Self-Guided Bicycle Tours in Italy: Bicycle Across Italy - Venice to Pisa. Tour Facts Sheet

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1 Self-Guided Bicycle Tours in Italy: Tour Facts Sheet This is it - the classic bicycle tour that we started guiding back in 1972, we offer it now for independent travellers! We begin in romantic Venice, make stops in the great art cities of Ferrara, Ravenna & Florence, and end on the Mediterranean coast in Pisa. Along the way, you'll enjoy gourmet meals from two of Italy's best culinary regions (Emilia-Romagna & Tuscany), take in local markets, and discover a side of Italy seldom seen by tourists. Highlights Price Includes Countries Begin/End Arrive/ Depart Total Distance Daily Distance What to Expect Rating Terms Venetian Lagoon, Cycling Quiet Roads, Ceramics of Faenza, Ravenna, Florence, Pedaling through Orchards, Ferrara, Lucca and Pisa Single supplement: 600 (singles travelling with others pay 400) GROUP DISCOUNTS 5% (on groups of 4 or more) 11 nights lodging in 3-4 star hotels; all breakfasts; one dinner; use of a high quality titanium racing or hybrid bicycle; bike delivery and collection; use of GPS with preloaded tracks; roadbook and map; suggestions for dinners; luggage transfers Italy Chioggia / Pisa Venice / Pisa or Florence km ( miles) km (9-52 miles) plus optional mileage A wonderful introduction to Italy covering 3 regions. Gentle terrain down the Adriatic Coast with more challenging rides as we enter the Apennines. 2 View Tour Rating Descriptions Terrain starts out flat then builds over the Apennines. Rolling hills through Tuscany. Our most popular tour for cyclists. Terms & Conditions Visit our website for tour dates, price and full itinerary description at Cycleeurope.com. Do you need more information? Read our Self Guided Tour FAQ Sheet here

2 Tour s Dates: Can begin all days except Mondays, although suggested start day is Saturday. Your Itinerary Day 1: Tour begins in Chioggia Highlights: "Little Venice" and the Venetian Lagoon Welcome to Chioggia and the Venetian Lagoon! We meet this afternoon at our hotel in the center of Chioggia. We'll fit bicycles and go over route details. Take a walk around the center of Chioggia and admire the canals, bridges and main pedestrian walking street. If you arrive early we can suggest a ride along one of the islands in the lagoon. Mileage: 17 km (10,6 miles) Accommodation: Hotel Grande Italia Day 2: Pedal the Po River Delta Highlights: Chioggia, bicycle quiet roads, stay at a working farm We leave the Venetian lagoon today towards the Po River Delta. Enjoy cycling on levee roads and birdwatching. Grab some picnic supplies from the local grocery store or stop at a cafe for lunch today. Those who want extra mileage can enjoy a great ride into the delta this afternoon. Our destination tonight is a small country farm bed and breakfast. Mileage: km (36-63 miles) Accommodation: Agriturismo Forzello Day 3: Ferrara Highlights: bicycle along the Po River, bicycle capital of Italy--Ferrara It's another day of leisurely riding today as we follow the Po river upstream to the Renaissance city of Ferrara. Entering the city, we'll pass under the 16th century walls, one of the most intact Renaissance walls left in Italy. Other highlights of this UNESCO world heritage site include the many palaces of the Este court from the 14th and 15th century. We'll suggest some great restaurants for dinner on your own this evening. Mileage: 64 km (40 miles) Accommodation: Hotel Carlton Day 4: Comacchio Highlights: Comacchio and its "Trepponti" bridge Our destination today is a small lagoon town that at one point was more powerful than Venice in the 700 and 800s. The lagoon town of Comacchio, has a fabulous museum that showcases a Roman boat ant its cargo that was excavated from one of the canals. Built on 13 islands this town is now landlocked but surrounded by the Po River and fresh water wetlands. Enjoy a small float around the canals with a local fisherman before dinner. Mileage: 74 km (46 miles) Accommodation: Hotel La Comancina

