On arrival make your way to your first hotel in Mestre or Marghera. After check-in you’re free to relax or explore Venice itself. It will take around 20 minutes to get into Venice by bus or train. There is much to see and do and besides visiting the well known landmarks we highly recommend losing yourself in the quieter backstreets to get a real flavour of this most unique city.

Your first day of cycling will take you from Marghera or Mestre and the mainland across the bridge into Venice, where you’ll take your bikes on a local ferry to Lido, a long, thin island sheltering Venice from the Adriatic. You cross the water again to cycle the length of Pellestrina island before taking a final quick ferry across to Chioggia, a fishing village on the mainland well known for its fine fish restaurants.

Today you’ll make your way along the back roads of Veneto, cycling first to the River Adige and then following its course past fertile fruit plantations and tranquil villages to the city of Adria. This compact city has plenty of Italian charm with its winding narrow streets, cosy cafes and inviting restaurants.

A longer day of riding today, first following the path of the River Po, Italy’s longest river, to the Po di Goro tributary. You’ll then ride through a section of the Po Delta to the Adriatic Sea, where you can stop for a dip before continuing to Comacchio, a town of splendid old mansions and ornate Renaissance churches. You’ll spend the night in this pleasant old town.

Today you’ll explore the Po Delta nature reserve, a wetland area of unique flora and fauna. Cycling along the breakwater offers fabulous wildlife spotting opportunities and flamingos are among the local residents. After a short ferry ride (€2 payable locally) you cycle past beaches on the Adriatic shoreline to the city of Ravenna where you will spend the night. Many of the churches in this historic city boast incredibly ornate mosaics from the 5th and 6th centuries.

From Ravenna head inland. As you ride the scenery will slowly change to the gently rolling landscape of the Apennine foothills. Take time to explore Faenza, a traditional city famous for its ceramics where you can stop and watch the artisans at work. From here it’s a short ride to the beautiful and perfectly preserved medieval village of Brisighella where you wil spend the night.

Your last full day will start with a scenic train ride through the Apennines to Borgo San Lorenzo (included). From here the day’s ride will begin. As you’re now in the mountains there will be a couple of short uphill stretches, but these will be richly rewarded with a long sweeping descent almost all the way to Florence. You’ll spend the last night of your tour surrounded by art and culture in the birthplace of the Renaissance. Must sees include the Uffizi Gallery full of well known masterpieces, the Duomo – the city’s most iconic landmark and the Ponte Vecchio, for centuries the only bridge to cross the Arno River. Simply wondering the narrow streets of this atmospheric old city is also highly recommended.

After breakfast it’s time to check-out and head for home or your next adventure.