The Brenta is a river that rises from Lake Caldonazzo and flows down the Valsugana to Bassano, where it begins its course in the plains, reaches the northern area of Padua and divides here.
One branch continues straight towards the lagoon south of Venice, while another branch, the famous Naviglio del Brenta, at Noventa Padovana diverts for Stra, Fiesso, Dolo, Mira reaching Fusina and then Venice. Noventa Padovana was Padua’s ancient river port on the Brenta,’ says Alessandro Berto, commander of the M/n Freccia that plies the waters of the Riviera del Brenta. ‘Here, at one time, boats from Venice stopped and passengers and goods arrived in Padua on wagons and carriages. Then in 1209 the cutting of the Piovego Canal was completed, directly connecting the river port of Portello di Padova to the Naviglio del Brenta and thus to Venice.
Today river navigation on the Riviera del Brenta is an important economic engine,’ Alessandro continues, ‘we transport about sixty thousand people a year who visit the Villas and use the catering and accommodation services in the hotels of the Riviera del Brenta. And while the Burchiello, from March to October each year, runs the Padova – Riviera del Brenta – Venice tourist line and vice versa every day, many other boats and motorboats offer important chartering services for group or event excursions, with full-day or half-day routes and programmes.
