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A voyage of discovery along Italian canals and rivers, on board a piece of Holland.
Welcome to Hooked on Cycling holidays and our cycling holidays in Italy. This biking vacation in Italy is a bike and barge self guided cycle tour. Over night you sleep on the barge and during the day cycle to a new location to re-board the barge again. This is a wonderful relaxing way to experience Italy with a new prospective. Our barge is called Vita Pugna meaning, ”Life is a battle”, it is 36 metres long, 5.4 metres wide Dutch barge boat. The 11 cabins can accommodate up to 23/25 guests. Each cabin has low twin beds and private bathroom with shower. The barge also has a restaurant and spacious out side deck, which is ideal for parking your bikes and of course sunbathing.
The itinerary winds its way along the Mincio and the Po, penetrating into rural areas of the Italian countryside that are still untouched, and ends in the warm embrace of the Venetian Lagoon. This territory has been reclaimed from the marshes for many centuries now and is framed by green pine woods, which offer protection for numerous species of animals. The work of man overlaps nature in a constant game of roles: reclaimed land alternates with natural canals, fishermen’s huts are camouflaged in the reeds, and bridges formed of boats reduce the distances between strips of sand. We run the trip in both directions Mantova to Venice and the following week Venice to Mantova.
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Available every Saturday from March 28th to October 24th
Departures will alternate, one week from Mantova and the following one from Venice, with the first one from Mantova.
Level 1 self guided cycle tour
Day 1 Mantova
Arrival to Mantova where your cycles are available from around 11a.m. at the boat, which is moored at Porto Catena, just a short walk from the centre of the town.
Day 2 Mantova-Castelguglielmo 24 miles 38km 
Today the boat takes us to Governolo, a stronghold of the Mincio Pirates, here we take our bikes and start our ride. We cycle towards San Benedetto Po, home of an ancient monastery. We continue following the Po as far as Revere, summer residence of the Gonzaga dynasty. The last stretch of road brings us to the harbour of Ostiglia on the Fissero/Bianco canal, where we board the boat. A short stretch of navigation brings us to Castelguglielmo, where we will moor for the night (overnight in Revere if the level of the Po is suitable).
Day 3 Castelguglielmo-Ferrara-Adria 34 miles 55km
Departure for Ferrara, the historic centre is still surrounded by the old city walls. The great number of cycle paths and the widespread use of bikes have earned Ferrara the name of “the city of bicycles”. At the end of the day, on board Vita Pugna, we reach Adria, the pearl of the Polesine, an ancient Greek port, famous for trading amber coming from the Baltic, which gave its name to the sea it faced (overnight in Ferrara if the level of the Po is suitable).
Day 4 Adria-Porto Levante 30 miles 48km
Today we go deep into the maze of the Delta, an untouched paradise between the marshes and lagoons of the Po, pedalling in the midst of nature. The destination today is Porto Levante, a small marine village of ancient traditions.
Day 5 Porto Levante-Chioggia 22 miles 34km
Today Vita Pugna leaves us on the other bank of the Po di Levante. We are approaching Albarella, suspended between water and land, as we pedal between the Delta and the mouth of the River Adige. From Cavanella d’Adige, the further most border between the provinces of Rovigo and Venice, we then follow the Po-Brondolo Waterway, which links the river to the Venetian lagoon. We will stay overnight in “Little Venice” and a visit to the fish market at dawn is an absolute ‘must’.
Day 6 Chioggia-Venice 18 miles 28km 
Vita Pugna brings us to the Oasis of Ca’ Roman, a sandy islet surrounded by pinewoods. Pedalling along the lagoon, we reach Pellestrina, from here we ride on the new cycle path as far as the ferry landing stage. A short boat ride takes us back up the Lido, along the ‘Murazzi’, with a stop in Malamocco, the ancient harbour. Overnight in the Venetian lagoon.
Day 7 Venezia-Riviera del Brenta-Venice 28 miles 45 km
After a wonderful awakening with a view on the lagoon, we will head towards Padova riding along the Brenta canal. This is a very famous area thanks to its wonderful Venetian villas. We will then go back to Venice, for the last overnight stay.
Day 8 Departure.
After breakfast departure
NOTE: During the weeks in which departures are from Venice to Mantova, the “daily programme” needs to be read in reverse order.
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What is Included
- 7 Nights Bed, Breakfast & Dinner
- Picnics on cycle days
- Tour leader
Welcome meeting
- Information Pack
- Routes and Maps
- Luggage transfers on barge
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Extras
- Cost before and after tour
- Bike Rental paid locally
- Extra nights in Venice
- Single Supplement
- Travel Insurance
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Tariff 2009
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Tour Code IBIKEB
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Price per person based on two persons sharing a cabin
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£687
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single occupancy of Cabin
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£1209
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Rental Cycle paid locally
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55€
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For Low Cost flights from UK at £50 return to Venice , Verona and Vicenza , Treviso check out Ryanair , EasyJet , Thomson or Jet2
How to get there
By Plane
To Venice , Vicenza or Verona airports where you can transfer to Mantova or Venice by train.
 
To View our other cycling holidays in Italy
Click below to view our
Walking Holidays in Italy
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