We meet at the train station in Chioggia and transfer by van to start our first ride. We’ll fit everyone with their bikes and embark on our first ride within the Po Delta.

We start riding immediately after crossing the Chioggia Bridge and soon start exploring the canals that lead to the Delta. Our ride features a unique ambiance, with hundreds of birds that live in the lagoon (purple herons, mallards, moorhens, coots, and, recently, the cormorants). The wetland area has a unique vegetation such as oak, pine, the tamarack, beech and cane. The bike paths are completely flat and mainly car free.

Lodgings for 2 nights at a family run farm offering us the unique experience associated with the agriturismo. Full lap pool, tennis courts and 9 hole home-made golf course on the farm.

From our farmstead we set off on our loop that quickly passes the Abate Tower (a medieval water scooping machine) and soon arrives at our first stop of Goro, a town characterized by fishing; mainly sole, mussels, clams and eel. You will be at the wide floodplain which harbors several species of bird life. Here we soon embark on a boat cruise into the complex waterways that are home to hundreds of migratory birds and site of an ancient lighthouse.

After lunch we set off for the Pomposa Abbey, one of the most important in northern Italy, famous for the Carolingian manuscripts preserved in its rich library, one of the wealthiest of Carolingian repositories. We then tour one of the few wineries in the Delta region and enjoy a wonderful wine tasting before a short cruise back to our Farmstay. A little golf anyone?

This is the longest ride that we embark on all week and it can start from several points along route. Since it is completely flat I am sure most recreational cyclist can complete the journey. However, if you wish to start farther up the river we can easily accommodate your idea of a day on the bike. We again pass by the Abate Tower and soon find ourselves along the Destra Po (right side of the Po River) and at the fascinating Castle of Mesola. We then hug the Po River and pass points of interest such as Sarravalle the "Gate to the Delta".

As we ride the higher banks of the river we pass a small village with a Venetian look and take in the beautiful views over the Delta and have a chance to examine the several fortresses, churches, hydraulic contraptions, bird life, islands, and the massive Cavo Napoleonico started in 1808...

On day 4 we first enjoy a fascinating private city walking tour that gives us insight into an amazing Este Family, it's many architectural wonders including the castle that dominates the city. Our guide also examines Ferrara's fascinating Jewish history that dates back to the middle ages. Visitors can appreciate the countless landmarks that pay tribute to this heritage firsthand. The Ghetto area has remained intact both in look and layout throughout various restorations and is now a pedestrian area complete with historical markets and boutiques.

We then have plenty of time to explore town with an afternoon optional loop ride that starts around the medieval wall and then unveils the medieval and renaissance remains of the Este dynasty.

Lodgings A beautiful XV century palace, once residence of Counts Beccari-Freguglia, . The atmosphere of the hotel is magical & there are lots of fun cafés and romantic quaint squares nearby.

We continue our ride along Po River to San Benedetto Po before setting off for the beautiful center of Mantova, a city well worth traveling thousands of miles to see...this day's ride is as long or as short as you would like to make it. It starts with an optional 19km out of Ferrara from your hotel then along the Burano Canal the "biker's highway". Once back on the Po we are sure to notice the river gets much wider and is featured by the Tontola Island. We later see the 17th century fortress that marked the border to the Ferrara province. From here we leave the Emilia Romagna and enter the Mantova Province of Lombardia only to return the next day.

Lodging: 1 night at the 3-star Hotel located in the historic center of Mantova

Ride to Modena along “La Strada dei Vini e Sapori della Piantura Modenese”. In English it translates as the highway of wines and wonderful flavors of the region. Need I say any more? Our ride passes by several farms that feature traditional balsamic vinegar, parmigiana and reggiano cheese and milk as well as risotto rice and cereals, Lambrusco wines and much more. We soon find ourselves on the river secchia and a new bike path leads into the medieval center of Modena. Here we enjoy two nights in a 4-star jewel in the heart of the historic center.

Our last full day together begins with an early transfer out to the dairy we tour. You sample the goods after a tour that demonstrates how Parmesan & Reggiano cheeses are produced. We then ride from here down to a small town and enjoy a tour of how prosciutto is produced. Once finished we stop for lunch and soon afterwards ride out to visit and tour at a traditional balsamic vinegar producer. Here we witness the traditional methods that make this a labor of passion. Some vinegars have been aged for 100 yrs and must be aged at least 12 years to be designated as rational; everything else is classified as industrial.

Once back in town we enjoy a grand farewell dinner in the medieval center. In the morning we make the transfers accordingly.

Lodgings: 4 star Hotel in the heart of the medieval center.

Emilia's Parmigiano Reggiano, the "king of cheeses," is firm yet brittle enough to break into bite-sized chunks of elegantly mellow flavor. Aging makes Parmigiano golden and hard for grating. Romagna's formaggio di fossa from the milk of sheep or cows is ripened

In Emilia-Romagna the honor roll of foods is led by pasta, made with fresh eggs and rolled by hand by a sfoglina to achieve perfect texture. The universal primo is tagliatelle con ragù, though cooks consider the meat sauce personal works of art. Bologna, whose specialties include green lasagne and curly gramigna, disputes with Modena the creation of tortellini (modeled after Venus's navel). Ferrara's cappellacci(big hats) are stuffed with squash. Reggio's cappelletti (little hats) differ from pasta of the same name in Romagna, whose specialties include the rolled tubes called garganelli and slim dumplings called passatelli. Pasticcio is pasta with other ingredients baked in a pie, though interpretations vary. 

Polenta, once a staple of the country diet, now plays a secondary role to pasta in the region, as do rice and gnocchi. Vegetables, greens and legumes of all sorts are grown here, though they are often cooked in soups or with pasta. Romagna has a native species of shallot that is protected. Mushrooms from the Apennines are prized, notably from around Borgotaro, where they enjoy IGP status. Romagna produces a bit of olive oil, protected under DOP for the town of Brisighella. 

That is just a taste of what to look forward to exploring on tour. Once on tour we will examine the meats, wines, risottos and vinegars just to mention a few of the countless culinary gems the region is renowned.

Transportation Logistics

The following is a list of train schedules for transportation to and from the tour start and end locations. Train departure times and tracks are subject to change, so verify before boarding.

*Meeting your tour by train if not staying in Venice: 
Trains from Firenze/Florence to Mestre (tour start): ~2 hours 
#9402 Firenze SMN-9:30am--arrival Mestre ---11:21am

From Milan: ~2.5 hours
#9709 Milano Centrale -08.35am-- arrival Mestre ---10.58 am

Departing your tour: 
From Modena to Venice/Mestre: ~2 hrs (departs every hr.) 
#9803 Modena -09:19 am--arrival Mestre ---11:21 am 

*Departure times and track are known to change on a moments notice, thus verify before boarding