MILAN – Can you imagine travelling the Italian countryside on a bicycle, riding along the Po River from Venice to Turin?
Engineers from the Polytechnic School of Milan have just presented the ambitious and audacious project to officials across the region: a 679-kilometer cycle track along the Po.
Called “VenTo” (‘Wind’ in Italian), a word combining the names of two cities involved: Venice (Venezia) and Turin (Torino), the track would follow the Po riverbanks crossing art cities such as Ferrara, Pavia and Valenza, the countryside as well as national parks. About 15% of the track already exists.
The proposed route is dotted with cathedrals, monasteries and bed and breakfasts. There is a train station every six kilometers from where you can hop on the train with your bike.
The project’s creators say the track wouldn’t be for tourists only, but could also serve as a real means of transportation. If they manage to convince national and local authorities to spend the 80 million euro needed, the route could be open within the next two years, becoming the longest cycle track in South Europe.
Read more from La Stampa - original article in Italian by Giuseppe Salvaggiulo
Photo – Tim Lucas
*This is a digest item, not a direct translation
