Second Itinerary
- Trail Conditions: On foot
The second itinerary leaves from piazza Garibaldi. Following via Baldesio up to the crossroads leading to the left towards the bank, you will pass under the 17th Triumphal Arch and, climbing a few flights of stairs, you will immediately find yourself looking at the river Po from the embankment. This is the area of Lido Po of Casalmaggiore. In front of you, a group of poplars circumscribes a small public garden. If you go downstairs, you can follow the road and go along the riverbanks, reaching the end of the asphalt road, where a dirt path begins. Here, you will find a trail marker introducing to the various possible itineraries you can follow in Santa Maria Woodland. The routes, of various length and unusual peacefulness, involve all the territory of Golena del Po Park, covering 600 ha of floodplain.
It is enough to follow the path for about half a kilometer and a beautiful walk far from the noise and the chaos will lead you back to peace and nature. You will cross Bosco dei Nascituri, where you will find a "life-route" equipped for fitness training.
At about one km there is the so-called "Tunnel degli Olmi", a long stretch of via Alzaia developing under the thick branches of the imposing centuries-old elms running along it. The landscape is shaped by man with the poplar groves, but it is still enriched with the autochthonous flora with its willows, wild poplars, and several flower species. During the walk, you will have the opportunity to sight pheasants, hawks, and other harmless animals of the woodland.
