Day 1| Milano

Highlights [top]

• [Da inserire]
  

Description [top]

This tour will let you discover the sweet countryside in the Po Valley, riding between Lombardia, Emilia Romagna and Veneto, enjoying the natural landscape that has been the setting of so many masterpieces of literature and Italian movies.

Welcoming villages, suspended between past and present, typical farms and courts scattered in the fertile plain. You will then find out some important cities, each one with its typical characteristics and cast of features, but united by the richness of monuments.

Milan, with its imposing Gothic cathedral, the Teatro alla Scala, the Sforza Castle, the Pinacoteca of Brera e Montenapoleone road; Pavia , with its typical medieval centre concentrated around the beautiful cathedral; not so far, the wonderful Chartusian monastery, built in 1360.

And then Mantua, in an enchanting position on three lakes, with its beautiful historic centre and the Ducal Palace, built by the Gonzaga; lastly, Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet and the famous Arena.

You will discover art and history but also, and above all, a special welcoming tradition, that you will also find in the gastronomy of this land, made of simple but genuine flavours, just as the people living in this region.

Tour Map [top]

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Days detail [top]

Day 1 | Milano, Lombardy, Italy

Individual arrival at the hotel in Milan. Milan, the capital of Lombardy, and one of the most important industrial and business towns in northern Italy, is the starting point of this tour. As Milan is the capital of Italian style, there are lots of boutiques, but the historical centre with the Cathedral, Theatre La Scala and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, is worth looking around. Overnight in Milan.

Day 2 | Pavia, Lombardy, Italy

Milan – Pavia (38 or 65 km)
Along the Naviglio Pavese Canal, we cross the meadows of the Ticino River that accompany it from Milan to Pavia. The middle aged town of Pavia was once the capital of the Lombardy and has developed into the north Italian centre of art and culture. Overnight in Pavia.

Day 3 | Piacenza, Emilia Romagna, Italy

Pavia – Piacenza (ca. 40 km)
Today we discover the old pilgrimage paths and cycle along part of the “Via Francigena“ the old pilgrimage path from Canterbury to Rome. The River Po accompanies you all the way from Pavia to Piacenza, a town that used to be a Roman colony controlling the Po district, which is now an important business town. Overnight in Piacenza.

Day 4 | Salsomaggiore Terme, Emilia Romagna, Italy

Piacenza – Salsomaggiore (ca. 59 km)
Along the foothills of the Alps we come to the spa town of Salsomaggiore. The second half of the day is ideal for relaxing at the thermal baths. Other than that, the town of Parma is also well worth a visit where you can taste all the specialities of the region. Overnight in Salsomaggiore.

Day 5 | Casalmaggiore, Lombardy, Italy

Salsomaggiore – Casalmaggiore (ca. 76 km)
We continue along the River Po through Verdi country to Casalmaggiore. There are several museums dedicated to Verdi in the area. Casalmaggiore is situated on the River Po and is the most important agricultural centre and the main town of the Casalasco. Here you can find the Parco della Golena del Po, an area between the river and dam. Overnight in Casalmaggiore.

Day 6 | Mantova, Lombardy, Italy

Casalmaggiore – Mantova (ca. 52 km)
Just after Casalmaggiore we reach the province of Mantova. Sabbioneta, once the capital town, is now a small, hidden village. Many farms from the times of Gonzaga, line the path while we cycle through Gazzuolo, Buscoldo and S. Silvestro onto to the provincial capital of Mantova, which is flanked on three sides by lakes and lies on the River Mincio. Mantova in an important cultural centre well knows for the Ducale Palace. Overnight in Mantova.

Day 7 | Verona, Veneto, Italy

Mantova – Verona (ca. 57 km)
The first part of today’s tour takes us along the unknown River Mincio through idyllic countryside. From Valeggio sul Mincio we carry on to Santa Lucia ai Monti giving us a view of the Valley of the Mills and from here through Sommacampagna to the famous town of Verona, well know in all the word for its Arena where every year famous operas and concerts take place. Walk through the lanes discovering the traces of the romantic story of Romeo and Juliet. Overnight in Verona.

Day 8 | Verona, Veneto, Italy

departure
After breakfast, end of the tour.

Trip notes [top]

Period [top]

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec

Included [top]

• Accommodation 2 nights in hotel**** and 5 nights in hotel***, in double rooms with private facilities
• Bed and breakfast service
• Lluggage transport
• Road book and informative material
• Telephone assistance

Not included [top]

• Journey to a from Milan and Verona
• Lunches
• Dinners and drinks
• Entrance fees
  
• Everything not explicitly specified

Notes [top]

• Terrain characteristics: mostly plain terrain, slightly hilly on day 4, average duration of the stages between 38 and 76 km per day.
• Roads: 70% asphalted road 30% white roads
• Departures: Saturday from 05/04 to 14/06/08 (last arrival day) and from 06/09 to 25/10/08 (last arrival day)
• Bike: city bikes
• Luggage transport:  yes
• Parking: customers can park in private garages in Milan at about € 70/100 per week. Some hotels have private parking (open and not guarded) free of charge and where is possible park for the whole week tour. 
• Briefing: at 09.00 am on 2nd day customers get route book and practical  information of the tour and bikes if rented. 
• Return transfer: private transfer from Verona to Milan is possible on request. Verona to Milan centre costs  € 200,00 (min 2 – max 4 pax, own bikes included). Verona to Milan airport costs € 220,00 (min 2 – max 4 pax, bikes included). Transfer must be required with the reservation and paid in advance.      
• Rental bike: aluminium bikes (men and women) with 21 speeds, free wheel, 1 big pannier bag, frontal road books support.

Equipment [top]

• [Da aggiungere]