The Riviera del Brenta is a unique historical landscape: the canal crossing it was, for many centuries, the main connection between the Lagoon and the territories of Venice. The route follows cycle paths and secondary roads, crossing the riverside villages of Stra, Dolo, Mira and the surrounding countryside, dotted with Venetian Villas.
To understand the authentic spirit that animates Padua, the ‘City of the Saint’ (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the pictorial cycles of the fourteenth century), you must stroll through the stalls of the ancient fruit and vegetable market of Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta, enter the Palazzo del Bo, home of the ancient University, and visit the Basilica of Sant'Antonio. And, of course, don’t forget to enjoy the frescoes by Giotto in the Scrovegni Chapel.
Leaving in the direction of Venice, you will cross the university district of Portello, with its monumental Porta Ognissanti, and proceed first along the Piovego canal and then the Brenta canal. These medieval waterways guaranteed access for many centuries between Padua and Venice, through the famous Riviera del Brenta. The historical and cultural interest of this area comes from the considerable concentration of Venetian villas that have influenced the development of the waterside towns of Stra, Fiesso, Dolo and Mira. The beauty of Venetian architecture can be seen not only in the numerous stately homes but also in the rustic houses and ancient coastal houses overlooking the placid waterway. Among the many boats that once sailed along the Brenta Canal was the characteristic Burchiello, a flat-bottomed boat with an elegant finely decorated cabin, used mainly by Venetian nobles. You can travel on your bike through the same routes and admire the same landscapes that amazed travellers in centuries gone: Villa Pisani in Stra, the beautiful towns of Dolo and Mira and Villa Foscari (known as "La Malcontenta"), the pinnacle of Palladian architecture.
A little further on you will arrive in Mestre; it is recommended that you leave your bicycle at a secure cycle park stand of the station and reach Venice by train or bus. Among the distinctive features that make Venice unique in the whole world is that bicycles are not allowed in its streets and squares. Venice is the most satisfying conclusion to a journey with an artistic and architectural flavour.
After leaving Padua, the route follows the canal embankment, initially along unpaved bike paths, and continues on low-traffic roads with paved surfaces. The tourist signage is marked with code I1.
