The best traffic-free bike rides around Mogliano Veneto

A beautiful experience definitely to be repeated

Altino: inhabited since the Bronze Age, it was a sanctuary of the Veneti in the Iron Age. The god Altino/Altno was worshipped here. The city of Altinum was built in the Roman Republic and had 20-30,000 inhabitants. It was located surrounded by canals near the lagoon and was an important trade hub between sea and land. Under Emperor Claudius (15 BC-46/47 AD), the Via Claudia Augusta was built, which had its starting point here and ran via Trento, Reschen, Fernpass and Augsburg to the Danube (near Donauwörth). In addition, it met the Via Annia from Aquileia here in Altinum. In 452, Attila destroyed the city, and subsequently, it served as a quarry for the city of Venice. The museum, including the archaeological excavations, is a must for history enthusiasts and highly recommended. Allow a good 2 hours for it.

The Ottolenghi Woods is a protected natural area of about thirty hectares located in Favaro Veneto, in the Venetian mainland. Created between the late nineties and early 2000s on originally agricultural land thanks to European funds, the park is part of the larger Bosco di Mestre project, aimed at redeveloping the peri-urban environment and increasing local biodiversity. The woods are dedicated to the memory of Adolfo Ottolenghi, esteemed Chief Rabbi of Venice, deported and killed at Auschwitz in 1944. Characterized by the typical flora of the Po Valley and by suggestive wetlands that favor birdlife, the site also hosts a tree hedge in memory of the Argentine disappeared. Accessible from Via Forte Cosenz and well-connected by public transport, the park offers pedestrian and cycle paths, representing a precious oasis of peace, history, and nature for the citizens.

The Scaramuzza street cycle path is a fundamental piece for sustainable mobility north of Mestre, smoothly connecting the center of Zelarino with the surrounding rural and historic areas. The route winds along a protected path and allows easy access to Forte Mezzacapo, one of the most evocative strongholds of the entrenched field, now a vibrant cultural center. Thanks to a dedicated underpass, cyclists can avoid the busiest intersections, proceeding safely towards the Bosco di Mestre and the banks of the Dese river. This infrastructure is not only functional for daily commutes, but it is ideal for those seeking a flat itinerary immersed in greenery, capable of connecting the urban fabric to the cycle tourism routes towards Mogliano.

The Pordelio Canal cycle path is an extraordinary engineering and landscape work that connects Cavallino to Ca' Savio, offering one of the most evocative routes in the entire Venetian Lagoon. The distinctive feature of this itinerary is its cantilever structure: a steel and wood walkway that literally floats above the canal waters, allowing cyclists to pedal suspended between earth and sky. Along its approximately 7 kilometers, the path offers a privileged view of the lagoon ecosystem, where the profile of Venice and its islands stands out on the horizon. It is the ideal place to observe local avifauna, such as pink flamingos and herons, especially during sunset hours, when the water reflects the warm colors of the sky. The route is entirely flat, illuminated at night, and perfectly integrated into the coastal ecological corridor.

A few kilometers were enough for the route to begin to tell its story. The creaking wood of a long bridge accompanied us towards one of the most silent and memory-laden places: the cemetery of the Burci. Amidst the still water and the vegetation that now reclaims every space, the wrecks of old boats emerge like forgotten thoughts, suspended between past and present. There time seems to slow down, almost to stop, and we too, for a moment, truly stop pedaling...

The National Archaeological Museum of Altino is a jewel set in the northern lagoon of Venice, guardian of the memory of one of the most important Roman cities of the Adriatic. The exhibition path winds through artifacts that narrate the daily life, the trades, and the sumptuous necropolises of a center that was the progenitor of Venice itself. Through glass, mosaics, and statues, the visitor discovers the evolution of a river emporium where Roman elegance meets the wild nature of the lagoon. The modern building, created from ancient granaries, overlooks the archaeological area directly, allowing visitors to walk among the remains of the Via Annia and perceive the breath of a millennial history that still emerges from the fertile land today.

The National Archaeological Museum of Altino conserves remains of the territory's occupation in prehistoric, Venetic, and Roman times and exhibits over 40,000 pieces. A few steps from the museum, an open-air archaeological area is also visitable.