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Italy / Bolzano – Bassano – Venice

Treasures of Brenta Valley and Lagoon

In this tour water is the linking element. You will start cycling in the heart of the Dolomites and follow the rivers Adige and Brenta, past Caldonazzo and Levico lakes. Along the course of the Brenta river, you will arrive in the historically interesting Bassano del Grappa, which played an important role in the First World War and it’s famous today for its medieval wooden-roofed bridge as well as for its high quality “grappa”. Further on you will reach Vicenza, renowned for its classical Palladio architecture. Padua, home to one of the oldest Italian universities, will open the way to the largest European thermal district, where you will be spoilt in a spa resort in the Euganean hills. Another little town deserves now your attention: Chioggia, the so called “little Venice”, famous for its huge fish market. At the end of the trip the endless beauty of Venice will invite you to an exploration by foot and by water along its canals and small “calli”.

Bolzano – Bassano – Venice

Photos (23)

Day by Day
Route profile
How to get there
Accommodation and meals
Bikes and accessories
Accompanying material
By your side

Day by Day

1. Bolzano
Individual arrival. Located along the Isarco river, bilingual Bolzano has always been at the crossroads between the Mediterranean and central Europe. Today it is an important commercial and tourist centre.

2. Bolzano – Trento (65/70 km)
You will start riding along the River Adige cycle path, through orchards and the vineyards of the renowned Wine Route. Half way between Bolzano and Trento you will reach Salorno, which represents the linguistic border between the German and the Italian world. It is possible to shorten the stage by taking the train in several train stations along the way.

3. Trento – Bassano del Grappa (20/35 km by train + 75/60 km by bike)
The whole stage schedules 95 km altogether. We suggest anyway to shorten it by minimum 20 km taking a train from Trento to the lakes area, thus avoiding the only uphill section of the stage. Starting from the spring of the lakes Caldonazzo and Levico, you will follow the river Brenta across its beautiful valley up to Bassano del Grappa, which offers you its famous wooden-roofed bridge and a wonderful historical centre. Possibility to shorten the stage by taking the train in several train stations along the way.

4. Bassano – Vicenza (40 km)
After a few kilometres from Bassano you reach the little fortified town of Marostica, which is famous for its castle “Castello da Basso” and the stone chessboard on its main square. At the end of this stage Vicenza awaits you: this is the famous city of the Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, who built plenty of extraordinary buildings around here.

5. Vicenza – Padua thermal district (60 km)
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 a 4* spa resort in the largest European thermal district.

6. Padua thermal district – Chioggia (55 km)
Quiet country roads and rural hamlets will accompany your trip along the river Bacchiglione, once an important commercial waterway, up to the picturesque fishing village Chioggia, in the Venetian lagoon. You will be fascinated by this “little Venice”, with its small canals and bridges.

7. Chioggia – Mestre (35 km)
Across the islands of Pellestrina and Lido, which separate the open sea from the Venetian lagoon, you will reach the stately, beautiful Venice. After a nice long stroll in the city’s fascinating maze of lanes and bridges you will reach Mestre.

8. Mestre
Departure after breakfast.

Due to organisational 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.
Route profile
- Total length: 315/335 km
- Total vertical up: 540/760 m
- Terrain: 90% tarmac, 10% unpaved
- Train connection among the overnight stays: day 2, 3, 4 and 7
- Possibility to shorten the itinerary by taking the train: day 2, 3 and 5.
Mainly flat route with some short uphill sections, on paved cycle paths or seconday roads with little traffic.
Easy cycling in mostly flat areas, with only few short climbs and descents. Little effort required, suitable for most people.
How to get there

Bolzano is connected with the following airports:
Innsbruck: 120 km, Verona: 150 km, Bergamo: 240 km, Venice: 280 km, Treviso: 280 km, Milan: 300 km

Trains
For further information on timetables and prices you can consult the following website: www.trenitalia.com
Accommodation and meals

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 rooms in the category A have air conditioning, while in the category B 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 rollaway.
Bikes and accessories

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 from 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
- E-bike
- Tandem

Features:
- aluminium frame
- mudguard
- rack
- comfort gel saddle
- anti-puncture tyres
- ergonomic bicycle grips
- Speed Lifter system

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

At the moment of booking you can also rent helmets, suitable for head circumferences from 54 to 61. All helmets have a certification mark according to the DIN EN 1078 (CE) European norm.
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

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.
By your side

In Bolzano you will meet our representative who:
- will present you the tour
- will deliver you the bikes
- will be at your disposal (about 30 minutes) for any questions you may have.
The exact time and place of the meeting will be specified in the Final Tour Details. We kindly ask you to advise if you cannot attend the meeting.

Staff support
For the whole duration of your bike tour, you can contact us:
- office +39 0444 1278430 from Monday to Friday 8:30-13:00 and 15:00-18:30
- emergency phone number every day 8:00-20:00. The number will be specified in the Final Tour Details.

At Girolibero we believe in rewarding our customers: choose the most beautiful pictures or a video of your holiday, you can win a travel voucher worth € 300!