Ten itineraries for discovering Italia and Europe on two wheels
On the Velovista routes to discover the lakes of Carinthia
Carinthia is a borderland, but it is not only its proximity to Italia and Slovenia that makes it attractive to cyclists, who every year block their calendars to participate in the Velovista, a cycling tourism event (this year it was held from 25 April to 3 May) that transforms an entire territory into a large collective itinerary dedicated to travelling on two wheels, nature and slow discovery of the landscape. In fact, we are in one of the European regions most suited to cycling tourism, thanks to the combination of a mild climate and an extensive network of cycle paths (more than a thousand kilometres of signposted and equipped tracks), which touch on iconic places such as Lake Wörthersee, along the shores of which you can pedal pleasantly on the flat, stopping here and there between seaside resorts, towns and panoramic points overlooking the water. The Drau cycle path is a 'must' for cyclists and between Villach, Spittal and Pörtschach one enters the heart of Carinthia through river landscapes and protected natural areas, choosing in total freedom the length to be tackled thanks to the possibility of comfortably boarding the bikes on the very punctual Austrian regional trains. One of the stops on the Velovista is in the capital city of Klagenfurt, with its elegant old town and lively squares, where the Lindwurm symbol recounts the local mythological tradition. Last but not least, the routes from Villach to the Faaker See, known for its turquoise waters and hilly landscape, and to Lake Ossiach, another natural jewel of Carinthia, which can also be discovered at a leisurely pace by cycling along its entire perimeter, are not to be missed.
