Bike and Barge
Mantua & Venice, Italy
September 4, 2027 to September 11, 2027
Trip Leader John Graff 414-403-3478
Make check payable to:
Sitzmark Ski Club of Milwaukee, Inc.
Mail to: Mark Harris N56W18741 Silver Spring Drive, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
$800 deposit due on sign up, $1500 due March 1, 2027, and
Balance of trip cost due by June 1, 2027
Barge Only- Lower Double Occupancy (B, C) 10' x 12' $2,633
Barge Only- Lower Single Occupancy (A) 8' x 10' $3,102
Barge Only- Upper Deck Double Occupancy (D) 10' x 12' $2,936
The above rooms require double occupancy unless expressly stated otherwise.
Special diets $50 USD - Additional cost per person for (gluten-free, dairy-free, lactose-free and vegan diet). Non-contamination during the preparation of the meals cannot be guaranteed.
Girolibero Rental Bikes - Personal bicycles are not allowed on board for logistical reasons and on-board space organization.
- $140 USD touring bike
- $340 USD e-bike
Including Ortlieb rear side pannier (12,5 l), helmet (head 58-61 cm), insurance against theft and damage
Highlights
A fascinating journey by bike and boat across the Po Valley between Mantua, the pearl of the Renaissance, and Venice. Follow the course of the two important Italian rivers Mincio and Po, discovering unusual villages with rhythms now forgotten. After passing Ferrara, a bike-friendly city between Bologna and Venice, you can marvel at the sight of the Po Delta, where the roads are lost among reed beds and fishing valleys. The Venice lagoon begins in the little village of Chioggia: enjoy the view of the Serenissima (the traditional name of the ancient Republic of Venice) from your comfortable riverboat. The historic center of Mantua, a Renaissance jewel to be discovered. The fishing valleys of the Po Delta, where you can’t tell the water from the sky The thrill of arriving or departing from Venice by sea, like the ancient travelers
What awaits you
The bike week takes place mainly on the Po River plains, on paved bike paths along rivers and canals, or on quiet country roads. The navigation is guaranteed all year round along the waterways parallel to the Po river.
The boat is moored at night and usually moves after breakfast. Some parts of the route take place by boat, to allow easier access to the bike paths or simply to enjoy the sailing.
This tour can either be self-guided or guided: choose to cycle at your own pace using our detailed App, or with the whole group following the tour leader.
INCLUDED
Accommodation
- 8 days/7 nights, sheets and towels, hair dryers (one per cabin), courtesy kit with eco solid soaps (hand + body + shampoo) and shower cap, mid-week cabin cleaning, service and towel change, safe deposit box in cabin, air conditioning, WiFi in common areas, board games, books and travel guides, harbour charges
Meals
- 7 breakfasts, 6 self-made packed lunches, 6 three-course dinners, welcome drink, afternoon snack, coffee and tea and other hot drinks on board, still and sparkling water dispenser (room temperature or cold water), ice dispenser
Experiences
- guided visit in Mantua, some short walking tours, visit of a cheese factory with tasting of typical Grana Padano, visit of Museum of Amusement rides and Popular Entertainment, grappa and spirits tasting in a typical distillery, visit of a historic glass factory on Murano island
Cycling
- daily briefings, APP including maps, roadbook, points of interest and GPS tracks, digital tour information, bus transfer Ferrara-Adria, English speaking tour leader
NOT INCLUDED
1 dinner (day 2), drinks on board, public transportation in Venice (ACTV 48h- ticket suggested), Venice Access Fee https://cda.ve.it/en, transfers to/from first and last docking place, travel insurance, tips, everything not mentioned in the section “Included”
• Round trip air fare and transfers to and from barge • Transfers • Extra services not included in the package
• Single Supplement -Roommate Request - if Non available a single supplement fee MAY apply.
