BETWEEN THE ADIGE RIVER AND THE HILLS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. ANTHONY

STAGE 2

(Padua - Asolo, 56 km)

The itinerary is mainly flat, with the exception of the climb into the old town of Asolo. The first part, after the sprawl of Padua, follows the Muson dei Sassi canal, dug by the Venetians in the seventeenth century, while the second part, from Castelfranco Veneto to the foot of the Asolo hill, follows the meandering natural course of the river of the same name – in between, is the archaeological landscape created by Roman centuriation. The intersection with the former Treviso-Ostiglia railway in the municipality of Loreggia provides many opportunities for exploring further afield, while the three towns crossed by the itinerary, Camposampiero, Castelfranco and Asolo, are rich in history and art. The itinerary mainly follows cycle paths, either paved or compact gravel, and is therefore recommended for families with children. Even the few roads it crosses are generally very quiet. 

The starting point of our itinerary is Padua, in piazza del Santo. From the piazza, on the side of the St. Anthony basilica, take via del Santo and follow it all the way, then at the intersection with via San Francesco (km 0.4), turn left and ride past Palazzo del Bo’ – the rector's seat of the historic Paduan university – and piazza delle Erbe right next to it, at the end of which you turn right into piazza dei Signori with Palazzo della Ragione. As you come out of the piazza (km 1.1), turn right into via Dante, which after the Molino bridge on the Piovego canal (km 1.5) turns into via Petrarca. After that, take a right into via Tasso, which then comes out onto piazzale Mazzini (km 1.8). Here, you turn right and continue on the cycle path of viale Codalunga until the large roundabout at the foot of the Borgomagno flyover (km 2.2), where you must cross over and take the flyover cycle path, then after another junction, you join the cycle path from the railway station, just a little more than 100 metres on the right, but continue straight on the flyover. When you come down to the foot of the flyover, you turn right (km 2.6) into the historical Arcella district (which can also be reached directly from the train platforms with a specific pedestrian underpass). Now you take via Pietro Liberi, a very quiet residential, one-way street, then turn left into via De’ Menabuoi, which then becomes via Bressan, on a convenient cycle path. You go past the Santuario dell’Arcella (km 3.4) dedicated to Sant’Antonino, and turn right, between the church and its tower, on the cycle path of via Beata Elena Enselmini, then past the cemetery on the one of via Altichiero da Zevio. At the roundabout, go straight by taking the second exit, until the intersection with via Oreste da Molin. Here you turn left and carry on in this narrow residential street, which at the following crossroads becomes via Benedetto Marcello. This is a “cul de sac”, but a narrow and clearly signposted cycle passage lets you conveniently reach via Durer (km 4.3). The street has two lanes and well-protected pedestrian crossings. Continue on the lane on the right until you turn left into via Liszt. A convenient cycle path makes it possible to cross safely a sizeable part of the district. At the first intersection, the street name changes to Saetta, but the cycle path continues uninterrupted, also in via Benedetti, at least until the intersection with via Colotti. Carry on and at the next roundabout, which has no cycle path, take the second exit on via Geremia and continue until via Leonati, at km 6.0 from the start. We are now in the northern suburbs of Padua, but we must zigzag another little bit before being able to come to the spot where the Muson dei Sassi flows into the Brenta. Here, you turn left into via Leonati and, after going under both the ring road and the A4 motorway, turn left again into via Ferrero, then right into via Correr. At the end of the long straight stretch, turn left into via Favaretto, which we must leave because of a one-way system to turn left into via Steer, then right into via Melli, left into via Longo then right again into via Dal Cortivo, which has a cycle path, albeit a little outdated. When you come to the bank of the river Brenta, turn left into via Zanon, then climb up the embankment as soon as possible, until you reach the large bridge on the Brenta at Pontevigodarzere (km 7.8). Just after crossing the bridge, turn right and pedal up the Muson on the right bank, on the Brenta cycle path. Here is the confluence of the two rivers, although the setting is markedly anthropic. Carefully cross regional road SR 307 “del Santo” and continue uninterruptedly with the river on your right. On the itinerary, sections of unpaved separate cycle paths alternate with paved shared sections. Therefore, you must ride carefully, although there is virtually no traffic at the weekend. That's because most towns and villages on the river bank are next to the regional road. If you have no specific needs, you can carry on swiftly on the cycle path, otherwise you can make use of the cycle and foot bridges