The path of the Brenta, which runs along the Valsugana, watched with eyes and different times tells his story

The route that we propose today is the now famous Valsugana cycle. This is a very simple, there are no climbs, well served by various grill bike that have sprung up along the approximately 80 km of trail. Precisely because it is a considerable distance, many allow themselves to be intimidated and decide not to try. Now you have no more excuses, if you are tired, you can leave your bicycle in a train station if you rented, or load it safely and return home.

Even today we depart from Levico Terme, almost immediately we stop for coffee at grill bike rite … the structure is just below the tip of the Fort his Vezzena, 1908 metres high dominates the Valsugana. When the Trentino was built belonged to the austro-Hungarian Empire between 1910 and 1914. Had a major Observatory function thanks to its strategic position, and for this reason it was called “the eye of the Highlands”. Could control the area south to Asiago and its plateau and the North coast of Valsugana, in fact faces plunging with a jump of 1300 metres.

To build it were the Kaiserjäger (Imperial hunters). Was a Department of the Austrian army, recruited in the areas of Tirol and then used to live in the mountains. They are also responsible for the famous panorama route of Menador, or of the Kaiserjäger, that leads to monte Rovere Caldonazzo. About 8 km of road built in the mountainside, with an average gradient of 8% but with peaks up to 10, which allows you to enjoy one of the most beautiful views over the Lakes of Caldonazzo and Levico. If you don’t feel like making the path, you always have time to do this climb!!!!! No? You have decided to follow us? So let’s go … After you’ve stepped back in time 100 years showing the fortifications that surround us and drinking coffee, we leave for Bassano del Grappa. well connected via helmet and …

The first kilometers zipping along the River Brenta, which comes from Lake Caldonazzo and gradually pass the minutes, it becomes more and more impetuous. Next to us over the River as far as the eye crops of corn, on the other hand the polenta is one of passports of this valley …

Ten kilometers and arrive at Marter, a small village of Roncegno Terme, and just beyond the railway is the “mill”, once an important grain mill, corn and other cereals grown in Valsugana, and now beautifully restored, which houses a permanent collection of scarecrows, continuously updated, so that we can also find the scarecrow cyclist … After the photos with our snowman, we head to Borgo Valsugana, which is 5 km away, a country known for hosting the study centre dedicated to Alcide Degasperi, considered one of the fathers of the Italian Republic and the European Union, who was born not far in Pieve Tesino’s Village and died in 1954.

The country also has the distinction of being the only one of the entire Trentino which developed on both sides of a river, using the bridge built by the Venetians about 600 years ago. Just this bridge exemplifies the entire Valsugana, land devoted to be a bridge and not Division, first between Austria and Italy, then between Trentino and Veneto.

Passed the village, the path continues its meandering now left right now, until we arrive after about 20 km in Tezze, where fermiano us for the lunch break on the second of bicicgrill along the way. Tezze is looking for 50 km from the start and from the finish line 30 …

After refreshment, pedaling, the Brenta, which also hosts some great Egret, and still continues up Enego. From here the bike path, for the remaining 20 km, becomes a secondary road with little traffic, but you should still be careful. Just before entering meets Bassano the beautiful White villa designed by Andrea Palladio, and together with other Venetian Villas, a world heritage site.

After a few minutes here at the sight of the famous Bassano covered bridge, also designed by Palladio. Ponte vecchio or ponte degli alpini, is one of the symbols of Bassano, made very famous by song degli alpini “Sul Ponte di Bassano”. The bridge entirely built of wood, and 58 metres long, resting on wooden pillars 4 triangular in shape, aligned to the flow of water and is covered by a roof supported by Tuscan columns, in the style of Palladio. Takes the name “ponte degli alpini” because they were the ones who took care of the reconstruction after the second world war. Still a small curiosity, at the beginning of the bridge from the city centre you can find the shop of Bortolo Nardini, who is from 1779, making it the oldest distillery in Italy. If you are there on time of aperitif you cant get into the grapperia, amazed by almost 240 years of history you’ll see …

After visiting the grapperia, a visit to the town, via Montevecchio, Piazzotto Piazza della Libertà and Piazza Garibaldi you will enjoy more real Bassano who captivated the thousands of people who each year come up to here to shake hands on that bridge, a symbol of the stubborn desire to start having people here …

And after thinking for a few moments, we head to the station, we deliver the bikes and going on the train, but definitely tired just as surely, we cannot but appreciate once more our Italy, hiding around every corner beauty and incomparable stories and that only with a bike, you have the time and the way to find out …

Jordan Roverato reportage