Venice to Mantova
The Original Bike & Boat Tour in Italy

The Original Bike & Boat Tour in Italy Quick Info

Tour Type	Bike and Barge (short bus transfer)
Accommodations	Barge: Ave Maria or Vita Pugna
Biking Tour Type	Guided/self-guided You decide each day to ride alone, or with the group
Biking Level	Easy
Duration	8 days / 7 nights
Biking Distance	Daily biking distance varies - See itinerary 215-225km/134-140mi approx. total
Bike Rental Available	Yes
Tour starts in:	Venice/Mantova, Italy
Tour ends in:	Mantova/Venice, Italy

Itinerary from Venice to Mantova

Day 1 - Venice, Italy

Welcome on board! The boat is moored at the Giudecca island, not far from St.Mark's square. The cabins are available from 4 p.m. The meeting with the tour leader and the crew is scheduled at dinnertime, at 7 p.m.

Day 2 - Venice, Italy

Free day at disposal. After a wonderful awakening with a view on the lagoon, the tour starts with a whole day at your disposal, discovering the wonderful historical centre of the capital of the "Repubblica Serenissima", or its wonderful islands.

Day 3 - Venice to Chioggia, Italy
Biking Tour approx. 30km/19mi

This is the most exciting day of the tour, riding along the two little narrow islands, which build the border between the sea and the lagoon. From Lido, one of the most impressing resorts and seat of the cinema exhibition of Venezia, you ride up to Malamocco, the first seat of the republic of the Doges. The boat will then take you to the isle Pellestrina with its natural reserve of Ca' Roman and after the final few kilometres the boat leads you to the lively fisher harbour of Chioggia.

Day 4 - Chioggia to Albarella, Italy
Biking Tour approx. 40km/25mi

You will leave the so-called "small Venice" going south along the Po-Brondolo Waterway and through the mouth of the River Adige. Pedalling between the wonderful nature reserve of the Po Delta, with its incredible amount of bird species, you will then approach Albarella

Day 5 - Albarella to Porto Levante to Adria, Italy
Biking Tour approx. 55km/34mi

You go deep into the maze of the Po Delta, pedalling in the heart of nature. The destination today is Adria, an ancient Greek port, famous for trading amber coming from the Balti

Day 6 - Adria to Ferrara to Zelo, Italy
Biking Tour approx. 40km/25mi

After a short navigation in the morning, you start cycling in the middle of the nature towards Ferrara. In the afternoon a short bus transfer will bring you up to Bergantino, for a visit of a cheese factory and a short tasting session before reaching Zelo.

Day 7 - Zelo to Mantova, Italy
Biking Tour approx. 50km/31mi

A short stretch of navigation brings you to Torretta on the Fissero/Bianco canal. You cycle following the Po as far as Ostiglia, a small village with the ruins of a medieval fortress. After a few kilometres you finally reach Mantova

Day 8 - Mantova, Italy

After breakfast end of services, if you haven't booked any extra night.

Reverse Itinerary from Mantova to Venice

Day 1 - Mantova, Italy

The cabins are available from 4 p.m. The boat is moored at Porto Catena, just a short walk from the city-centre. The meeting with the tour leader and the crew is scheduled at dinner-time, at 7 p.m. Mantova is one of the most beautiful towns in Northern Italy, where a lot of worldwide known artists left their masterpieces, thanks to the assignment of the the famous Gonzaga family

Day 2 - Mantova to Governolo to Zelo, Italy
Biking Tour approx. 50km/31mi

The boat takes you to Governolo, stronghold of the Mincio Pirates, where there is the biggest basin of Italy, built in order to control the Mincio River. Here you take the bikes and start the ride, keeping on following the River Po, until the village of Ostiglia, with the ruins of a medieval fortress. Subsequently you will visit the "Carousel and Folk Show Museum" in Bergantino and enjoy a tasting session in a cheese factory. After a ride along the 'Canal Bianco" you will reach Zelo, where the barge will moor for the night.

Day 3 - Zelo to Ferrara to Adria, Italy
Biking Tour approx. 50km/31mi

After breakfast you will start cycling towards Ferrara. Once you have reached the town, which earned the name of "city of bicycles", you will be enchanted by the historical centre, still surrounded by the old city walls. From Ferrara a short bus transfer will bring you to Adria, an ancient Greek port, famous for trading amber coming from the Baltic.

