The idea of a weekend in a camper in the lagoon Does it appeal to you but you haven't had a chance to organize it so far? Here are some tips to do an unforgettable experience between Chioggia and the Lido of Venice with the bike in tow.
While riding a bicycle in the historic center of Venice is prohibited (and it would still be difficult to navigate narrow streets and crowded bridges on a two-wheeler), cycling on the islands which face south-east of its lagoon a highly recommended experience. The islands of Lido and Pellestrina are crossed by an incredible and original cycle itinerary which we traveled by basing ourselves with the camper in Chioggia. There E5-Venice Islands Cycle Route it connects the two ends of the lagoon and allows you to explore it at a slow pace, always having the most beautiful city on water in the world in the background.
The route is flat and can be followed in both directions, using both low-traffic roads and cycle/pedestrian paths. Easy and well signposted, it often overlooks the lagoon shore, alternating wide views of the water with glimpses of colorful villages. A ferry service - ACTV line 11 - connects Chioggia to the island of Pellestrina and from there to the island of Lido, facilitating the logistical organization of those traveling with two wheels in tow.
Chioggia, little Venice
“Venice and its Lagoon” is the name of the site recognized in 1987 by UNESCO as World Heritage Site for its high historical and landscape value. Chioggia, a lagoon town located on small islands connected by bridges and characterized by calli and canals, is fully included in this category. A conformation that earns it the nickname "little Venice". If the style that characterizes the historic center undeniably refers to that of the Serenissima, Chioggia differs from its older sister due to the presence of the imposing flotilla of fishing boats, among the largest in the country, which give it a completely different atmosphere.
The historian is renowned Fish market, one of the oldest institutions in the city, offering the best of the daily catch. It is located behind Granary Palace, between Corso del Popolo and Canal Vena. The latter is the main of the three canals that cross the centre, and is surmounted by nine bridges which are worth crossing to enjoy ever-changing views. The most monumental is the Vigo Bridge, overlooking the lagoon and Piazzetta Vigo, monitored by “the cat of Ciosa”, the cat of Chioggia, as the lion placed on the top of the Vigo Column is jokingly called.
The small square is the final point of the Corso del Popolo, an elegant lounge and starting point to start cycling along the Cycle Route of the Islands of Venice. Here, in fact, it sets sail the ferry with bike transport which takes us to the island of Pellestrina. Among the things to see we highlight the church of San Domenico, on the small island of San Domenico, connected to the town by a bridge.
Chioggia, 3 things to see
Fish market
Fishing has always been an activity of fundamental importance for Chioggia. To prove this, just make a stop at the Mercato Ittico per minute which is located between Piazza del Popolo and Canal Vena, near Palazzo Granaio.
Wandering around the mògnoli stations, set up by local fishmongers, you will be able to savor the liveliness and the unrepeatable charm of this crucial place for the trade and sale of fish products.
Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
With eighteenth-century shapes, built on a previous place of worship documented as early as the ninth century. It is flanked by a 14th century Romanesque style bell tower.
Clock of the Tower of Sant'Andrea
Near the church of the same name, there is a medieval bell tower about thirty meters high which preserves a true rarity. This is the fourteenth-century clock from Giovanni Dondi's workshop, kept in the museum inside the building. Climb to the top of the bell tower if you don't want to miss an unparalleled view of the town and the lagoon environment. The Tower of Sant'Andrea Museum it is home to the world's oldest still functioning tower clock. The exhibition is spread over the seven floors of the building and tells the story of the city (tel. 389 8986972).
Pellestrina and Lido
From Chioggia to the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido of Venice, approximately 25 kilometers (return via the same route)
The island of Pellestrina
With their narrow and elongated shape, the islands of Pellestrina and Lido mark the border between the Venice Lagoon on one side and the Adriatic on the other. The bike itinerary that crosses them develops mainly to the west, on the lagoon side, but nothing prevents you from making a small detour to the eastern side and taking a break on the beach on the seashore. After getting off at the Cà Roman stop of the ACTM line 11 ferry, we start cycling on the island of Pellestrina. The route is well signposted and in any case there is no possibility of error as there are only two roads on the whole island: one towards the sea, busy, the other on the shore of the lagoon and suitable for cycling.
