Cycling the Sacca degli Scardovari: the Donzella loop from Porto Tolle
The Donzella loop is a 55–60 kilometre ride on asphalt, starting and finishing in Ca' Tiepolo, the main town of Porto Tolle. It circles the Sacca degli Scardovari, a lagoon where clams, mussels and oysters are farmed, and is the most popular Po Delta route on Komoot.
The Delta's most popular ride starts in town
Komoot's public Po Delta page lists more than 320 routes and around 16,000 registered cyclists: the Donzella loop is the most popular (figures consulted in October 2026). There is no need to drive in from far away: start in the centre of Porto Tolle, ride along lightly trafficked roads and finish where you began. For cyclists exploring the Delta near major routes such as VenTo and EuroVelo 8, this is a local loop to consider.
Cycling in the Po Delta from Porto Tolle
The route
From the town hall in Ca' Tiepolo, head towards the Sacca degli Scardovari and follow its asphalt embankments, passing through Scardovari and the island of Santa Giulia to the island of Donzella, which gives the loop its name. Along the way, Park information panels explain the lagoon's habitats and working life. Mountain bikers can opt for the more demanding grassy embankment stretches; road cyclists stay on asphalt throughout. The loop's GPS track is available on Komoot.
A working lagoon
The Sacca degli Scardovari covers around 3,000 hectares. The fishermen's consortium was founded in 1976 and now brings together 14 cooperatives with around 1,500 workers, half of them women. Shellfish farming expanded from the 1980s, after the floods of 1951 and 1966 had reshaped this land. This is where Cozza di Scardovari DOP is produced: Italy's first shellfish with a protected designation of origin, sold from May to July. The vongola verace del Polesine clam is worked all year round and harvested by hand in Porto Tolle's lagoons. Pink oysters have also been farmed in the Sacca since 2010, on suspended ropes that mimic the movement of the tide.
Where the name Donzella comes from
Many places in the Delta are named after the Venetian families who reclaimed them following the Taglio di Porto Viro (1600–1604): Ca' Farsetti and the island of Donzella are associated with the Farsetti family. Cycling here means crossing young land, shaped by the river and by people over roughly four hundred years.
Where to stop
October is clam season: back in town, RistòItalia, Porto Tolle serves spaghetti with clams from the Delta catch. RistòItalia is also marked on Komoot as an e-bike charging point. For an overnight stay, Albergo Italia, Porto Tolle offers cyclists bike storage, e-bike charging and early breakfast. Groups can choose Alloggi Centrale, Via G. Giolo 3, Porto Tolle: six rooms in the town centre, with check-in at Albergo Italia. Those wishing to try the Sacca on a gravel bike have Ostricando on Sunday 25 October, with its 60 km Rotta della Sacca route (registration closed, all places taken).
Alloggi Centrale, Via G. Giolo 3, Porto Tolle
Sources — 14 October 2026
- Parco regionale Veneto del Delta del Po, Anello della Donzella route sheet
- Regione Veneto, cycling itineraries, E3 route sheet
- magicoveneto.it, ‘Giro dell'Isola della Donzella e Sacca degli Scardovari’
- Komoot, public Po Delta page (consulted in October 2026)
- Veneto Agricoltura, Atlante dei prodotti tradizionali
- ostricando.it
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the Donzella loop?
- Between 55 and 60 km, depending on the route sheet: about 55 km according to the Po Delta Park and about 60 km according to the Veneto regional E3 sheet.
- Where does the ride start?
- In Ca' Tiepolo, the main town of Porto Tolle; the reference point is the car park opposite the town hall.
- Do I need a particular type of bike?
- No. The loop is flat and on asphalt, so a city bike, road bike or e-bike is suitable.
- When is the best time to ride?
- All year round, avoiding the coldest winter days and the hottest summer days; watch out for wind in autumn.
- Where can I eat and charge my e-bike?
- At RistòItalia, Porto Tolle, marked on Komoot as an e-bike charging point.
