Bolzano to Venice

Introduction
Veneto Italy
An extraordinary cycle route will let you discover unique landscapes, art cities and the largest European thermal district.

From the superb Dolomites, part of the UNESCO world heritage list, you will start cycling along the river Adige, crossroads between people and cultures. Heading south you will reach the palm lined shores of Garda Lake and then romantic Verona, the town of Romeo and Juliet. In Vicenza you will be fascinated by the architectural genius of Palladio, who made the town his personal showcase. Further on you will reach the Euganean Hills and their renowned thermal district, the largest in Europe. Finally, beautiful Padua, cradle of arts, will open the way to the Venetian lagoon, where the timeless fascination of Venice has lured passersby for centuries (and still does).

Accomodation

Accommodations
We personally choose all the hotels mindful of your comfort as well as the proximity to cycling paths and any relevant local sites.
 
According to your category of choice you will be accommodated in:
- Cat. A: mainly 4* hotels, with some 3* hotels
- Cat. B: mainly 3* hotels, with some 2* hotels
The overnight in Padua thermal district for both categories will be in a 4* Wellness Hotel with swimming pools.
 
All rooms have en suite facilities. All 3/4* hotels have air conditioning while in the category of 2/3* hotels there may be some cases of accommodation without air conditioning. Some hotels located in mountainous places of northern Italy can be without air conditioning (even in category A).
 
When you book the tour please specify the type of room requested:
- double room is a room with one double bed
- twin room is a room with two single beds
- triple room is usually a room with one double bed and a single bed or a sofa bed.
 
On request 7th night of the tour in Venice instead of Mestre with delivery of the bikes in Mestre.


Meals
Only breakfasts are included in this package.

Riding

Tour 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:
- Touring bike 27-gear Shimano Deore
- Touring bike 7-gear Shimano Nexus with back-pedal brake
- E-bike 9-gear Shimano
- Tandem

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

You can also rent:
- Child bikes | 20” wheels | 24” wheels
- Child seat | max 22 kg | 1-5 yrs
- Child trailer | max 35 kg | 1-4 yrs | 1 seat
- Follow-me tandem for 20” child bike | max 30 kg | 6-8 yrs
- Family tandem | 1 adult + 1 child 6-8 yrs
These accessories can only be mounted on unisex 27-gear Shimano Deore Touring bikes.

Accessories
All rented adult bikes are equipped with:
1 cycle computer
1 Ortlieb one-sided saddlebag
1 front bar bag
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

Total length: 290/355 km
Total vertical up: 570/1,120 m
Terrain: 90% tarmac, 10% unpaved
Train connections among the overnight stays: day 2, 3, 4 and 5
Possibility to shorten the itinerary by taking the train: day 2, 3, 5 and 7.

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.

Day 1: Arrival
Bolzano is a famous commercial and touristic centre and also a historical and cultural connection between the Italian and the German world.
Meals included: none
Overnight in Bolzano

Day 2: Bolzano to Trento
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.
Biking approx. 65-70 km
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Trento

Day 3: Trento to Riva del Garda & 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.
Biking approx. 50 km
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Peschiera/Desenzano

Day 4: Peschiera/Desenzano to Verona
After crossing the hilly landscape surrounding the Garda Lake, you will meet again the river Adige, which will take you into Verona, one of the most important and beautiful cities in the Veneto region.
Worth visiting are: the Roman Arena, the Church of San Zeno and Juliet’s House.
Biking approx. 35-60 km
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Verona

Day 5: Verona to Vicenza
Cycling in the countryside at the foot of Mounts Lessini, among the vineyards, you will reach the castle of Soave. Further on, the fortress of Brendola will show you the way to the Berici hills and to Vicenza. The old city centre is characterized by beautiful private palaces and public buildings by Andrea Palladio, the famous 16th century architect known all over the world.
It is possible to shorten the stage by taking the train in San Bonifacio.
Biking approx. 35-75 km
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Vicenza

Day 6: Vicenza to Padua thermal district
Cycling out of Vicenza, along the cycle path of the river Bacchiglione, you can admire the Palladian masterpiece Villa La Rotonda. Then, past the hamlet of Montegalda, you will head towards the Euganean Hills, where you will have the
chance to relax in the largest European thermal district.
Biking approx. 50 km
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Padua

Day 7: Padua thermal district to Mestre / Venice
Along the cycle path of the Battaglia Canal you will pass through Padua, home to one of the oldest Italian (and European) universities and rich in art and history. From here, along the Piovego Canal, you will reach Stra and will follow the Brenta Canal, overlooked by the countryside villas of the ancient Venetian nobility (Villa Pisani, Villa Malcontenta, Villa Widmann) until you reach Mestre, Venice Mainland.
Biking approx. 55 km
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Mestre

Day 8: Departure
Departure. Possible transfer back to Bolzano (reservation required).
Meals included: Breakfast


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: It is possible to add one extra night in the middle of the tour only for departures on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Price and availability are upon request.

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

Climate:
                                                Venice area