Venice Mantova - Vita Pugna

Bike and Boat in Italy
Vita Pugna from Venice

Bicycle tour, 8 days and 7 nights

La vidéo

Saturday: Venice.
The cabins are available from 4.30 p.m. The meeting with the tour leader and the crew is scheduled at dinner-time, at 7 p.m. It is possible to combine an extra tour before your bike&boat week.

Sunday: Venice.
In the morning a local guide will let you discover the capital of the ancient “Serenissima Republic of Venice”, which held sway over much of the Mediterranean (and beyond) for centuries: Rialto and Piazza San Marco with St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doges’ Palace. After the visit, for those of you wanting to explore picturesque backwaters and roads less taken, here are some essentials: the lively Dorsoduro quarter (sestiere), home to the universities; the Castello quarter with the gardens of the Venice Biennale, the Arsenale (former dockyards) and the intriguing Naval History Museum. The islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello can also be easily reached with the vaporettos.

Monday: Venice-Chioggia (30 km).
Scenic cruising. After sailing around the Basin of San Marco, we reach the Lido di Venezia and dock at the picturesque village of Malamocco, once the Doges’ first established residence. Our bicycle tour of the island starts here. The first sight  we’ll see along the way is the Excelsior Hotel and the Palazzo del Cinema. Farther on, we’ll reach the Gran Viale lined with elegant art nouveau buildings that lead to the renowned beach of the Grand Hotel Des Bains, so dear to Thomas Mann. Ferry-boat ride to the Island of Pellestrina, a place where time stands still. We’ll explore the fishing villages of San Pietro in Volta, Porto Secco, Sant'Antonio and Pellestrina. It’s not unusual to see elderly women making bobbin lace outside the doors of their cottages. Our barge will be waiting for us at Pellestrina to cruise on to Chioggia, a true city of fishermen and baruffanti (quarrelers), as Goldoni’s play put it. But, before we weigh anchor, there’s time enough for a stop at a traditional bacaro (wine bar) for a fish cicchetto (small portions of tasty hors d’oeuvres served hot or cold, similar to Spanish tapas).    


Tuesday: Chioggia-Porto Viro-Adria (35 km).
In the morning, walking tour of Chioggia, also known as “The Little Venice”. Its characteristic fish market will amaze you. Departure from Chioggia on bike along the Lusenzo Lagoon and across a vast expanse of cultivated vegetable fields – the primary crops in this area. If conditions permit, we can stop in Rosolina for a swim and a ride along the beautiful pine forest that ends in the Porto Caleri botanical garden. Yet, the truly interesting sight today is the group of fishing valleys (valli da pesca) that usher us into the natural wonders of the Po Delta. The fishing valleys are an important habitat for hundreds of bird species that nest in this singular environment, including pink flamingoes, herons and dwarf herons. Our boat will be docked at Adria, a very important center of trade and commerce in pre-Roman times that gave its name to the Adriatic Sea.


Wednesday: Adria-Ferrara-Zelo (35 km on bike + 35 km on bus).
Short cruise and then on with the day’s excursion to the Renaissance city of Ferrara, designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its cultural importance. On our way there, we’ll be riding along the Po river, through the town of Polesella, and then stop in Ro to visit The Mill on the Po, a faithful reconstruction of the old-style floating mills that used to exist along the river. Once we reach Ferrara we’ll have time for an individual tour of the Medieval heart of the city beginning with the Castello Estense and the Cathedral consecrated in the 12th century that features a striking mixture of architectural styles from subsequent periods. Visits in the Renaissance neighborhood  – the historic quadrivium – where one of its finest palaces, the Palazzo dei Diamanti, prominently stands. Ferrara is one of the first and foremost examples of the humanist concept of urban design. Afternoon bus transfer to Zelo, a sleepy village on the Canal Bianco, the waterway which runs paral- lel to the Po.


Thursday: Zelo-Mantua (50 km).
Short cruise down the river to the Calandre, along the Fissero/Bianco Canal. Bike ride to Ostiglia, a small town with a medieval fortress. As we cross the Po, we’ll see Revere and it’s important Palazzo Ducale, once the residence of Ludovico II Gonzaga. A few kilometers down the road we’ll reach Mantua, another exceptional center on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list that testifies to the urban, architectural and artistic realizations of the Italian Renaissance.
- minibus option:
Excursion to Mantua. Landing at Ostiglia and transfer to Bergantino to visit the Carousel Museum. As we go upriver, we’ll visit the towns of Revere and San Benedetto Po and the Polirone Abbey. Once in Mantua, visits of the city center with entrance to the Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Te.

Mantua, round tour (40 km).
An entire day dedicated to the discovery of this little visited cultural gem, its three picturesque “lakes” formed by the Mincio, and its surround- ing countryside – once a City State ruled by the Gonzaga family. In the afternoon, guided walking tour of Mantua to discover the city’s wonders: the Palazzo Ducale, an imposing complex that was once the court of the Gonzaga family; the Duomo designed by Giulio Romano, and the churches of San Sebastiano and Sant’Andrea designed by Leon Battista Alberti.

Saturday: Mantua.
Breakfast and time for the goodbyes.

Levels  :
1 2 3 4 5 6

Terrain :
Flat and low resistance path. Program on tarmac cycle paths or roads with a low volume of traffic.

Climate :
Sunny area and hot temperatures

Technicality :
30 to 55 km riding per day ie 3 to 4 hours riding.

Itinerary easy to follow. No difficulties, fully accessible to anyone.

Bibliography :

- Cycling maps on Italy on cartovelo.fr

- Cycling guide on the Via Claudia Augusta (Bikeline)

Extra nights : 
One additional night is available at the beginning and at the end of the tour in an hotel.
 

Participants :
On board, you will meet an international community of all ages, men and women, bachelors and couples with kids.

Accompanying :
Here are the people in charge of your holidays for the bike and boat :

- Aboard, the captain and his ship's apprentice. They are in charge of you on the boat and lead the boat from one stage to another. The chef prepares the meals.

- Participants are accompanied by a guide. He will help you in case of breakdown and will give you advice on the itinerary to follow. He will also give all the tourist information you need. He or she is polyglot.

The meals :
- Breakfast : aboard, you will find a substantial breakfast.

- Lunch : sandwiches, fruits, snacks and drinks

- Diners : 3 dishes (drinks not included)

The drinks, like wine, beers, lemonade and mineral water are not included but are available on board.

The bike :

The bike is an hybrid one with 21 gears. At the end of the tour, you must leave the rented bike on the boat.

The bike are equipped with panniers,  map holder, lock and repair kit. I

If you come with your own bikes, the transportation to the starting point is of your responsability. It cannot benefit from our company theft insurance, you must do what is necessary. Don't forget your lock!

Road book :

We will provide you the information concerning your tour as well as the itinerary,  except changes.

Transport :  Location
- By train :  Venice is on one of the main railways lines, which links Venice to the most important Italian cities. Mantova is well served via Verona.

- By car : Mantova is situated on the A22 Hightway Brennero-Modena, only 50km from Verona. Venice is situated on the A4 Highway. 
- By plane : International airport of Venice. Feel free visiting our travel agency website Selectour de Parthenay

Your vehicle

It is possible to park you car, to be paied on site.

Cancellation insurance :

In order to guarantee reimbursement of your fees, you may subscribe to a cancellation insurance. To know more about this insurance, click here