Quarto d’Altino: Sile, Altinum and paths through history

Quarto d’Altino connects the Sile with historic paths, ancient Altinum, wetlands and a local specialty.

Waterways and paths along the Sile

The 90-kilometre-long Sile River crosses the entire municipality of Quarto d’Altino. At the bridge in Musestre near Quarto d’Altino begins the Alzaia sul Fiume Sile, an unpaved cycling and walking path. It follows the banks of the Sile and ends at the Conca di Portegrandi. Boating with boats, kayaks and canoes is possible at several landing stages along the Sile.

Riverscapes and activities

Quarto d’Altino has three Nordic walking routes totalling approximately 40 km. The circular routes are 20 km, 10 km and 5 km long. The entire course of the Sile River and the adjacent areas belong to the Sile River Regional Park. The Ansa San Michele Vecchio is a wetland in a bend of the river on the right bank of the Sile, immediately northwest of the San Michele Vecchio district of Quarto d’Altino.

Historic routes and ancient Altinum

The historic Via Annia passes through Quarto d’Altino. The Percorso della Memoria begins in Quarto d’Altino and runs along the Via Claudia Augusta to the Carmason pumping station. The ancient city of Altinum was located in the present-day settlement of Altino. Altino was one of the most important ports in the northern Adriatic. Altinum had a forum with a basilica for public functions, temples and numerous emporia, meaning commercial centres of that time.

Museum and traces of the past

The name Domus della Pantera comes from a black-and-white mosaic in the atrium depicting a drinking animal. The Museo Archeologico di Altino preserves archaeological finds from ancient Altinum and its necropolis. The Roman and pre-Roman collections include Palaeo-Venetic grave goods documenting the development of the settlement between the 7th and 1st centuries BC. In the 7th century, the inhabitants of Altino permanently moved to the island of Torcello; the bishopric was also transferred there.

Orientation and local specialties

The Campanile della Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Michele is 56 metres high and has a cylindrical shaft in the Ravenna style. The Oasi naturalistica di Trepalade has a service centre. Quarto d’Altino also has public transport connections by rail and road. The Fagiolo Verdòn bean is considered part of the culinary heritage and is typical of the areas around Quarto d’Altino. Quarto d’Altino in Festa features ten evenings of festivities with live music, tribute bands and artists. The food stand opens every evening from 6 p.m. and offers traditional specialties.

More destinations

More destinations: Salzano, Ca' Lino, Vigonovo, Fossò, Teglio Veneto, Martellago and Dolo.

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