Bolzano to Venice

Introduction
Veneto Italy
Discover Bolzano- Verona - Venice
Across Lake Garda and through Verona

This tour will offer you the chance to visit the mountains around Bolzano, the beauty of lake Garda, cities full of culture and history like Verona, Vicenza and Padova and, last but not least, the fascinating Venice.

There are light hilly bits with short uphill sections. As a whole it is an easy to manage itinerary, riding on secondary streets with low traffic or paved bike paths. Trains with bike transportation connect the main cities of the tour, so in case of bad weather, or if you need a day of rest, you can reach your destination by train. A 4-5 hour ferry cruise through Lake Garda is included.

Accomodation

3/4-star hotels – very comfortable with ensuite facilities and air conditioning. Mostly in city centres.

Riding

Route profile
Total length: 275/340 km
Total vertical up: 570/1,120 m
Terrain: 95% tarmac, 5% unpaved
Train connections among the overnight stays: every day
Possibility to shorten the itinerary by taking the train: day 2, 3 and 5.
As a whole it is an easy to manage itinerary, riding on secondary streets with low traffic or paved bike paths. There are light hilly bits with short uphill sections.

Activity level
Easy cycling in mostly flat areas, with only few short climbs and descents. Little effort required, suitable for most people. This tour is also suitable for children. The longer stages, from Bolzano to Trento and from Verona to Vicenza, can be shortened by taking the train.
We have carefully chosen our bicycles and accessories in order to be able to satisfy the requests and wishes of our customers. In this page we illustrate some of the available types of bicycles.

Rental bikes
Girolibero’s City bikes are available in various sizes in unisex/women’s or men’s models. At the moment of booking, you can choose among the following bikes:
- City bike 27-gear Shimano Deore
- City bike 7-gear Shimano Nexus with back-pedal brake
- Standard Road bike with carbon fork
- Electro-bike
- Tandem

Features:
- aluminum frame
- mudguard
- rear rack
- comfort gel saddle
- anti-puncture Schwalbe tyres
- ergonomic bicycle grips
- Speed Lifter system (only for City bikes)

Accessories
All rented adult bikes are equipped with:
1 cycle computer
1 Ortlieb one-sided saddlebag
1 front bar bag or 1 map holder
1 water bottle (0.75 l)
1 repair kit per room: 1 spare inner tube, glue, patch, a pump, 2 allen keys and tyre levers
1 combination bike lock

Accompanying material
The Information Pack (one per room) includes:
- final hotel list: due to overbooking or organizational needs your hotel list may be changed just before your arrival
- luggage labels to be fixed at each piece of baggage, which has to be carried
- hotel vouchers to be given to the reception of each hotel on your arrival
- restaurant vouchers (if you have booked half-board)
- Lake Garda ferry-boat voucher: give this voucher to the ticket office in Riva del Garda to get your passage by ferry-boat to Peschiera or Desenzano del Garda
- ice cream voucher: you can enjoy a free ice cream in one of Vicenza's most famous ice cream parlours
- Villa Valmarana ai Nani voucher: you can enjoy a free entrance ticket to this beautiful villa in Vicenza, famous for Tiepolo’s frescoes (www.villavalmarana.com).

Girolibero Greens booklets:
1) Travel Guide with valuable information about the history, artistic heritage, landscapes and natural treasures of the areas visited on the tour. Plus: local events, some great anecdotes, suggestions on how to make the best of an extended break along the route, and tips on local wining and dining.
2) Detailed Maps of the itinerary: in colour and scaled 1:75.000/50.000, an altitude profile chart and maps of any historic city centres you would visit.
3) Roadbook describing the cycling route, stage by stage. Great on its own or in conjunction with the maps.

Itinerary



Sample itinerary - Subject to changes

Day 1: Bolzano
Arrival. Bolzano is a famous commercial and touristic centre and also a historical and cultural connection between the Italian and the German world.

Day 2: Bolzano–Trento (65/70km).
Today we will ride mostly along the Adige River, through orchards, vineyards passing the villages of Ora, Egna and Salorno. The dam pathways lead then to Trento. Possibility to shorten the stage by taking the train in several train stations along the way.

Day 3: Trento–Peschiera/Desenzano (50 km + ferry).
Always pedaling along the Adige we reach Rovereto and Mori. From here westwards towards Lake Garda. After a short ascent, a refreshing descent will follow and lead you to Torbole and to Riva. The ferry cruise takes us to the southern part of the lake.

Day 4: Peschiera/Desenzano –Verona (35/60 km).
Today we head to Verona; crossed by the Adige is one of the most impor-tant and beautiful cities of the Veneto region. Worth visiting are: the roman Arena, the Church of San Zeno and Juliet’s House.

Day 5: Verona–Vicenza (75/40 km).
At first, the route starts out flat and then heads through the Monti Berici, a hilly region just south of Vicenza, with a wonderful view of the city. The old city centre is characterized by the beautiful private palaces and public buildings by Andrea Palladio, the famous 16th century architect known all over the world. This stage can also be reduced by taking a train from Verona to San Bonifacio (approx. 30 km).

Day 6: Vicenza– Padua (45 km).
Cycling out of Vicenza you will come across the beautiful Palladian Villa Rotonda. Along the Bacchiglione, the route will continue to the fascinating city of Padova with its famous Giotto's Chapel and one of the biggest squares of Europe "Prato della Valle".

Day 7 (Friday): Padua –Mestre / Venice (40 km).
The tour continues easily through the flat Veneto. You will cycle along the Brenta Canal, overlooked by the once countryside villas of the Venetian nobility (Villa Pisani, Malcontenta, Villa Widmann) until you reach Mestre, Venice’s mainland. You can chose to stay in Venice with a price supplement. Please note that in Venice (apart from Piazzale Roma and train station Santa Lucia) it is forbidden to cycle, and also to push your bike by hand. 

Day 8 (Saturday): Mestre / Venice.
Departure. Possible transfer back to Bolzano (reservation required).
-- Subject to change --

Tour program variations
Due to organizational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday.

Along the way you may find temporary deviations (for example road works) which cannot be foreseen; in this case each rider can decide autonomously how to deal with these stretches.

In case of strike, bad weather conditions, technical breakdowns, safety problems or any other reason preventing the regular departure of the ferry boat (from Riva del Garda to Peschiera/Desenzano), the ferry boat company can delay, cancel or
deviate the navigation without notice.

In case of cancellation the ferry boat service will be replaced by alternative means of transport (usually by bus). The same applies if the ferry boat service is no longer foreseen (for example at the end of the season).

Rates and Dates for Bolzano to Venice

Dates Note:
Every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday

Other Info
Meeting: Bolzano
Airport: Verona, Venice
Transfer: by train (not included)

Climate:
                                                Venice area