From Sabbiadoro to Marano Lagunare

What to do in Lignano for a morning offering something different?

As always, like many tourists, I appreciate Lignano Sabbiadoro for its beaches, the sea and the nighttime entertainment. But I asked myself: why not try a bike ride between the sea and the enchanting Lagoon of Marano?

Lignano Sabbiadoro organises group trips along the area's cycle trails, and I joined them!

In particular I had the pleasure of riding from the Terrazza Mare at Lignano Sabbiadoro to Marano Lagunare. Approximately 40 km of pedalling on the flat, approximately 30% on a dirt road and the rest on asphalt (some on a cycle trail and some on a normal road). I used my own bike, but you can take a city bike hire for free.

The group consisted of 30 cyclists of all ages and different nationalities. Always checked upon and assisted, if needed, by the impeccable and tireless Kevin and Gabriella of the organisation.

This area was a march until a century ago: thanks to major reclamation work, today it has the appearance we know, with cornfields, vines, small villages and expanses of green.  A particularly pleasant stretch is the run through the woods of Muzzana, which is the remains of the ancient large forest that once covered the entire Friulian plain.

After about 3 hours (including breaks, the longest of which near the Stella river in Precenicco), we arrive at Marano Lagunare, a village which geographically belongs to the territory of FVG, but has a very strong Venetian influence. The dialect spoken here, Maranese, is proof of that.

With my bike adventure over, I intend to put my knees under a table…how could I not pause to taste some of the best specialities of the place in one of the many local restaurants (known for their fish dishes), along with some of my fellow-cyclists.

Now it’s time to take the SAF motorboat which will take us back to Lignano (the ticket costs 3.40 euros and the boat leaves at 2 pm), where we can retrieve our bikes, which in the meantime have been loaded on a van.

The circuit is over. Between the bikes and motorboat, we have been around an area of ??great naturalistic interest in Friuli Venezia Giulia: the Lagoon of Marano.

And I still have all afternoon to enjoy Hemingway's Florida and its 8 kilometres of beaches.