CYCLING FROM FORTE MARGHERA TO FORTE BAZZERA, WITH VIEWS OF THE LAGOON

View the map in full screen

Stage 1: Forte Marghera - Bay of Forte Marghera

---

Stage 2: Bay of Forte Marghera – Parco San Giuliano

The cycle itinerary continues in the direction of Parco San Giuliano: leave the fort behind you and follow the yellow signs in the direction of Parco San Giuliano, then turn right and follow an asphalt road. Cross the road and take a short dirt track that links the fort to Viale San Marco. Here, near the pedestrian crossing, you will find yellow signs with directions to the park and, on the other side of the road, a MoVeNice bicycle parking area. Cross the road and continue to the right, climbing onto the cable-stayed bridge that connects Viale San Marco to Parco San Giuliano, the green lung of the lagoon city.

Parco San Giuliano is Italy’s second largest urban park, inaugurated in 2004. Spanning 74 hectares, it is the largest park in Venice, frequented by residents for outdoor sports: the park contains basketball courts, a skating rink and areas equipped for individual exercises, as well as a children’s play area. Its extensive lawns are also the perfect place to relax in green surroundings and are often used to host major events such as concerts. The park also offers food and drink areas, drinking water fountains and public toilets.
 

Useful information:

• Parco San Giuliano: https://www.comune.venezia.it/it/content/parco-san-giuliano

Back to itinerary's details

 

---

Stage 3: Parco San Giuliano – Punta San Giuliano

Once you have crossed the cable-stayed bridge, you will find yourself at Porta Rossa, a building that houses a bar with outdoor tables, toilets and the municipal office for the management of the park. We advise you to make your way through the park along the route of your choice, discovering different views across the lagoon, either from the hill, stretching to the edge of the lagoon, or Punta San Giuliano. This area of the park looks onto the lagoon directly and offers a wonderful view of Venice, so we recommend a short stop at this viewpoint to admire the animals and plants of the lagoon ecosystem.

In the 1930s, Punta San Giuliano was the only beach in Mestre, home to a heliotherapy colony whose buildings are currently used by sports and rowing clubs, such as the Società Canottieri Mestre ADS, where kayaking, canoeing and dragon boat rowing lessons are held. “Voga alla Veneta” (Venetian-style rowing) is also practised here. This traditional rowing technique is typical of the lagoon and strongly reflects the Venetian identity. The Gruppo Sportivo Voga Veneta Mestre, a cultural sports association, operates with the aim of spreading “Voga alla Veneta” and its traditions, as well as preserving the Venetian lagoon’s typical boats.

Back to itinerary's details

---

Stage 4: Punta San Giuliano - Passo Campalto

It’s now time to head towards Passo Campalto. From Punta San Giuliano, go back towards Porta Rossa. Pass the playground area on the left, and you will find a small road on the right that marks the beginning of the nature and cycle path. Continue along the asphalt road until you reach an iron bridge that separates the lagoon from the Osellino canal.
Push your bicycle across the bridge and continue along the dirt track that leads to Passo Campalto: on one side you will skirt the Osellino canal, while lush vegetation grows on the other side. The end of the Parco San Giuliano – Passo Campalto stretch looks onto the lagoon’s characteristic salt marshes. Venice and its lagoon are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and their uniqueness comes from their interconnection: the salt marshes are an authentic part of the lagoon’s heritage and are essential to preserving its integrity. The salt marshes consist of land that emerges due to the effect of low tide at certain times of the year. The salt marsh environment is unique, characterised by halophilous vegetation capable of adapting to highly saline and often waterlogged soils. It is an ideal habitat for many species of birds and for a rare ecosystem of plants such as Salicornia and Limonium.

Some of you might be interested to see the small wooden boat stuck in the sand at the end of the route, which has become the symbol of the route itself and has a quote by Leopardi painted on it: “Shipwreck seems sweet to me in this sea”.

The dirt road stops briefly near the small, traditional canal-port of Campalto, called “Passo Campalto”, which frames a sweeping view of Venice and its lagoon. It was once one of the lagoon’s landing places for exchanging goods and over time has become a popular boating spot. From here you can admire the Venice skyline and spot the bell tower of San Marco.