Day 4 - Adria to Porto Viro to Albarella, Italy
Biking Tour approx. 35-55km/22-34mi

The boat will bring you to Porto Viro, from where you will start the daily ride into the maze of the Po Delta, an uncontaminated paradise between marshes and lagoons of the Po, pedalling in the heart of nature. The destination is Albarella, a private island of ancient traditions. In case of low water you will start cycling directly from Adria, for approximately 55 km.

Day 5 - Albarella to Chioggia, Italy
Biking Tour approx. 40km/25mi

You will be suspended between water and land, as you will pedal between the Po Delta and the mouth of the River Adige. You follow then the Po-Brondolo waterway, which links the river to the Venetian lagoon. You will stay overnight in Chioggia, famous as "the little Venice" A visit to the fish market at dawn is an absolute 'must'.

Day 6 - Chioggia to Venice, Italy
Biking Tour approx. 30km/19mi

The boat brings you to the Natural reserve of Ca' Roman, a sandy islet surrounded by pinewoods. Pedalling along the lagoon, you reach Pellestrina: from here, riding on the new cycle path you reach the ferry landing stage. The boat takes you then up the Lido island, along the 'Murazzi', with a stop in Malamocco, the ancient harbour. The overnight is at the Island of Giudecca, not far from St. Mark's square, with an amazing view of the lagoon.

Day 7 - Venice, Italy

Free day. After a wonderful awakening with a view on the lagoon, you have the whole day at your disposal, to discover the magnificent historical centre of the capital of the "Repubblica Serenissima", or its wonderful islands.

Day 8 - Venice, Italy

After breakfast and the customary goodbyes, free time for individual visits, or return home, if you haven't booked any extra night.

Changes:

The route has been planned to feature navigation along the Fissero/ Bianco canal, which runs parallel to the Po and connects Mantova to the Adriatic Sea. A few weeks in the year, when the waters of the Po are propitious, the barge will be allowed to navigate along the Po river. This means that the some of the overnight stays will be modified. High and low water issues can modify some of the daily stretches or embarkation points. These decisions are taken by the boat captain. Due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organisational necessity we reserve the right to change the planned route accordingly. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary details, published times, and accommodations due to weather, local conditions, organization necessity or safety concerns.

Catering:

• Breakfast is an international buffet: bread, sliced salami and ham, cheese, butter, marmalade, yogurt, cereals, milk, tea, coffee.
• Lunch: when you're having breakfast, you'll also find all that's necessary to make yourself a packed lunch (bread, sliced salami and ham, cheese, juice or 1/2 l water).
• Dinner: at dinner you can enjoy typical dishes of the simple traditional Italian cuisine. Dinner consists of a starter, a main course, and dessert. On the table there will always be bread and water.
• Drinks: Water in carafe is served with dinner
• Snacks after biking: In the afternoon, when you come back from your trip, all guests will receive a snack, cake and coffee or tea.
• All other drinks are not included and have to be payed seperately (beer, soft drinks, sparkling water, wine, strong drinks). We remind you that it is prohibited to bring your own drinks and foods to the common areas of the ship.
• The water on board is potable.

Requirements (Level 1 - 2):

The tour is entirely on level ground and the daily cycling stages vary from 30 km to 55 km. Much of the pedalling is along rivers and canals on tarmac cycle paths or roads with a low volume of car traffic. The boat will sail some of the way during breakfast or evening meal to make getting out of the towns easier or to shorten the stages

How to reach Venice and Mantova

By Plane:
Both Venice and Mantova are well served by many airports of Northern Italy: Venice (VCE), Treviso (TSF), Verona (VRN), Bergamo (BGY),Milano Malpensa (MXP), Milano Linate (LIN)

By Railway and Car:
Mantova is situated on the A22 Highway Brennero - Modena, only 50 km south of Verona. By train it is connected very frequently to the railway station of Verona (journey: 45 min.) Venice is situated on the A4 highway and on one of the principal railway lines, which links Venice to the most important Italian cities.