The route starts from the main square of the village and continues towards Bardelle, leaving behind the imposing monastic complex. Shortly afterwards, the route passes through the village of Mirasole, nestled among fields and rows of trees, before reaching the main embankment of the Po. Here, the view opens up onto a landscape of light and vast horizons, where the waters merge with the sky. Continue towards the mouth of the Secchia River, a picturesque stretch dotted with historic waterworks and small rural hamlets. The stage then reaches Quingentole, with its large parish church and the Villa Vescovile, once the residence of the Gonzaga family and now the town hall. Here, the route offers two possible variations:

1. The blue sign invites you to climb up onto the Po embankment along Via Roveri and follow the river to Pieve di Coriano through meanders, willows and glimpses of water.
2. The yellow sign leads you to turn onto a cycle path towards the 11th-century Church of San Lorenzo, with its Carolingian foundations, before plunging into poplar groves and reaching Pieve di Coriano from the south.

In Pieve di Coriano, the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta houses 16th-century frescoes and the living memory of Matilda of Canossa, who is said to have built the temple here in 1082 after defeating the imperial army. The journey thus becomes living history, in a place where faith, battles and art intertwine.
From here, climb up the embankment towards Revere, following the great River Po. Once in the village, travellers are welcomed by the majestic Palazzo Ducale, designed by Luca Fancelli for Ludovico II Gonzaga in 1450. Not far away, the imposing medieval tower recalls the strategic importance of the village, which was first an Etruscan settlement and then a commercial outpost in the Middle Ages.
A stop in the historic centre allows you to savour the authentic soul of the village, among porticoes, shops and the scent of Lambrusco wine. It is an invitation to slow down even more, to lose yourself in the details, in the stories of the elderly, in the beauty of small things.

What to see along the way

• Brede: Church of Santa Margherita An ancient parish dating back to the year 1000, testimony to the resilience of rural communities that have braved the floods of the Po and Secchia rivers. The current building, dating back to 1745, preserves elements of previous churches, such as altars and statues, and offers a simple and welcoming atmosphere. The church is a symbol of rebirth and of a stubborn faith rooted in the land.
• Quistello: Water pumping stations along the Secchia Extraordinary works of hydraulic engineering, symbolising the determination with which man has tamed the waters of the plain. From the first steam-powered mechanisms to modern electric pumps, these systems tell a story of technical challenges, land reclamation and landscape transformation. The San Siro and Mondine systems are notable examples of this evolution.
• Quistello: Church of Nuvolato di Quistello A Romanesque building dating back to the 11th century, with precious frescoes and an imposing façade. Its history has its roots in the castle of Nuvolato, documented as early as 804. Its connection with the sculptor Giuseppe Gorni makes it a place of art and memory, where a sense of community reigns supreme.
• Nuvolato: Gorni Museum Housed in the former elementary school designed by the artist himself, the museum displays his works among wrought iron decorations, exposed bricks and sculpted details. It is a journey into the sensibility of a man who knew how to portray rural life with depth and poetry.
• Revere: Po River Museum and Ducal Palace The large Gonzaga residence houses a museum that spans from prehistory to the 20th century, with artefacts and reconstructions of life on the river. A place that tells the story of the Po’s central role in the history of the area.
• Revere: Floating Mill A faithful reconstruction of the floating mills that plied the Po from the Middle Ages until the last century. Today, it is an integral part of the Po Museum and represents a technical and cultural heritage of great charm.
• Ostiglia: Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Comuna One of the main sanctuaries of the Diocese of Mantua, it was for centuries – and still is today – a focal point of popular devotion and a pilgrimage destination for people from the lower Veronese plain as well as from neighboring areas of Mantua and Rovigo.

The landscape of the great river

Walking between San Benedetto and Revere is a journey into the hydraulic and agricultural heart of the Lower Po Valley. The large land reclamation systems, the orderly poplar groves and the banks carved out by the water speak of an ancient balance between man and nature. The play of light on the water, the songs of the birds and the scent of damp earth are indelibly imprinted on the pilgrim’s memory.
During the autumn, the landscape is tinged with gold and rust, and the mist rising from the river adds a veil of mystery. In spring, the banks come alive with colours and voices, with tall grass swaying in the wind. Even in summer, despite the heat, the walk along the embankment offers moments of coolness and deep breaths. It is a stretch that teaches you to observe and listen: your pace slows down, your thoughts expand.

The meaning of the path

This stage of the Via Carolingia is rich in symbols: the abbey, the Po, the poplar groves, the ancient ruins and the signs of devotion. It is a stretch that combines faith and ingenuity, beauty and hard work.
Revere represents not only an arrival, but a new threshold: the one that opens up to the lands of the Oltrepò and the last part of the journey. Stopping here is an opportunity to reflect on what has been and prepare for what is to come.
Welcome to Revere. Your journey along the Via Carolingia continues.

Quingentole – Pieve di Coriano variant

• Starting from the parish church of Quingentole, walk towards the parish church of San Lorenzo and the ancient church of Santa Maria Assunta, linked to Matilda of Canossa. Along the way, nature takes centre stage: canals, floodplains, cultivated fields and embankments accompany the walk with tranquillity and beauty. You can take advantage of the river mooring at Paleotta for a boat trip on the Po.