start your bike ride from Abano Terme
you must go towards Monte San Daniele Mount by following the bicycle path: this will lead you outside the urban area not far from the Aliper shopping-mall.
If you choose to make a deviation from the bicycle path, you can reach the Monastery at the top of Monte San Daniele: you must face a short slope (800 m) and some bends in the wood.
Following the bicycle path we reach the cycle Ring of the Euganean Hills, which flanks the Rialto stream in this stretch; if you keep left, you will cover the Ring clockwise.
The itinerary enters Montegrotto Terme, and soon after the junction with the cycle path of Caposeda street, which leads to the thermal centre, it gets closer to the nineteenth-century Villa Draghi, that dominates the view thanks to its raised position at the centre of its park. Here, at the foot of the hill, you can find the first snack area of the route, the Villa Draghi guest room where you can find the WINE SHOP of the Consortium of the DOC wines of the Euganean Hills, and the Glass Museum.
The track is then paved along the banks of the Rialto stream, up to the embankment of the Battaglia Channel and, heading South, on the right you'll see the unmistakably massive building of the Catajo Castle (16th Century) and, right after it, is the ancient town of Battaglia Terme, an important river junction whose historical evidence is collected in the interesting Museum of the River Navigation.
The track runs along the straight channel, in direction of the ancient Medieval city of Monselice, whose approaching Rocca becomes a point of reference for the cyclist; before you reach it, though, in the area called Rivella, you can admire and visit Villa Emo and its wonderful Italian style garden.
Monselice is located after 5 kms along the bank of the river; it is worth going along the historical centre roads, with the uphill road to the “Santuario delle sette Chiese” (Sanctuary of the Seven Churches), Villa Duodo and the Mastio Federiciano, which stands over the Colle della Rocca.
The 7 kms which separate Este from Monselice can be cycled on the top of the left bank of the Bisatto Channel, with the chance to stop half the way, with a short deviation to the Lago Azzurro, at Villa Barbaro.
Este has a 14th Century Carrarese Castle and the streets with the colonnade, and can be a good stop for lunch. Within the castle walls there are the neat public gardens, and on the side the Museo Nazionale Atestino which treasures valuable archaeological finds of Este and the Euganean area. The entire historical centre, with palaces and churches, offers the possibility to understand how important the past centuries history was.
The 7 kms which separate Este from Monselice can be cycled on the top of the left bank of the Bisatto Channel, with the chance to stop half the way, with a short deviation to the Lago Azzurro, at Villa Barbaro.
Este has a 14th Century Carrarese Castle and the streets with the colonnade, and can be a good stop for lunch. Within the castle walls there are the neat public gardens, and on the side the Museo Nazionale Atestino which treasures valuable archaeological finds of Este and the Euganean area. The entire historical centre, with palaces and churches, offers the possibility to understand how important the past centuries history was.
Lozzo Atestino, at the foot of the mount of the same name, is the point for an important deviation which goes straight on towards North, along the channel. On the other hand, another deviation from the cycle path winds its way around the mount and then meets again the main path, crossing Valbona, where there is a 13th century castle.
You reach Vo’ Vecchio, which was an ancient river port, in corrispondence with Villa Venier, the heart of the town, together with its square surrounded by the villa's barchesse (agricultural buildings).
For 7 kms the cycle Ring crosses the countryside, dominated on the East by the steep shape of the Monte della Madonna, with its little Benedectine Monastery on the summit.
Once you have crossed the urban area of Bastia, you will see the Colombara ancient building, just before the only uphill road of the track, which is not difficult, begins: after 1 km you are on the Monte Sereo, then there is a downhill road which flanks the golf green of Frassanelle and goes straight on along the Rialto stream course, which will lead you to the departure point.
However, the stretch you are covering now offers to the cyclist many other important places to visit, like the Abbazia di Praglia, one of the most important Benedectine centres, which is definetely worth a visit.
Just a couple of kms before the Ring ends, you will flank the Biotopo San Daniele, at the Lago Verde, a place of special naturalistic interest, since it is a wet area, ideal for several bird species.
At the fork of San Daniele mount the trip is over; you can go back to Abano through Monteortone and, after visiting the Madonna della Salute Sanctuary, you can reach the city centre covering the bicycle path that flanks the street.
|
|
|
|
The Map |
Total length:
64 km
|
|
Duration:
3/4 hour |
|
Total drop:
80 m |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
Deviation
Deviation through Villa dei Vescovi towards Luvigliano:
Near Bresseo, where the bicycle path goes out from Ca’ Boldù street, it is possible to reach FAI Villa dei Vescovi of Luvigliano, covering for 3 kms Liviana street, a paved street which is open to the cars, yet it is rather quiet.
Once arrived in Luvigliano, in order to get to the Villa entrance you have to cover a short slope in Vescovi street.
To follow the Ring you can go back to the start of the deviation and go on to the normal the itinerary, or you can go back to the track in Montegrotto, following the bicycle path which links Torreglia to the thermal centre (Caposeda street). If you choose this stretch of the Ring you'll miss the visit to the Abbazia di Praglia.
|
|
|
|
|