Ostricando 2026 in Porto Tolle: the two gravel routes from Pila and where to stay
Ostricando starts on Sunday 25 October from the fish market in Pila, Porto Tolle, in the Po Delta. If you are travelling in, sleep in Porto Tolle on Saturday: Albergo Italia, Porto Tolle, and Alloggi Centrale, Via G. Giolo 3, Porto Tolle, are both in town.
The route: 60 or 90 km on the levees
Ostricando is not a race: no timing, no ranking, everyone rides at their own pace using the official GPX tracks provided by the organisers. The Sacca route circles the Sacca degli Scardovari lagoon; the Levante route continues to Porto Levante. There are no climbs in the Delta: what counts is the wind, and with an easterly the 90 km are felt. Roads and levees stay open to traffic: you ride self-supported and follow the highway code. To get to know the Sacca before Sunday, read about the Donzella loop, the first route in the «The Delta by bike» series.
The story: from the flat oyster to the pink oyster
Halfway, at the Molo dell'Ostrica in Scardovari, the refreshment stop is all about oysters. Europe's native oyster is the flat oyster (Ostrea edulis), now rare because of disease, pollution and overfishing; today the Pacific oyster accounts for over three quarters of European production. In the Sacca degli Scardovari the pink oyster has been farmed since 2010 with the Tarbouriech method: the oysters grow on suspended ropes that periodically lift them out of the water and lower them back, like a tide. The Sacca, about 3,000 hectares, is also home to the Scardovari PDO mussel, on sale from May to July.
Good to know before you go
- Registration closed: waiting list on ostricando.it for 25 October and for the 2027 edition.
- Registration desk at Pila fish market: the official site says 7:00 in the programme and 7:30 in the FAQ, so check before you go.
- Lunch in Pila from 13:00, the day ends by 19:00.
- Recommended bikes: gravel, MTB or e-bike; thin road tyres are not advised. Helmet mandatory, puncture kit, windproof layers.
- For companions who do not ride, see ostricando.it/chi-non-pedala.
Where to stay in Porto Tolle the night before
Albergo Italia, Porto Tolle (Via Matteotti 471): bike storage, e-bike charging and, on request, early breakfast for early starters. RistòItalia, Porto Tolle, is in the same building for Saturday dinner.
Alloggi Centrale, Via G. Giolo 3, Porto Tolle: guest rooms with 6 rooms, 4 doubles and 2 triples, 14 beds in total, handy for groups of cycling friends. Check-in is at Albergo Italia, Via Matteotti 471, from 13:00 to 22:00; check-out is by 10:00, so if you ride on Sunday consider two nights.
Phone and WhatsApp: +39 0426 81006.
Dinner the night before
At RistòItalia, Porto Tolle, on Saturday evening: lagoon clams and oysters on request.
Events and festivals in the Po Delta
Sources
- ostricando.it, programme and FAQ consulted on 19 October 2026
- Data on the Sacca degli Scardovari and on oysters from the Diario del Delta editorial database
Frequently asked questions
- Can I still register for Ostricando 2026?
- No, all 500 places are taken: the waiting list on ostricando.it is still open.
- What happens if it rains?
- The event is postponed to Sunday 1 November.
- Do I need a gravel bike?
- Gravel, MTB and e-bikes are all fine; thin road tyres are not advised.
- Where to stay near the start in Pila?
- In Porto Tolle, at Albergo Italia, Porto Tolle, or at Alloggi Centrale, Via G. Giolo 3, Porto Tolle.
