The best traffic-free bike rides around Loreo

The Ponte dell'Isola dell'Unione is the key infrastructure that unites Chioggia and Sottomarina, connecting the historicity of "Little Venice" to the vibrancy of its seaside soul. Crossing the lagoon, this bridge is not just a crucial communication route for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, but a true umbilical cord that transforms two distinct realities into a single urban organism. Strolling along its sidewalks, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the southern lagoon, with the moored boats, the distant casoni, and the unmistakable profiles of the two towns. For residents and tourists, it represents a suggestive transit point, particularly fascinating at sunset, when the lights reflect on the water, summarizing in a single glance the maritime, historical, and tourist essence of this unique territory.

Here you cross the 45th parallel north, the imaginary line that marks the exact halfway point between the Equator and the North Pole, 5,000 kilometers away from each.

This historic bridge spans the Po di Maistra, connecting Boccasette to the island of Ca' Venier. Crossing is restricted to pedestrians, bicycles, and hand-propelled motorcycles. The bridge was restored and reopened in recent years. It is generally open between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., but opening hours and times vary depending on flooding and are not always signposted. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find up-to-date information online. Before arriving, it's advisable to check locally and plan an alternative if the bridge is closed.

This trail immerses you in the lagoon landscape of the Po Delta, among embankments, canals, salt marshes, and fish farms. Birdlife is frequently spotted along the route, particularly flamingos, herons, and other species typical of wetlands. It runs through an open and quiet environment, with long stretches of sparse shade: bring plenty of water and protect yourself from mosquitoes, especially in the evening.

One of the major projects completed during the Fascist era is the Sottomarina Dam, which, together with the Ca' Roman Dam built a few years earlier, completes the mouth of the Port of Chioggia. Construction began in the years following the First World War. Like the Murazzi (sea walls), the dam was constructed of brick and boulders of local Istrian stone and, in addition to finally completing the entrance to the Port of Chioggia, also allowed for a further expansion of the beach. The inauguration, as mentioned, took place in the midst of the Fascist regime on April 28, 1935, in the presence of the Duke of Aosta. The dam was immediately embraced by the local population, especially the residents of Sottomarina, a popular destination for their walks, so much so that many refer to it as "Sailors' Square." Text / Source: Lidi di Chioggia https://www.lididichioggia.it/la-diga-murazzi/

The Dam and the Walls, Sottomarina The Dam and the Walls The Walls are Istrian stone walls built by the Republic of Venice starting in the late 18th century to protect the inhabited centers of the lagoon from marine erosion. They are divided into three sections: one on the island of Lido, a second on the island of Pellestrina as far as Cà Roman, and a third along the coast of Sottomarina, running from Forte San Felice to the center of Sottomarina at a height of approximately 1200 meters. The famous War of Chioggia led to the complete destruction of Sottomarina, which became an uninhabited area, exposed to the sea without any protection and subject to frequent flooding. Reconstruction, which included the construction of the Walls, did not begin until 1600. The Walls along Via San Felice were more than 5 kilometers long and over 300 meters wide. They were built from square stones, primarily Istrian stone, erected on stilts extending to the Pellestrina coast and, of course, the Sottomarina coast. Initially, given the scale of the project and the lack of adequate equipment, construction seemed impossible, so it took thirty-eight years to complete in 1770. Legend has it that the inscription "Ausu romano, aere veneto" (With Roman boldness, with Venetian money) was already in place. The inscription is still visible when passing by on the Chioggia-Pellestrina vaporetto. The Murazzi ceased to function between the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the receding sea revealed an unexpected beach, thus forming a symbolic dividing line between "old" and "new" Sottomarina. Today, the Murazzi di Sottomarina are located about one kilometer from the sea: this has allowed for a large-scale revival of coastal tourism. The Murazzo now connects the entire Venetian coast, especially the outer islands, like a cordon, leaving only the three bays open, thus preserving the lagoon's waters. Text / Source: Lidi di Chioggia https://www.lididichioggia.it/la-diga-murazzi/

equipped beach and free beach

Connection between Chioggia and Sottomarina. The city's only green space.