FROM THE PO RIVER TO LAKE GARDA ON THE SUN ROUTE

STAGE 2

(Mantua – Peschiera del Garda, 43 km)  

After leaving the main Green Tour loop in Ostiglia to ride up the Mincio into Mantua, we continue on our route along the Garda emissary to reach its point of origin at the south end of Lake Garda, i.e. Peschiera, one of the four vertices of the Habsburg Quadrilateral together with Verona, Legnago and Mantua itself. This route from the lakes and beauty of the House of Gonzaga's city to the shores of the largest lake in Italy, the beautiful destination of international tourism spanning Veneto (Verona province), Lombardy (Brescia province) and Trentino Alto Adige (Trento province), is one of the most popular and charming cycle touring itineraries in Europe, and our list of itineraries linked to the Green Tour could not but include it.

From piazza Sordello, the very heart of Mantua (km 0.0), you leave the centre and ride between Lake Superiore and Lago di Mezzo, the Middle Lake (km 1.2), again into the Mincio Park and around the Bosco Fontana Nature Reserve. The first half of the route is in a rural setting and mostly runs along the canals branching off from the river, which irrigate the vast farms in the area, and will take you past the small towns of Soave (km 9.5), Marengo (km 17.0) and Massimbona (km 20.2). In Pozzolo (km 23.0) you touch the main course of the Mincio again, on its left bank. This is where the most spectacular part of the route begins, in a natural landscape of outstanding beauty. After Pozzolo, a large rest area (km 24.6) gives you the option of taking a detour to Volta Mantovana. After a short while, you go through the provincial and regional boundary between Mantua and Verona (km 25.2) and you start glimpsing, perched atop a hill, the imposing Valeggio castle, overlooking our cycle path and the delightful hamlet of Borghetto (km 30.5), the unmissable destination of many weekend outings, where you should certainly stop for a little while. After leaving Borghetto northbound, you cross back and forth from the Veronese to the Mantuan province several times, and go past the charming hamlet of Monzambano (km 35.7), where important battles were fought during the Risorgimento. At the Salionze lock (km 37.3) you come to a crossroads, where you can either head to Verona on the left bank – which we will do later, in the next stage – or towards Peschiera on the right bank, which is what we will do this time. At the end of a relaxed ride along the embankment, enlivened by the sight of the many lovers of fishing and canoeing, you finally reach today's destination, Peschiera del Garda. The arrival is particularly stunning, as you take in the sight of the Mincio outlet (km 43.0), the moat dominated by the mighty fortress walls and, after climbing up to the town, you finally ride into the historic centre through the Brescia gate (km 43.7).

Possible detours

• Mantua is also a passing point of Bicitalia itinerary 16 “Slow Tyrrhenian-Brenner” from Livorno to Verona, the starting point of the Adige Nord - Isarco cycle route towards Trento, Bozen and the Brenner pass. More information on www.bicitalia.org.

•  At various points of the route, you will find information on the Morenica del Garda MN5 cycle path, which you can get to from Volta Mantovana and Monzambano. For information and material concerning the cycling network in the Province of Mantua, see for example www.turismo.mantova.it/percorsi-ciclabili.

• The whole Mantua-Peschiera del Garda appendix is an integral part of the Sun Route itinerary (Eurovelo 7, Bicitalia 1). From Peschiera, the Sun Route continues north on the Veronese shore of the lake and goes through Castelnuovo, Lazise and Bardolino. Then, it goes around Mt. Moscal and heads inland, past Affi and up to Rivoli Veronese, the town overlooking val Lagarina, where the river Adige flows. From Rivoli, the cycle path follows the river Adige through Avio, Ala, Rovereto, Trento and Bozen and then follows the river Isarco to cross the border at the Brenner Pass. More information on www.bicitalia.org.