Mantua to Venice Bike & Boat – Ave Maria

Once a city state ruled by the powerful Gongaza dynasty, Mantua is one of Italy’s hidden gems,  a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and water-side city dominated by three lakes formed by the River Mincio.  Take a bike tour today along lake-side routes, through parks and nature reserves to get a glimpse of the ancient forest which once covered the Po Valley. Discover Marmirolo and take a detour to discover Soave, before heading back towards the Porto Catena gateway for a guided tour of Mantua’s magnificent Renaissance treasures around the historic centre. Don’t miss the Piazza Sordello, the Palazzo Ducale, the cage tower (Torre della Gabbia) and cathedral.  If you prefer to enjoy a longer day of beautiful cycling on flat terrain, why not choose a circular two wheeled trip through Mantua to Grazie, home of the Sanctuary of Our Lady Grace, and Rivalta, coming back through the nature reserve of the Mincio Valleys, before joining the guided city tour in the late afternoon.

Overnight mooring – Mantua.

Miles 24  Kms 40

Start the day with a relaxing cruise down the beautiful River Mincio to the town of Governolo where the river flows into the Po and forms Italy’s largest inland river basin. The lock here was once a key staging post for local navigation and it’s the place where you’ll take to your bike and pedal off down the lush banks of the River Po to discover Revere, worth a brief detour to see its old town centre and Ostiglia with its a medieval fortress and ‘floating’ mill. Just a short pedal-push away, Bergantino will put you in a different sort of spin. Discover the museum of carousels here, home to fairground organs and colourful displays which make for one bright and beautiful helping of Italian flamboyance and nostalgia. A final pedal leads to another tasty little stop – at the ‘Grana Padano’ cheese factory, then it’s along the Canal Bianco to the at the sleepy little village of Zelo where Ave Maria is moored and its crew making preparations for a well-deserved, post-cycling supper.

Overnight mooring – Zelo.

Miles 30  Kms 50

Start the day back on the bike, heading off along the Canal Bianco again, then winding your way to cross the great Po at Ficarolo en route to Ferrara, a Renaissance gem whose majestic, broad streets are simply brimful of palazzi. The ancient city state attracted renowned architects, artists and noblemen for centuries and the result is breath-taking. Don’t miss the city walls or the stucco and fresco work on the Palazzo Schifanoia; the Casa Romei, perhaps the city’s best-preserved Renaissance building; the National Picture Gallery in Palazzo dei Diamanti; the great moated castle of the Este dynasty built in 1385, plus the outstanding city hall and the 12^th century cathedral façades.
Copernicus was a graduate of the university here in 1503 and these days, it’s still at the forefront of encouraging talent with its string of festivals from busking to hot-air ballooning. Enjoy and indulge your senses and perhaps even try the delicious local fruits from the market  or Salama da Sugo – a sweetly spiced soft salami served almost like haggis with mashed potato! Make sure you’ve still got room for supper on board though, as there’s no more cycling to be done today to work it off, unless you really fancy it! From Ferrara a coach transfer (included) takes you on to the ancient one-time port of Adria in the province of Rovigo. The remains of this Roman and Etruscan stronghold now lie beneath a modern city, but its legacy lives on in its connections with the nearby Adria-tic Sea. Don’t miss the old and new cathedrals and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Adria for some fine insight into its rich history.

Overnight mooring – Adria.

Miles 30  Kms 50

A day of colourful contrasts today, with bike and boat taking it in turn to lead you to new discoveries. Ave Maria starts the journey with a cruise to Porto Viro where two wheels are just perfect to get out and explore the lush, nature-rich worlds of the Po delta. This is definitely a day to have the binoculars at the top of the panniers: it’s no surprise that the fish breeding lagoons of the ‘Valli de Pesca’ are Europe’s prime place to spot heron, but they’re also home to a colony of flamingos too. The landscapes here are beautiful and haunting; flat and fertile; certainly a place to stop and reflect a while. From the mouth of the River Adige whose cool waters have flowed all the way from the Dolomites, it’s time to follow the Po-Brondolo waterway towards the Laguna di Venezia where the scene of colourful beaks and plumage are replaced with the brightly painted fishermen’s cottages of ‘Little Venice’ – the busy, but beautiful port of Chioggia.

Overnight mooring – Chioggia.

Miles 24  Kms 40

This morning Chioggia’s bustling fish market is a must now that you are ‘firmly floating’ on Venice’s islands along the Adriatic coast. There has to be time of course to visit the town’s impressively ancient clock tower (reputedly the oldest in the world!) and enjoy some awesome views, before Ave Maria cruises across to the Pellestrinan quay. Take to two wheels to explore the wonderful wildfowl paradise of the Cà Roman nature reserve – an area where the expanding delta is a haven for migrating birds, a legacy of the 1911 construction of a coastal protection dam. Leave the fortified island of Pellestrina from Santa Maria del Mare on a short boat ride across to Lido di Venezia, home to pine forests and beautiful beaches as well as the classically cultured seaside resorts, made fashionable over the years by artists. Nowadays, it’s a real magnet to the rich, famous and celebrity crowd as the home of the Venice Film Festival. Be sure to cycle round to see the beautiful Art Noveau buildings; get a feel for the place where Thomas Mann set his novel classic ‘Death in Venice’ and stop a while by the sandy beaches to take in delicious Venice views – best enjoyed with a well-deserved ‘gelato’, of course!
Finally there’s a pedal along the 18^th century ‘murazzi’ sea defence built by the Serenissima Republic of Venice which ruled the roost right across the Mediterranean for centuries. The impressive path leads along for you to find Ave Maria moored in Malamocco, then back on board there’s a trip to remember as you cruise in style across to the marina in Venice.  Nothing beats experiencing Venice from the great lake and waterways, but perhaps you’ll promise yourself a gondola ride too for the morning?

Overnight mooring – Venice.

Miles 18  Kms 30

A tour with a local guide sets the scene this morning, so you can get the most out of your grand day out exploring this fascinating collection of ‘campi’, ‘calles’ and canals. With over 100 islands, 150 waterways and 400 bridges, it’s a real labyrinth with an architectural wonder around every corner and a carnival of colour at any time of the year. Once everything has been put in context, this unique and ancient capital just becomes an even more amazing survivor, justly deserving its designation as an UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure – what will it be? St Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace with a coffee by the Canal Grande? A peek at the Canaletto’s, Veroneses, Titians and De Vinci’s famous ‘Vitruvian Man’ in the Galleria dell ‘accademia? A roam around the Rialto and look at the luxurious living of merchants past at the Riva degli Schiavoni?

Overnight mooring – Venice.

Following your final breakfast on board your floating home, you might choose to spend a little longer exploring the picturesque amazing plazas, alleyways and canals of Venice before your onward journey or jumping on the train back to Mantua. Please note that the train fare to Mantua is not included in the price of the tour.

Extra nights in hotel accommodation can be booked to allow more time to explore Venice at your leisure.