Tipologia
Track features.
Short almost gravelled track with some stretches along city streets.
Length: km. 23,5.
Travelling time: 3 hours (including stops).
The itinerary.
Start: The itinerary starts at Andes motor ships wharf on Lago di Mezzo, in front of San Giorgio castle.
Looking at the lake, go right and proceed under San Giorgio bridge to get to Lago Inferiore. Go uphill right and take San Giorgio bridge tarred bikelane as far as the opposite lake bank (km 0,5); turn right at the bar, cross the rowing club and follow the bank dirt path. From there you can admire Gonzaga palace fascinating skyline. At the refinery fence (km.2), take the ramp, pass the bar and turn right towards Mantua along via Brennero (beware of traffic). After Diga Masetti iron bridge, turn right along via Diga Masetti (km.2,8), then right again along Lago Inferiore Argine Maestro – id est main bank - dirt road. You get to Santa Maria del Gradaro XI-XII century apse (km.4), which you should visit. Follow Argine Maestro road as far as Porto Catena – id est the chain port - (km 5,5); go down left to via Cardone, then turn right to via Trieste and you are again along Lago Inferiore bank (km 6,5). Follow the dirt path until you are again at the starting point (km 7,5), then proceed northwards as far as Ponte dei Mulini – id est the mills bridge – (km8,5). Pass under the bridge: here is Lago Superiore. There is also a fork: going right along the footbridge, you get to Mantua-Peschiera cycle track. But this time you have to go left up the railway escarp: you get to a narrow wooden footbridge, then to a tarred lake bank. When you are in Belfiore park (km.11), take right and cross it to via Pascoli; at the end of the street (km 12,5), a sign leads you on your right to a dirt path along the lake bank. The path is narrow and a bit wild, but you can enjoy a wonderful landscape from there; you are in Mincio river natural park, and you can see a rich lake vegetation and several kinds of birds. The path ends in Borgo Angeli (km.15.5) behind Santa Maria church, which you may visit.
Go back along the same way to reach again San Giorgio castle (km.23,5).