The best traffic-free bike rides around San Martino Del Lago

Take water here, because you won't find any for a while (there are no fountains, you have to get it from bars which are practically non-existent on the Cremona - Casalmaggiore route)

The route is mostly along riverbanks. It's an easy route. Suitable for everyone.

Apparently, the two characters, known far beyond Italy's borders and created by the writer Giovanni Guareschi (1908 to 1968), are having a brief conversation. After one of their – once again public and heated – verbal confrontations, the author of the still popular short stories has the priest address his eternal adversary with these beautiful words: "God be with you and enlighten you, Comrade Mayor, so that one day, after our earthly journey has ended, we may find each other side by side at the beginning of that road that leads to eternity."

In San Giovanni in Croce, nestled in the Cremona countryside, stands this 15th-century noble residence associated with Cecilia Gallerani, the "Lady with an Ermine" depicted by Leonardo da Vinci. The villa, now restored and open to the public, preserves Renaissance-era architectural elements and opens onto a vast park of over twelve hectares, with ponds, clearings, and paths.

A 2019 art installation by Giuseppe "Giupi" Boles: a large "window" framing sunsets over the Po. It is located in the Lido Po Park, in the floodplain area facing the city: a perfect resting point for those cycling along the riverbank, with an open view of the river, floodplains, and riparian forests. In summer, the "La Baia" bar is open just a few dozen meters away; there is parking and access to the trails of the Golena del Po Intermunicipal Park.

refreshment point at the landing

Nestled in the tranquility of the Lombardy plain, Ostiano Castle is an unmissable stop for lovers of cycling and gravel. Along this trail, you cross dirt roads and suggestive paths that wind through fields and small villages, offering a perfect mix of history, nature and adventure. The castle, with its medieval charm, represents a unique point of interest, ideal for a panoramic stop and an immersion in local history. There is no shortage of technical and fun sections that make the route stimulating, perfect for those looking for a complete and engaging cycling experience.

Isola Dovarese is a gem set along the course of the Oglio River, a village that proudly preserves its historical soul. Walking along its streets means immersing yourself in a past made of Renaissance architecture and atmospheres of times gone by, where every stone tells of ancient glories and community life. The beating heart of the village is the splendid Piazza Matteotti, a large quadrangular space surrounded by porticoes, designed by the architects of the Vignola school. Here, every year, the Palio di Isola Dovarese brings the seventeenth century back to life: an event that transforms the village into a large open-air theater, among period costumes, flags in the wind and historical reenactments. But Isola Dovarese is also nature and slowness: the Oglio River embraces the village and invites contemplation, the discovery of paths that wind through woods and countryside. A place where history meets quiet and where every journey becomes an experience. (Anna)