3 Day 5: Ravenna Highlights: Wetlands, bird viewing and beautiful mosaics, bustling town We pedal along the Valley of Comacchio wetlands towards Ravenna. Ravenna was the last capital of the Western Roman Empire and home to more early Christian mosaics than any other city in Western Europe. You can walk to Dante's Tomb and the mosaics of San Vitale, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia this afternoon, as our hotel is near all the city sights. Mileage: 45 km (28 miles) Accommodation: Ostello Galletti Abbiosi Day 6: Ravenna to Faenza Highlights: Faenza International Ceramics Museum and Renaissance Town Square Exiting Ravenna you have the choice to visit another very important Byzantine masterpiece: Sant'Apollinare in Classe. Cross the plains through fruit plantations and arrive to Faenza. Your hotel is a restored convent near the central square of this regional market center and famous ceramics town. Enjoy the bustle in the market square and the main "piazza" which is always full of bicycle riders of all ages. Faenza is world-renowned for its hand decorated ceramics; we recommend a visit to the International Ceramics Museum as well as several of the local artists' studios specialized in this colorful pottery. Mileage: 51 km (32 miles) Accommodation: Hotel Vittoria Day 7: Over the Apennines Highlights: Bicycle the Apennines and the Mugello. Long option. Mileage: 63 km (39 miles) We head into the Apennines today, passing first through the medieval village of Brisighella. Take a break and pick up some snacks for climb if you feel like it. If you decide you want to train up and over the mountain, feel free to do so! for those who decide to bicycle, begin climbing (easily at first!) over the Apennines -- remember to look around as you pedal since the scenery changes dramatically as you leave the plains and enter the mountains. Just before we reach the toughest part of our climb there is a very conveniently located train station which allows you a choice in how you reach our destination! Dinner tonight is at the hotel. Day 8: Florence Highlights: Fiesole and its Etruscan ruins, Renaissance Florence, Uffizi Gallery Short option. Mileage: 15 km (9 miles) It s possible to catch a train either from Brisighella, or from Marradi. Accommodation: Albergo La Rosa Mileage: 41 km (26 miles) There's a small climb this morning to Vetta le Croci, then it's downhill to the old Etruscan city of Fiesole, where you'll enjoy a great view of Florence rising from the valley floor. We recommend waiting until after lunch to ride into town and the rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this capital of Renaissance Italy. Accommodation: Hotel Silla Possible hotel upgrade: Hotel Plaza Lucchesi

4 Day 9: Vinci Highlights: Olive groves and vineyards, Leonardo da Vinci's birthplace and museum Mileage: 41 km (26 miles) After breakfast, you'll head out of Florence and down the Arno River valley for a beautiful day of riding in the Italian countryside. There is a bit of a climb as you'll cross Mount Albano, but worth it for the spectacular view. You destination is Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci, where you'll have a chance to visit the house where he was born and a museum with scale models of his inventions. Day 10: Lucca Highlights: Medici villa, bicycle countryside of Tuscany, 17th century wall Optional extra ride: Vinci to San Baronto Mileage 20 km (12,5 miles): Accommodation: Hotel Monnalisa Mileage: 58 km (36 miles) Climb the stairway to the Medici villa in Cerreto Guidi today for a great view as we continue west to Lucca, where you'll stay the next two nights. Lucca was a Roman town and one of medieval Italy's most prosperous city-states. Today, Lucca retains its medieval charm with its small shops and sidewalk cafes, as well as the beautiful 17th-century wall that surrounds the town. Accommodation: Hotel La Luna Day 11: Pisa Highlights: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Piazza of Miracles, Lake Massaciuccoli Mileage: 63 km (39 miles) Your last day of pedaling takes you to Pisa where you can visit the Leaning Tower and the Piazza of Miracles. Our route to Pisa takes you by Lake Massaciuccoli, where Puccini wrote many of his operas. After a stroll through Pisa, head back to the lesstouristy town of Lucca to enjoy an evening passeggiata along the main pedestrian way. Accommodation: Hotel La Luna Day 12: Tour ends Highlights: Arrivederci! After a buffet breakfast in the hotel, you're ready to become a tourist again. We hope you have enjoyed cycling with us! Thanks for joining us and "buon viaggio"! NOTE: This hotel itinerary is subjected to changes according to availability. City taxes are not included. LODGING UPGRADE: Room upgrades are possible in some hotels. Ask for availability.

