Along The River Po On A Scooter. Get Inspired By Our Italian Friends
| Vendula KosíkováThere is a paradise where only few tourists venture in the delta of the Italian River Po. This is how David Ceccarelli, adventurer and scooter riding fan, has described the area in Northern Italy to us. Travelling by scooter is the best way to explore the picturesque region boasting virgin countryside, ancient ruins and nice people.
“Scooters are a genuine alternative to other means of transport; I appreciate mainly the strong connection with the countryside I pass through; as if I was expressing respect and humility for it with every push-off I take,” says David Ceccarelli, whose two-day scooter trip along the River Po took place at the end of April.
The Good Old Days
The Po cycle route ranks among the longest in Italy; it begins in a village called Stellata and finishes after 130 kilometres in a harbour town of Gorino in Adriatic seaside. You won’t find any hills there, only vast plains and smooth asphalt. “On your way to the sea you will pass by small villages and towns, which look as if they were frozen in time some fifty years ago,” David describes the countryside.
The species richness of the River Po is extraordinary; fishermen from the entire Europe arrive there every year to try their luck and catch the fish of their lifetime. There are more than 350 species of birds and a great number of various species of fauna and flora. The small fields between the water canals, wetlands, dunes, dykes, gulfs with salt water, fish farms and ancient ruins spread all over the area create marvellous natural scenery.
You will have many opportunities to take photographs and find many wild camping sites in the melancholic countryside. Local people are very friendly and helpful. “I remember a man who lent me the keys of his shed on the floating pontoons, when I was pitching my tent on the bank of the river. I could watch the astonishing sunset from his water chalet,” David remembers and adds: “Such places seem to be disappearing, which is a pity.”
Cycle route along the River Po:
Length: 130 km
Level of difficulty: flat terrain, smooth surface, mostly asphalt
Start: Stellata GPS 44°56′49″N 11°25′16″E (region Emilia Romagna Destination: Gorino Ferrarese GPS: 44.81922N 12.35072E
Accommodation: wild camping, family hotels in small towns
Reasons to go there: an opportunity to revive good old days, to see the monuments reminding the long settlement history of the Po Valley, serenity, wilderness, fishing
Ferrara – An Architectural Jewel Near At Hand
When you go to Italy, do not miss out on the beauty of this site which remains undetected by tourists. It is located only 100 kilometres south of Venice and you will discover similar architectural jewels there. In close proximity to the cycle route there is the UNESCO protected historical town of Ferrara. Its Renaissance palaces, narrow streets, as well as the peaceful atmosphere of the town will fascinate you.
The perfect quietness of the town tends to be interrupted only by the constant clatter of wheels on the paving, since the town has a massive network of cycle routes, which is widely used by the local people. You can try the route along the town wall. It runs around the entire town and along with the surrounding parks it serves as a walking and running zone.
You will have many opportunities to take photographs and find many wild camping sites in the melancholic countryside. Local people are very friendly and helpful. “I remember a man who lent me the keys of his shed on the floating pontoons, when I was pitching my tent on the bank of the river. I could watch the astonishing sunset from his water chalet,” David remembers and adds: “Such places seem to be disappearing, which is a pity.”
Places of interest:
Stellata, Mesola – medieval pearl lost in green fields, Ferrata – UNESCO World Heritage Site, Comacchio – town known as Little Venice, delta of the River Po – the second largest wetland in the Mediterranean (after the River Nile).
Other activities:
Explore the entire region of Emilia Romagna; there are many cycle routes as well as monuments reminding the long settlement history of the lowland area of the River Po.
Transport:
You can leave your car in Stellata. You can comfortably take a taxi or a train from Gorino to Stellata; the nearest train station is in Codigor (20 km from Gorino).
The Best Time To Ride The River Po Route
The best time for trips on scooter along the River Po is the period between April and the middle of June and between the end of September and the middle of November. “This is the best time to avoid mosquitoes,” recommends David, who is, nevertheless, not afraid of challenges in difficult conditions at all.
In summer he is going to the Canadian wasteland called Badlands on his scooter. He is going to set out on the 750-kilometre-long journey through the parched countryside, which looks just like the surface of the Moon, with his soul mate Andrea towards the end of this summer.
We are keeping our fingers crossed for the boys and wish you nice and safe scooter trips! And if you visit the Po Valley, send us a postcard! We will really appreciate it.
