A leisurely and gustatory journey through Italy’s Po Valley.
In Italy’s northern province of Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and Veneto, the cuisine is a journey in itself. Tortelli di zucca, pumpkin-stuffed ravioli. Stufato d’asino, donkey stew. Risotto alla cipolla, rice with onions. The soft, ever-present taleggio cheese. Radicchio cooked in different ways. The sbrisolona and pampepato sweets. The peoci, clams from the Venetian lagoon. The piadina, the flatbread made with simple ingredients like flour and water, perfect for a panino. You’ll feel like every turn is leading you to an exciting new flavor on this new Ciclismo tour. Best of all, you’ll taste the region from the perspective of our most knowledgeable guide —your trip specialist Andrea, who always knows where to find food at its best!
This bicycling adventure travels along a delicious route and crossing three regions, ending in the romantic and famous Venice. Appetites will be treated to irresistible dishes from the breadbasket of Italy as we cycle from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the less-touristy Mantova along the Po river in Lombardy. We continue in the Emilia Romagna region visiting the cyclist-friendly and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ferrara, famous for its fortress and its medieval atmosphere. The fertile alluvial plain of Emilia-Romagna with its rich agricultural countryside full of fruit orchards and grazing plains is the region where pasta has achieved the status of an art form, where syrupy-rich aceto balsamico (balsamic vinegar) is measured in drops, and where Parmigiano Reggiano cheesemakers still follow a 700-year old tradition.
The tour will end in the Veneto region, famous for its villas and seldom-touristed fishing villages like Chioggia, called also “the mini Venice” given its canals and narrow streets. Our last destination, Venice, is the perfect place for a final celebration after a full immersion in the northern Italian culture, history, and culinary experience through some undiscovered areas of the bella Italia: andiamo! Forza, forza!
Make this tour Private or for more information, call:
800.866.7314
We gather in the southeast of Lombardy in Mantova, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meet at our hotel at 1 pm for lunch, introductions and a quick spin. The relatively flat terrain is ideal for today’s warm-up ride.
Today we’ll follow the course of the Mincio, a river which descends from the Lake Garda, on a delightful loop that includes Parco del Mincio. Today allow some time to visit the main landmarks in town like the different buildings like Palazzo Te, Palazzo Valenti Gonzaga, the Ducal Palace and the main Cathedral right before our well-deserved dinner.
Today we start with a boat ride on the Mincio river and then we keep biking eastward, through the lovely Po Valley. Our destination is Ferrara, UNESCO world Heritage Site, one of the centers of Italian Renaissance history and an outpost of papal power in the north. Ferrara, with its uniquely well-preserved walls, is home to the stupendous monuments from the 13th-15th century.
Sprint eastward to the Adriatic coast today, through the Veneto region to reach Chioggia, known as “little Venice.” It is set on the southern entrance to the Lagoon of Venice and it offers a great opportunity to enjoy a stroll in town, to explore the local colorful market through the narrow alleys in the center of the town. One of the highlights todays is a spectacular picnic at the Corte Benedettina of Corezzola, to discover the local delicacies of the area
Today we have a short bike and ferry rides just to allow more time for activities in the afternoon to enjoy Venice, our final destination, probably one the most romantic towns in the world. Before dinner, stroll along the maze of waterways, have a break for a “spritz” in one of the campi (squares) and take a unique insider’s look at Venice. Our last dinner is followed by a late night stroll to Piazza San Marco.
Following breakfast at around 9am we shuttle you to the lido docking area (1km from the hotel) to catch your waterbus to the airport or the train station. Buon Viaggio!
