you cross paths with the Media Pianura Vicentina cycling and walking loop, which is approximately 45 km long (www.percorsomediapianuravicentina.it).

• In Piazzola you cross the Brenta cycle path, which you can ride north towards Cittadella, Bassano del Grappa and Valsugana (only short stretches of the embankments in the province of Vicenza are rideable) or south towards Limena (where the Brentella canal branches off, to form part of Padua's Anello Fluviale, the river ring) as well as Padua itself (Pontevigodarzere), then ride on towards Stra, Dolo and Venice along the Naviglio Brenta canal.