Land Sports

Among many opportunities of an active holiday cycling tourism is certainly one of the most interesting. Bicycles have come to be seen as an important tradition in Ferrara, often referred to as a "city for cyclists".

The flatness of the land makes cycling the best way to get around, getting to know the landscape and its history, among fortresses and castles, natural reserves and cities of art, or along the banks of rivers and canals. Cycling excursions, with short stops every now and then in a park or in a rural inn, is the best way to put together sport and tourism, culture and fun.
There are numerous sport events, form "Irondelta" at the Nazioni Lake, to "Sportur" in the Wetlands of Comacchio, to the numerous cycling tours and races passing though the area of Ferrara.
Many are the cycling routes in and around the city. An outstanding example is the "Destra Po" (Right Bank of the Po). This recently inaugurated route is now the longest cycling route in Italy. 130 km on the Right Bank of the Po River, divided in five parts, from Stellata di Bondeno to Gorino Ferrarese, all closed to any other means of transport.

A specific guide proposes 10 cycling itineraries through an enchanted landscape, where the fascination of wild nature is matched by the charm of small villages and towns, rich in history, culture and tradition. From the City of Ferrara to the Po Delta, these routes enable cyclists to have an overview of everything this unique landscape has to offer to tourists who are not in a hurry.
The first cycling route runs around the ancient city walls, which are still intact and surround the city running for almost nine km, thus representing one of the most complete fortified circuits in Italy.
The second route covers the 42 km between Ferrara and Cento, running through those regions that are connected with the name of Lucrezia Borgia, since they were part of the dowry of the Princess when she married Alfonso I d'Este five hundreds years ago.

The third route winds along the ancient bed of the Po of Primaro, through places, that bring back the memories of stories linked with the river, all the way to the beautiful Oasis of the Wetlands of Argenta and Mamorta.

Also the fourth cycling route follows ancient river beds, taking cyclists through places that countryside between Ferrara and Portomaggiore to discover the dwellings of the Estes called Delizie, built along the river Sandolo, an ancient delta branch of the Po in the Middle Ages.
From Ro Ferrarese, below the Po bank, to Copparo and Portomaggiore, two routes (fifth and sixth) take cyclists to discover the areas of land reclamation, where the dogged work of man has managed to win beck the land from water, forging a new and unique landscape.

The seventh and eighth routes Po of Volano, in the heart of the province of Ferrara, "Destra Po", leading to the coast, also follow two extremely important waterways.
Finally routes number seven takes cyclists through the Po Delta Park and route number eight runs around the Lagoons of Comacchio. These are two extremely interesting routes just a few kilometres from the seaside resorts of Comacchio, in a marvellous natural environment that fascinates very visitor.

The flatness of the land is also perfect for walking and running. Thus it is not surprising that many international races take place in Ferrara. The city and its province also offer a lot of sport facilities to practice tennis, volleyball, basketball, athletics, football and skating. The coast offers many tennis courts, whereas all bathing establishments have a beach volley court, attracting an increasing number of enthusiastic players every year.
The area has developed a strong interests in motors. Motorcyclists and speed fans can choose among a series of offers, from the Motordrome in Ferrara to the go-kart circuit in San Giuseppe.
The region is also ideal for people fond of golf, who can find here three important golf clubs.

The delta region can be discovered also on horseback. Horse-riding tourism is a way to experience emotions and local traditions firsthand, establishing a direct connection with flora. Wildlife and the landscape. Horse riding can be an alternative mean of transport to travel through the suggestive environment of the Park: it is eco-friendly and enables tourists to reach remote areas. Certainly this is not the most comfortable way to travel, but it is fascinating and adventurous.
Visitors can encounter riders, often mounting Delta Camargue horses (particularly suitable in the wetlands of the Delta and for his morphological and behavioural characteristics), trotting along riverbanks, white roads and paths or galloping freely on the wild tracts of the seashore.
Horse-riding tourism is quite widespread. Many riding grounds organise riding tours in the suggestive oases of the Park accompanied by expert guides. The region counts numerous horse-riding centres and accommodations, above all rural hotels and camping sites, which have horses and specialised personnel at their guests' disposal. Guides on horseback can provide tourists all the cultural and environmental information on the chosen tour following paths and routes dedicated exclusively to horse riding. Tourists on horseback have to respect the transit rules on secondary roads, along the banks of rivers and canals, through private properties and common areas as beaches. Tourists need to have the necessary equipment for themselves and the horse and to choose the right pace according to the paths.

• Club Spiaggia Romea - Lido delle Nazioni, Viale Oasi 2, phone 0533 355366, 337 592035
• Centro equitazione - Valli di Ostellato, Via Argine Mezzano 1, phone 0533 680376
• Rifugio di Valle Prato Pozzo - Anita di Argenta, Via Rotta Martinella, phone 0532 801058
• Centro ippico Estense - Ferrara, Via Gorgo 10, phone 0532 60242
• Centro ippico Le Querce - San Bartolomeo in Bosco, Via dell'Idrovoro 27, phone 0532 722070
• Agriturismo Le Pradine - Mirabello, Corso Italia 537, phone 0532 847630