Back to itineray's details

---

Stage 5: Campalto Pass - Campalto salt marshes

From Passo Campalto, the route resumes and joins the clearly visible and well signposted dirt track. The route called “Passeggiata delle Barene di Campalto” (Campalto salt marsh walk) looks onto the splendid salt marshes which take on different shapes and hues according to the time of year and the tide levels.

It is well worth bringing binoculars here to observe the local wildlife: cormorants, swans, herons, egrets, sacred ibises and sometimes flamingos (only when there is a particularly low tide that allows them to find food here). Visible to the naked eye are the outlines of the main islands, including Torcello, Burano and Mazzorbo, with the view stretching as far south as the Ponte della Libertà. There are benches along the dirt track where you can stop for a break or to do a bit of birdwatching. Local residents often visit these lagoon areas for wild herbs to make dishes with bruscandoli (wild hops) and carletti, so don't be surprised you see people intent on picking them here in the spring.

Back to itinerary's details

---

Stage 6: Campalto sal marshes - Forte Bazzera

To continue the itinerary, cross the wooden bridge and continue along the embankment that runs alongside the canal, following the brown signs that say “pista ciclopedonabile per Forte Bazzera” (cycle/pedestrian path to Forte Bazzera). This stretch up to the fort once again runs through green countryside and is characterised by two water pumps, one at Campalto and the other at Tessera.

Continue straight ahead until you come to Forte Bazzera, located in Tessera, near Marco Polo airport. Originally founded as Polveriera Bazzera (a gunpowder magazine) in 1910, the structure was used as a munitions and explosives depot to serve the other forts in the city. It was later renamed as a fort. The fort is currently accessible by crossing a wooden bridge and is completely surrounded by the waters of the Bazzera drain. Since its restoration in the 1990s, the fort has become a little oasis of peace where events of various kinds are sometimes organised. We recommend paying a visit to this small fort, leaving your bicycles in the racks at the entrance.

Back to itinerary's details

---

Stage 7: Forte Bazzera - Punta Bazzera

To reach the last stage of the itinerary, head towards the gate that marks the entrance to the fort area and follow a short asphalted stretch. At the first bridge, turn right and pass the barrier that marks the start of the route to Punta Bazzera. This area is very close to Marco Polo airport in Tessera, and you can watch the aeroplanes taking off and landing from here.

Go straight on along the cycle/pedestrian track to Punta Lunga, an area perfect for barbecues and parties. Follow the various dirt tracks that join up and lead to Punta Bazzera: the area closest to the lagoon, surrounded by salt marshes and lagoon vegetation. From this point you will have a clear view of the aeroplanes, the lagoon and the canals connecting Venice and the airport. As you will notice from the clayey ground under your feet, this area is often inaccessible during periods of high tide.

Returning to the tree-lined cycle/pedestrian path, take a rest to admire the lagoon before setting off on your way back.

Back to itinerary's details

---

Arrival: Punta Bazzera - Forte Marghera

From Punta Bazzera, the route back to Forte Marghera begins by following the brown signs with the words “pista ciclopedonale per Passo Campalto” (cycle/pedestrian path to Passo Campalto).

Return to Forte Bazzera, follow the cycle/pedestrian path as far as the Tessera pumping station, keep to the left and continue along the embankment that runs alongside the canal as far as the wooden bridge. On the way back, we advise you to admire the orderly crop fields of the countryside on the mainland. Near the wooden bridge are the Campalto woods, created in 2007. This is an example of natural woodland used as an urban park, where you can relax and have a rest. To get to the woods, follow a dirt track just before you cross the wooden bridge, go straight ahead and then follow the track that loops around the woods.

Continue by crossing the bridge and following the itinerary in reverse, passing by the Campalto salt marshes in the hope of seeing a splendid sunset over the lagoon and taking some stunning shots (if you do the route in the afternoon). Once you reach Parco San Giuliano, you can decide whether to return to the starting point, i.e. Forte Marghera, or stop at Parco San Giuliano, which also has good public transport links and plenty of parking facilities.

Back to itinerary's details

 

Sources

---

• Pierluigi Rizzato. 2017. Storia di Mestre – dalle origini ai giorni nostri. Edizioni Biblioteca dell’immagine    

• Guida Rossa Touring Club Italiano. 2005. Venezia. La biblioteca di Repubblica

• https://www.comune.venezia.it/

• https://www.veneziaunica.it/