TOURS 3. The UNESCO World Heritage Site “Venice and Lagoon” (a part of it within the City of Codevigo, Padova Province); From the Euganean Hills to the Southern tip of the Venice Lagoon, along the Vigenzone and Pontelongo rivers; From Padova to the Southern tip of the Venice Lagoon, along the Roncajette and Pontelongo rivers.

processing of image from the site www.padovanavigazione.it From Padova, travelers departing the Euganean Hills can ride along the Euganean Riviera across Battaglia Terme and then ride on or sail east along the Vigenzone Pontelongo canals up to the Southern tip of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Venice and its Lagoon” within the city limits of Codevigo (under Padova jurisdiction) and Chioggia (under Venice jurisdiction) where both territories border the Venice Lagoon. Traveling across this reclaimed land is like a trip through time. Slow rhythms, fields dotted with historical prestigious buildings, ancient hydraulic infrastructures, come together to make up a sophisticated system of archaeological architecture. Bicycle lovers can also travel along the Roncajette river all the way to Bovolenta and from Pontelongo keep riding along the Pontelongo canal, also known as the “Salt Road”. From above the riverbanks, the traveler's view encompasses the countryside and the rivers slowly flowing into the lagoon.

3.a From the Euganean Hills to the Southern Venice Lagoon, along the Vigenzone-Pontelongo canals

Until the second half of the 12th Century, the Padua-Chioggia riverway and the connection to the Venice lagoon consisted in the narrow and winding Roncajette Canal that ended in Bovolenta, the seat of a mighty castle. Following the 1201 excavation works of the Battaglia Canal, the traffic moved to the route Padova-Battaglia-BovolentaPontelongo. Patrician houses and Benedictine monasteries are still standing and are testimony to the importance of the canal for trade purposes . Here, at a small countryside monastery overlooking the canal Donatello found shelter in 1447. At this site, owned by the Saint Anthony's friars, the sculptor cast the metal statues commissioned to him for the Saint Anthony's Basilica in Padova. The bronzes were later transported into town by waterway.

1. Planimetric development of the waterway Vigenzone and Pontelongo

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2. Canal Vigenzone – Pontelongo

3. Bronzes in the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua

The cruise starts in Battaglia Terme.. After crossing the huge lock which allows boats to fill a 7 meters gap, the ship continues its trip in the Vigenzone-Bovolenta canal reaching Bovolenta where it joins the Roncajette canal ending in Pontelongo (formerly a crowded river harbor of some standing). In Correzzola, one cannot but admire the imposing Benedictine Court that stands out against the background of the beautiful natural environment and the reclaimed land. Finally, the cruise sails out of Padova territories arriving in Chioggia across the Brondolo Lock. From there the cruise ship heads straight to the Venice city centre.

2. River navigation to Chioggia

5. Corte Benedettina – Correzzola - outdoor

Pictures and texts courtesy of the website www.padovanavigazione.it

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Tours and Infos, useful Links: www.padovanavigazione.it www.irvv.net

3.b From Padova to the Southern Venice Lagoon, along the Roncajette Canal and the Pontelongo Canal

As soon as the bicycle leaves the outskirts of Padova, the rider travels across a rural environment dotted with historical villages, which offers amazing natural landmarks and delicious food and wine tasting. The route on top of the dikes, follows the banks of various waterways created by the river Bacchiglione. The tour starts at the hydraulic junction of Bassanello, Padova. From there the Bacchiglione flows into the Maestro branch as well as into the Battaglia and Scaricatore Canals which near Voltabarozzo is renamed Roncajette Canal. The rider can make a stop in Ponte San Nicolò, precisely at the colorful countryside village of the Abbà Island. The view from there embraces the Venetian Villa “Rezzonico”. With a detour of about two kilometers it is possible to enjoy the view of the impressive Benedictine Courtyard. Following the signs heading to to Polverara, the rider reaches the small city that gave its name to the Polverara Hen. This is a beautiful countryside whose meadows are arranged in the traditional “Padova Style”, which means that fields are alternatively cultivated with vegetables and cereals. The countryside is also scattered by ancient cottages and large farms, that locals call “boarie”. A little farther, not far from the city of Bovolenta, the Bacchiglione merges into the waters of the river-ways which contribute to shape a complicated hydraulic system. The next stop is Pontelongo, the city that symbolizes the challenge of the Benedictine monks to reclaim land from the swamps. Once their work was finished, the monks started developing farming and build the typical farms and barns, haylofts and grain-silos. The route continues along the dike on the left riverbank. A few kilometers later, near Castelcaro (within the city limits of Codevigo) a tourist sign underscores that the site today known as the “Oratorio” served in the 14th Century as a military outpost. The Carraresi Seigneurs wanted it erected to guard their “Salt Road”. As a matter of fact, in the Middle Ages the nearby city of Chioggia owned one of the largest salt-works of the entire Mediterranean Sea basin. In the last part of the tour the rider comes across a quite different landscape. Meadows crisscrossed by moats and canals are now replaced by the glittering surface of the lagoon surrounding the city centre of Chioggia, the tour destination.

