EUROVELO 8 – Mediterranean Route

EUROVELO
EuroVelo is a network of high-quality cycling routes that connect the whole Europe. The routes can be used by long-distance cycle tourists, as well as by local people making daily journeys. The European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) is coordinating the development of EuroVelo that currently comprises of 14 routes and it is envisaged that the network will be substantially complete by 2020.
ECF promotes economically, environmentally and socially sustainable travel, improves the quality of EuroVelo routes in all participating European countries, promotes the uniform signing of EuroVelo routes in accordance with published standards, provides Europe-wide information on EuroVelo routes and national cycle routes, supports the development of national coordination centres for EuroVelo route and national routes and fosters exchange of experience and best practice between European states and regions, stimulating high quality cycle strategies and infrastructure.

EUROVELO 8 – MEDITERRANEAN ROUTE : THE EUROPEAN PROJECT 
The project EuroVelo8, Mediterranean Route - Promoting Europe's longest thematic tourism route is co-funded by the European Commission’s CIP for Transnational tourism products in order to foster European tourism competitiveness and sustainability.
The enhancement and promotion of bicycle tourism as well as the cooperation among the companies of European countries reliant on the tourism industry are the main goals to this project. The Mediterranean Route – EuroVelo 8 (EV8) runs for nearly 6,000 km through 11 countries. In Italy the route follows the course ofriver Po, from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea, crossing very suggestive landscapes.
The Province of Mantua is the lead partner of this project that bring together stakeholders from 7 countries along the route (Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Albania, Greece, Cyprus) and 2 countries representing the potential target markets (Denmark, Belgium).
  
The Province of Mantua is involved in:
- developing offers and packages for the areas nearby the cycle route
- creating new web pages dedicated to the project within the existing local web site
- facilitating public-private partnerships, for a more effective involvement of PME
- printing flyers promoting tracks and routes and route proposals that run along the cycle route EuroVelo 8
- updating the GPS mapping of routes and cycle paths and developing new technologies dedicated to the practice and dissemination of the paths network connected to EuroVelo
- realizing a study tour for foreign tour operators promoting cycling routes along EuroVelo
- attending the ITB exposition in Berlin 

Mantuan local Tour Operator and Travel Agencies, public authorities and local associations involved in cycle tourism development gave their high contribution during this project in order to plan new itineraries according to the prospective of sustainability and competitiveness of the products.

The Province of Mantova can now boast 9 tourism packages that will improve the European range of cycle tourism proposals and that will be published on the Eurovelo official website. All the new proposals concern cycle tourism routes that run, entirely or partially, along the EuroVelo 8 cycle route and in connection with other important European routes as EuroVelo 7 or Bicitalia 1,Bicitalia 16 (Tyrrhenian Route ) and the Via Claudia Augusta.

THE NEW TOURISM PACKAGES:

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. 

ON THE ROAD OF ANCIENT ROMANS:
"THE "VIA AUGUSTA"

Mantova, Ostiglia, Vigasio, Verona
Veneto, Lombardia
5 days - 4 nights

Easy itinerary (mix bicycle + bus) entirely on plain along the “Via Claudia Augusta” from Mantua to Verona, passing through the Ostiglia area. It is dedicated to the first part of the ancient consular romanic street, discovering local typical plates: in particular the famous “risotto alla pilota”.

FROM THE GONZAGA
TO THE ESTE FAMILY
THROUGH THE RIVER PO

Mantova, Ostiglia, Stellata, Ferrara
Lombardia, Emilia Romagna
5 days - 4 nights

Easy itinerary (mix bike + bus) that leads to the discovery of Mantua and Ferrara, two of the most important art cities of the North Italian Renaissance. It is entirely on plain, along the streets that in the past permitted at the two most powerful Lordships of the respective regions to connect, by the figure of Isabella d’Este, and to rule together these territories, enriching the cities and the towns with magnificent palaces and monuments. 

FROM RIVER PO TO GARDA LAKE
THROUGH THE MINCIO VALLEYS

Mantova, San Benedetto Po ,
Grazie di Curtatone, Valli del Mincio,
Peschiera del Garda
Veneto, Lombardia
4 days - 3 nights

Easy itinerary (mix bicycle + bus) that leads to the discovery of two of “Te most beautiful villages in Italy” - San Benedetto Po and Grazie di Curtatone -, and of the wild and untouched beauty of one of the most important naturalistic parks in Lombardy. It is entirely on plain and it passes through the Mincio valleys to reach Garda Lake, with one hour navi- gation from Grazie to Rivalta with bicycle transportation 

THE MUSIC WAY

Mantova, Sabbioneta, Casalmaggiore
Busseto, Gualtieri, San Benedetto Po
Lombardia, Emilia Romagna
5 days - 4 nights

The UNESCO heritage of Mantua and Sabbioneta, the set of Peppone and Don Camillo movies… places that became famous all over the world, enjoing the history of river Po
In hotels*** or B& B or holiday farm, self guided, without portage

THE UNESCO HERITAGE

Mantova, Sabbioneta, Brescello, Suzzara
Lombardia, Emilia Romagna
5 days - 4 nights

The UNESCO heritage of Mantua andSabbioneta, the set of Peppone and Don Camillo movies… places that became famous all over the world, enjoing the history of river Po
In hotels*** or B& B or holiday farm, self guided, without portage

MANTUA AND THE OGLIO RIVER CYCLE ROUTE

Mantova, Canneto s/O, Piadena, Mantova
Lombardia
4 days - 3 nights

The UNESCO Heritage of Mantua combine to the River Po and its tributary Oglio, an almost unknown landscape of our province, remarkable for its wildlife. In hotels*** or B& B or holiday farm, self guided, without portage

THE MANTUAN "OLTREPO'" PARKS CYCLE ROUTE

Suzzara, San Benedetto Po,
Felonica, Suzzara
Lombardia
4 days - 3 nights

Biking slowly like the River slow flow, enjoying the nature at the heart of the Po Plain. Experience the parks, the ancient farmhouses, the small villages so rich in history and art, the long standing relationship between humans and the water.
In hotels*** or B& B or holiday farm, self guided, without portage

THE CANOSSA'S HERITAGE FROM FERRARA TO SUZZARA

Ferrara, Felonica,
San Benedetto Po, Suzzara
Lombardia, Emilia Romagna
5 days - 4 nights

Biking from Ferrara to Suzzara, through The Canossas’ family property, during the year we celebrate the nine hundred years from Matilda’s death
In hotels*** or B& B or holiday farm, self guided, without portage