Venice to Florence

Day 1: Chioggia
Day 2: Po River Delta, 36 - 63 mi. (58 - 101 km)
Day 3: Comacchio, 46 mi. (74 km)
Day 4: Ravenna, 31 mi. (49 km)
Day 5: Ravenna - Faenza, 35 mi. (56 km)
Day 6: Faenza - Ronta, over the Apennines, 9 - 39 mi. (15 - 63 km)
Day 7: Florence, 26 mi. (41 km)
Day 8: Departure

Due to organizational reasons, weather conditions, or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way, you may find temporary deviations caused by roadworks, which cannot be foreseen.

Day 1: Chioggia
On the southern end of the Venetian Lagoon, lies the busy fishing port of Chioggia, the start of your bike tour in Italy. Your hotel is located in the historic city center. Our local partner will meet you in the afternoon to fit your bicycles and go over the route details. This is usually scheduled between 2 and 4 pm so please inform us of your travel plans and arrival time in Chioggia. After checking in, you can take a stroll around the center of Chioggia and admire the canals, bridges, and main pedestrian walking street. If you arrive early, you can even cycle along one of the islands in the lagoon.

Accommodation: Hotel Grande Italia 

Day 2: Chioggia - Po River Delta, 36 - 63 mi. (58 - 101 km)
Today you cycle towards the Po River Delta, Italy's wildest and most fertile plane, the home to a variety of wildlife; flamingoes, bull, horses, and thousands of water birds. Grab some picnic supplies from the local grocery store and take your time, or stop at a local cafe. Those who want extra mileage can enjoy a great ride into the Delta in the afternoon. Your destination this evening is a small country bed and breakfast. 

Accommodation: Agriturismo Forzello or Hotel Tessarin 
Optional activity: Dinner near the agriturismo. Either a pizza menu or a 3-course meal.
Elevation gain: +235 m

Day 3: Comacchio, 44 mi. (70 km)
Today is another day of easy riding. The destination is a small lagoon town, Comacchio, full of character and history. At one point in history, this port was more powerful than Venice. Built on thirteen islands, the town is now landlocked but surrounded by the Po River and freshwater wetlands. Comacchio has a fabulous museum that showcases a Roman boat and its cargo that was excavated from one of the canals. You may enjoy a boat ride through the extensive maze of canals on a traditional batane, a small flat-keeled boat which was the usual means of transport for the inhabitants until a few decades ago.

Accommodation: Hotel La Comancina or B&B Al Ponticello
Elevation gain: +171 m

Day 4: Ravenna, 31 mi. (49 km)
Cycle along the Valley of Comacchio wetlands towards Ravenna. This city was the last capital of the Western Roman Empire and home to more early Christian mosaics than any other city in Western Europe. You can walk to Dante's Tomb and the mosaics of San Vitale, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia this afternoon, as your hotel is near all the city sights.

Accommodation: Palazzo Galletti Abbiosi
Optional activity: 
Guided visit of Ravenna (approx. 3 hours)
Dinner
Elevation gain: +124 m

Day 5: Ravenna - Faenza, 32 mi. (52 km)
Exiting Ravenna, you have the choice to visit another important Byzantine masterpiece, Sant'Apollinare in Classe. After crossing the plains, you pedal through fruit plantations and arrive to Faenza, located in the region of Emilia-Romagna. Your hotel is a restored convent near the central square of this regional market center and famous ceramics town. Enjoy the bustle in the market square and the main "piazza" which is always full of bicycle riders of all ages. Faenza is world-renowned for its hand-decorated ceramics and a visit to the International Ceramics Museum is highly recommended as well as several of the local artists' studios specialized in this colorful pottery.

Accommodation: Hotel Vittoria
Optional activity: Dinner
Elevation gain: +158 m

Day 6: Faenza - Ronta, over the Apennines, 9 - 35 mi. (15 - 64 km)
You head into the Apennines today, passing first through the medieval village of Brisighella. This is a good place to take a break and pick up some snacks for the climb ahead. If you want to tackle the entire mountain, you can do so. Your route descriptions provide options. The climb is quite easy at first as you begin the ascent. Remember to look around as you pedal since the scenery changes dramatically as you leave the plains and enter the mountains. Just before the toughest part of the climb, there is a conveniently located train station that allows you a choice in how you reach your destination! Dinner is included tonight.

Accommodation: Albergo La Rosa
Optional activity: Olive oil tasting in Brisighella

Day 7: Florence, 26 mi. (41 km)
There's a small climb this morning to Vetta le Croci, then it's downhill to the old Etruscan city of Fiesole, where you'll enjoy a great view of Florence rising from the valley floor. We recommend waiting until after lunch to ride into town and the rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this capital of Renaissance Italy. 

Accommodation: Hotel Silla

Day 8: Departure
After a buffet breakfast in the hotel, you're ready to become a tourist again. Visit Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, Botticelli's Birth of Venus and the other masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery, and more.

