Itinerary

Day 1: Tour begins in Venice, Italy
Venice at sunset.
Highlights: The Lido of Venice, dinner at a trattoria
Welcome to Venezia! You really should try and come a day or two early to explore this unique city before we begin our bike ride to Florence. We meet this afternoon at our hotel on the Lido of Venice where we'll fit bicycles. We'll enjoy an introductory aperitif before walking to dinner in a small trattoria on the Lido.

Lodging: Hotel Atlanta Augustus
Day 2: Venice to Po River Delta
Cycling along canals.
Highlights: Chioggia, Pellestrina, Po River Delta
The Lidos of Venice and Pellestrina protect the Venetian lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. You'll follow these natural levees this morning as we work our way south via flat roads, ferries and quaint fishing villages to Chioggia, at the south end of the lagoon. Enjoy lunch on your own there before continuing south to Taglio di Po in the Po River delta. Those who want extra mileage can enjoy a great ride into the delta this afternoon. Dinner together. Distance: 59 km (37 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Tessarin
Day 3: Taglio di Po to Ferrara
Farm on the Po Plain
Highlights: bicycle along the Po River, bicycle capital of Italy--Ferrara
It's another day of leisurely riding today as we follow the Po river upstream to the Renaissance city of Ferrara. Entering the city, we'll pass under the 16th century walls, one of the most intact Renaissance walls left in Italy. Other highlights of this UNESCO world heritage site include the many palaces of the Este court from the 14th and 15th century. We'll suggest some great restaurants for dinner on your own this evening. Distance: 73 km (45 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Carlton
Day 4: Ravenna
S.Apollinare Nuovo Basilica in Ravenna.
Highlights: Comacchio, lunch at farm cooperative, mosaics of Ravenna
We shuttle this morning to the nearby lagoon town of Comacchio, once a port town more famous than Venice. After a small float around the canals with a local fisherman as captain, we'll ride across the "valleys of Comacchio", through the Po delta's rich bird habitats. Then it's on to the Anita di Argenta where we'll stop at a local agriturismo (farm cooperative), to enjoy a lunch of homegrown vegetables, homemade ricotta, and other local specialties. A short bike ride later we'll enter Ravenna, 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. Distance: 43 km (27 miles).

Lodging: Galletti Abbiosi
Day 5: Ravenna to Faenza
Picnic at the farm.
Highlights: Picnic lunch at ExperiencePlus! Headquarters and family farm, ceramics of Faenza
We'll head west from Ravenna today, stopping to visit a local Italian bike shop on our way to "the farm" for a light lunch together. "The farm" is our European headquarters and is located on land that Paola Malpezzi-Price's family has cultivated for more than 100 years. We continue on to Faenza, where we visit a local ceramist who will introduce us to traditional Faenza designs. Dinner, if you are still hungry, is on your own! Distance: 54 km (34 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Vittoria
Day 6: Over the Apennines
Pedalling on the Appennines.
Highlights: Olive oil tasting, riding through Apennine Mountains, small mountain villages
We head into the Apennines today, passing first through the medieval village of Brisighella for an olive oil tasting in one of Italy's most unique olive oil producing areas. We'll then begin climbing (easily at first!) over the Apennines -- remember to look around as you climb since the scenery changes dramatically as you leave the plains and enter the mountains. Just before we reach the toughest part of our climb to Ronta, there is a very conveniently located train station which allows you a choice in how you reach our destination! We'll enjoy dinner together tonight. Distance: 15 - 63 km (9 - 38 miles)

Lodging: Hotel La Rosa
Day 7: Florence
Ponte Vecchio in 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. We'll ride into town together, and the rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this capital of Renaissance Italy. Our hotel lies on the banks of the Arno River, close to the Uffizi Gallery. We'll enjoy a great farewell dinner together this evening. Distance: 41 km (25 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Balestri
Day 8: Guided walk of Florence, Italy
Highlights: Guided walk of Florence, end of trip
After a buffet breakfast in the hotel, we'll have a guided walk of Florence! Be sure to schedule your visits to Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, Botticelli's Birth of Venus and the other masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery after 12:30PM. If you can't stick around we hope you've enjoyed your bicycling vacation.

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