GiraTagliamento: green infrastructure to promote natural experiences, innovative tourism and enhanced mobility

“GiraTagliamento” is the name of a bicycle touring route in Eastern Veneto that leads from the Punta Tagliamento Lighthouse on the right bank of the mouth of the Tagliamento River in Bibione (in the municipality of San Michele al Tagliamento) to the Alvisopoli Woods, which lie near the village of the same name in the municipality of Fossalta di Portogruaro. The route winds its way through the territories of three municipalities in the Metropolitan City of Venice (San Michele al Tagliamento, Teglio Veneto and Fossalta di Portogruaro) and it is part of a network of bicycle touring routes in Eastern Veneto and nearby Friuli Venezia Giulia, which also include “boat link” ferry services for cyclists and their bikes that join together Bibione, Lignano and Caorle.

The majority of the route runs alongside the Tagliamento River, which is known as the Tiliment in Friulian. Its source is at 1195 metres above sea level on the slopes of Monte Miaron, which stands near the Mauria Pass on the border between Veneto (Lorenzago di Cadore) and Friuli Venezia Giulia (Forni di Sopra). From there it flows for 178 km, initially in mountainous territory with steep slopes, then more gently down to the plain and finally into the Adriatic Sea. Found between the resorts of Bibione and Lignano Riviera, the mouth forms a cuspidate delta with a cone that has been built up over the last eight centuries by the sand transported by the river. This in turn has been spread out over many kilometres on its sides by the currents in the sea. Due to the unique qualities of its ecosystem, the Tagliamento has been used as an example in research and naturalization processes involving other important rivers. Numerous researchers study it because it is the last Alpine river that is still preserved in its natural state.

The bicycle touring route is approximately 45 km long and it is largely on dirt tracks. Almost all of it is found on the top of the embankments by the river (from Bibione to Villanova della Cartera, going past Bevazzana, Marinella, Cesarolo, San Filippo, San Michele al Tagliamento, San Giorgio al Tagliamento, Pozzi, San Mauretto, San Mauro and Malafesta) and on little country roads (from Malafesta to Alvisopoli). It takes around three hours to follow the entire route, which goes through a mosaic of different landscapes. A prominent role is played by water and natural features, such as the Adriatic Sea, beaches, fossil dunes, pine woods containing rare flowers and wild shrubs, the flood beds of the river (where local flora and fauna thrive) and the colourful rural environment dotted with orchards and woods. A number of interesting, noteworthy places can be found within a short distance of the route. In the municipality of San Michele al Tagliamento, they include the Punta Tagliamento Lighthouse (Bibione), the remains of Villa Mocenigo-Biaggini-Ivancich (which was destroyed during the Second World War), a Cold War bunker, an Austro-Hungarian military cemetery, a History Wall (featuring displays of wartime items and panels presenting local history) and the Villanova della Cartera paper mill, which dates back to the time of the Republic of Venice. The municipality of Teglio Veneto contains sites of great historical and environmental significance that are known as the Prati delle Pars. The municipality of Fossalta di Portogruaro is home to a Veneto villa called Villa Mocenigo . It is in the village of Alvisopoli , where the route comes to an end. Nearby are woods of considerable natural interest.

This project complements and builds on the activities carried out as part of the VeGAL Local Action Group’s 2007-13 Rural Development Programme, which saw the municipalities in the area putting into practice a local promotion initiative revolving around five themes (bicycle tourism, food & wine, the environment, waterways, and culture). As part of VeGAL’s “Points, Surfaces and Lines in Eastern Veneto” 2014-20 Local Development Programme (LDP), the municipalities agreed on a series of measures to champion the routes (running along the coast and from the coast to inland areas), the landscape and the rural heritage, in response to growing demand for “slow”, “cultural” and “seasonless” tourism. The initiative falls under the PC01 “Routes” key project in the LDP, which aims to highlight the area’s core qualities or “focal points” on the routes included in the area covered by the LDP: GiraLagune (along the Veneto coastal road and the Eurovelo-Adriatic route) and GiraTagliamento, GiraLemene and GiraLivenza (along the respective rivers). The idea is for them to drive/attract tourism, encouraging their use and establishing a positive environment for the creation and development of services and businesses that generate new employment opportunities.

Departure: Alvisopoli
Arrival: Bibione
Distance: 45 km
Difficulty: easy
Type of surface: 25% asphalt, 75% road-off
Type of route: day excursion