Optional activity: Guided visit of Florence

* A cooking class is available in more than one location along the way and includes tasting the meal as well. The class is run by Le Cesarine, a company that organizes culinary experiences at local people’s houses. Your class will last about 3 hours, during which you will help the Cesarina prepare 3 courses. In the 4th and final hour, you will enjoy a meal (lunch or dinner) made of the courses you prepared during the class. Water and one bottle of house wine every 3 people are included.

Day 1: Chiogga and the Venetian lagoon
Welcome to Chioggia and the Venetian Lagoon! After meeting our staff in the early afternoon, take a walk and explore charming Chioggia, admiring the canals, bridges, and the lively pedestrian main street. You may even take a test ride along one of the islands in the lagoon, crossing over on the local ferry boat. 

Accommodation: Hotel Domus Clugiae

Day 2: Cycle through the Po River Delta, 25 mi. (40 km)
You may choose to start your day with more exploration of the canals and alleys of colorful Chioggia, which you'll leave behind today as you cycle south through the Po Delta Valley (a national park and reserve). You will pedal along narrow levees and wetlands, in one of Europe's most important and largest bird sanctuaries (look out for herons, coots, terns, mallards, and if you are lucky even the resident flocks of pink flamingo). Arrive in the small rural town of Taglio di Po, nestled on the Po River valley, your first taste of small-town life in Italy and a great place to meet locals at the town piazza.

Accommodation: Agriturismo Forzello or similar
Elevation gain: +162 m

Day 3: Cycle to Comacchio, 50 mi. (80 km)
Pedal through an old hunting forest that belonged to the powerful Este family. You'll also have the chance to visit the impressive Pomposa Abbey on the way. Our destination is a small lagoon town that was more important than Venice in the 700 and 800s, and still shows its old splendor. Comacchio also houses a fabulous museum showcasing a dug-up Roman boat and its cargo, shown in a magnificent display. Built on 13 islands, this town is now landlocked but surrounded by the Po River and freshwater wetlands. Stroll the town or float around the canals with a local fisherman on a small gondola, before dinner.

Accommodation: Al Ponticello B&B
Elevation gain: +230 m

Day 4: Comacchio to Ravenna, 33 mi. (53 km)
Continue south along the Valley of Comacchio towards Ravenna, the last capital of the Western Roman Empire and home to more early Christian mosaics than any other city in Western Europe. You can walk to Dante's Tomb and the mosaics in San Vitale, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Make sure to also stroll this fabulous city - our hotel is within walking distance from all the city sights.

Accommodation: Hotel Centrale Byron
Elevation gain: +110 m

Day 5: Ravenna to Faenza, 32 mi. (52 km)
As you exit Ravenna this morning, a visit to a Byzantine masterpiece: Sant'Apollinare in Classe, is recommended. You will cross the plains and fruit plantations before arriving in Faenza. Your hotel is an elegantly restored convent just a few blocks from the central square of this regional market center and famous ceramics town. Enjoy the bustle in the market square and the main "piazza" which is always full of bicycle riders of all ages (the square is one of the loveliest in Italy!). Faenza is world-renowned for its hand-decorated ceramics, and we recommend visiting the International Ceramics Museum as well as the local artists' studios, which specialize in this colorful pottery.

Accommodation: Hotel Vittoria
Elevation gain: +158 m

Day 6: Over the Apennines to Florence, 64 mi. (104 km)
Today, you'll cycle all the way into Florence. Cross over the mountains from Emilia-Romagna and end your adventure in Tuscany! Alternatively, you can catch the train from Faenza, up and over the Apennine Mountains, to Florence.

A 15 km bike ride away, the medieval village of Brisighella (officially on the list of "The Loveliest Hamlets in Italy"), is a picturesque town worth the stop (on your bike, or by train). After exploring its alleys and piazzas (or even a walk up to the fortification perched on a hill above the town), continue on to Florence cycling over the mountains through Borgo San Lorenzo. You may choose to stop cycling here and catch the train to Florence (with bikes aboard the train with you) or cycle all the way into Florence for the complete crossing of the Apennines. Three wonderful options to cross over the mountains from Emilia-Romagna and end your adventure in Tuscany! Please see extra pricing.

* Option 1: end your cycling in Faenza (leave the bikes at hotel), and catch the train to Florence (with your luggage at hand) from the Faenza train station, a short walk from the hotel. The train ticket to Florence is included in the tour package price.

* Options 2 and 3: cycle to Borgo San Lorenzo (72 km / 44 miles with 1298 m / 4260 ft elevation gain), or to Florence hotel (104 km / 64 miles with 1785 m / 5850 ft elevation gain): if cycling to Borgo San Lorenzo, get on the train to Florence with your bike; or, cycle all the way to Florence hotel. In both cases, we will transfer your luggage to the Florence hotel, and provide detailed instructions for how to get there. The fee for this optional ride is €195 per person, plus 1 additional bike hire day (includes bike pickup and luggage transfer to Florence hotel, minimum 2 people).
 

Accommodation: Hotel Vasari

Day 7: Departure