Miranese, Brenta as far as Padova
An itinerary in the Venetian hinterland, for the most part on dedicated bike paths or bike lanes, almost entirely within the heavily urbanized areas and without any difficult changes of grade. Point of departure is the new train station of Venezia Mestre Ospedale, on the Venezia-Treviso line, where many regional trains stop, about once per hour.
Exit the station on the side of the Ospedale [hospital] Sant’Angelo, cross the street and on the right you will find the bike path with its indicative red color; make a partial loop around the hospital as far as the rotary where you take Via Paccagnella to the right; keep following the bike path adjacent to the street until you run into Via Castellana. Here, cross the street to find the bike lane; after a short distance you will pass under the railroad tracks by way of a very narrow sottopassaggio [underpass] (pay attention and ring your bell!!).
Once you have arrived at the rotary at Trivignano turn to the left onto Via Olmo, staying on the bike path adjacent to the street. When you have arrived at the rotary at Olmo take Via G. Pepe, turning to the left, and follow Via C. Cattaneo as far as Via Dosa (see the Altimetry and Time Schedule for a more detailed description of the route).
Here you will find yourself on a stretch of country road, one of few along this route, as far as Via Asseggiano. Here, turn to the right, and immediately afterwards, to the left onto Via C. Angiolieri leading to a bike/pedestrian underpass, after which you will arrive at the umpteenth rotary and from here along Via C. Cattaneo you will arrive at the center of Spinea, a town within the metropolitan area of Venice. Turn to the right and take Via Roma (a part of the longer Via Miranese).
At Spinea the most interesting thing to see is Villa Simion, which now houses the town library, and its surrounding park.
Following along Via Roma/Via Miranese, with its narrow bike lane along the sides, you will arrive at Mirano, another major center within the larger metropolitan area of Venice; this town is located along the river Muson and boasts numerous Venetian villas, among the most famous being Villa Morosini,also known as 25 Aprile, and Villa Erizzo, also known as Belvedere, now located together in the public park called Belvedere.
After Mirano you continue along Via Cavin di Sala, along the bike lanes on the sides, which in about 5 km/3 miles takes you to the little village of Santa Maria di Sala, known primarily for the monumental Villa Farsetti which is situated to the west of the village and where the bike route terminates.
Once past Santa Maria di Sala the road, Via Cavin di Sala, now lacking a bike lane andvery busy with traffic,becomes decidedly dangerous for the cyclist; find the first opportunity to turn left and head south, towards the Riviera del Brenta. [Or alternatively, referring to the Altimetry page, turn back as far as Via Guglielmo Marconi and head south from there.]
Turn left onto Via Rivale immediately after the industrial plants, then turn left again for Via Zinalbo, to the right onto Via Santa Lucia, to the left for Via Cognaro, to the right for Via Patriarcato as far as the village of Pianiga. From here there is another stretch of country road, without a bike lane but relatively peaceful.
From Pianiga, make a loop around the church, then follow along Via Montello up to the point where you cross over the Padova Venezia train tracks and then join up with Via Barbariga, where you will find a bike path on the left. Cross over the Autostrada[Interstate A4]and finally you will arrive at the Riviera del Brenta right in front of Villa Lazara Pisani also known as la Barbariga.
From here on the route coincides with that of the Riviera del Brenta as far as Padova.
Photos
The new train station of Mestre Ospedale
Villa Simion at Spinea
Villa Morosini, also know as 25 Aprile
Villa Erizzo, also known as Belvedere
Villa Farsetti
Villa Barbariga
Captions
The new train station of Venezia Mestre Ospedale is the point of departure for this route. The bike path follows around the Ospedale [hospital] Sant’Angelo.
Villa Simion at Spinea, which today houses the town library.
Villa Morosini, also know as 25 Aprile, at Mirano.
Villa Erizzo, also known as Belvedere, at Mirano.
The bike route along Via Cavin di Sala ends in front of the monumental Villa Farsetti.
At the bottom of Via Barbariga one comes upon the Riviera del Brenta right in front of Villa Barbariga.