From Venice through the Po Delta to Ferrara

Route details

A 172 km Tourer from the lagoon city of Venice through the flat landscape of the Po Delta to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Ferrara. The route leads through two Italian regions and combines maritime coastal landscapes with historic cities.

Tourer starts in the mainland part of Venice near Mestre and first heads south towards the Adriatic coast. The route runs mainly through flat terrain - typical of the Po Valley - and is therefore also suitable for less experienced riders. The roads are mostly well developed, with individual sections on Country roads and side roads that lead through agricultural areas and small villages.

A central highlight of the route is Comacchio, the lagoon town known as "Little Venice" in the province of Ferrara. The town was built on 13 small islands and is characterized by picturesque canals and bridges. Its landmark is the Ponte dei Trepponti, a five-arch bridge built in 1634. Comacchio is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Ferrara and its Po Delta" and is considered the capital of the Po Delta Park, one of the most important wetlands in Europe with over 300 bird species.

The Route passes through the Parco Regionale del Delta del Po, which covers more than 52,000 hectares and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. The mosaic of lagoons, pine forests, salt marshes and canals offers an extraordinary variety of species. Eel fishing has been practiced in the Comacchio area for centuries - the Valli di Comacchio are the largest lagoon waters in Italy.

The Tourer's destination is Ferrara, whose historic old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The city is considered one of the best examples of Renaissance town planning in Europe. The Castello Estense, a 14th century castle surrounded by moats, forms the center. The largely car-free old town with the Palazzo dei Diamanti and Via delle Volte is perfect for a stroll.

Traffic on this route is moderate outside the conurbations. In the summer months, there can be more traffic on the coast at the Lidi di Comacchio. The road surface is mostly good, with some older asphalt surfaces in places. The flat topography means there are hardly any curves or climbs - the Tourer is therefore not very demanding in terms of riding, but scores points for its cultural and scenic attractions. The culinary specialties of the region, in particular the eel dishes in Comacchio and the cappellacci di zucca in Ferrara, also make the Tourer interesting for pleasure cyclists.