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Bike Across Italy with ExperiencePlus!:
Pisa to Venice
Tour Duration : 12 Days
Tour Category : Bicycle Touring Tour, Cultural Expeditions Tour,
Art/Architecture Tour
 Day 1:
Arrive this afternoon at our hotel in Lucca, where we’ll fit bicycles. Take
a walk on the 17th-century wall that surrounds town before the welcome dinner
at one of our favorite trattorias this evening.
Day 2:
Today we’ll enjoy a day ride to Pisa. We’ll pedal country roads around the
edge of Mount Pisano, over the lower Mount Massaci?ccoli and into Pisa. Our
destination is the Piazza of Miracles, where the leaning tower stands in one
of Italy’s most spectacular squares. After lunch on your own we return to Lucca
where we stay a second night. Dinner on your own. Distance: 56 km (35 miles)
Day 3:
We continue in the opposite direction around Monte Pisano today, on our way
to Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. Our route follows a forested
road along rolling hills for most of the day. We arrive in Vinci this afternoon
with time to visit a museum with scale models of Leonardo’s inventions, or to
ride the 13 km to San Baronto, - what some of our customers have called one
of the most beautiful rides they have ever taken. Dinner together this evening.
Distance: 56 km (35 miles) optional ride San Baronto 26 km (16 miles)
Day 4:
After breakfast this morning we begin climbing a bit through olive groves as
we approach Monte Albano (remember the van is available if you want). Enjoy
the spectacular views before descending into the Arno River valley. We’ll ride
as a group into Florence. Our hotel is located along the banks of the Arno River,
within easy walking distance of the Uffizi Gallery. Distance: 45 km (28 miles).
Day 5:
This is a rest day in Florence, so take it easy and enjoy this fabulous Renaissance
city! Visit the Uffizi Gallery, tour the Accademia (home to Michelangelo’s David),
and sip espresso in a local café. At sunset this evening, stroll down to the
Ponte Vecchio to engage in the favorite local pastime, people watching. Dinner
on your own.
Day 6:
After breakfast you’ll have time to do any last minute shopping before we’ll
pedal together out of Florence to Fiesole. Enjoy lunch in Fiesole and take time
to explore this Etruscan town with its great view of Florence and Roman ruins.
Great views accompany us as we approach the pass at Vetta le Croci before gliding
downhill into Borgo San Lorenzo. We’ll arrive this afternoon in the quiet mountain
town of Ronta. Dinner together. Mileage: 42 km (26 miles)
Day 7:
Today we cross the Appenines on a spectacular ride over Passo la Colla, then
it’s downhill into Faenza. We’ll pass through several quaint villages on the
way including Brisighella, where you can sample some of Italy’s finest olive
oil. You’ll have time this afternoon to visit some of the ceramics studios that
make Faenza famous. Dinner together. Distance: 65 km (41 miles).
Day 8:
As we leave Faenza this morning, we’ll cycle through fruit orchards and vineyards
on our way to “the farm” which has been in Paola’s family for over a century.
We’ll enjoy a “Romagnolo” picnic lunch and tour our new European headquarters.
Then it’s off to Ravenna for a chance to visit the famous mosaics in the churches
of San Vitale, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo and in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia.
Dinner on your own. Distance: 56 km (35 miles).
Day 9:
Feel free to explore more of Ravenna this morning (you’ll want to visit Dante’s
tomb!). It’s a short distance before we stop for lunch together at a farm restaurant
on our way to Comacchio. Comacchio is a lagoon town built on 13 small islands
at the south edge of the Po Delta, and was formerly one of the most important
trading towns in the Adriatic basin. From there it’s a short distance to our
hotel on the beach! Dinner on your own. Distance: 55 km (34 miles).
Day
10:
This morning we pedal north over the Po Delta to Mesola. Keep your eye out
for shore birds like purple herons and egrets as we enter the Lido di Volano
bird reserve. There’s an optional ride to the 9th-century Benedictine Abbey
of Pomposa, or you can continue riding north along quiet levee roads. We
stay the night in Contarina. Dinner together. Distance: 70 km (44 miles),
optional 10 km (6 miles) to the Pomposa Abbey.
Day 11:
After breakfast we depart on our final day of riding. We’ll take the first
of two ferries from the fishing town of Chioggia. Our first ferry takes us north
to the Lido of Pellestrina, one of two islands that protect the Venetian lagoon
from the Adriatic Sea. Our hotel is located on the second island, the Lido of
Venice. Tonight we’ll enjoy a fabulous final dinner together in Venice. Distance:
52 km (32 miles).
Day 12:
After breakfast you’re on your own to enjoy Venice and its remarkable cathedrals,
canals, and museums. Or, spend the day relaxing on the beach. Whatever you choose,
enjoy and have fun! Total Distance: 497-557 km (311-348 miles)
Note: Tour and Tour Information are subject to change.
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