ON THE TRACKS OF THE OLD TRAMWAY

(Vicenza - Montagnana, 50 km)

Inaugurated in the late 19th century, the Vicenza-Noventa-Pojana Maggiore-Montagnana tramway used to link Vicenza with the south-west of its province, running along the oriental edge of the Berici Hills, and it remained in operation for almost one century, until it was discontinued in 1979. Since then it has been progressively turned into a beautiful cycle path. However, the “Vaca Mora”, the nickname of the large steam engines that used to run on the line, live on in the many former stations, crossing gate houses and cafés in the area. You can currently pedal on this cycle path uninterruptedly between Vicenza and Noventa Vicentina. The Noventa-Pojana section is in the final stages of redevelopment, with a virtually completed cycle path along the provincial road connecting the two towns, also serving an important purpose for everyday mobility. However, the connection between Pojana and Montagnana is provided, for the time being, by a route over minor roads, although a more homogeneous link that would make use of the fine and safe embankment paths of intermediate waterways such as the Ronego, Guà and Frassine, is being planned. The itinerary we propose, which is almost entirely on tarmac, except short sections on fine gravel just before Montagnana, naturally offers many points of interest from a cycle tourism point of view, owing to the wealth of beautiful sights along the route, from the Palladian splendour of Vicenza, to the villas of Costozza and Pojana, and from the old town of Noventa, to the town walls and works of art of Montagnana.

The start is in Piazza dei Signori, Vicenza's very heart, where the Basilica Palladiana stands out prominently, and you ride through the town in Contra’ Muschieria, Stradella tre Scalini, Contra’ dei Proti, Contra’ della Fascina, Contra’ delle Grazie. Just after coming out on viale Eretenio (km 0.4), you turn left and go over the Retrone on the Furo bridge and continue in the Contra’ (quarter) of the same name, then turn right into Contra’ San Silvestro and left in via Chinotto and Contra’ Santa Caterina. You then cross the town's ring road (km 1.2), then you go through the monumental Arco delle Scalette. This is the start of the Riviera Berica cycle path which, after the first section, crosses the provincial road (km 2.1) and becomes a segregated path on the other side of the road. On the left you can glimpse the Bacchiglione, which flows out of the town and on towards Padua, while on your right, the magnificent villa La Rotonda by Andrea Palladio stands out on a hillock. A little further on, the cycle path veers off from the road again, goes under the A-4 motorway (km 4.2) then rejoins the road again (km 6.0). You cross the main road again and enter the centre of Longare (km 10.0), a small town at the foot of the Berici hills that is well-known also for its magnificent noble villas and gardens, such as villa Da Schio in the hamlet of Costozza. Continue pedalling leisurely through Ponte di Nanto (km 16.4), Ponte di Mossano (km 18.4), Ponte di Barbarano (km 21.0), Ponticelli (km 28.0, from which you can take a detour east and get to Agugliaro and Vo’ Vecchio on the Euganean loop in no time), and finally arrive in Noventa Vicentina, with the imposing Villa Barbarigo, the Town Hall, looking down upon its main square (km 33.1). Continue west on the new cycle path following the provincial road until the roundabout (km 36.1), where you take a left, and enter Pojana Maggiore. At the crossroads in front of the parish church (km 36.8) turn left, and just after the Palladian villa Pojana (km 37.4) turn right into via Fornase Barco, which continues on the left (km 37.8). Shortly after, you start pedalling along the Ronego river in via Salboro, then cross over to the opposite bank (km 39.5) and continue through the peaceful countryside. After going through the hamlet of Roversello (km 42.1), at the next junction (km 42.6) turn right into via Possessione and into the hamlet of Roveredo di Guà, then turn left into via Ponte Sinistra (km 42.9) and go over the Guà river. Take a left just across the river (km 43.5) into a downhill lane, at the bottom of which you turn left into via Varisella Vecchia. Take a left at the next crossroads (km 44.8) into via Argine Padovano, which continues into via Caprano; when you come to via Fiumicello, turn right (km 47.6) into the pleasant and lush park of the same name. When you come out of the park (km 49.2), continue on via Tiro a Segno and you soon come to the spectacular town walls of Montagnana, and enter the beautiful old town through the Vicenza gate (km 50.0).

Possible detours

• From Longare you can continue along the Bacchiglione towards the Vicenza-Padua stage of AIDA (stage 3 of the RV2 route).

• At Noventa and Pojana Maggiore you intersect the cycle touring route Meraviglie della Pianura Berica ("Wonders of the Berica Plain", signposted as GB1), which lets you discover the beauty of the area between the Berici hills and the southern Vicenza province.

• 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.