Rafting Verona: an adventure on the Adige River to discover the city.

Rafting on the Adige is not only an adventure but the best way to explore Verona from a new perspective and learn the history of the Adige river, and its importance for the city and its territory. The Adige has always been both a fundamental resource and a threat for the people who lived along its shores; it was sometimes responsible for devastating floods, which led to the transition from abundance to famine.

Myths and legends about the Adige river have fueled its mysterious aura, like that of the beast, half-woman and half-snake, who lived in the area between Roverchiaretta and Bonavigo and fed on the children who wandered alone on the banks of the river. Another myth is the one of Carpanea, the legendary sank city fortified with seven orders of walls and a hundred towers, which stood between the rivers Adige and Tartaro.

The great canalization and rectification works carried out by the Hapsburg Empire in the nineteenth century tamed the powerful stream, making it safer for the inhabitants of its shores but profoundly altering its morphology: the size of the riverbed in some sections was reduced by up to 70% and contributed to the disappearance of islets rich in vegetation, secondary canals, sediment bars, swampy areas and meanders. The transformation of the river, with the construction of walls and bridges, was the background of the urban development of Verona.

Rafting can be done at several points along the river. It is suggested the route through the historic center of Verona, which allows you to admire sumptuous churches and palaces, walls, fortresses and the Roman theater from the dinghy. The best of the experience is to retrace the indissoluble link between this city and its waterway, observing the places where, from the Middle Ages onwards, crafts were held and the economy linked to the river flourished.

The Adige represented a sure and fast way of communication between the countries of Northern Europe and those of the Mediterranean, that transported goods to the port of Venice. It was the barcaroli who carried out the transport with the burchio, the typical flat-bottomed boat used in river navigation.

The Radaroli or Saltieri left the Trentino region with rafts laden with timber for the Veronese artisans and then moved on to Venice. During the navigation, they used long poles to test the bottom of the river as they passed by rocks or shoals. Once they entered the city, the most important mooring was the Isolo port, an area of ​​sawmills and a timber trade, but also an area of ​​Squari, which manufactured and repaired boats using fir and larch boards for the bottom, oak and durmast for the internal.

In the area of ​​Ponte di Pietra the sandblasters collected the sand used for the production of the mortar for the buildings or used by the marble workers to polish the stone. The Molendini used the water of the river to operate their mills and produce flour from the ninth century, according to the first documents related.

Finally, along the river banks, it was frequent to come across the sinks that with their cart collected the dirty linen and delivered the clean laundry, washed in the Adige river.

Here are the best rafting proposals on the Adige river:

Adige Rafting will make you discover Verona from the river, with boarding at the Bottagisio sports center (via del Perloso 14 A) and arrival in the Boschetto area at the riding school (Lungadige di Galtarossa 40).

The total duration is 3 hours and includes a stop at the Museum of the Adige, which is located at the ancient Dogana and collects archive photos that testify the life and activities that took place on the river. Boarding and arrival points are equipped for a picnic stop.

The descent takes place every day, reservation is required. The cost is 30 euro for adults, 18 euro for children up to 12 years.

Another option is the Aperitif on the river, a descent in three stages accompanied by a tasting of local wines. The meeting is at 5.45 pm at Ponte dei Navi (San Fermo side), from here you can reach the nautical base in the Chievo area with a shuttle, where the first aperitif with Sauvignon and cold cut boards and cheese is served. Second stop at Castelvecchio, where you can taste a glass of Schiava wine before stopping at the eighteenth-century Dogana d’acqua, where first course and dessert are served accompanied by Pinot Grigio. Visit the Museum of the Adige and end of the activities scheduled for 9.00 pm.

The cost is 40 euro per person.

For information and reservations: 347.8892498 or [email protected].