From Lake Garda to the Sea

FROM LAKE GARDA TO THE SEA

Peschiera del Garda – Mantova - San Benedetto Po Sermide – Stellata- Ferrara - Mesola

Veneto, Lombardia, Emilia Romagna

8 days - 7 nights


Easy itinerary entirely on plain, that connects the Garda Lake to the Adriatic sea, following the course of the river Mincio and the river Po up to the Parco del Delta. You can discover the oriental part of the Po valley through the environmental beauties of Parco del Mincio and Parco del Delta del Po and the artistic beauties of Mantua and Ferrara, wonderful examples of Italian Renaissance. The itinerary is entirely by bicycle, on embankment roads, on bike path and on low traffic roads, total lenght of about 244,5 km .
The return to Peschiera is by bus pax + bicycle. It is possible to add baggage transportation by minibus.
Total length: Km 244,5. km 100 on Eurovelo8 route
In 2, 3 and 4*hotels, hostels, holiday farms, - guided tour- without portage

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Day 1
Peschiera - Mantova
Length: 43.5 Km
Travel time: about 4.00 h (stops and tours not included)
Technical notes: route entirely on bike path
Meeting in the morning with the guide in Peschiera del Garda (arrival with your own vehicles. On request, we can book the hotel with supplement). Departure from Peschiera del Garda. Riding along the moat of the fortress, crossing the bridge in Salionze and going through Monzambano, we arrive at Borghetto, a charming medieval village with water mills, put in place for a ford of the river Mincio.
We then come to Volta Mantovana where we can stop to visit Palazzo Gonzaga Guerrieri Cavriani. Free time for lunch in Volta Mantovana. We return to the path and continue in the direction of Soave, whose countryside offers in certain seasons “Van Goghlike” landscapes, and then to the Nature Reserve of Bosco Fontana, beautiful remains of an ancient lowland forest and Oriented Nature Reserve of European value.
Passing by the old mill of Corte San Girolamo and continuing on the path along the lakes, we arrive at “Porta Mulina”, where Mantua’s old city gate was standing.
Dinner and overnight in Mantua.


Day 2
Mantua - Governolo
Length: 25 km
Travel time: about 2 hours and a half (stops and tours included)
Technical notes: route partly on embankment road and on bike path
After breakfast, we meet our guide in Piazza Sordello, in the core of Mantua. While walking down the old town we can admire the museum complex of Palazzo Ducale, Piazza delle Erbe, the Basilica of Sant’Andrea, the “Rotonda” church of San Lorenzo, and finally Palazzo Te (exteriors). Free time for lunch in Mantova Taking the path that leads to Governolo, we cross the Regional Reserve of “La Vallazza”, the ancient French-Habsburg Fort of Pietole and the Archaeological Park “Forcello”, where we can stop for a visit.
Once in Governolo we can see the hydraulic works conceived by the engineer Gabriele Bertazzolo in the 17th century. Dinner and overnight in Governolo.


Day 3
Governolo - San Benedetto Po - Sermide
Length: 42 Km
Travel time: about 4 h (stops and visits not included)
Technical notes: route partly on embankment road and on bike path
Time for Breakfast. From Governolo we head to San Benedetto Po. Here we visit the Basilica and Monastery Complex of San Benedetto in Polirone. We continue then in the direction of the Park of Foce Secchia (Secchia’s Delta) and reach Quistello. Wine tasting in a Quistello’s cellar.
We continue our journey once again along the river Secchia until we reach the bike path EuroVelo8that runs along the Po. Crossing the town of Pieve di Coriano, renowned for the church of Santa Maria Assunta founded in the 11th century by countess Matilda of Canossa, and Borgofranco, typical production area of white truffle, we arrive at Sermide. Dinner and overnight in Sermide.


Day 4
Sermide - Felonica - Stellata - Ferrara
Length: 40 Km
Time travel: 4 h (stops and visits not included)
Technical notes: route on embankment roads and on country roads with low traffic
After breakfast, we continue on the path that runs along the right bank of the river Po. On our journey we ride through the towns of Felonica and Quatrelle. Once arrived in Stellata of Bondeno, it begins the territory of the province of Ferrara and the bike lane on the right embankment is called “Destra Po”. This is one of the longest tours of Italy (included in the Euroveloproject), which starts from the beautiful star shaped “Rocca Possente”. Free time for lunch in Stellata or in the neighbourhoods. Once crossed the river Panaro, we get to the center of Bondeno where we take the pleasant cycle-walk path of the “Burana” which takes to Ferrara; this Renaissance city is famous for its charming historical center. Dinner and overnight in Ferrara


Day 5
Ferrara - Ro
Length: 22 Km
Time travel: about 2 h (stops and visits not included)
Technical notes: Route partly on embankment roads, low traffic roads and bike path
After breakfast, we meet our guide and visit the city center, where we can admire, among many artistic treasures, the “Castello Estense” and the “Palazzo dei Diamanti”. Free time for lunch in Ferrara.
From Ferrara we head towards the sea, riding for a long route that leads to Francolino first, then joins the “Destra Po” along various points of interest. In the vicinity of Ro we can admire the “Mill on the Po”, which inspired Riccardo Bacchelli’s famous novel “Il mulino del Po” with its grain grindstone. Dinner and overnight in Ro.


Day 6
Ro - Mesola
Length: 42 Km
Time travel: about 4 h (stops and visits not included)
Technical notes: Route partly on embankment roads and low traffic roads.
Time for breakfast. From Ro we take the path along the Po. The river here runs wide up to the point where, in the town of Serravalle, forks for the first time: a branch bends north to Venice and the other one runs to the south, the “Po di Goro”. Dinner and overnight in Mesola.
Free time for lunch.
From this bifurcation, called “Porta del Delta” (Delta’s Gateway), we continue on the embankment bordering the “Po di Goro” in the direction of Mesola, recognizable for its elegant castle, “Castello Estense”


Day 7
Mesola - Gorino- Mesola
Length: 35 Km
Time travel: 3.30 h (stops and visits not included)
Technical notes: route partly on embankment roads and low traffic roads
Time for breakfast. Back on the bike path, we follow the river which branches off to the south for over 10 km along one of the most significant natural areas of the Park of the Po Delta. We continue to Goro and Gorino, typical fishing villages interesting also for their nature trails, leaving on our left the curious pontoon bridge that leads to the Venetian shore. Free time for lunch in Gorino. Afternoon at the seaside. Return to Mesola, dinner and overnight.


Day 8
Gorino - Peschiera del Garda
After breakfast, we get ready for our return trip back to Peschiera del Garda, by bus an bike transportation. End of services.
This program is subject to change if necessary

INFO:

ON THE ROAD TRAVEL
Via G.Chiassi, 20/E – 46100 – Mantova
Tel. (0039) 0376 1434771 – Fax (0039) 0376 1434772
[email protected] – www.ontheroadtravel.it
P.Iva 02411290204

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