The best traffic-free bike rides around Pontelongo

The system of bridges and the viability of the Isola dell'Unione in Chioggia (VE) historically connect the historic center of Chioggia with the nearby seaside resort of Sottomarina. The area is served by a translagunar bridge and the characteristic swing bridge that crosses the Canale San Domenico. The main details about the Isola dell'Unione infrastructure include: Ponte Translagunare (Ponte della Concordia): Inaugurated in 1931, it is about 700 meters long and directly connects Sottomarina to Chioggia by crossing the lagoon. Ponte Girevole (Canale San Domenico): Regulates internal traffic and allows boats to pass. It has recently been the subject of tenders for extraordinary maintenance and the reorganization of city traffic. Roads and Cycle Paths: The area is part of the Passeggiata del Lusenzo, a circular pedestrian and cycle path that connects the two centers passing through the Isola dell'Unione, ideal for tourist visits and excursions.

The Ponte dell'Isola dell'Unione is the key infrastructure that unites Chioggia and Sottomarina, connecting the historicity of "Little Venice" to the vibrancy of its seaside soul. Crossing the lagoon, this bridge is not just a crucial communication route for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, but a true umbilical cord that transforms two distinct realities into a single urban organism. Strolling along its sidewalks, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the southern lagoon, with the moored boats, the distant casoni, and the unmistakable profiles of the two towns. For residents and tourists, it represents a suggestive transit point, particularly fascinating at sunset, when the lights reflect on the water, summarizing in a single glance the maritime, historical, and tourist essence of this unique territory.

Very pleasant and peaceful route along the lagoon. Almost no traffic. On the other bank, uncrowded beaches await you during the week. At the end of June, I was able to enjoy swimming in very warm water.

Boschettona Beach—also known as Paduan Beach—is a stretch of lagoon located in the municipality of Codevigo, and is the only stretch of coast still suitable for swimming in the province of Padua.

Many embankments and roads with little traffic

Basilica of Santa Giustina, Padua The Basilica of Santa Giustina, which housed one of the most important and influential religious communities in Padua during the Middle Ages, has its origins long before the arrival of the monks: The first basilica was built in the 6th century on the site of the former cemetery of Prato della Valle, where the young martyr Giustina, a victim of Maximian's persecutions of Christians, was buried in 304 AD. The arrival of the Benedictines in Padua dates back to the 10th century. After their settlement, the remains of saints, hidden during the barbarian invasions, gradually came to light, including those of Saint Giustina and Saint Luke the Evangelist, author of the Third Gospel and chronicler of the Acts of the Apostles. His relics were brought from Thebes (Greece) to Constantinople and then from Constantinople to Padua. The present basilica dates from the 16th century and is 122 meters long, with three naves in the form of a Latin cross. The apse contains the remarkable carvings of the 15th-century wooden choir and the altarpiece by Paolo Veronese from 1575, depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Giustina. The transept houses the tomb of Saint Luke the Evangelist on the left and the tomb of Saint Matthias the Apostle on the right. From there, the impressive Martyrs' Corridor leads to the chapel in the form of a Greek cross, built at the end of the 6th century on the tomb of Saint Prosdocimus, the first Bishop of Padua. The monastery was dissolved by Napoleon in 1810 and served as a barracks until 1919, when the Benedictines returned to Sant'Giustina. Only with an authorized guide is it possible to visit the 14th-century Chapel of St. Luke, where Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia, the world's first female academic (1678), is buried, as well as the old 15th-century choir and the vestibule leading to the sacristy. Text / Source: Prato della Valle - Sagrato di Santa Giustina, Padova (PD) http://www.abbaziasantagiustina.org https://www.turismopadova.it/de/orte/benediktinerabtei-der-heiligen-giustina/

Beautiful cycle paths, little traffic

As of September 5, 2025, the fountain was not working, although it had been active in the past. If you need it, there's a water dispenser in the same square selling (fresh!) still, lightly sparkling, and sparkling water for just 5 cents a liter.