Water and earth. The Benedictine reclamation
The land of the Red Prince, a land full of charm
Aggiornato al 2 March 2020
The route highlights the Paduan part of the PGI territory, a land rich in waters, especially the large rivers which, after crossing part of the plain, find their way into the Adriatic Sea. A young land, a land that found an agricultural destination only after the great reclamation efforts implemented by the Benedictines, starting from the middle centuries of the Middle Ages, it still retains a spontaneous and wild aspect that constitutes the true charm of the area. The old thatched houses ‘casoni’, a corner of the beach far from the nightlife of the seaside resorts are certainly the most interesting elements.
Codevigo and the Millecampi Valley
The route offers the possibility of following two itineraries:
PATH 1: The first route that winds around the entire perimeter starting from Codevigo is 35 km
PATH 2: The second with departure from Conche and development within the wetland is 15 km
1. Castelcaro’s Church
In a bend of the Bacchiglione route, as evidence of the history of this area remain important stones, which during the XIV century had served the powerful Paduan family of Carraresi to erect their castle. It was a military outpost with a defensive function of the Paduan borders against the nearby Venetians. After the fall of the Paduan Lordship and during the dominion of the Lion of San Marco, which spread all over the Veneto, the castle lost importance and was demolished. Legend says that the current church of Castelcaro was built with the same stones of the Carrarese castle, open today each last Sunday of the month with the celebration of a religious service.
Da qui guadagneremo la sommità dell’argine sinistro del Bacchiglione dove svolteremo a sinistra. Percorreremo un buon tratto di argine godendo della visuale rialzata, rispetto al piano campagna, che l’asta del fiume permette. Dopo qualche chilometro, sfiancato il ponte con le due arcate che troveremo sulla destra, svolteremo a sinistra, abbandonando l’argine e dirigendoci su via Santa Margherita verso l’omonima idrovora, sede di un museo che raccoglie la storia della bonifica del territorio.
2. Drainer and museum of Santa Margherita
Testimony of the large reclamation companies, that covered the area, is the Santa Margherita dewatering plant which dates back to the end of the nineteenth century proved by the high chimney embellishing the building. At the time the engines ran on steam and this particular water pump was equipped with a single large slap wheel which was then strengthened over the following decades. Now days this system is capable of lifting 13,500 liters per second. In the premises of the ancient charcoal burner, where fuel was once stored to operate the powerful motors of the dewatering pump, a documentation center has been created with a documentary and photographic archive with several historical videos about the epic of the reclamation.
Website "Water Museum of Venice" >
Website "Water Museum of Venice" >
3. The Millecampi valley
The Millecampi Valle is a huge swampy expanse with a sinuous and irregular shape, the result of a centuries-old reclamation work that began in 1500, by a wealthy patron and Venetian owner named Alvise Cornaro. However, the area maintains the original suggestions of the territory thanks to a geography made of ‘ghebi’, large salty lakes, reed beds that collide with strong lines of banks, rivers and canals and with the regular geometries of reclaimed land. The territory is composed of sandbanks: low and flat islets that are submerging at high tide and resurfacing at the low one.
Attraversata la Romea proseguiremo dritti sulla stradina che ci troveremo davanti e raggiunto l’intricato groviglio di canali che caratterizza l’area, seguiremo il corso della strada nelle sue accentuate curve a novanta gradi (la prima a destra e la seconda a sinistra) svolteremo a destra sulla strada che costeggia il canale, via della Bonifica, che ci porterà verso l’abitato di Conche. Una volta raggiunto il centro del piccolo borgo saremo già sulla via principale, via Vallona, che percorreremo fino ad incrociare via Valcittadella dove svolteremo a destra. Da qui percorreremo qualche chilometro e alla terza intersezione stradale che troveremo sulla sinistra vi svoltiamo per raggiungere la spiaggia della Boschettona.
4. The beach of the Boschettona
Recovered only a few years ago thanks to the works financed by the ‘Venezia Nuova Consortium’, it is a unique and exclusive place as well as the only overlooking the province of Padua on the Adriatic sea. Certainly there are no umbrellas, sun beds, bar service on the beach, neither music nor entertainment, but here you can enjoy the fascination and charm of nature; it is also a favorite destination for Kitesurf lovers.
5. Casoni della Fogolana
These are 4 recently built ‘thatched’ houses, built to remember the ancient houses of the area, characterized by large roofs covered with marsh reed. The four units are now used to provide clubhouse and meeting room services, with a large central fireplace powered by bioethanol and Bed&Breakfast.
Website "Casoni della Fogolana" >
Website "Casoni della Fogolana" >
6. Cason delle Sacche
It is the most advanced structure in the province of Padua in the Venice lagoon. Once a refuge for wealthy hunters who took advantage of the rich area's fauna for hunting trips, today, after a precious recovery, it has become the location of many initiatives organized by the Municipality and by the Codevigo associations such as the “Dinner under the stars” and the “Scene di Paglia”.
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