Along the Ticino river by bike, from Sesto Calende to Pavia (The route crosses the whole Park of Ticino, one of the largest regional parks in Europe)
Wooded hills surround the course of the Ticino river and its canals in the Varese stretch of the cycle path that connects Sesto Calende with Pavia, a route which totals 120 kilometres.
The cycle path that connects Sesto Calende and Pavia is of great interest to cycling enthusiasts. With its 120 kilometres, which unfold along a level route that skirts the Ticino river, it enables pleasant excursions that are suitable for all to be planned.
The route runs along the longitudinal spine of the Park of Ticino, the largest river park in Europe, and follows the outline of the river, starting from the province of Varese, where it breaks away from Lake Maggiore in the municipality of Sesto Calende, before finally going on to reach Pavia, where it joins the Po river.
The stretch in the province of Varese begins near the point at which the Ticino leaves Lake Maggiore, along a road with little traffic that runs beside the river, continuing as far as the Camping Gabbiano campsite.
From here it is necessary to proceed along a short stretch open to traffic as far as the Enel Diga Panperduto power station, the departure point of the Villoresi and Industriale canals. The excursion continues along the towpath that runs alongside them, crossing the municipalities of Somma Lombardo and Lonate Pozzolo, until it reaches the tow-path of the Naviglio Grande on the boundary with the province of Milan.
This first stretch of cycle path, managed by the Province of Varese, is dominated by nature. The path unwinds through the typical Alpine scenery that embraces the Ticino Valley, with woods of horse chestnut, oak and silver pines, while on the pebbly river bank it is not hard to spot white, grey and dwarf herons, mallards and bald coots.
At Lonate Pozzolo, along a fairly challenging road with hairpin bends, it is possible to climb towards the hamlet of Tornavento, which has a panoramic square overlooking the Ticino Valley and the "Ex dogana austroungarica" (Former Austro-Hungarian Customs) Park Centre, with its small natural history museum.
From here cyclists can choose either to ride back down to the river and continue their journey along the towpath of the Naviglio Grande towards Turbigo, where there is a large power station, or if they have a mountain bike, to take Via Gaggio, a gentle unpaved path surrounded by woods which leads to the centre of Lonate Pozzolo.
The cycle path that connects Sesto Calende and Pavia is of great interest to cycling enthusiasts. With its 120 kilometres, which unfold along a level route that skirts the Ticino river, it enables pleasant excursions that are suitable for all to be planned.
The route runs along the longitudinal spine of the Park of Ticino, the largest river park in Europe, and follows the outline of the river, starting from the province of Varese, where it breaks away from Lake Maggiore in the municipality of Sesto Calende, before finally going on to reach Pavia, where it joins the Po river.
The stretch in the province of Varese begins near the point at which the Ticino leaves Lake Maggiore, along a road with little traffic that runs beside the river, continuing as far as the Camping Gabbiano campsite.
From here it is necessary to proceed along a short stretch open to traffic as far as the Enel Diga Panperduto power station, the departure point of the Villoresi and Industriale canals. The excursion continues along the towpath that runs alongside them, crossing the municipalities of Somma Lombardo and Lonate Pozzolo, until it reaches the tow-path of the Naviglio Grande on the boundary with the province of Milan.
This first stretch of cycle path, managed by the Province of Varese, is dominated by nature. The path unwinds through the typical Alpine scenery that embraces the Ticino Valley, with woods of horse chestnut, oak and silver pines, while on the pebbly river bank it is not hard to spot white, grey and dwarf herons, mallards and bald coots.
At Lonate Pozzolo, along a fairly challenging road with hairpin bends, it is possible to climb towards the hamlet of Tornavento, which has a panoramic square overlooking the Ticino Valley and the "Ex dogana austroungarica" (Former Austro-Hungarian Customs) Park Centre, with its small natural history museum.
From here cyclists can choose either to ride back down to the river and continue their journey along the towpath of the Naviglio Grande towards Turbigo, where there is a large power station, or if they have a mountain bike, to take Via Gaggio, a gentle unpaved path surrounded by woods which leads to the centre of Lonate Pozzolo.
