Tripsite Traveler: Sophie’s Mantova to Venice cycling adventure!

Are you looking for a week gateway? Then our Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova tour is a perfect opportunity!

Unbelievably magical! Yes, that’s exactly how I feel and let me share a short review of my excitement with you below:

Day 1: Arrival in Mantova

Today, Ave Maria welcomed us with Mantova’s breathtaking and varied panoramas. We had a wonderful welcome dinner with the incredibly lovely crew and guests.

Day 2: Mantova (loop ride)

The first cycling day! YAY!!! We had a 35 km circuit from the boat to the lakes of Mantova. The landscapes were just fascinating including canal views as well as the corn fields. There are artificial lakes and canals everywhere ( full of lotus flowers).

After lunch and getting a little tan on the boat sun deck, we visited some popular tourist attractions including Piazza Sordello, Palazzo Ducale, Clock Tower but I found Basilica of Sant' Andrea one of the most fascinating and eye-catching places.

We enjoyed our dinner (Lasagna with Campari Spritz cocktail) at Antica Osteria Broletto as the dinner was not included on that day.

Day 3: Mantova to Zelo

One of the day’s highlights was the small town of Bergantino where you could become a child again. Here, we visited the Museum of Amusement rides and Popular Entertainment. That was a really amazing place with many, many fascinating attractions.

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After enjoying the museum’s tiny creatures, we headed out to the cheese factory, where tasted Grana Padano cheese with a glass of red wine to replenish our strength.

Day 4: Zelo-Ferrara-Adria

After a short ride, we reached Ferrara: nicknamed the “Italian capital of cycling”. Historical red brick buildings, red tiled roofs and a moated castle make Ferrara a true symbol of the Italian Renaissance. But it’s also the city of cyclists, which is hardly surprising as it is flat as a pancake with no steep climbs to spoil the fun :)

Day 5: Adria- Po Delta Nature Reserve : Pellestrina Island

The day begins with a sail to Porto Viro in the Po Delta with a double crossing on the river and with 2 km of unpaved road.. From here we began pedaling through the fishing valleys into a magical world of bodies of water and low vegetation. This unique wetland is the first reserve in Europe for herons and is home to a large colony of flamingos.
After 2 hours cycling, we continued towards Chioggia. This is a very, very beautiful, small coastal town of Northern Italy.

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Due to Chioggia’s similarity with the much larger and also much more magnificent city of Venice, it is sometimes referred to as “ Little Venice”.

Day 6: Pellestrina Island - Venice

Pellestrina: the first of two islands we traversed today: a humble and tranquil fishing backwater, picturesque as ever with its cottages, boats and nets.

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Above is the ferry we took to get to Lido island and a picture of me and my bike on the last day of cycling.

On this day, we also visited a historic glass factory on Murano island, with a glassblowing demonstration by a master artisan. We had a chance to see a master craftsman at work. That was a SUPER impressive performance, really… We all were completely astonished by the master and his masterpieces provided below:

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Day 7: Venice

And, finally… We are in Venice!!! A city of breathtaking beauty, the ideal end of this beautiful cycling holiday. Happy to share some of the pictures with you:

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Above, a view of the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute and the water bus ride before we reach to the San Marco square.

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Fascinating views from the Ave Maria dining room…

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Ponte di Rialto / Rialto Bridge: One of the most significant tourist attractions in Venice . It is also the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal.

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Some charming bridges on the Giudecca island.

Please, please do NOT leave Venice without visiting Fondaco dei Tedeschi. I would recommend purchasing tickets in advance so you don’t miss such an amazing opportunity to overlook the grand canal.

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We explored the most romantic and panoramic channels of Venice at night. Exploring Venice at night is not something to be missed as it provides an entirely different view of the city. You might be mistaken for thinking that all the main activity happens during the day and, sure, the museums and famous buildings close in the evening, but the livelier, friendlier side of Venice awakens after dark.

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