5 GTA: How to get there and away Starting point: Hotel Grande Italia - Rione S. Andrea, 597 (Piazzetta Vigo) - Chioggia The airport closest to the tour start is Venice Marco Polo Airport. Take a shuttle bus to Venice P.le Roma, then a bus to Chioggia or ask for a private transfer from Venice airport to your hotel in Chioggia. Ending point: Hotel La Luna - Via Fillungo, Corte Compagni 12 - Lucca You can fly out from Pisa or from Florence, which is connected to Pisa by train or ask for a private transfer from Lucca to Florence Airport. Once you book the tour we will send you detailed information and different options on how to get to the starting point and away from the ending point of the tour. Luggage Transfers Luggage transfer is included in your package. Normally, the luggage is collected from at the reception of the hotel and is delivered at the following hotel by Every luggage must be marked with a visible luggage tag. Please make sure yours have correct tags. If your luggage is not ready by the time the driver comes to collect it, you may need to have to pay directly a local taxi for the service. Please consider that the luggage is not insured during the transport. You need to have your own insurance. Do not leave valuables or fragile items in your luggage. Normally you cannot use the luggage transport service to skip the stage. In case you need help to skip the stage, please contact our emergency number. Services available at an additional cost (ask for prices and availability) Private transfers (subject to change depending on arrival time and flight delays) - from Venice airport to your hotel in Chioggia: 110 (up to 4 people) - from hotel in Lucca to Florence airport: 150 /1-4 pax and 180 /5-8 pax. Electric bikes available for an extra charge (see below). Extra nights are available in Chioggia, Ravenna, Faenza, Firenze and Lucca. Chioggia: double room starting from 125 per night. Ravenna: double room per night. Faenza: double room 120 per night. Firenze: double room starting from 105 per night. Lucca: double room 145 per night.

6 Your roadbook Here below you ll find a snapshot as a sample of what you ll have in your roadbook day by day. As you can see you will find the map with the marked itinerary, the elevation profile, maps for entering and leaving a towns and step by step instructions. Together with this we ll provide cultural information, lunch and dinner suggestions, list of bike shops and taxi numbers.

7 Bicycle Specification All bikes come with a pump, rear rack, lock, and an under-seat pack that contains a spare tube, tire irons, and patch kit. We can provide flat pedals, with cage but no straps or with cage and straps: you can choose the type you prefer during the bike fitting. We don't provide clipless pedals as there are different kinds, so you'll have to bring your own pedals with you and we'll mount them on your rented bike. The bikes come also with a rear rack bag for carrying personal items. Accessories on request:

8 Accessories provided:

9 Titanium road bike specifications Frame / Fork Shifters/Crankset Van Nicholas Yukon 3AL/2,5V or Nevi titanium road frame and carbon fork Shimano 105 shifters and 105 triple crank: teeth or Shimano 105 shifters and double compact (2x11): teeth Rear derailleur /Cassette Shimano speed: with triple crankset Shimano speed: with double crankset Weight 8.3kg / 18.2 lbs. (size 56) Equipment cyclometer, bell, lock, pump, 2 water bottle cages, a water bottle, an under-seat pack that contains a spare tube, tire irons and patch kit. Rear rack and rear light (can be removed on request).

