Between Lake Garda and the Po, the Ciclovia del Sole combines river scenery with a visit to Mantua. This guide focuses on the Lombardy section of the larger EuroVelo 7 and BicItalia 1 itinerary, rather than the whole Italian route. Regione Lombardia describes a section of approximately 90 km between Ponti sul Mincio and Moglia, much of it within the Mincio Park.
From Lake Garda towards Mantua
Italia.it begins its itinerary at Peschiera del Garda in Veneto, before the route enters Lombardy at Ponti sul Mincio. The northern approach follows the Mincio through the countryside of the regional park. Peschiera is useful context for the journey, although the Lombardy section itself is described by Regione Lombardia as beginning at the regional boundary.
The Province of Mantua’s guide to the Mantua–Peschiera cycle path describes places to explore along this corridor, including Monzambano and Borghetto. At Borghetto, its suggested pause takes in the old lanes, restored mills and Visconti bridge. The provincial guide also suggests a diversion towards Valeggio and Parco Sigurtà.
A pause in Mantua
Mantua is a natural place to divide the journey: Italia.it uses it to separate the approach from Lake Garda from the continuation towards Emilia-Romagna. The city is surrounded on three sides by lakes and offers an art and history stop alongside the river landscape.
The provincial cycle guide describes a waterside passage near Lago Superiore and Cittadella on its Mantua–Peschiera itinerary. Allow time in the city itself if its historic centre is part of the appeal, rather than treating Mantua only as a point on the way south.
South to San Benedetto Po and Moglia
Beyond Mantua, Italia.it describes the route continuing to San Benedetto Po, where Polirone Abbey offers a cultural stop. It then heads south along the riverbank to Moglia, at the Lombardy boundary, before continuing in the direction of Bologna.
This southern stretch gives the trip a different emphasis from the Garda approach: the itinerary moves from the Mincio landscape towards the Po and the neighbouring region. Regione Lombardia identifies the route as a connection between Mantua and the VENTO cycle route.
Planning the ride
Choose either side of Mantua for a shorter trip, or use the city as a break on a longer north–south journey. The national tourism guide presents two stages, while the regional authority defines the Lombardy section by its borders at Ponti sul Mincio and Moglia. These descriptions cover slightly different geographic scopes.
Regione Lombardia reports that the Lombardy works were inaugurated in April 2024. That historical milestone does not establish conditions on every part of the route today, so check current local information before setting out, especially when planning a continuation beyond the regional boundary.