Italy has many sources of water and is traced by rivers and lakes from north to south, but the river that receives the most interest is the longest, the Po River. This river is 652 km (405 miles) long and is the 5th river for water flow in Europe. It starts in Piedmont and ends in the Veneto region. In between it passes through the regions of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna. This waterway is now the inspiration for an ambitious cycle path project called the Ciclovia Vento.
Waterways have always been important in the history of civilization and since ancient times water has been a symbol of life for human beings and for flora and fauna, and an important factor in the the cultivation of fields, for industry and for hydroelectric power.
When one thinks of the Po River one must go back in time to when modern roads and vehicles did not exist and therefore navigable rivers represented the best means to move goods, trade and distribution of exotic objects or local traditions. On the river Po all this happened for centuries and even the Romans used this river to move armies and start the construction of Europe.
There are 141 tributaries that feed and join the "Great River" and you can still swim in some of these. I recommend the experience to cool off on a hot Sunday afternoon in the summer. Until a few decades ago it was also possible to swim in the Po and was a destination for those who could not afford to go to the beach: the Po was fast to reach and certainly cheaper than the coast. Things changed, however, when there was a boom of industrial areas along the river without awareness of the environment. While swimming is not advisable in the Po nowadays, in the summer when beaches are formed along the banks due to the lowering of the river level it is common to see groups of friends having barbecues and having fun together.
On the Po today you can take mini cruises and visit Unesco heritage cities like Ferrara, discover the city of violins in Cremona, see its source in Pian del Re at 2020 meters (6627 feet) above sea level in Piedmont and arrive in the splendid city of Venice. You can do all this by various means, including the bicycle!
At the end of 2015, the foundation was laid for a very ambitious project called “Ciclovia Vento,” which aims to join the city of Turin to the city of Venice with a system of connected cycle paths that follow the course of the Po River. Currently only 15% of the existing cycle paths can be safely ridden, while 42% is pedaled by acting on the rules of use. This highlights that there is still a lot of work to be done, but the final goal is ambitious and brings with it many positive aspects: promote sport and have a healthier life by encouraging people to use the bicycle more and be more respectful of nature. Moreover the Vento project will make even the smallest and most provincial towns along the river accessible; these places hide the most beautiful stories.
Here is the proposed route for Ciclovia Vento:
And here is a video about the project:
Vento. l'Italia in bicicletta lungo il fiume Po / FILM TRAILER from Stuffilm on Vimeo.
To learn more about the project you can follow the Instagram and Facebook pages:
