THE CYCLE ROUTE OF NORTHERN ITALY'S MAIN CITIES

STAGE 1

(Peschiera del Garda - Verona, 33 km)

From the fortified lakeside town of Peschiera del Garda, Roman-era Arilica, we reach the provincial capital, Verona. This beautiful walled city, UNESCO world heritage with a two-thousand-year history, is spectacularly located on a bend of the river Adige,. Located in the middle of northern Italy and the natural point of entry into the Po Valley from the German world, it has always been a lively melting pot of peoples and trading hub. Our itinerary will take us over the Moraine hills of the Veronese Garda, gently rolling and covered by vineyards (the celebrated DOC Custoza and Bardolino are made here), olive groves, orchards and wheat fields that offer relaxing views. This idyllic scenery, however, was the stage of epic battles during the Risorgimento, when Italy was unified, as illustrated by the partly historical tale of the Sardinian Drummer Boy from "Heart", set precisely here. This delightful scenery is also criss-crossed by the “Terre del Custoza” cycle touring itinerary (Custoza lands), which we will describe more in detail below, and whose many, attractive trails may call for a half-way stop.

From the centre of Peschiera del Garda (km 0.0) you start retracing our steps, or pedal strokes, on the last part of the previous stage from Mantua: in other words, you leave the town through the Brescia Gate, climb a short hill, then ride down next to the moat and imposing fortifications, and along the right bank of the river Mincio southbound. When you reach the Salionze dyke (km 6.4), you cross over to the left bank, and ride back up for about 1 km, then take a right towards Verona. After a short climb through a forest, you go through the town of Salionze (km 8.0), then ride in a pleasant hilly landscape, through the hamlet of Oliosi (km 10.4) and, after a few ups and downs, through the hamlet of San Rocco di Sona (km 13.0) with its early 16th century parish church. After the downhill bit from San Rocco, you take a right (km 14.1) on a dirt road that leads to the fine villa Guastalla Nuova (km 14.6), which you leave behind on a beautiful tree-lined avenue. After carefully crossing a junction (km 15.2), the avenue climbs gently into the old town of Sommacampagna (km 18.7), the ideal place for a relaxing half-way break.

After that, you leave Sommacampagna behind and ride through the hamlets of Palazzo (km 20.8) and Caselle (km 23.2); after the motorway underpass you enter the municipal area of Verona with the hamlets of Casona (km 25.5) and San Massimo (km 28.1). You now enter the city of Verona: after a short stretch along Corso Milano (km 29.9) and on the cycle path of the Camuzzoni canal (km 30.6) you will reach the Venetian walls and go through the San Zeno gate (km 31.3). From there, you immediately arrive on the piazza of the beautiful Romanesque basilica of San Zeno (km 31.5) and ride along the Adige, with a fine view over Castelvecchio, until finally (km 33.0) you reach the city's very heart, piazza Bra, in the centre of which is the monumental imperial Roman Arena.

Possible detours

• The Mincio cycle path from Peschiera to Mantua is an integral part of the Sun Route (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.

• The “Terre del Custoza” consortium (www.terredelcustoza.com) is a partnership of the Veronese Moraine municipalities of Sommacampagna, Bussolengo, Villafranca, Sona, Valeggio sul Mincio and Castelnuovo del Garda that seeks to promote the outstanding environmental and cultural attractions of this area between Verona and Lake Garda. In particular, various types of accurately and specifically signposted cycling routes turn the area into an actual cycle touring park. For more information, see www.terredelcustoza.com/it/esperienze/itinerari-cicloturistici.

• Verona is one of the main stops on the Adige cycle path (RV3), that leads from northern Europe straight to the Adriatic beaches.

If you head north from Verona (km 0) the cycle path runs along the Biffis canal to Bussolengo (km 12) and Rivoli Veronese (km 30), where it joins the Sun Route to Rovereto (km 75), Trento (km 100) and Bozen (km 163). From Bozen you can continue north along the Isarco to Bressanone-Brixen (km 208) and the Brenner pass (km 263), or just before Bozen (km 157) you can continue west along the Adige towards Merano (km 185), and from Merano along val Venosta until Reschen Pass (km 263).

When you head south from Verona (km 0) the cycle path is again segregated in Porto di San Giovanni Lupatoto (km 10), then continues on the right bank towards Legnago (km 51), the junction for the Chiara Lubich cycle path (km 95.9) that takes you to the centre of Rovigo after 2 km, and Cavarzere (km 124.4), to the river mouth in Rosolina Mare (km 149.5). 9 km before the river mouth you can cross the river and you will arrive in Chioggia after about 18 km, as indicated in the corresponding stage of the main Green Tour loop.