FROM THE VALLEY FLOOR TO RECOARO TERME ALONG THE STREAM CYCLE PATH

(Montecchio Maggiore - Recoaro, 37 km)

One of the most industrious areas in northern Italy has developed along the Agno stream, which flows down from the foothills of the Carega mountain range and through the valley of the same name through Recoaro Terme, Valdagno, Trissino and past Montecchio Maggiore. The hydropower from the stream is still used today to power the machinery of the many businesses in the valley and to produce electricity. Between 1880 and 1980 the valley was served by the Vicenza-Recoaro tramway, which, like elsewhere, was then replaced by buses. Today, a high quality cycle path runs on a stretch of the disused tracks, climbing in about 28 km from the centre of Montecchio to the hamlet of Novale north of Valdagno (altitude 290 m), with an imperceptible gradient, gaining the remaining altitude up to Recoaro Terme (altitude 500 m) on the last 7 km, yet very gently and never leaving you out of breath. From the point of view of the infrastructure, between Montecchio and Novale the path is paved and the quality is good, except for a temporary interruption of approximately 5 km between Tezze di Arzignano and Trissino due to works to build the detention basin of the stream, with an appropriate and well signposted detour on quiet minor roads. However, the final stretch to Recoaro is currently on not particularly busy normal roads, although works for a segregated path are scheduled to start soon. Works to complete the south section of the path along the Agno up to regional road SR11 in the municipality of Montebello Vicentino are also in the pipeline. This would provide a connection to those travelling west to east on the Verona-Vicenza section of the AIDA cycle path (RV2) – which is also crossed in the centre of Montecchio Maggiore. From a cycle tourism point of view, the path offers many points of interest – from Montecchio, home of the Montague, to the churches and villas of Trissino, from Valdagno, company town of the Marzotto family of industrialists and cradle of enlightened capitalism, to Recoaro Terme, renowned spa resort that aspires to regain its former glory.

You set off from piazza Marconi in Montecchio Maggiore and take via Cal del Guà right opposite, which goes over the dual-carriageway to Valdagno and Vicenza (km 0.8) and leads to the left bank of the Agno (km 2.1), on which you continue pedalling north. After crossing Provincial Road SP Montorsina (km 3.0) and going under Provincial Road SP Arzignanese (km 4.8), you come to an interruption of the embankment path at Tezze (km 7.4). Here, a well signposted detour takes you on minor roads, through the village of Restena with a few gentle ups and downs (km 9.4) then rejoins the main path in via Manni at Trissino (km 13.3), where you take the cycle path on the right bank. You carry on until, in Brogliano, the path crosses over to the left bank again (km 16.7), in a very pleasant setting. You cross the Agno again near the small town of Cornedo Vicentino (km 20.3), then again and again further on, as the path follows the stream more and more closely, and you ride often on wooden walkways as the narrowing valley does not allow you to ride on wide embankments like before. Around km 24 you come to the town of Valdagno, which you ride through for a while. From the left bank of the stream, you cross over to the opposite bank, where the town centre stretches on slightly higher ground. On the opposite bank below, you can glimpse the large Marzotto mill (km 26.1). The company has left many traces in the urban fabric in terms of amenities and services. You then come to the hamlet of Novale, where the segregated cycle path ends, for the time being at least (km 28.2). Here, you go up via Ruetta then turn left, into via Lora di Sopra (km 28.5), which continues very gently uphill into the hamlet of San Quirico. At km 30.9 you turn left and cross the stream again, then carry on until the junction with Provincial Road SP246 (km 31.1), where you continue north. Should you wish to leave the main road, you can do so by turning left at the next junction (km 31.3): be advised, this entails a little climb. However, you can stay safely on the main road. In any case, from km 32.2 you will be on SP246 again, on which you continue climbing very gently all the way into Recoaro Terme – you will see the famous mineral water plant at km 35.6 – until you finally roll into its central piazza Dolomiti (km 36.5).