10 Titanium hybrid bike specifications Frame / Fork Shifters/Crankset Van Nicholas Amazon 3AL/2,5V titanium hybrid / mixte (step through) frame and VN Slx carbon fork Shimano SLX 3x10: or teeth Rear derailleur /Cassette Shimano SLX long cage rear derailleur and cassette 10 speed cassette Weight Equipment 11,5 kg cyclometer, bell, lock, pump, water bottle cage/s, a water bottle, an under-seat pack that contains a spare tube, tire irons and patch kit. Rear rack and rear light.

11 E-bike specifications Cycle Europe is excited to announce a growing fleet of e-bikes, mostly made up of Kalkhoff and Cannondale e-bikes. These bikes feature state of the art technology and are a fantastic option for bicycle travelers who need a little push. Are you afraid of that steep hill? You think the mileage is too much for you? Although you still have to pedal, the E-bike drive provides a nice boost for your efforts. Pedal assist e-bikes give you a constant nudge on your ride and conform to your pedal cadence and torque up to 25km per hours, they are a solid help on the climbs and they increase your average speed! For example, when your pedal stroke increases to get up a hill so does the amount of power the electric motor outputs. Less effort on your part translates to less power assist. These bikes come with rapid-fire shifters that operate in the same way as a regular hybrid bike. The drive train offer gear ratios that are very similar to what you d find on a mountain bike, which means you have a great range for climbing. A few things to consider: These bikes are much heavier than a regular bike so they handle differently. Bikes come with Schwalbe Energizer Pro tires that are made specifically for e-bikes. The tires feature an anti-puncture layer, good grip, and minimal rolling resistance. The e-bike drive automatically switches off if speeds exceed 25km/h (15 mph). Though the bikes are very quiet the electric engine does produce a light but constant noise. The bikes can be ridden without assist though as mentioned above they are much heavier than a regular bike. Operating range depends on many factors such as the assistance level, gear switching behaviour, route profile, head wind, temperatures but in general the average range of our battery packs is 110km (68 miles). Riding an e-bike is easy and we will offer you instructions at the bike fitting! E-bike rentals are not included in the tour price. For 7 to 8 day tours there is 205 fee, ask for price for a longer tour.

12 Shifters Tires Weight Equipment speed drive train with gear ratios very similar to those on a mountain bike 700x47 Schwalbe Energizer Pro tires that feature an anti-puncture layer, good grip and minimal rolling resistance. 23 kg / 53 lbs. cyclometer, pump, lock and an under-seat pack that contains a spare tube, tire irons and patch kit. Rear rack, fenders and lights.

13 Tandem Bike Frame / Fork Cannondale tandem road 6061 smart formed alloy frame and Cannondale Fatty tandem fork /Comotion tandem with zonally-butted cro-moly steel tubing and taper gauge w/cnc tandem steerer fork Shifters/Crankset/Cassette Shimano 105 shifters, FSA triple crankset teeth and 10 speed cassette Weight 10 kg Tires Equipment Schwalbe Marathon Racer 700x30 Adjustable captain stem and stoker stem, cyclometer, bell, lock, pump, 2 water bottle cages, a water bottle, an under-seat pack that contains a spare tube, tire irons and patch kit. Rear rack and rear light (can be removed on request). CoMotion Torpedo Periscope: Cannondale road tandem

14 Trailer for child XLC Mono BS-C Single-seater with safety flag, stroller kit and walker kit (16 front wheel), double cover (against insects and bad weather). Innovative folding system, parking brake easily usable in order to lock the wheels. Reflective materials for the marking of the height and width of the trailer. TÜV certificate with Toxproof quality seal. Places: Single-seater Shoulders width: 44cm Leg length: 60cm Head Height: 61cm Seat: 5-point harness L x W x H: 106cm / 70cm / 81cm L x W x H folded 109cm / 70cm / 26cm H Handle height: cm Weight / load: 14kg / 35kg Frame: steel, aluminum body, bumpers Wheel size: /20 x 1.75 steel wheels with spokes in zinc Helm attack Ø 28.6mm Suitable for a baby seat (bottle holder Weber)

15 Tag Along