ITINERARY
1. day: arrival in Mantova. Boarding after 5.00 PM. Overnight in Mantova
2. day: Mantua round tour (35 km). Overnight in Mantua
3. day: Mantua – Bergantino - Zelo (50 km). Overnight in Zelo
4. day: Zelo – Ferrara – Adria (50 km by bike + bus transfer 1 hour 15 minutes). Overnight in Adria
5. day: Adria – Po Delta Nature Reserve – Pellestrina island (40 km). Overnight in Pellestrina
6. day: Pellestrina island – Lido - Venice (25 km). Overnight in Venice
7. day: free day to enjoy the city at your own pace. Overnight in Venice
8. day: check out by 9.00 AM
Accommodation
7 overnights aboard a riverboat: a real floating hotel ready to follow you during the biking stages and welcome you aboard in the evening. The atmosphere is comfortable and is designed down to the smallest detail to ensure you have an unforgettable stay. At dinner and in moments of relaxation, our chefs accompany you in a whirlwind of flavors and aromas, taking care of the preparation of traditional local dishes, while the crew, who live and work in the area, have in-depth knowledge of the territory and its customs. Cabins have private bathrooms and air conditioning.
Features
- Comfortable low beds (78 inches x 31 inches)
- En-suite facilities
- Large windows
- Individually controlled air conditioning
- Safe deposit box
- Ample space under the beds for the luggage: H36cm x W112cm x D80cm
- Sheets and towels
- Hair dryer
- Courtesy kit with solid soap and shampoo, and shower cap
- Mid-week cabin cleaning service and towel change
- Schuko bipolar sockets (220V – 50Hz)
BARGE
The barge Ave Maria Italia is equipped with 17 cabins, capacity 31 guests in low beds
4 upper deck dbl/twin bed cabins 10'x12' (D) (2 person occupancy)
10 lower deck dbl/twin bed cabins 10'x12' (B,C) (2 person occupancy)
3 lower deck single bed cabins 8'x10' (A) (1 person occupancy)
The cabins are luminous, spacious, and functional, thanks to the carefully designed furnishings. most cabins can be arranged with either a double bed or two separate beds possible additional bunk beds in some cabins
The charterer has the right to arrange the accommodation of passengers according to the above cabin allocation.
Panoramic saloon
Breakfast and dinner are served in the cozy dining area with large panoramic windows. Next to the dining area is a relaxation area with a coffee, cappuccino, and hot chocolate machine available any time of the day, a wide selection of board games, books, and travel guides, a 55″ multimedia screen, and free WiFi. The panoramic saloon is air-conditioned.
Sundeck
The sundeck with tables, chairs and deckchairs is the perfect spot to enjoy sailing, outdoor dining and chat with your new travel companions.
About the barge
“Ave Maria Italia” is a comfortable river cruise ship made in Italy, built with innovative solutions and where materials were chosen with aesthetics and comfort in mind. It is also a small barge capable of passing under low bridges and sailing on shallow water, typical of Italian waterways.
The barge was custom-built using the salvaged hull of a Po River dredge, all in strict compliance with new and stricter safety and eco-friendly standards. Ave Maria Italia is an “environmentally sustainable” boat due to energy conservation on board, purification of dark water, and navigation that does not damage the shores.
barge size: 41 m long and 7.5 m wide, air conditioning in the whole barge WiFi available in common areas, comfort Gold, Navigation guaranteed
“Ave Maria Italia” has been specifically designed to sail along uncrowded waterways parallel to the Po river, not on the Po itself.
Dry spells happen more and more often in large rivers (Po, Rhine, Danube…). However, since 2011 we have never had a day’s stop due to drought: the “Fissero-Tartaro-Canalbianco” canal that runs parallel to the Po River is regulated by a system of 6+3 locks, which guarantees a constant level of water, thus enabling navigation all year round, all the time.
https://www.girolibero.com/tour/bike-and-barge-italy-the-waterways-of-venice-self-guided-or-guided-it367/
