The second stage is the longest of the entire Via Matildica del Volto Santo, but it features a completely flat path.
We leave San Benedetto and briefly retrace the last steps of the first stage. Just outside the village, we follow the straight road to the right that leads to a small embankment (not the main one where the provincial road passes). Here, we take the cycling and pedestrian-naturalistic route that leads all the way to Portiolo.
We are very close to the large meanders of the Po River and the floodplain areas shaped by both the river and human activity. This smaller embankment has a compact surface, though it is relatively narrow. The elevated position provides a panoramic view in all directions.
After about 3.5 kilometers, we come to a junction near a house: continuing straight ahead leads us to Portiolo along the main embankment, which has a grassy surface. Mowing is infrequent, and the chance of encountering tall grass is high. Therefore, local signs indicate turning left onto a small asphalt country road that, after 1.5 kilometers, intersects the main embankment again. Here, we also have a choice: take the grassy path or descend left onto the asphalt.
The small village of Portiolo is in sight, less than a kilometer away.
From Portiolo, passing through Villa Saviola and up to the underpass of the Motteggiana bridge, the Via Matildica follows a wide asphalt road. It is possible to walk beside the road depending on the condition of the grass and mowing. The road has little traffic.
This section is about 9 kilometers long and can be “mentally” challenging due to the long straight stretches that seem never-ending. Weather conditions, such as heat, should also be taken into consideration. However, there are plenty of resting spots for shade or water refills at reasonable distances.
After passing under the railway bridge between Motteggiana and Borgoforte, keep to the right and follow the gravel road, which in about 1.5 kilometers will bring us to Zaragnino.
At an equestrian center, we descend from the embankment to the left.
This is an important turn (!), not always noticed, but if you miss the left turn at the junction and continue along the embankment, you risk extending the route to Guastalla by many kilometers.
By turning left at Zaragnino, continue for 300 meters until you reach a crossroads, then follow the signs to the right for the Via Matildica and those on the road signs for Tabellano. This section is on a small asphalt road for about 2 kilometers until we reach the center of Tabellano, where we will ascend to the right onto the Po embankment.
For about 1 kilometer, the road will be asphalt before becoming a compact dirt path.
We face 7 kilometers along the Great River until we reach Luzzara. Along the way, on the right, we will also pass the natural area of the San Colombano Park, with some unique features that recall the saint’s homeland: Ireland.
From Luzzara, Cesare Zavattini’s hometown (where we also find the train station connecting to Guastalla), it is only a few kilometers (6 kilometers) to our destination for the day: Piazza Mazzini in the center of Guastalla, the small capital of the Gonzaga family.
Due to the length of the stage, it is possible to split the route into two sections, looking for accommodation in the Suzzara and Luzzara areas. There are agritourisms near the Via Matildica route that could provide a good solution.
