From Lake Garda to Venice

 From Lake Garda to Venice Through the art towns of Verona, Vicenza and Padova down to Venice 9 > 16 May – 16 > 23 May – 13 > 20 September 2015 From the blue water of Lake Garda to the salty Lagoon of Venice passing through DOC vineyards, Villas, towns of artistic interest and along the islands that surround the awesome city of Venice. This itinerary goes through Veneto’s landscape from west to east touching many Unesco World Heritage Sites, towns of artistic interest that are scattered throughout the Veneto Region. We will spend two nights in Verona, the town of Romeo and Juliet that, a part from the famous balcony, has much more to offer. We will also go to Vicenza where we will visit the Palladian Villa known as La Rotonda. Padova rewards our pedalling with its suggestive botanic garden and one of the best artistic treasures of this region: the Cappella degli Scrovegni, Giotto's masterpiece. We will cycle through Montagnana, a nice little town at the foot of the Euganean Hills and also, later on, thought Chioggia, another little pearl of this area, that looks onto the Lagoon of Venice. We will ride at the foot of the Euganean Hills and later of the Berici Mountains: right in this area we will find both natural beauty and historical artistic sites of interest as the Palladian Villas. Getting closer to Venice, possibly the most incredible city of the world, is an absolute emotion. We will get there sailing on the Lagoon after cycling through the islands of Lido and of Pellestrina. Our tour starts from Verona. We will then head towards the west coasts of Garda Lake. We will reach them descending from the morenic hills that surround it: the panorama’s simply striking. After visiting the towns of Garda, Bardolino and Peschiera we will go back to Verona by train. From Verona we will continue towards the walled town of Soave, famous for its white wines, to reach Montagnana, small but charming town which is also surrounded by perfectly preserved medieval walls. From the country side we will brush the hills of the Monti Berici, with their sides covered with rows of grapes. Along our way we will find old villages and Villas with their hundred year old gardens. Before arriving to Vicenza, fascinating town of Palladio, we will visit the famous Palladian Villa called La Rotonda. Proceeding towards Padova we will cycle on the border of the Euganean Hills that owe their volcanic origin. Along our way we will visit the Villa dei Vescovi, the ancient monastery of the Abbey of Praglia and we’ll also manage to give a quick look to the Catajo Castle. After visiting Padova, riding along canals, we will reach the pretty town of Chioggia. On a boat we will then sail to Pellestrina: the colourful town of muscles fishermen, where fishing nets lay in the sun and the fishing boats float secured to the docks. Takes to another short boat transfer we will get closer to the Lido di Venice. We will first shortly visit Malamocco, the oldest core of Venice, with its picturesque and light coloured venetian houses. After this gentle island we will find the elegant Lido, the one that welcomes the Festival of Cinema, big Villas ands liberty style hotels. One last ferry will take us from the Lido to Venice to let us enjoy this unique emotion passing by Piazza S. Marco and Palazzo Ducale. This city without equal and of incomparable beauty is unfortunately forbidden to bikes because of its 400 bridges: it is there for those who wish extend their stay to walk through it and get lost in its tiny streets. UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Verona, Vicenza and the Palladian Villas, Botanic Garden of Padova, Venice and its Lagoon. Italy’s most beautiful villages: Montagnana Touring Club Italiano Orange Flag: Soave, Montagnana. Blue Flag Beaches 2014: Lido di Venezia, Sottomarina. Deadline for enrollment: 2 months before departure Duration: 8 days, 7 nights, 6 biking days When: 9 > 16 May – 16 > 23 May – 13 > 20 September 2015 Difficulty: beginners Place: Italy > Veneto Tour description: This is a six day tour that starts in Verona and finishes in Venezia. It runs partly on bike paths and partly on b-­‐roads with low car traffic. Some short sections of the itinerary develop on medium car traffic roads. The road bank is asphalt or we will be pedalling on nice dirt roads. Just once we’ll find a bumpy road. The path is flat with some gentle up and down hills. Visits: one wine tasting (DOC wines) close to Bardolino, visit of the Palladian Villa La Rotonda (Unesco World Heritage Site), visit of the Villa dei Vescovi, visit of the Cappella Scrovegni in Padova. 2015-Tour – From Lake Garda to Venice
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PROGRAMM Day 1 Arrival in Verona. Meeting point will be our hotel at 19.00 to meet the group; dinner; night at Hotel Verona *** in the town Center. Day 2 Peschiera > Verona – about 60 km Start at 8.30 – train transfer to Peschiera, bikes on agency van. Flat path with some short up hills. Hotel Verona *** – town center of Verona Day 3 Verona > Montagnana – about 60 km Start at 8.30 – Flat path with some short up hills. Hotel Aldo Moro *** – in the town center of Montagnana Day 4 Montagnana > Vicenza – about 55 km Start at 8.30 – Flat path with some short up hills. Hotel Key *** – in the town center of Vicenza Day 5 Vicenza > Padova – about 45 km Start at 8.30 – Flat path Hotel M14*** – in the town center of Padova Day 6 Padova > Chioggia – about 57 km Start at 9.00 – Flat path Hotel Grande Italia **** – Chioggia Day 7 Chioggia > Lido Island – about 40 km Start at 9.00 – Flat path Ferry