Bacchiglione

Bacchiglione
Bacchiglione passing the Ponte Molino in Padua
Country	Italy
Basin features
Main source	The Alps
River mouth	The Gulf of Venice
Physical characteristics
Length	118 km (73 mi)

The Bacchiglione (Latin: Medoacus Minor, "Little Medoacus") is a river that flows through northern Italy. It rises in the Alps and empties about 90 miles (140 km) later into the Gulf of Venice on the Adriatic Sea near Chioggia. It flows through and past a number of cities, including Vicenza and Padua. It acted for many centuries as a significant waterway up to Vicenza, above which it ceases to be navigable. It was connected in the 19th century to the Adige by a canal.

The river starts in some springs in the towns of Dueville and Villaverla (VI). Here it is called "Bacchiglioncello". Just upstream of the city of Vicenza receives water from the Leogra Timonchio (which descends from Mount Pasubio). At this junction, the river becomes the Bacchiglione.

At Ponte del Bo, above Vicenza, it joins with the Orolo. In Vicenza, the Bacchiglione is joined by the river Retrone and Astichello. The river is about 118 kilometres (73 mi) long and has a basin of 1,400 square kilometres (540 sq mi). The average flow of the Bacchiglione in Padua is about 30 m³/s and flows through the summer dry season. The river can flood in the autumn and spring.

At Longare, the Bisatto (or "Bisato") Canal was built in the twelfth century. Verona and Vicenza built it to divert water away from Padua during the many political struggles of the time, as told in the ninth canto of Dante's "Paradiso". The channel goes to Lozzo Atestino and Este; then continues to Monselice ("Este - Montelice Canal"). Then into the Battaglia Terme ("Battle Canal" or "Monselice Canal"), where it meets the Battaglia Canal from Padua. Through the Vigenzone Canal ("Cagnola Canal ") waters are reunited with the river Bacchiglione ("Channel Pontelongo"), allowing Vicenza to arrive in Chioggia without having to pass through Padua.