![](../pics/065_bacchiglione_burcio.jpg)
The
river
Bacchiglione was the
old waterway between Vicenza and Padua. It has its source in the convergence
of short mountainous streams and springs, it flows through Vicenza, Montegalda
and Trambacche, the seat of old castles, passes St Martino Castle, to
reach Creola, and then, in Tencarola, just outside Padua, collects the
waters of the Brentella Canal.
![](../pics/065_bacchiglione3.jpg)
Part
of it enters the town and part of it floods into the Battaglia Canal,
18 kilometres long excavated by the Paduans in the twelfth century to
connect Padua and Monselice and the waters of the southern province of
Padua.
![](../pics/065_castello_san_martino.jpg)
Today, the navigable part of the river from Padua to Creola constitutes
a enchanting rich fluvial naturalistic route.
Not far
from the river, there is
St Martino
Castle, the seat of the
Bacchiglione
Museum. Starting from
Bassanello,
an old Paduan river village, the cruise continues in the
green
vegetation beyond Rari Nantes', Canottieri's
![](../pics/065_museo_bacchiglione.jpg)
and other rowing clubs' docks, and the boat is then swallowed up by
luxurious
and shadowy green.
Beyond the convergence with the Canale Brentella the
boat proceeds slowly to Tencarola,
![](../pics/065_bacchiglione.jpg)
the seat of an old mill and a fluvial harbour, once used for the loading
of stones from the
Euganean Hills. Sometimes, teams of of canoeists and
rowers accompanied the navigation. Sinuous and
swerving bights and banks
full of willows, poplars, platens and pagoda trees accompany here the
river journey. Among the trees and the vegetation, romantic and
valuable
bell towers of old parishes witness the long presence of man. A bicycle
ride or a pleasant walk can lead to an old Venetian Villa at Montecchia
or to the
Bacchiglione Museum, where
roman ancient pirogues and other
testimonies of old river civilizations are kept.
There is the chance to taste the wine from the Euganean Hills and the
local cuisine, which further enrich this already enjoyable journey.