The river Sile

The Sile, the symbolic river of the Marca Trevigiana, is like a sanctuary of the old Venetian landscape that mixes nature, history and traditions.

It was born in Casacorba, a small hamlet of Vedelago and extends for about 94 kilometers.

After passing through the municipalities of Vedelago, Istrana, Quinto di Treviso enters Treviso skirting the beautiful sixteenth-century walls.

In this stretch it welcomes the tributaries that cross it, favoring the construction of numerous mills in the Middle Ages, important for the economy of those places.

Then it heads south-east towards the sea, touching the municipalities of Silea, Casier, Casale sul Sile and Roncade in the province of Treviso, Quarto d’Altino, Musile, San Donà di Piave and Jesolo in the province of Venice.

The natural mouth of the river, originally, was towards the lagoon at Portegrandi di Quarto d'Altino with the sections called Silone di Torcello and Siloncello di Altino then, with the navigation basin of Portegrandi, it was diverted to Caposile, with the grandiose Cutting of the Sile of 1683 in the period of the Serenissima Republic of Venice.

The water was brought to the old riverbed of the Piave, in turn diverted, to flow into the sea at the Port of Piave Vecchia near the lighthouse, the border between Jesolo Lido and Lido del Cavallino.

There are many itineraries to discover on foot or by bike along the banks of the Sile, here are 7 not to be missed:

1. The greenway of the Sile Park
A 130 km long green strip, which you can travel on foot or by bicycle.

2. Ring of the River Villages and Via Claudia Augusta
The route of the ancient Roman imperial road that winds for over 20 km among the fascinating river villages overlooking the Sile river: Musestre di Roncade, Casale sul Sile, Quarto d’Altino, Cendon di Silea, Lughignano di Casale sul Sile.

3. Ring of the Buried City of Altino
The itinerary is also known as the path of memory because it winds through the remains of the “buried city”, which arose before Venice and lost over the centuries. The route is 15.3 km long and it will be possible to observe the findings of the archaeological excavations.

4. Ring of the Risorgive del Sile
Between Casacorba di Vedelago (TV) and Torreselle di Piombino Dese (PD), the itinerary is 10.2 km long. Here too the points of interest are numerous, we point out the Gran Bosco dei Fontanassi, Villa Corner and the Grande Quercia.

5. From the Walled City of Treviso to the Casier Burci Cemetery
A fascinating scenic route that will accompany you to discover the Treviso walls, towards the ancient cemetery of freight boats, the burci, which traveled along the Sile and the ancient Alzaia road. A protected area that houses the ancient Prato della Fiera, the Burci Cemetery and the Mandelli Mills: 13 km to be covered on foot or by bike.

6. The Via dei Mulini from Quinto di Treviso to Villa Letizia
Between the ancient milling village of Quinto di Treviso in Villa Letizia, adorned with neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, there are 6 km to travel by bicycle and on foot. You will meet the Church of Sant’Angelo and Villa Memo Giordani, which will immediately drag you to another era.

7. For villages and countryside around the Cervara Oasis
The itinerary hosts the rich Cervara Oasis: 12 and a half kilometers between waters, owls and storks. The old disused Treviso - Ostiglia railway will take you through the characteristic villages of Badoere, Santa Cristina di Quinto and Morgano.

To know more: www.parcosile.it