Cycletours Holidays Buiksloterweg 7a, 1031 CC Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Tel +31 (0)20 521 84 90 · Fax +31 (0)20 627 90 32 · information@cycletours.nl · www.cycletours.com

1

Your cycle tour

Italy, Cycling along the Venetian lagoon (Mantova – Venice)

IMV 2013

Cycletours Holidays Buiksloterweg 7a, 1031 CC Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Tel +31 (0)20 521 84 90 · Fax +31 (0)20 627 90 32 · information@cycletours.nl · www.cycletours.com

2

Character of the tour

After a day at your full disposal to discover the magic of Venice, you will start knowing the

peculiar ecosystem of the lagoon and the Po Delta area. The trip leads you in the core of the

Po plain, until Mantova, where a lot of worldwide known artists left their masterpieces, thanks

to the assignment of the famous Gonzaga family. The tour is entirely on level ground and the

daily cycling stages vary from 30 km to 55 km. Much of the pedaling is along rivers and

canals on tarmac cycle paths or roads with a low volume of car traffic. It is envisaged that 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. High and low water issues can modify some of the

daily stretches or embarkation points. These decisions are taken by the boat captain.

Itinerary from Mantova to Venice

Day 1: Saturday, Mantova

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 famous

Gonzaga family

Day 2: Sunday, Mantova–Governolo–Zelo(approx. 50 km by bike).

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: Monday, Zelo–Ferrara–Adria (approx. 50 km by bike +60 km by bus).

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: Tuesday, Adria–Porto Viro–Albarella (approx. 35/55 km).

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: Wednesday Albarella–Chioggia (approx. 40 km).

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

Cycletours Holidays Buiksloterweg 7a, 1031 CC Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Tel +31 (0)20 521 84 90 · Fax +31 (0)20 627 90 32 · information@cycletours.nl · www.cycletours.com

3

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: Thursday, Chioggia–Venice (approx. 30km).

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 harbor. The overnight is at the

Island of Giudecca, not far from St. Mark’s square, with an amazing view of the lagoon.

Day 7: Friday, Venice

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: Saturday, Venice

After breakfast and the customary goodbyes, free time for individual visits, or return home, if

you haven’t booked any extra night.