The best cycling routes around Silea

Porta San Tommaso is the most imposing of Treviso's gates.

Dominated by the imposing mass of St. Peter's Cathedral, Piazza del Duomo represents the center of spiritual power in Treviso, contrasted with the civil power of Piazza dei Signori. The space is characterized by the monumental neoclassical pronaos of the Duomo, with its six tall columns that give the area a solemn and elevated feel compared to street level. The square is a true architectural palimpsest: next to the cathedral stand the Romanesque Baptistery of San Giovanni and the ancient Canoniche buildings, which today house the Diocesan Museum. A distinctive element are the two lions in red Veronese marble, placed on the sides of the staircase, which seem to guard the entrance to the temple. Despite the very serious damage suffered during the bombing of 1944, the square retains a severe elegance, marking the arrival point of Via Calmaggiore and the beginning of the episcopal zone.

Il Bastione San Paolo constitutes a fundamental part of Treviso's 16th-century city walls, located in the north-eastern sector of the city. Designed as part of the defensive enhancement desired by the Serenissima, it presents itself as a massive earth and brick structure, engineered to withstand the modern artillery systems of the time. Currently, the area has lost its military function to become one of the most evocative green areas in the historic center. Its tree-lined avenues offer an elevated panoramic walk overlooking the canals below, once defensive moats. It is a perfect example of urban regeneration, where Renaissance engineering blends with the tranquility of the city's river landscape.

Built in 1518 under the direction of the podestà Paolo Nani, Porta San Tommaso is the most imposing of Treviso's three 16th-century gates. Probably designed by Fra’ Giovanni Giocondo, it is distinguished by its lavish Istrian stone facade, conceived more as a Renaissance triumphal arch than a simple military structure. The external facade is richly decorated with trophies, coats of arms, and the monumental Lion of Saint Mark, a symbol of Venetian rule. A curious detail concerns the statue placed on top: it depicts Saint Paul, a tribute to the podestà Nani (Paolo), although the gate takes its name from the nearby church dedicated to Saint Thomas Becket. Inside, the structure preserves the large arches that once housed the guardrooms and drawbridge mechanisms, still representing today the main access point for those coming from the north.

A few kilometers were enough for the route to begin to tell its story. The creaking wood of a long bridge accompanied us towards one of the most silent and memory-laden places: the cemetery of the Burci. Amidst the still water and the vegetation that now reclaims every space, the wrecks of old boats emerge like forgotten thoughts, suspended between past and present. There time seems to slow down, almost to stop, and we too, for a moment, truly stop pedaling...

Although commonly called the "Castle" for its imposing appearance and dominant position over the Sile river, it was actually built as an ancient medieval hospital. Overlooking the Riviera Garibaldi, this historic building has been masterfully restored to house university campuses. Its red brick architecture, which is directly mirrored in the waters of the river, creates one of the most iconic views of the city. Today, it is no longer a defensive fortress, but a center of culture where the monumental structure blends with the liveliness of students, maintaining that solemn charm that makes it a visual reference point for anyone walking along the banks of the Sile in the historic center.

A perfect bike path between the lagoon and the Sile River, practically along the dam. The surface is concrete, with some short stretches of gravel. A few shady trees line the path.

Wonderful route entirely cycle-friendly.