Venice & Trieste by Bike & Boat

Day 1: Venice
Day 2: Sant'Erasmo Loop | Bacan Beach, 6 mi (10 km)
Day 3: Punta Sabbioni - San Donà di Piave, 31 mi (50 km)
Day 4: San Donà di Piave - Caorle, 28 mi (45 km)
Day 5: Caorle - Marano Lagunare, 31 mi (50 km)
Day 6: Marano Lagunare - Grado, 31 mi (50 km)
Day 7: Grado - Trieste - Grado, 37 mi (60 km)
Day 8: Grado

As this is a new itinerary operating for the first time, minor adjustments to the program may be made as the tour is finalized. Due to weather, water levels, navigation conditions, local regulations, or unforeseen logistical issues, the captain may adjust daily routes or overnight locations. Occasionally, a bus transfer may be necessary.

Day 1: Venice
Board your floating hotel in Venice beginning at 5:00 pm. At 6:00 pm, meet your tour leader, crew, and fellow travelers for a welcome briefing and aperitivo. After dinner, enjoy an evening stroll through Venice, when the city's narrow streets, canals, and bridges take on a quieter, more romantic atmosphere after the daytime crowds have departed.

Day 2: Sant'Erasmo Loop | Bacan Beach, 6 mi (10 km) | Elevation gain: 164 ft (50 m)
After breakfast, explore Sant'Erasmo, the second-largest island in the Venetian Lagoon and traditionally known as Venice's vegetable garden. Cycle past cultivated fields, fruit orchards, and vineyards where Orto di Venezia, a local white wine, is produced. Sant'Erasmo is especially famous for its prized purple artichokes, harvested in spring before their distinctive violet flowers brighten the fields in summer. Stop at Bacan Beach, a favorite among locals, for some time by the water before cruising to Burano. This colorful island is known for its brightly painted fishermen's houses and centuries-old lace-making tradition. Spend the night aboard the barge, moored in Burano or nearby.

Day 3: Punta Sabbioni - San Donà di Piave, 31 mi (50 km) | Elevation gain: 623 ft (190 m)
After breakfast, cruise to Murano, renowned for its centuries-old glassmaking tradition. Visit a historic glassworks and watch skilled artisans demonstrate the techniques that have made Venetian glass famous around the world. Continue by boat to Punta Sabbioni, at the tip of the Cavallino-Treporti peninsula, where the Venetian Lagoon meets the Adriatic Sea. From here, cycle through Lio Piccolo, a tiny lagoon hamlet surrounded by vegetable gardens and fishing grounds, with historic farmhouses, a small church, and a bell tower. Just a few miles away are some of Italy's most popular Adriatic beaches. At Notturno, a well-known seafood restaurant, take a short boat transfer to La Barena in Lio Maggiore, a farmhouse that has preserved the northern lagoon's agricultural traditions since 1928. Continue to San Donà di Piave, where you can visit the MUB land reclamation museum to learn how the surrounding wetlands were transformed into farmland beginning in the mid-19th century. The town sits along the Piave River, which played a pivotal role in World War I and inspired numerous Italian songs, poems, and stories. The barge awaits in Portegrandi for dinner.

Day 4: San Donà di Piave - Caorle, 28 mi (45 km) | Elevation gain: 640 ft (195 m)
Follow the Piave River by bike toward the Adriatic coast, where sandy beaches and seaside resorts begin to appear. Along the way, pass through an agricultural region where Fagiana farm grows Carnaroli rice, a variety prized for making risotto. Before reaching Caorle, you'll pass Ca' Corniani, a historic estate where land reclamation transformed former lagoon wetlands into productive farmland. Continue to Caorle, a seaside town with a long maritime history. The fishing harbor remains an important part of local life, with narrow streets and colorful buildings nearby. Overlooking the sea is the Church of the Madonna dell'Angelo, a local landmark with a long connection to the town's fishing community.

Day 5: Caorle - Marano Lagunare, 31 mi (50 km) | Elevation gain: 509 ft (155 m)
Today's ride takes you through the traditional fishing areas of the northern Adriatic. Along the way, look for casoni – thatched huts made from reeds and once used by local fishermen. Continue through Brussa, a protected natural area with sandy dunes, pine forests, and farmland. The route passes fishing valleys, lagoons, and reed beds that provide habitats for local wildlife. You'll also see La Bilancia di Bepi, a historic fishing stilt house, and have a chance to stop at a local fish farm for a local seafood snack. The day ends in Marano Lagunare, a waterfront town overlooking the lagoon, where the barge awaits for the evening.

Day 6: Marano Lagunare - Grado, 31 mi (50 km) | Elevation gain: 574 ft (175 m)
Cycle through the Friulian countryside toward the Adriatic, passing through the medieval village of Strassoldo. Continue to Aquileia, founded as a Roman colony in 181 BC and once an important center of the Roman Empire. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Aquileia is known for its Roman archaeological remains and basilica, which houses an extensive early Christian mosaic floor. From here, continue to Grado, a seaside town with Roman origins that once served as a port for Aquileia. Explore its old town, with its narrow streets and colorful fishermen's houses. Historic landmarks include the Basilica di Sant'Eufemia, known for its mosaic floor, and the Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie, one of Grado's oldest churches.

Day 7: Grado - Trieste - Grado, 37 mi (60 km) | Elevation gain: 804 ft (245 m)
On your final cycling day, leave Grado and cross the Isonzo River, the site of major battles during World War I. Continue to Monfalcone, where you board a train for the approximately one-hour journey to Trieste. Located between the Adriatic Sea and the Slovenian border, Trieste combines Mediterranean and Central European influences. Once the principal seaport of the Habsburg Empire, the city is known for its grand architecture and wide avenues. Enjoy a guided tour of Trieste, including Piazza Unità d'Italia, one of Europe's largest sea-facing squares, surrounded by historic buildings and overlooking the Gulf of Trieste. After the visit, return to Grado for a final dinner aboard the barge with your fellow travelers.

Day 8: Grado
Enjoy a final breakfast aboard before disembarking and departing from Grado.

• Ave Maria Portegrandi

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  Unisex Touring Bicycle

  A low entry unisex frame, ideal for an upright but relaxed riding position … • Aluminum frame … • Upright handlebar … • Selle Royal saddle (7in or 17.78cm wide) • Water bottle cage … • 27-speed… Read More

  Unisex Electric Bicycle (E-bike)

  A low entry unisex frame … • Upright handlebar … • 9-speed … • Centrally located Bosch motor Active Line Plus (250Wh, engine torque 50 Nm) • Bosch battery Power Pack (36V, range approx 90 km, average… Read More

  Accessories

  Included accessories … • Mudguards … • Handlebar bag … • Helmet … • Size: one size (58 - 61) • Adjustable size system and cool pads … • Weight: 260 g … • 10 vents with bug net … • Certified CE (TÜV)… Read More

  The Ave Maria Portegrandi will launch in 2027. This Italian bike and barge vessel designed for cruising the shallow waterways and passing under low bridges of northern Italy. Read More