6. Navigability of the river south of Padua

7. Navigability of the river from Padua to the Sea

Pictures and texts courtesy of the website www.turismopadova.it/padovainbici

Tours and Infos, useful Links: www.turismopadova.it/padovainbici

Experiencing how to row in the Venetian Style is as fascinating as riding. For example, rowing is an option in the Pontelong Canal all the way to Correzzola's Benedictine Court. Tours and Infos, useful Links: www.amissidelpiovego.it

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3.c The UNESCO World Heritage Site “Venice and its Lagoon” (within the borders of the City of Codevigo, Province of Padova)

The core area of this site, whose inscription in the world heritage list goes back to 1987, stretches over two provincial territories. For the most part it affects 8 municipalities in the Venice Province (from North to South: Musile di Piave, Quarto d’Altino, Jesolo, Cavallino-Treporti, Venezia, Mira, Campagna Lupia, Chioggia). Within the Province of Padova territories the site includes a small outlet into the lagoon in the City of Codevigo. The Codevigo core area covers a part of the lagoon called Millecampi Valley, whose two historical farm cottages are owned by the Province, and the inland area bordering the lagoon up the river Brenta. The Buffer zone is currently under approval. The uniqueness of the site is determined by the wealth of historical, archaeological, urban, architectonic, and artistic landmarks linked with an extraordinary mix of cultural traditions which form an integrated environment of a similarly remarkable landscape and wilderness structures. The Venice Lagoon is known for being one of the most ancient and complex examples of the interaction between human activities and natural phenomena with the highest concentration of tangible cultural landmarks and expressions of art accumulated over several stages of the history of mankind.

8. Satellite image of the lagoon of Venice

9. Core Area UNESCO Site “Venice and its lagoon”

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10. Quarto d’Altino Mosaic floor with panther

11. Musile di Piave Bridge rocker on “Piave Vecchia”

13. Jesolo Fish farms

14. Codevigo Casone delle Sacche

16. Cavallino-Treporti Ancient custom salt

17. Campagna Lupia Church of Lugo

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12. Mira Villa Contarini dei Leoni

15. Chioggia Canal Vena

18. View of Venice

The site's preservation and valorisation is dealt with by the responsible authorities. One of them is the Province of Padova that is in charge of the specific Management Plan.

Pictures and texts from the Management Plan of the UNESCO Site “Venice and its Lagoon”

More comprehensive infos about the Site's features and the tourist opportunities are available at the links: www.veniceandlagoon.it whc.unesco.org www.comune.quartodaltino.ve.it www.comune.musile.ve.it www.comune.cavallinotreporti.ve.it www.comune.jesolo.ve.it www.comune.mira.ve.it www.comune.campagnalupia.ve.it www.comune.venezia.it www.chioggia.org www.comune.codevigo.pd.it

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The part of the lagoon comprised in the section belonging to the Codevigo area and called “Millecampi Valley” is an amazing natural area including some historical cottages. Due to its qualities as a typical lagoon environment, this area is publicly acknowledged both at national and international level for its offer of natural assets. It is located at the Venetian Estuary, which is part of the components of the large and complex ecosystem within the Venice Lagoon. It is situated in the so-called “barene”, i.e. wide flat wastelands that are covered by the tides, streaming according to the cycles. The flora and fauna are typical elements of the Venetian coastal area. Because of their instability and dynamism, they represent one of the most characteristic features of the lagoon. Their tendency to expansion and retreat is in connection with the quantity of solid materials carried by the rivers merging into the waters of the lagoon and with the tides. The “barene” are usually crossed by the winding canals called “Ghebi” which are typical tidal streams. Because of this natural features, Millecampi Valley is the ideal environment for many species of birds, some of them rare, that pass the winter here.

