IN THE VENETIAN PLAIN AMONG CASTLES AND RIVERS

(Montagnana - Soave, 37 km)

Two beautiful walled towns, Montagnana and Soave, are the starting point and arrival of this itinerary that follows almost entirely the “Colognese Route“, an interesting cycle touring network connecting the boroughs of the south-east Veronese area spanning the boundary of the Vicenza and Padua provinces (Roveredo di Guà, Pressana, Cologna Veneta, Zimella, Veronella, Arcole, San Bonifacio). You pedal on a mixed route of low traffic roads and segregated bike paths, almost entirely paved, except some compact unpaved sections, in a pleasant and lush setting, through many points of interest worthy of a short visit.

From the old town of Montagnana, rich in history and artistic beauty, head north-east through the Vicenza gate (km 0.4), then turn left into via Tiro a Segno, and you will very soon ride through the very pleasant Fiumicello park (km 0.8). When you leave the park on via Fiumicello (km 2.3), you turn left, then continue on via Caprano. After a sharp bend left (km 4.1), you continue on via Argine Padovano, then take a right (km 5.1) into via Varisella Vecchia. After that, turn right (km 6.2) into via Ponte Destra, then take a left up a single track until you come to the right bank of the river Guà (km 6.5), the starting point of the “Colognese Route“ marked by the characteristic signs that will guide you all the way to San Bonifacio. You ride on the embankment – beyond which you can see the village of Roveredo di Guà – for little more than one kilometre, then you turn left (km 7.6), then right into via Calmaora, then right again (km 9.5) into via Sant’Eugenia, which leads to the centre of Pressana, where you take a right onto via IV Novembre, then left in front of the parish church into via Carbon. After that, you carry on straight ahead on the cycle path of via Traversina. A little after the underpass of the former Treviso-Ostiglia railway, turn right into via Roma (km 12.5) which leads to the centre of Cologna Veneta (km 14.0), one of the “Gardens of the Serenissima Republic of Venice”, also famed for its typical almond brittle. After going past Town Hall, turn left at the roundabout (km 14.4), then at km 15.2 turn right onto the bank of the Fratta river, then left again (km 15.8), and you will be riding in the countryside. At km 19.6 you come out on a provincial road, which you cross over into via Roversella, then turn right (km 19.9) towards the centre of Veronella. At the next roundabout (km 20.7), take a right, then turn left at the traffic lights (km 21.3) into via Strada Romana. Carry on straight for quite a while, until in the hamlet of Desmontà (km 24.7) you cross a provincial road, carefully, then take a right after the crossing and go over the Alpone stream (km 26.1): from there, you can see the amazing Botte Zerpana, a monumental 18th century culvert. Across the bridge however, you head north on the fine dirt road on the right bank of the stream. After going past the town of Arcole, by the obelisk that commemorates the famous battle won by Napoleon (km 28.1), you will then come to San Bonifacio, where you cross the Alpone again (km 32.7) on a cycle bridge, and continue on the cycle path, until a large sign indicates the end of the “Colognese Route” (km 34,3). The San Bonifacio train station, an important regional hub on the Verona-Vicenza line, is only about 1.5 km from there, if you come out on via don Ambrosini, then turn right. However, we turn left instead and, after going under the railway, we come out on the SR11 regional road (km 34.6), in the immediate vicinity of the fine Romanesque abbey of Villanova. Take a left and carefully ride for just 100 metres on the thoroughfare, then turn right immediately after the bridge on the Alpone (km 34.7), onto via Fornace, which goes over the A-4 motorway. At the roundabout immediately after the flyover (km 35.7), you continue straight on via San Lorenzo, which leads right in front of one of the monumental gates (porta Verona) of the walled town of Soave, with the magnificent view of the castle on a hill looking over the old town (km 37.3).

Possible detours

• Montagnana is crossed by the 'Anello delle Città Murate', the Walled Towns Loop. This very interesting 65 km route also goes through Este and mostly follows the river Frassine.

• At the Botte Zerpana on the river Alpone it is possible to take the left Adige cycle path directly.

• Soave is crossed by the Verona-Vicenza stage of AIDA (stage 2 of the RV2 route).