The best road cycling routes around Cona

The climb leading from Torreglia to Castelnuovo is one of the most famous, scenic, and challenging ascents in the Euganean Hills, very popular with cyclists. The route winds for about four kilometers and is characterized by an average gradient of around eight percent, but it hides very steep ramps that reach peaks close to twenty percent. The road, initially immersed among vineyards and foothill villages, climbs rapidly with severe gradients, tackling several spectacular hairpin bends. As you gain altitude, the vegetation becomes denser, regularly opening up to breathtaking panoramic views that stretch over the Padan Plain and the surrounding hills. Reaching the summit at Castelnuovo rewards cyclists' efforts with a splendid view of Monte Venda and represents a strategic junction for continuing towards other Euganean itineraries.

The Villa Barbarigo Pizzoni Ardemani in Valsanzibio di Galzignano Terme is a Baroque masterpiece from the 17th century, world-renowned for its extraordinary historic garden, considered among the most important and intact in Europe. Designed by architect Luigi Bernini, the complex was created at the behest of the noble Venetian Barbarigo family as a solemn vow to God for having escaped the terrible plague of 1631. The park is not a simple ornamental work, but a true allegorical and spiritual path of purification. The visitor is invited to experience a journey of salvation that unfolds through scenic fountains, streams, fishponds, and over seventy statues rich in symbolism. The central and iconic element of the garden is the monumental labyrinth of centuries-old boxwood, one of the oldest and largest in the world, symbolizing the difficulties and redemption of the human soul.

It is the best-known image of the very famous villa.

The Porta di Santa Maria Assunta is also popularly known as Porta Garibaldi. The historic city gate was originally built around 1520 and was part of the city fortifications. It is located at the southern end of the main street, the Corso del Popolo, and today serves as a freestanding gate around which road traffic flows. On the side facing the mainland, there is a marble relief of the Lion of Saint Mark, the symbol of Venice's former rule over the city.

The Porta di Santa Maria is the ancient monumental gateway that marks the entrance to the historic center of Chioggia for those coming from the mainland. Located at the southern end of the Corso del Popolo, the gate was built in 1530 to a design attributed to Michele Sanmicheli, replacing a previous medieval structure for the city's defense. The elegant and austere architecture served as a customs and military barrier in an era when Chioggia was a strategic stronghold of the Serenissima. Today, the gate represents the starting point of the main city promenade, welcoming visitors with its Istrian stone structure that introduces the Venetian atmosphere of the village, amidst canals and historic palaces.

The Canal Vena is the most picturesque and vital waterway of Chioggia, often described as the city's "Grand Canal". What makes it unique are its nine bridges, each with its own history and physiognomy, connecting the side foundations and allowing passage between the alleys. The most majestic is undoubtedly the Ponte di Vigo, located at the northern end of the canal, towards the lagoon. Built of marble in 1685, it represents the monumental gateway to the city: with its imposing staircase and elegant decorations, it offers a spectacular view stretching from the canal to the nearby island of Pellestrina. The other eight bridges, such as the Ponte di San Giacomo or the Ponte Caneva, follow one another along the route, offering postcard-perfect glimpses between moored boats and historic markets. These crossings are not just architectural structures, but the beating heart of Chioggia life, where the Venetian atmosphere blends with the authenticity of the fishing village.

Chioggia, an island that was once under Venetian rule, is beautiful despite the potential – in my humble opinion – for its appearance to be improved.

The Cathedral of San Michele Arcangelo in Candiana was built between 1491 and 1502 on the site of the ancient Cluniac Abbey. The building boasts a Palladian-style façade and 18th-century sculptures inside.