19. A view of the lagoon

20. Example of fauna lagoon

21. Fauna lagoon Pictures courtesy from the websit www.provincia.padova.it/Ambiente/Caccia/Piano faunistico venatorio 2014-2019

22. Fish farms Picture and texts courtesy from the archives of the Province of Padova

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23. Casoni and hydraulic structures (base map: P.A.T. Municipality of Codevigo)

24. Casone Millecampi (before renovation)

25. Casone Millecampi (after renovation)

The Padova Provincial Government, is dealing with the full restoration and implementation of the original buildings of the Motta, including the Millecampi Valley Cottage, the cabana and the pier. An additional building will provide the technical equipment for the operation of the facilities. The Cottage will be employed for educational and social purposes with the aim to promote and develop the environment. The description of the history of the Valley economy, the links with the cultural background of the local community, the maritime and farming activities will be suitably address in the exhibition. The cafeteria on the ground floor and a large meeting room on the first floor as well as the apartment for the surveillance and a few guestrooms will be constructed soon. Works are also in progress for the construction of the outdoor eating facility beside the canoe shelter.

Picture and texts courtesy from the archives of the Province of Padova

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Since 2008 the Casone delle Sacche (the Sacche Cottage) has been the seat of the Millecampi EcoMuseum. The exhibition consists of panels describing the environment, the routes and the natural and cultural resources of the area. A brochure of horse, bicycle, canoe and walking tours is also available. The “Cavana del Moro” located inside the cottage is managed by the Millecampi Sport Association which is in charge of the canoe explorations across the canals and the barene. Tour guides lead visitors to discover the magical atmospheres of the valley. In addition, visitors are instructed about the technicalities of canoe rowing as well as about the many flora and fauna characteristics of the lagoon environment.

26. Casone delle Sacche and canoe schelter

Picture courtesy of the website www.polisportivamillecampi.it

Casone delle Sacche is also a bicycle rental station. Bicyclists can ride along the lagoon border, head inland toward Codevigo , discover more typical elements of the natural, rural and historical-architectural landscape, including the Venetian Villa “Corner Foscari”, and many hydraulic works, as well as stop at the farm restaurants. Besides, the still operating water pump in Santa Margherita is also the seat of the Water Pumps Museum which is run by the Land Reclamation Bacchiglione Consortium. In strict compliance with traditional building techniques four more cottages called “Fogolana Cottages” have been recently built not far from the Cason delle Sacche, They now belong to the local community and are dedicated to social services. A large botanical garden and a phyto-depuration site are available nearby.

27. Dewatering of Santa Margherita - Codevigo (PD)

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28. Casoni of Fogolana – Codevigo (Pd)

On the South side or Codevigo, in the village of Santa Margherita, an ancient namesake “Salt Road” brings the memory back to the age when the ramparts held the ground against attackers to the salt works. The bastion was destroyed by the Venetians during the so-called Salt War at the end of the 12th Century. In the nearby village of Castelcaro the access to the river in the direction of Padova was controlled by a garrison and a stronghold.

Pictures and texts courtesy from of the City of Codevigo

A little further on, preferably on a bike, travelers may leave from the village of Santa Margherita and Brenta d'Abbà to ride on the right bank of the Bacchiglione River toward Chioggia/Civè. Those heading in this direction may stop and visit the amazing natural oasis Cà di Mezzo phyto-depuration site which is located on the riverbanks and right at the border between two cities, Chioggia and Correzzola. The site belongs to the Land Reclamation Adige-Bacchiglione Consortium but the management of the natural oasis and the guided tours are handled by the Noah's Ark Club Legambiente of Piove di Sacco. The oasis offers several itineraries and it is equipped with birdwatching towers.

30. Basin wetlands of Cà di Mezzo Picture and text courtesy of the website www.legambientepiove.it

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Tours and Infos, useful Links: www.provincia.padova.it/Ambiente/Caccia www.polisportivamillecampi.it www.amici-della-bicicletta-pd.it www.irvv.net www.legambientepiove.it www.comune.codevigo.pd.it

For the safeguard and the enjoyment of the Millecampi Valley, two web-cams have been installed by the Province of Padova. Through the two “electronic eyes” the provincial police surveillance may take place 24/7. The equipment that overlooks the lagoon from Cason delle Sacche has already started service. Images are available on smart phone or PC (connecting to the website http://polizia.provincia.padova.it) for both the safeguard of the valley and the safety of the sailors. The weather and the sea conditions can therefore be monitored before departure starting sailing in this part of the lagoon between Padova and Venice. Hunters and fishermen and those exploring the valley can also take advantage from these tools. Snapshots will be taken by the two web-cams every five minutes. Images can also be viewed from home. Useful Infos at

www.polizia.provincia.it

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