Join Italiaoutdoors Food and Wine as we enjoy a cycling tour through the Veneto, Italy, a diverse region located along the shores of the Adriatic sea and at the foot of the Dolomite mountains. The Venetian Republic, once a world power, is a remarkable reflection of Italian history and style: full of Renaissance art, fine food and wine, history.
Our biking tour follows one of the old trade routes that distributed spices and goods from the east throughout Western Europe: we wander through the flat farmlands, by stately 16th and 17th century villas, around volcanic hills and into the foothills of the Pre-Alps. By day we bike gentle routes, in the afternoon learn about foods and the art of cooking and savor parts of the "Italian Dolce Vita" with classic Veneto cuisine, all the while being hosted in opulent villa hotels.
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We begin our bike tour along the Brenta River, touring Palladian estates and villas from the Venetian Empire. In the afternoon, the Dal Corso family hosts us for a cooking class. Next, we visit the beautiful city of Treviso, and while we are riding Kathy will be selecting the ingredients for our cooking class later in the day. Our next stop on our bicycle tour is Vicenza, the “City of Palladio”. We will taste wines from local producers in the Euganie Hills and Tocai Rosso wines of the Berici Hills. Then it is on to Asolo, considered by many to be one of the loveliest towns in Italy. It is a tiny hamlet with an abundance of quaint, winding streets and a graceful piazza overlooking the valley. On our way we stop in Cittadella, a famous walled city from the 1100's, built by the city of Padova to defend its territory. As we close out our weeklong bike tour, we head into the foothills and vineyards of the Strada del Prosecco to taste some of the sparkling wine that has made this area so famous.
Biking works up our appetites for some wonderful Northern Italian meals. Kathy will introduce us to many local dishes and specialties. The noble region of the Veneto is home to risotto and polenta, as well as homemade pastas spiced with radicchio, rucola and endive. Seafood lovers will rejoice in the freshly caught frutti di mare prepared in the Venetian tradition.
Some Veneto Favorites
Day 1 and 2: Riviera del Brenta and Treviso
Day 1: Meet at Marco Polo Airport Sunday morning and transfer to an elegant 4 star villa near the Brenta River. Our morning is spent sizing bicycles and introducing the overall program, then enjoying an optional bike ride along the Brenta Canal visiting one of Palladio's well known villas, the "Malcontenta". We finish the day with a welcome aperitif on the terrace and an introduction to the foods and wines that we will explore during our week.
Day 2: Today we cycle to the old walled city of Treviso, a hidden gem of the Veneto. During our visit of the city we have a short guided tour and then lunch before shuttling back to the hotel to relax before we link up for some wine and fun. We meet up with Kathy in the kitchen of our villa, were she will show us how to make some delicious dishes inspired by our Venetian explorations.
Our bike routes: Day 1: Optional 25 on flat terrain. Day 2: 40 km on flat terrain.
Day 3 and 4: Abano Terme and Vicenza
Day 3: Our biking today heads through the flat prairies just south of Padua towards Abano Terme and the foothills of the Colli Euganei. The Romans discovered two remarkable features of this area – mineral springs and wine! Monti Berici and its foothills loom in the distance as we bike towards Arcugnano, just outside Vicenza. Vicenza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the adopted city of Palladio and host to some of his most renowned legacies. Along the way we have a stop for wine tasting at a local producer that has won awards for the appropriate pairing of wine with local DOP products. Dinner is at our Inn.
Day 4: In the early afternoon we end our bike ride in Vicenza for a guided tour of the “City of Palladio” and after the tour there is some time to relax before we head back to the hotel to clean up for dinner. Tonight we dine outside the hotel at a local ristorante.
Our bike routes: Day 3 is 60 km of flat to gently rolling terrain. There is a short 1.2 km climb up to our hotel, with an optional route of 30 km for anyone wanting more miles. Day 4 is a 45 km ride in rolling hills.
Days 5, 6, and 7: Vicenza, Cittadella, and Asolo
Day 5: As we pedal across the Veneto farmlands we pass two walled cites today. First on our bike route is Cittadella, built in the 1100's, a lovely rural township that has a special character. Then on to Castelfranco and different type of walled city were we find plenty of options for lunch. In the afternoon we ride to Asolo, a magical hilltop-village, once the home to the Queen of Cypus and the painter Robert Barrett Browning, and visited by numerous other illustrious artists, actors and writers. The evening is free to dine in one of the many excellent restaurants in Asolo. From the local pizzeria to a formal restaurant with a view of the valley below, you are sure to discover some regional culinary delights.
Day 6: Our bicycling takes us along the base of the Pre-Alps for some striking scenery. Farmlands give way to vineyards as we pedal along the Strada del Prosecco in the Prosecco wine region. We cycle through the foothills and into the rolling vineyards with chances to stop and taste the local and original sparkling Prosecco at a small producer. We also learn how Prosecco is made, and how different methods will result in a variety of tastes. Tonight’s farewell dinner will allow us one more opportunity to indulge in the local cuisine in an acclaimed restaurant in the area.
Day 7: Our bike tour will conclude with a buffet breakfast and late morning transfer to Marco Polo Airport or Venice/Piazzale Roma.
Two nights in Asolo at a 4 star inn set amidst a lush and colorful garden of pomegranate trees and fragrant flowers.
Our tour includes:
* Single supplement of $600
To sign up, send us an email. We personally work with each and every guest to answer all questions, and make sure our trip is customized to your abilities and preferences. We're also happy just to chat, and hear how you would like to travel.
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Our owner, expert recreational programmer Vernon McClure was recently named one of "Italy's Best Local Tour Guides" by Dream of Italy. Click here to plan your trip of a lifetime, exploring the best of Italy - outdoors, food and wine - with Vernon and Kathy.
