Discover Ponte San Nicolò

Cycling route as a practical starting point

Ponte San Nicolò can be connected to the waterways and rural settlements in the surrounding area via a documented cycling loop. The route “From Padua to the southern lagoon of Venice, along the Roncajette Canal and the Pontelongo Canal” leads to Ponte San Nicolò. At Isola dell’Abbà, an appealing rural hamlet in Ponte San Nicolò, it is possible to take a break along this route. This gives the town a clearly described point of connection for travellers who wish to combine their stay with a bike ride and a stop in a village-like setting.

Villas and sacred art

One of the notable historic buildings is Villa Da Rio. The manor villa dates from the 16th century and has an attached chapel. It also includes a rural building and a 16th-century dovecote. The complex thus represents an architectural setting in which representative residential construction and agriculturally oriented structures belong together.

Another focal point is Roncajette. The origins of the Chiesa di Roncajette are traced back to around 1130; the church acquired its present form during a remodelling in the 18th century. The church houses an early-15th-century polyptych attributed to the Maestro di Roncajette. The wooden Polittico di Roncajette was restored in 1998 and placed in the sacristy. Those interested in regional sacred art will therefore find both a long architectural history and a specific work of art with a documented restoration here.

Villa Crescente was built at the beginning of the 20th century, modelled on medieval castles. Its attic features paintings and frieze decorations. The park of Villa Crescente is intended for public use. Another artistic stop is located outside the Roncaglia-Rio cemetery: monumental Corten steel sculptures entitled “I Guardiani della Dormiente” by Antonio Ievolella stand there.

Bridges and traces by the water

The Ponte San Nicolò bridge, inaugurated in 1913, is a single-span steel bridge. It is the present-day bridge connecting the two banks of Ponte San Nicolò. Parts of the Casa Turcato mills can still be seen beneath it. Thus, a present-day structure also reveals traces of an older use of the river area.

Roncajette also has a visible steel pedestrian suspension bridge. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century and is now completely abandoned. This status is important for orientation: visibility here does not mean that the bridge can currently be used.

Important information for your visit

Not every historic destination is currently accessible. The Chiesa del Crocifisso cannot currently be visited. When choosing your sights, it is therefore worth distinguishing between visible buildings, areas intended for public use and places that cannot currently be visited. In this way, Ponte San Nicolò brings together a cycling route, villas, sacred art, bridges and sculptures, without all stops having the same visitor status.

Other destinations in the surrounding area

To compare other destinations, you can then visit Bagnoli Di Sopra, Selvazzano Dentro, Vigonza, Correzzola, Sant'elena, Codevigo, Montagnana and Baone.

For the higher-level travel overview: Padua.