transfer from Chioggia to Pellestrina; from Pellestrina to Lido with transfer of the bikes. Cá del Moro Centro Soggiorni *** – Lido of Venice Day 8 Island of Lido > Venezia -­‐ Tronchetto by ferry Ferry boat transfer from Lido to Tronchetto. Individual trip back. Extra nights in Venice or in other town of the tour will be booked upon request. Prices and hotels available will be proposed at the time of booking. FARES AND CONDITIONS Number of participants Minimum 12 – maximum 22. Fares € 1.215 in a Double room € 1.435 in a Single room € 1.195 in a Triple room € 1.015 for children under 12, in a room with 2 adults The tour fee includes • 7 nights with breakfast in a three and four stars hotels *. • 5 three-­‐course-­‐dinners with typical local recipes, one drink (1/4 liter wine or 300 cl beer), tap water and bread are included. • 6 packed lunches, which includes sandwiches, fruit, a dessert, ½ liter water. • 1 wine tasting, two visits of Villa Veneta, visit the Cappella degli Scrovegni in Padova. • 2 tour guides by bike (1 guide for groups from 12 to 17 people). • Transfer with bike transportation: • By train from Verona to Peschiera • By private boat transfer from Chioggia to Pellestrina (island), by ferry boat from Pellestrina to Lido, from Lido to Venice. • Hotel city tax. • Luggage transportation. • Colour tour handbooks’ with historical and artistic information (at the time being available only in Italian). * Hotels are shown in the program, it is however possible, due to force majeure, to change some of them with others of the same or superior category. 2015-Tour – From Lake Garda to Venice
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The tour fee does not include Transfers to Verona and from Venice to participants’ place of residence, bike renting, two dinners, insurances (available upon request), tips, and all personal needs and everything not specified in this program. Information on the fee The fee is calculated on a minimum group of 12 people. With 18 participants the tour will be leaded by 2 members of the staff (1 in case of smaller groups). With less that 12 participants the tour cannot start and fees will be given back as soon as possible. The registration fee is 35 € which is not refundable in case the participant decides not to take part to the tour, once the tour has been confirmed by the Tour Operator. Those who wish to stay in a Double room but do not have a partner to share it with might be asked an additional fee of 150€ if the match with other participants has not been possible. EXTRA SERVICES Bike renting. we can provide excellent quality bikes for the days of the tour for 100€. An excellent quality ebike rental costs € 200. The rental price includes: lock, bottle (will remain to the participant as a gadget), one ortlieb water proof pannier. Bikes are given and handed in on the spot. Extra nights. Upon request the tour can be extended in any of the towns we visit or in any other town on the Veneto. Transfer. upon request we can provide transfers from/to any airport/other places. MORE INFORMATION Documents and visa Id and health insurance card Booking, substitutions and penalties 200€ are to be paid at the booking. The total amount of the tour needs to be paid once the tour has been confirmed by the Tour Operator. Substitutions are possible at a price of 20 € as long as the substitute full fills all characteristics of a participant and as long as the agency is informed on time. If a participant cannot take part to the tour these penalties apply: -­‐ from the booking till 46 days prior to departure penalty of 20% -­‐ from 45 days from departure 50% -­‐ 30 days prior to departure 100% Changes to the program Before departure all info will be sent by email such as the names of the guides and other details. The above program may have few changes due to weather conditions or any other organising problem. HOW TO GET THERE The tour starts in Verona and finishes in Venezia Island. Luggages will be given back in Venezia Tronchetto or in Mestre, according the everyone’s needs.. If you arrive by car. You can park in Verona or in Mestre; both of them are well connected with public transport. If you travel by train. Verona, Venezia Island and Mestre (10 min from Venezia) are well connected by public trasport. If you fly. The airport in this area are Treviso -­‐ Antonio Canova, Venezia -­‐ Marco Polo, Verona -­‐ Valerio Catullo. They are all easily reachable with public transport. From Venezia Island there are shuttles and buses to Mestre Railway Station, from there public transport will get you to any airport. If you are flying from Venice Marco Polo you can also get a boat from Venezia Island to the airport, directly. HOW TO BOOK If you wish to book please contact us: Speaking English – Spanish – French Anna Magrin – [email protected] Speaking German – Portuguese Elisa Zambelli – [email protected] Organizzazione tecnica: Simonetta Bike Tours Vicoletto cieco San Carlo, 2 – 37129 Verona – Tel 045 8346104 | Tel. mobile 334 5487382 Ass. RC Allianz Global Assistance n. 186596 | Ass. AMITRAVEL 365 n. 6002002517/R Autorizzazione Provincia di VR n. 6382/2010 | Programma inviato in Provincia di VR il 10/12/14 Il presente programma è sottoposto alle disposizioni della Convenzione Internazionale di cui alla legge n 1084/77 e al D.Lgs. n 79/2011. Comunicazione obbligatoria: La legge italiana punisce con la reclusione i reati concernenti la prostituzione e la pornografia minorile, anche se commessi all’estero. Legge 38/2006, art. 17. 2015-Tour – From Lake Garda to Venice
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