to cross over to the other bank, where you can find any services you need. When you come to Torre di Burri (km 17.3), named after a no-longer existing medieval tower and the noble Burri family, lords of these lands since Roman times, you first cross the river on a fine footbridge, then very carefully cross regional road SR 307, after which you ride along the river Tergola for a few hundred metres. This river flows south underneath the Muson dei Sassi via a culvert, called “canal bridge”, which was built by the Venetians in 1612 and is still perfectly efficient. The itinerary goes over the culvert and takes a left immediately after it, along the Muson again, but on the left bank, that is, the river is now on your left. Continue for about 3 km on the mainly unpaved and narrow bank, then cross over to the opposite bank again before the intersection with via Nievo (km 20.8) and continue north, always on a varied route. At the the bridge over the Muson Vecchio, you can take a detour left on via Tiso da Camposampiero into the small historical town of Camposampiero, St. Anthony's place of retreat, as well as calling on Villa Querini (via Cordenons 17), home of the Valle Agredo Tourist Office, where you can find printed material and information on the region and on the Green Tour itself. However, if you continue on our itinerary, at km 24.0 you will come across the Treviso-Montegalda cycle path, a recovered section of the former Ostiglia-Treviso railway line. Here, on the top of the embankment, the excellent Cristian has set up a small "refreshment and info point", much appreciated by people passing through from various directions, either on bikes or on foot. Continue on a designated unpaved path, always accompanied by the calm river (a paved road at the foot of the embankment for almost the whole way might be a valid alternative to the gravel path), and at about km 27.3, a pretty little drinking fountain will offer respite in the event of typically high summer temperatures. The itinerary continues, always on the right bank, rather uneventfully, until, at km 32.6, you go under a trunk road, whereas at km 33.5 you walk your bike under the Vicenza-Treviso railway. After a few dozen yards on via Muson, you turn right at the intersection with SR245 (km 34.1) and soon go through the town walls of Castelfranco Veneto, through Porta Cittadella or del Musile (12th and 13th century), one of the two gates to the old town. The itinerary takes you right in front of Duomo dell’Assunta, the neoclassical cathedral built in 1723 by Francesco Maria Preti, which houses the celebrated Altarpiece of Castelfranco (1502), perhaps the most famous work by Giorgione (1478-1510), whose Museum Home is next door. Exit the town walls through the same gate, turn right into Borgata Vicenza, then left into via Redipuglia and you come to SR 245 again. This time there is a cycle path right away, you turn right and cross via Monte Grappa then the very busy SR 53 via a cycle underpass. Continue on the cycle path along SR 245, until, in Villarazzo, you turn right into the Sentiero degli Ezzelini (km 36.9). The path follows the Muson and the traveller is guided by frequent waymarks. With few exceptions, the whole path is unpaved and goes through a very pleasant area, which is further embellished by outstanding architectural and environmental features. For instance, in the municipality of Castello di Godego, you ride past Villa Caprera (km 42.1) (where Garibaldi himself apparently stayed) and the small church of San Pietro and, in the municipality of Loria, you go through the Oasis of the Two Streams (km 43.3) and Natural park on the old Muson riverbed (km 45.1). At the foot of the only climb of the whole itinerary, in Pagnano (km 54.4), a visit to the characteristic trip hammer is not to be missed. Now owned by the municipality, this ancient blacksmith's workshop dating back to 1468 (as shown on a cornerstone) was in operation until 1979. As mentioned before, the last mile of the itinerary is a steady climb that starts right in front of the ancient forge. You first take via Foresto di Pagnano, then via Santa Caterina (named after the fourteenth-century church dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria). Arriving after little more than 1.8 km to the centre of Asolo in Piazza Garibaldi (km 56.2) amply rewards us for this last effort. Asolo is a wonderful discovery, and you will savour its atmosphere of history and poetry, whether your visit lasts few hours or a few days. For those who are short on time, however, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is worth a quick visit. Mentioned in records as far back as 969 AD, it has been heavily reworked over time but houses two valuable altarpieces by Lorenzo Lotto (1480-1557) and Jacopo Da Ponte (1510-1592). You should also visit the 10th century Queen's Castle, which has also been restored, where Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus and Lady of Asolo, lived from 1489 until her death (1510). A visit to the invaluable Town's Museum in the Palazzo del Vescovado and Loggia della Ragione, however, takes a couple of hours at least.