Lombardy

Bicycle paths that weave through the plains and Alps, with routes for every difficulty level, make Lombardy the perfect destination for a cycle holiday experience.

There are 10 itineraries, a selection of stretches on longer paths to collect not just kilometres, but true and authentic experiences. Pedal along the plains of the agricultural south that sweep around the rising altitudes in the Alps.

Along the Mincio Bicycle Path, connecting Lake Garda to the great River Po, there’s a special Renaissance air to breathe in. Meanwhile, the Oglio Bicycle Path takes off from Ponte di Legno in Brescia to reach the plains, bringing it with the traces of ancient glaciers. The banks of the Adda River are sure to please with great examples of industrial archeology.

Explore the mountains as well as the charming villages and the hairpin turns of the champions along the Navigli, just as Leonardo Da Vinci once did. Thanks to the countless routes immortalized by cycling legends throughout history, Lombardy is the only place to visit a Bicycle Museum protected by the saint of the cyclists.

Two centuries ago, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe embarked on his ‘Italian journey’ in a horse-drawn carriage. Nowadays, many people do the Grand Tour on a bike. Following in the footsteps of the great writer-traveller, many choose the road that leads from Lake Garda to the banks of the Po as their first sweet taste of the “country where lemon trees bloom”.

Artificial canals built for irrigation, aristocratic villas and historic towns with spectacular examples of industrial archaeology, this is from Ticino to Oglio. From the Canale Villoresi pedestrianized cycleway, you enter the Bergamo area. The route becomes more hilly. There are more undulations up to Brescia, until you reach the grand finale of the plain along the Ciclabile del Mella, which ends on the banks of the Oglio.

Cycling from Lake Maggiore to the Po you can find Art Nouveau friezes, museum bread and cycleways along river banks. The first part, in the Varese area, presents the only elevation differences, although they are not particularly strenuous .Then you enter the Milan area, the farms in the Parco Agricolo in the south of Milan. And at the end you reach the province of Lodi with its Romanesque churches.

From Orobie to Cremasco is a path of art treasures, turreted castles, historical bridges. With a weekend available you can follow the routes of the cycle paths between the Orobie Alps and the area around Crema towards the plain, along the River Adda or the River Serio, as far as Crema. Or you can continue along the Val Brembana, following the path converted from an old railway line, going on towards the heart of the Orobie Alps, with very varied mountain bike itineraries.

Terraced vineyards, mountain bike trails and characteristic eateries. And a lake with literary memories, that you can cross by steamer, taking your bike with you: from Valtellina to Cremonese. The River Adda, the great waterway connecting the plain with the mountains from the peaks in the Valtellina and Valchiavenna, where you can seek the thrill of daring downhill rides and climbs back uphill, you can descend to Lake Como, taking advantage of charming steamer transport and then, along the course of the River Adda, reach the lowlands around Lodi, in the heart of the Po Valley, to discover Lodi, a minor art city.

From Como to Cremona Canals, tricycles and a funicular that made history. Once at Monte Bisbino, it is possible to retrace the route taken, descending as far as Como. From here, the route heads for Milan along the charming Cycle Path of the Parks that connects Lura Park with North Park. And then you can leave Milan heading east along the cycle path of the Naviglio della Martesana. From Cassano d’Adda, along the Vacchelli canal, Crema and Cremona can be reached.

Garda and the course of the Chiese offer churches, lakes, archaeological museums. From Cima Rest, a descent follows to Molino di Bollonebefore climbing towards Capovalle. From here, a long descent leads to Idro, from where the path continues along the river Chiese and the Val Sabbia to Tormini. At the end the cycle path of the Naviglio Grande Bresciano to Montichiari, once again meeting the Chiese. Then, passing trough fields and farmhouses.

An old pontoon bridge, an unexpected jewel of craftsmanship, the architecture of an ideal city, this is the cycle routes of the Po. After Casalmaggiore, the Golena del Po cycle path becomes more panoramic. After the confluence with the river Oglio, the path continues to the Borgoforte bridge, passing along the right bank of the Po. The cycle path continues along this bank until San Benedetto Po, only to return after another 15 kilometres to the left bank in the municipality of Ostiglia.

The greenway of the Oglio is an itinerary between Castles and fabulous petroglyphs. Passes made famous by the Giro d’Italia and Liberty spas. Leaving from the Passo del Tonale in the Parco dell’Adamello, the gradients increase but nearly all are descents until Darfo Boario Terme and Lake Iseo. Here, it is advisable to stop and undertake, on the following day, a fine tour along the shores of the lake. The next stage leaves the lake behind to follow the banks of the river Oglio as it crosses the plain to the Po.

And to finish Il Pavese: bridges, embankments and vineyards. At the confluence of two magical rivers. Pavia is a perfect point of departure. As well as the Ticino and Naviglio di Bereguardo, Milan can be reached along the cycle path of the Naviglio Pavese. Or, following the course of the Po, the low plain can be crossed up to the hills of San Colombano al Lambro. Or, a route can be taken between the castles and rice fields of the extraordinary “middle earth” that is Lomellina. Finally, there are the hills of Oltrepò, with Broni, Casteggio,Godiasco Salice Terme and Varzi.

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