Day 1 Tour begins in Chioggia, Italy
Highlights: “Little Venice” and the Venetian Lagoon
Welcome to Chioggia and the Venetian Lagoon! We meet this afternoon at our hotel in the center of Chioggia. We’ll fit bicycles and go over route details. Take a walk around the center of Chioggia and admire the canals, bridges and main pedestrian walking street. If you arrive early we can suggest a ride along one of the islands in the lagoon.
Daily distance: optional ride of 17 km (11 miles), or cycle as much as you desire today.
Accommodation: Hotel Grand Italia, or similar.
Day 2 Pedal the Po River Delta
Highlights: Chioggia, bicycle quiet roads, sleep in a country farm estate
We leave the Venetian lagoon today towards the Po River Delta. Enjoy cycling on levee roads and birdwatching. Grab some picnic supplies from the local grocery store or stop at a cafe for lunch today. Those who want extra mileage can enjoy a great ride into the delta this afternoon. Our destination tonight is a lovely country farm bed and breakfast.
Daily distance: 58 km (36 miles)
Elevation gain: + 235 m (771 ft)
Po Delta extra loop ride: 43 km (27 miles), with + 157 m ( ft) elevation gain.
Accommodation: Agriturismo Forzello, or similar.
Day 3 Comacchio
Highlights: Comacchio and its “Trepponti” bridge
pls check all suppliers contacts + logisticsOur destination today is a small lagoon town that at one point was more powerful than Venice in the 700 and 800s. The lagoon town of Comacchio, has a fabulous museum that showcases a Roman boat and its cargo that was excavated from one of the canals. Built on 13 islands this town is now landlocked but surrounded by the Po River and fresh water wetlands.
Distance: 74 km (46 miles)
Elevation gain: -196/+199 m (-643/+652 ft)
Accommodation: B&B Al Ponticello, or similar.
Day 4 Ravenna
Highlights: Wetlands, bird viewing and beautiful mosaics, bustling town
We pedal along the Valley of Comacchio wetlands towards Ravenna. Ravenna was the last capital of the Western Roman Empire and home to more early Christian mosaics than any other city in Western Europe. You can walk to Dante’s Tomb and the mosaics of San Vitale, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia this afternoon, as our hotel is near all the city sights.
Daily distance: 49 km (31 miles)
Elevation gain: + 124 m (407 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel Palazzo Bezzi, or similar.
Day 5 Ravenna to Faenza
Highlights: Faenza International Ceramics Museum and Renaissance Town Square
Exiting Ravenna you have the choice to visit another very important Byzantine masterpiece: Sant’Apollinare in Classe. Cross the plains through fruit plantations and arrive to Faenza. Your hotel is a restored convent near the central square of this regional market center and famous ceramics town. Enjoy the bustle in the market square and the main “piazza” which is always full of bicycle riders of all ages. Faenza is world-renowned for its hand decorated ceramics; we recommend a visit to the International Ceramics Museum as well as several of the local artists’ studios specialized in this colorful pottery.
Daily mileage: 52 km (32 miles)
Elevation gain: 158 m (518 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel Vittoria, or similar.
Day 6 Over the Apennines
Highlights: Bicycle the Apennines and the Mugello.
You will head into the Apennine mountains today, passing first through the colorful medieval village of Brisighella. Take a break and pick up some snacks for climb. If you decide you prefer to take the train up and over the mountains, feel free to do so! For those who decide to bicycle, begin the climb over the Apennines – remember to look around as you pedal since the scenery changes dramatically as you leave the plains and enter the mountains. Just before we reach the toughest part of our climb there is a very conveniently located train station, from where you could choose to hop on for the last and toughest part of the climb. You’ll spend the night in Ronta, a small mountain town where you’ll enjoy the clean and crisp mountain air. Dinner is included tonight.
Daily distance: 64 km (35 miles)
Elevation gain: + 1286 m (4219 ft)
Accomodation: Albergo La Rosa, or similar.
Day 7 Florence
Highlights: Fiesole and its Etruscan ruins, Renaissance Florence, Uffizi Gallery
There’s a small climb this morning to Vetta le Croci, then it’s downhill to the old Etruscan city of Fiesole, where you’ll enjoy a great view of Florence rising from the valley floor. Glide down into Florence on your bike. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this capital of Renaissance Italy.
Daily distance: 41 km (26 miles)
Elevation gain: + 444 m (1456 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel Silla, or similar.
Day 8 Florence rest day
Highlights: Renaissance Florence, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia
Spend the day exploring marvelous Florence and its countless jewels: climb up Giotto’s tower for a stunning view of the city and the Duomo; visit the Uffizi Gallery or the Accademia; or walk the Ponte Vecchio bridge across the Arno for a different striking view from above.
Accommodation: Hotel Silla, or similar.
Day 9 Vinci
Highlights: Olive groves and vineyards, Leonardo da Vinci’s birthplace and museum
After breakfast, you’ll head out of Florence and down the Arno River valley for a beautiful day of riding in the Italian countryside. There is a bit of a climb as you’ll cross Mount Albano, but worth it for the spectacular view. You destination is Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci, where you’ll have a chance to visit the house where he was born and a museum with scale models of his inventions.
You have two different options for today’s ride:
Short option: 40 km (25 miles), with + 568 m (1863 ft)
Additional path: 23 km (14 miles), with + 473 m (1551 ft) elevation gain
Accommodation: Agriturismo il Piastrino, or similar.
Day 10 Lucca
Highlights: Medici villa, bicycle countryside of Tuscany, 17th century wall
Climb the stairway to the Medici villa in Cerreto Guidi today for a great view as you continue west to Lucca, where you’ll stay the next two nights. Lucca was a Roman town and one of medieval Italy’s most prosperous city-states. Today, Lucca retains its medieval charm with its small shops and sidewalk cafes, as well as the beautiful 17th-century wall that surrounds the town.
Daily distance: 58 km (36 miles).
Elevation gain: + 424 m (1391 ft)
Accomodation: Hotel La Luna, or similar.
Day 11 Loop ride to Pisa
Highlights: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Piazza of Miracles, Lake Massaciuccoli
Your last day of pedaling takes you to Pisa where you can visit the Leaning Tower and the Piazza of Miracles. Our route to Pisa takes you by Lake Massaciuccoli, where Puccini wrote many of his operas. After a stroll through Pisa, head back to the less-touristy town of Lucca to enjoy an evening passeggiata along the main pedestrian way.
You have two options for your loop ride:
Shot option: 30 km (18 miles), with + 238 m (780 ft) elevation gain.
Long option: 41 km (25 miles), with + 287 m (941 ft) elevation gain.
Accomodation: Hotel La Luna, or similar.
Day 12 Tour ends
Highlights: Arrivederci!
After a buffet breakfast in the hotel, the holiday is over. We hope you have enjoyed cycling with us! Thanks for joining us and “buon viaggio”!