Thus you begin to wander among the colorful houses of the village of Pellestrina, with 16th-17th century homes interspersed with calli and campielli with fishing nets spread out in the sun. Going up the island towards the north you come across the town of Saint Anthony of Pellestrina, then Portosecco, where the tradition of bobbin embroidery is still alive, then San Pietro in Volta and finally Santa Maria del Mare, where we head straight towards the ferry boat that ferries cars, bicycles and pedestrians towards the Lido.
Worth seeing Small Museum of the Southern Lagoon inside the former school of San Pietro in Volta, which documents the history of the Murazzi, the great flood of 1966 and sea and lagoon fishing.
The Lido island
Once you have landed on the island you start pedaling again along the road that runs alongside the lagoon up to the historic center of malamocco, a small and ancient village of brightly colored houses. Crossed by canals that outline marinas, calli and campielli, it certainly deserves a break.
Following the indicative signs with the writing E5, you then proceed along the lagoon until you mix, on a cycle path, with the local traffic of the modern town of the Lido. After kilometers of absence, unfortunately the cars reappear. If instead you move from Malamocco towards the sea you can cycle on the cycle/pedestrian path created on the Murazzi, the long stone and concrete cord that protects the island and the lagoon from the erosion of sea storms.
On the Murazzi the track runs far from the local roads, surrounded by reeds, and offers wide views of the sea horizon. Whatever the approach route, after a few kilometers you reach the white mass of Cinema Palace, main headquarters of the famous Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica which every year at the beginning of September brings the international jet set to the Lido of Venice. The E3 bike route then continues up to the monumental Jewish cemetery and the church of San Nicolò, arrival point of the excursion. The return to our starting point is via the same route as the outward journey.
Once we return to Chioggia, for a well-deserved relaxing break we pedal towards the seaside resort of sottomarina, a long strip of sand overlooked by factories, hotels and campsites. To the north the coast is closed by the dam wall, on which numerous fishing houses with the typical large balance stand out. After an intense ride, lying on the sand in the sun will be even more beautiful.
With that dialect a bit like that
With that sing-song sound and that marked “lle”, so different from the other Venetian dialects, the Chiozzo dialect reflects the lively and popular character of the people of the lagoon town. He made an irresistible portrait of Carlo Goldoni in his Crazy brawls, the comedy staged for the first time in 1762 at the San Luca theater in Venice.
Let's take back the lagoon!
At 9 in the morning, when the cannon shot marks the beginning of the Vogalonga from Venice, thousands of boats - all strictly manually propelled - begin to make a wide ring on the lagoon waters, departing and returning in front of Piazza San Marco. The event, which repeats itself every year on Pentecost Sunday, offers the unrepeatable thrill of paddling or rowing in the most incredible city in the world, pausing with your nose in the air to admire campielli and sotoporteghi, taking advantage of the temporary ban on the circulation of motorized vehicles. An act of love for Venice and its lagoon, an opportunity to discover a delicate and fascinating environment with the tools of sustainable aquatic mobility.
Camper stop
A Chioggia there is thePark Lusenzo equipped area in Via Granatieri di Sardegna 2 in Borgo San Giovanni di Chioggia (tel. 041 5534811), automatic entrance regulated by a barrier, open all year round. In addition there is theDal Padoan equipped area in Via San Felice 10 a sottomarina, always open except for a few short periods: it is advisable to contact the structure in advance (parcheggiodalpadoan@hotmail.com).
Numerous are the seasonal campsites which overlook the long beach of Sottomarina, the seaside resort of Chioggia. There is the Camping at the Port, near the historic center of Chioggia, to which it is connected via a cycle path. Open from April to early October, it has direct access to the sea. There is also one in Chioggia Isamar Holiday Village.
Two kilometers from the train station Adria, from where it is possible to reach Chioggia in just over half an hour (infrequent journeys) there is Adria Camper Parking Area, video surveillance, free parking for a maximum of 72 hours, parking start notification via app. If you don't have a camper, in Chioggia among the accommodation facilities there is the residence Domus Clugiae, in a central position, a two-minute walk from the Church of the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary and San Filippo Neri.
text by Arianna Mantovani
Here is the complete map
Did you like this itinerary between Chioggia and the Lido of Venice by bike? Click here to plan a ride along the E5-Ciclovia Isole di Venezia. On the site you will find itinerary data, tourist information, the route map and the GPX track.
