Detailed directions about the route can be obtained from the altimetry (last figure of the gallery), from the captions of the individual photos and from the "Google Map" at the bottom right, which can be enlarged as desired. Double clicking on the photos you can view them at the highest resolution.
Description of the route
Palladio and the Colli Berici [Berici hills]
Palladio and the Colli Berici [Berici hills]
This is a bike route devoted to Andrea Palladio, which starts at Vicenza, his birthplace, and continuous southward, at first along the Riviera Berica bike path, and then along local streets with low traffic as far as Montagnana, a small town best known for its totally-preserved city walls.
One starts from the FS train station at Vicenza; you could exit the station and then immediately turn right to cross the bridge over the train tracks and just a bit further reach the Riviera Berica bike path.
Alternatively you should take a giro [spin] through the historic center of Vicenza (this is the route I have traced by GPS ); leaving the station from the front, continue north along Viale Roma all the way to the entry gate to the old city; pedal along the Corso Palladio, and then turn right to get to Piazza dei Signori, which marks the city center, dominated by the (*)Basilica of Palladio, and at its side the statue of “Andrea Palladio, architect”.
The Riviera Berica bike path is 10 km/6 miles long and ends at Longare. But the most spectacular moment occurs after you have gone about 1.6 km/1 mile along the path and you see on the right a low hill dominated by “Villa la Rotonda”, perhaps the most famous of the Palladio masterpieces.
Arriving at the end of the bike path in the locality of Longare, turn right and continue along local roads that are gradually more and more quiet, passing through the villages of Lumignano, Castegnero, Nanto, Mossano (to get here requires a short but very steep climb), Sossano and Colleredo. After the town of Pojana Maggiore there is another lesser-known Palladian villa, Villa Pojana to be precise. It has a very original facade with five circular holes arranged in an arch over the main entrance.
Eventually we arrive in Montagnana (PD), the only city of northern Italy with its medieval walls fully preserved. The walls may not be as impressive as those of Avila but they still make a considerable impression.
Leaving the village from the XX Settembre city gate, take the viale in front and you reach the train station, on the Monselice-Mantova line; the trains are not very frequent (no more than one per hour, often less), but all will carry bicycles.
Ultima visita: 2011-05-08
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