Cycle to the cultural cities on the Po
Despite many prophecies of doom, many touring cyclists will realise: The Po Valley is not as monotonous as many think and even has a pleasant climate in autumn. Italy's only truly famous river flows wide, lazily, almost majestically through the country and connects several cities of local high culture. Rare water birds breed on small river islands and in the vast riparian forests. Many small, sleepy villages and cities such as Piacenza, Cremona, Parma, Mantua and Ferrara are grouped along the banks. Names that even the less culturally minded will recognise. Lovers of grandiose architecture in particular will get their money's worth and see buildings such as the Palazzo Gotico in Piacenza, the Renaissance churches in Mantua and the medieval Castello Estense in Ferrara.
The route along the Po is virtually ascent-free on quiet country roads, farm tracks and embankments, most of which are tarmac. However, there are still some problems with the continuous signposting, so a sat nav with GPS track is recommended.
Journey:
Piacenza can be reached from Germany by IC/EC via Bologna and Milan. The return journey from Ferrara to Piacenza takes 2.5 hours by regional train with a change in Bologna. www.bahn.de
Tour combinations: Po cycle path, Padua-Ferrara cycle path, Dal Garda all'Adriatico in Bici
Accommodation tips:
Hotel Euro in Piacenza, www.eurohotelpiacenza.it
Hotel Duomo in Cremona, hotelduomocremona.com
Hotel Brenta in Parma, www.hotelbrenta.it/tedesco.html
Hotel Casa Poli in Mantua, www.hotelcasapoli.it/de/
Hotel Villa Regina in Ferrara, www.villaregina.it
Worth seeing:
- Piacenza with cathedral, Palazzo il Gotico, Basilica of Sant'Antonio: turismo.provincia.piacenza.it/en.html
- Cremona with its beautiful historic centre and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, www.turismocremona.it
- Parma with cathedral, baptistery, Palazzo del Giardino: www.turismo.comune.parma.it/en
- Mantua with cathedral, Renaissance church of Sant'Andrea, Palazzo Ducale: guideturistichemantova.it/en/the-city-of-mantua/
- Ferrara with its historic city centre (UNESCO World Heritage Site), www.ferrarainfo.com/de/
Maps and literature:
Esterbauer Bikeline "Po Cycle Route - From Milan to the Po Delta" cycle tour book with maps 1:75,000.
Information: www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it/de
The complete article was published in Trekkingbike issue 5/2017.
