April 2025 important note: the construction site of the San Benedetto bridge currently does not allow safe passage for pedestrians. It is therefore necessary to “skip” the bridge by taking the bus to Bagnolo San Vito. (see details below). Crossing by bicycle is possible.
The first stage of the Via Matildica starts from Mantua, a UNESCO World Heritage city. The extra-urban route begins in the southern part of the city in the Bosco Virgiliano area. The route in the city passes through symbolic places with churches, squares and buildings rich in faith, history, culture. From the Basilica of Sant’Andrea we head north to reach the area of the Castello di San Giorgio crossing Piazza Sordello.
From the castle we take the pedestrian path along the banks of the lower lake formed by the Mincio. The marked route will take us to the Bosco Virgiliano area where we will pass by the municipal dog kennel and then turn left on a very short uphill stretch to take the path that will take us to the crossroads with a wide gravel road where we will turn left towards the area of the old Pietole fort, here we take the short stretch of path on the left that descends to the banks of the Mincio and goes around the fort, until we find the dirt road that leads to Pietole Vecchia, Virgil’s birthplace.
At Pietole Vecchia (Andes in Latin) we leave the banks of the Mincio by turning right and continuing straight, skirting the small public park on the left (where there is a fountain) and continuing along via Argine Fossetta.
We continue on the small country road that will become the cycle/pedestrian path alongside the canal that runs first along San Biagio and then Bagnolo S. Vito. At the end of Bagnolo you will cross the canal on a wooden pedestrian walkway and turn right reaching the small Via Levatella which you follow for about a kilometer until the intersection with Via Canova. Here we turn right until we reach the provincial road, cross it carefully and take us to the bank of the Po continuing towards the San Benedetto bridge.
ATTENTION NOTE April 2025 the San Benedetto bridge is not currently safe to cross on foot, it is therefore necessary to avoid crossing the bridge on foot and take the extra-urban public transport service in Bagnolo S.Vito (Apam line 31a) which takes you to San Benedetto Po in half an hour. The stops in Piazza Diaz (in front of the schools) or Ponte Travetti are only 200 meters from the route of Via Matildica and have runs every hour.
No problem for crossing by bicycle.
After crossing the San Benedetto bridge, turn right to reach the embankment road which you take by going up to the left in the direction of San Benedetto, whose unmistakable profile we will see after about 5 kilometres.
