THE CYCLE ROUTE FROM NORTHERN EUROPE TO THE ADRIATIC SEA

STAGE 2

(Verona - Legnago, 55 km)

The second part of the Veneto section of the Adige cycle path starts in the centre of Verona and lies entirely within its province, following the left bank to begin with, then moving over to the right bank, which it keeps following until the river mouth. This is a fine cycle touring route, set in a lush landscape next to a large river, where you can pedal in utter safety and peace of mind on a mostly paved surface, with short unpaved but excellently maintained sections, past many a village just below the embankment until the destination for the day, Legnago, main town in the lower Veronese area and birthplace of composer Antonio Salieri, as evidenced by the name of the local theatre, which offers a high-quality season.

From the centre of Verona, Piazza Bra, go under the clock arches and take the cycle path along Corso Porta Nuova. At the end of the Corso (km 0.8), take a left towards circonvallazione Raggio di Sole. Carry on until you cross the San Francesco bridge (km 1.5), then take a right just after the bridge to enter the Boschetto area (km 2.2). There, go up onto the unsurfaced embankment of the Adige's left bank, where you will ride in a green natural setting, then go under the Rumor bridge (km 4.7) until you face the entrance of villa Buri Bernini (km 7.0). Go through the small gate on the right to enter the Buri park, a lush public garden on the bank of the Adige, which you cross in its entirety until you come out on the other side (km 7.6), where the surfaced embankment path starts. You continue on the cycle path with great views of the foothills to the north, go under the A-4 motorway (km 10.4) until you come to the Enel power station of San Giovanni Lupatoto (km 14.2), which has a cycle and footbridge, which you'll use to cross over to the cycle path on the right bank, on excellent compact gravel. Continue southbound on this cycle path with no interruptions and shortly after you will see on the right (km 15.6) the beginning of the Risorgive veronesi, the cycle path of the Veronese springs, also marked by the “Casa Bombardà”, a water station that was partly destroyed by bombs at the end of WWII, and was recently restored. However, you continue on the unpaved embankment path, past the Perez bridge (km 21.1), which takes to the centre of Zevio, a few hundred metres beyond; then past the Perzacco bridge (km 26.1), after which the path is paved again. You then enter the municipality of Ronco all’Adige and ride past the hamlet of Scardevara with its fine Romanesque church of the Saints Philip and James (km 31.3), then past the main town, Ronco (km 32.0). When you come to the bridge of Albaredo (km 35.3), which is on the opposite bank, the surface is unpaved again for a while: then it is paved again after the hamlet of Tombazosana (km 35.8) at km 39.6, as you ride past Roverchiara (km 42.7), the bridge of Roverchiaretta-Bonavigo (km 45.7), and Angiari (km 50.0). After riding under the SR10 Padana Inferiore regional road (km 52.7), you finally come to the Umberto I bridge of our destination, Legnago (km 54.7), and you can get immediately to the town centre by using the convenient lift next to the bridge.

Possible detours

• The Risorgive veronesi pedestrian and cycle path, which we encountered at km 15.6, runs alongside the canal that collects water from the springs that bubble up in this stretch of the middle plain. In about 32 km it leads all the way to Valeggio sul Mincio, where, in the picturesque hamlet of Borghetto, you come across the Peschiera del Garda - Mantua Mincio cycle path, part of the Sun Route. The cycle path goes past many natural springs, and through Castel d’Azzano, with its interesting Town Hall, villa Violini Nogarola, Povegliano Veronese and Villafranca di Verona with its remarkable Scaliger castle.

• At the In Legnago, you can take a segregated path linking the rivers Adige and Po. First, you ride along the river Bussè until you come to the hamlet of Torretta on the Canal Bianco, after 14 km, then after another 7 km you will come to Bergantino, a small town on the left bank of the Po, few km east of Ostiglia. (km 26.1) you can cross over to the left bank of the Adige and go through Belfiore, Arcole – where you can intercept the Colognese cycle path between Cologna Veneta and San Bonifacio – and Albaredo d’Adige.

• In Legnago, you can take a segregated path linking the rivers Adige and Po. First, you ride along the river Bussè until you come to the hamlet of Torretta on the Canal Bianco, after 14 km, then after another 7 km you will come to Bergantino, a small town on the left bank of the Po, few km east of Ostiglia.