Italy: Venice to Florence
Eight days, with easy cycling on flat roads and exceptionally quiet trails between towns alive with vibrant piazzas and fabulous northern Italian cuisine. The lack of hills until the last day makes this an easy choice…
This flat and easy itinerary links together Venice, the “Queen of the Adriatic,” and Florence, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. You will spend your days leisurely pedaling between towns and villages along the Po River Delta, the flattest area in all of Italy. During evenings, you will savor the regions finest wines and cuisines (considered, even by Italians, the best the country has to offer) and you will rest in well appointed luxurious villas and inns. Beginning near the fabulous Adriatic gem of Venice, and aiming south across the rich fertile Po River Delta, you will experience the wonderfully flat and relaxingly quiet terrain of the Veneto and Emilia Romagna. Quiet pathways atop dykes lead to quiet roads through farmlands and peaceful villages. You will spend two nights in the UNESCO recognized city of Ferrara, a picturesque Renaissance city where bicycles outnumber cars, and a lively and exciting city to explore by bicycle or on foot. As you approach the hills of Tuscany, stopping in Ravenna to visit Dante’s tomb, the beauty grows. These hills will begin to acquaint you with the headier challenges found in the Tuscan countryside, a perfect place for more energetic riders to delve deeper into the flavours of Italy. Here, and there, you can expect abundant vehicle support. Your last night will be spent in the hills above the quintessential Italian Renaissance city of Florence. Providing a unique glimpse of Italian history and culture, this ride on easy terrain is a refreshing way to link two of Italy’s most romantic destinations – Venice and Florence.
The Plan:
Day 1: Meeting Day Optional afternoon transfers depart Marco Polo Airport at 14:00 or Mestre train terminal at 14:45. Otherwise meet at your delightful villa in nearby Mira at 16:00. You can test your bikes and freshen your legs to prepare for tomorrow’s start. D (Meal inclusions provided for guided trips. Self-guided trips include breakfasts)
Villa Margherita, Mira, www.villa-margherita.com
Upgrade: Hotel Villa Franceschi, Mira, www.villafranceschi.com $90 per person extra
Day 2: ~50km. Warm up on bike paths along the Brenta Canal between Mira and Stra. Following the canal south, riding on quiet pathways and roads through the Veneto countryside, you will finish the day’s ride near Chioggia on the southern end of the Laguna Veneta. Your grand hotel overlooks the town piazza, and the Ponte Vigo. Chioggia is Venice in miniature, complete with palaces, churches, canals and bridges, and without crowds. BLD
Hotel Grand' Italia, Chioggia, www.hotelgranditalia.com
Day 3: Up to 106km. Vehicle assistance available as required throughout the day. Setting out early, you will cycle the fertile plain between the Adige and Po Rivers, crossing myriad canals. This is rich agricultural area highlighted with quiet roads and pathways along lagoons and canals – a relaxed cyclist’s dream. Energetic riders can start right from the hotel in Chioggia and cycle all the way to tonight’s lodging in Ferrara. Relaxed cyclists will start their day with a transfer to Cavazere to begin cycling alongside the Adige River. Finish the day with a ride along the destra bank of the Po to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ferrara. Riding along completely flat and quiet roads, you can enter Ferrara by bicycle and immediately appreciate the local passion for cycling. You will surely be smiling as you join the many cyclists on the lively streets of this Renaissance city. BLD
Hotel De Prati, www.hoteldeprati.com or Il Bagattino B&B, Ferrara, www.ilbagattino.it
Upgrade: Hotel Duchessa Isabella, Ferrara, www.duchessaisabella.it $145 per person/per night extra
Day 4: Distance flexible. There are at least 3 optional rides today which will take you away from the bustle of Ferrara into quiet countryside and through small picturesque villages. You can also choose to spend hours tooling around the old town of Ferrara. BL
Same lodging
Day 5: Up to 135km. Vehicle assistance available as required throughout the day. Today’s ride will let you discover Italy’s longest river, the Po, which stretches 652km across northern Italy from the French border to the Adriatic Sea. You will ride along Italy’s longest cycling route, a flat, designated path, as it traces the banks of the Po all the way to Commachio and Lido di Spina. From Commachio, there will be a vehicle transfer into Ravenna, capital of the Byzantine Empire during the early ages, and home to the best preserved mosaics in Western Europe. Your inn is one of Ravenna's most prestigious and renowned historic residences. A Venetian era palace, it is decorated with wooden beam ceilings, and is located in the heart of Ravenna's lively pedestrian zone. BL
Albergo Cappello, Ravenna, www.albergocappello.it
Day 6: Approximately 47km. Spend the morning visiting the San Vitale Cathedral, the mausoleum of Galla Placidia and Dante’s tomb or, the fashionable shops in Ravenna. Following lunch, you will be transferred by vehicle about 45 minutes to Argenta where today’s cycling begins. As you approach Dozza, you will climb your first significant hill of the trip; your spectacular inn waits for you at the top. BD
Monte del Re, Dozza, www.montedelre.it
Day 7: Approximately 66km. Hilly terrain. The scenery becomes more dramatic as today’s ride takes you into the beginning of the Appenine hills. You will climb through a sub-alpine landscape of lush pastures and deep forests into the chestnut and pine-clad hills of Tuscany. Vehicle and guide support will be nearby throughout the day to assist relaxed riders. BLD
Relais Il Trebbiolo, Olmo, www.iltrebbiolo.it
Day 8: The adventure finishes with a transfer after breakfast at your hotel. We will transfer you to the Florence airport, or your choice of destinations in Florence, but suggest that you plan to extend your trip to spend as many days as you can exploring the wonders of this Renaissance city, home to remarkable art, fabulous architecture, and a mood unlike any other. The Uffizi art gallery now requires advance booking. We can try to secure your tickets for you if you give us plenty of notice. B
The Details:
| Start: | Villa Margherita/Villa Franceschi, Mira, near Venice, Italy, 16:00 day one. Optional transfers from Marco Polo Airport or Venice’s Mestre Train Terminal are available: $50pp |
| Finish: | Florence, Italy, 10:00 day eight |
| Guided Cost: | $4195 (per person, 8 days, 7 nights, 7 breakfasts, 5 simple picnic lunch, 5 dinners, maps and route notes, luggage handling, guide service, tax.) |
| Self-Guided Cost: | $3995 (per person, 8 days, 7 nights, 7 breakfasts, vehicle assistance on days 3, 5, 6 and 7, maps and route notes, luggage transfers, emergency support, tax.) |
| Single Occupancy: | $915 |
| Bicycle Rental: | Hybrid: $195; Racing: $275 |
| 2010 Guided Dates: | Sep 11-18. Call 800-672-0775 for guaranteed departures, updates or to add a new departure. |
| 2011 Guided Dates: | Apr 23-30; May 14-21; Jun 11-18; Sep 10-17. Call 800-672-0775 for guaranteed departures, updates or to add a new departure. |
| Self-Guided Dates: | You choose! Best months are May to October, excluding July and August. |
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
