Northern Italy from the Dolomites to the Venice lagoon by bike

Check-in at the hotel. Meeting with the local representative and bike adjustments in the workshop. Discover the capital of South Tyrol: its covered streets, its fruit market, its museums... welcome to Italy!

You'll follow the Eisack and then the Etsch rivers, a flat, easy route through the beautiful fruit gardens and vineyards of northern Italy. You will discover the villages of Ora, Egna and Salomo before arriving in Trento.

Your route will still follow the course of the Etsch/Adige river to Roveroto. In Mori, you can try the famous pistachio ice cream! You then continue westwards towards Lake Garda. There's a short climb up to the heights of the lake at Nago, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the lake. This is followed by a descent to Riva on the shores of the lake. You will then board a boat to cross the lake towards the south/Desenzano or Sirmione.

You will leave the blue waters of Lake Garda to cycle towards Verona. You'll continue along the river Etsch. You'll see vineyards, orchards and melon fields, and the rolling Lombardy countryside will accompany you all the way to Verona.

You cross the hilly region of Colli Berci. You will reach Vicenza, shaped by the talents of the sixteenth-century architect Palladio. If you don't want to cover the full 70 km on your programme on this 5th day, you can choose to do the 1st part of your stage by train from Verona to Bonifacio.

Many magnificent villas line your route out of Vicenza. You can admire and visit the Villa Rotonda and Tiepolo's frescoes at the Villa Valmarana. You then head for the spa town of Padua, surrounded by the regenerating greenery of the park of the Euganean Mountains. At the end of the day, relax in the spa of your 4* hotel, supplied with thermal water from the pre-Alps with its many virtues.

Follow the Canal Battaglia to Padua. Take time to visit the city, home to one of Europe's oldest universities. Stroll through the medieval arcades and marvel at the interior of the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua. Continue along the River Brenta, passing the holiday villas of Venetian notables (Villa Pisani, Villa Malcontenta, Villa Widmann). You will then arrive at the edge of the Venetian lagoon, in Mestre, where you will be staying. From here, away from the tourist centre, it's an easy bus ride to the centre of Venice.
You can also choose to stay in Venice (on request, at an additional cost).

Take advantage of this day to visit the magnificent and famous city of Venice before setting off again.