The best traffic-free bike rides around Volongo

In San Giovanni in Croce, nestled in the Cremona countryside, stands this 15th-century noble residence associated with Cecilia Gallerani, the "Lady with an Ermine" depicted by Leonardo da Vinci. The villa, now restored and open to the public, preserves Renaissance-era architectural elements and opens onto a vast park of over twelve hectares, with ponds, clearings, and paths.

Pedaling through the Corvione area towards Gambara, you cross a territory rich in history and suggestive landscapes. Corvione, the only hamlet of Gambara, is famous for its eighteenth-century entrance arch and the noble palace of the Gambara family. This stretch offers a mix of quiet roads and rural views, ideal for those looking for a route immersed in nature. Thanks to the recent construction of the Corvione cycle/pedestrian path, the route is even safer and more pleasant. Along the route you can admire cultivated fields, small villages and the discreet charm of the Brescia plain. Perfect for a relaxing ride or as a connection to longer itineraries in the surroundings of Gambara.

The former Ettore Mettica Nursery School in Asola is a place steeped in history and meaning for the local community. Founded thanks to the generosity of Ettore Mettica, this facility has been an educational reference point for children in the area for decades. Located in an area rich in historical evidence, the building retains the charm of the school architecture of the past, evoking the past and the importance of education in the growth of the community. Today, the site is the subject of restoration and enhancement interventions, keeping alive the memory of an institution that has contributed to the education of generations of citizens. A passage here offers the opportunity to reflect on the history of education and the evolution of the territory of Asola.

Isola Dovarese is a gem set along the course of the Oglio River, a village that proudly preserves its historical soul. Walking along its streets means immersing yourself in a past made of Renaissance architecture and atmospheres of times gone by, where every stone tells of ancient glories and community life. The beating heart of the village is the splendid Piazza Matteotti, a large quadrangular space surrounded by porticoes, designed by the architects of the Vignola school. Here, every year, the Palio di Isola Dovarese brings the seventeenth century back to life: an event that transforms the village into a large open-air theater, among period costumes, flags in the wind and historical reenactments. But Isola Dovarese is also nature and slowness: the Oglio River embraces the village and invites contemplation, the discovery of paths that wind through woods and countryside. A place where history meets quiet and where every journey becomes an experience. (Anna)

Crossing the Gravel trail that passes through Villarocca means immersing yourself in a landscape suspended between past and present, where history is harmoniously intertwined with rural life. The route winds through ruins full of memories, ancient buildings that tell of distant eras, and farmhouses still inhabited, witnesses of a territory that, although inhabited by few, retains its lush soul. Pedaling along the dirt paths, the rhythm of the wheels mixes with the sound of the wind that caresses the countryside and the echoes of a time that seems to have never vanished. Villarocca welcomes wayfarers with its authenticity: a succession of suggestive views, between cultivated fields, rows of centuries-old trees and stone walls that conceal stories of toil and beauty. The trail invites you to discover, to contemplate a territory that, although far from the crowds, pulsates with life in its most genuine forms. It is a journey that goes beyond a simple pedal, an experience that celebrates the resilience of a land that, silently, continues to thrive.

Square where they hold the goose palio

The South Park is a natural area that includes the lower stretch of the Oglio river with two nature reserves (WWF Le Bine Oasis and Torbiere di Marcaria)

In the Bizzolano area on the border between the municipalities of Canneto sull'Oglio and Acquanegra sul Chiese, within the Oglio Sud Regional Park.