BIKE TOURS IN ITALY
THE JOY OF CYCLING, THE PLEASURE OF HAVING A BREAK
Dinner at Modanella Castle, Siena. Front jacket: around Garda Lake
T
ravelling by bike means being curious and demanding tourists, who enjoy challanges, adore looking for peace and quiet and love sharing the pleasure of places which are unique. It is a slow way to travel, which gives the chance to be protagonists in the landscape, admiring panoramas, nature, the Works of Man, smelling the scent of flowers, fields and listening to their sounds. On every tour we will be riding along byroads to avoid intense traffic and above all to catch a glimpse of unknown sites.
VERONA AND LAKE GARDA
The territory: Lake Garda, Valpolicella, Val d’Illasi, the Adige River, the Mincio River, Valeggio and Borghetto, Natural Park of Lessinia, Bolca, Monte Baldo, the Grandi Valli Veronesi, the Swamp Busatello, Soave, Custoza. Unesco World Heritage: Verona.
1
Garda Lake, near Bardolino
The River Adige, the hills and the plain where Romeo and Juliet used to go on horse-back
Above: Verona, Ponte Pietra • Opposite: Verona, Piazza delle Erbe with Madonna Verona
T
he city of Verona, crossed by the meandering route of the Adige River, is located at the mouth of the valley which has the same name of the river; behind the city there are the Pre-Alps and in front of it lies the Po Valley. The province varies a lot from the morphological point of view. To the west, Lake Garda with Monte Baldo (2200 m) and the River Mincio. To the north, the Regional Park of Lessinia, with its peaks between 1500 and 2000 m. Heading east, we find the walled town of Soave. To the south lies the plain for the most part devoted to agricultural crops , among which rice stands out. It is an area of rivers, springs and canals: the Adige River flows through it diagonally. The hilly area, cut across by numerous valleys, and mostly cultivated with vineyards and olive groves, is among the most evocative in terms of landscape and nature. The most famous are Valpolicella, Val d’Illasi and the Valley of Soave known especially for the renowned wines Doc. Lake Garda is surrounded in the south by a morainic amphitheatre: gentle hills covered with vineyards are also famous for these Doc wines. The origin of our country is from pre-Roman times and each historical period has left important artistic and architectural treasures; therefore the city of Verona is part of a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The most famous monument is perhaps the Arena, also because of prestigious cultural events held there. Other monuments are: the Roman Theatre, the Roman Bridge, the Scaligeri Bridge, the Basilica of San Zeno and countless other churches, Castelvecchio, Piazza Bra, Piazza delle Erbe, the many sets of city-walls which date back to various ages. The surrounding region is rich in villas, in churches, and civic and religious treasures. The seat of Simonetta Bike Tours is in Verona. We can offer you various tours, in our region, of varying difficulty and of different lengths, on request, with visits and tastings in the different surroundings.
FROM THE DOLOMITES TO VENICE Duration: 8 days Difficulty: beginners
We’ll go through: Misurina Lake, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Belluno, Feltre, Corlo Lake, Cismon del Grappa, Bassano del Grappa, Asolo, Villa Corner della Regina, Badoere, Treviso, Casale sul Sile, Quarto d’Altino, Portegrandi, Caposile, Lio Maggiore, Lio Piccolo, Jesolo, Lido, Pellestrina, Venezia. Visits: Villa Emo di Fanzolo. Unesco World Heritage: the Dolomites; Villa Emo; Venice and its lagoon.
2
Bassano del Grappa, Villa Angarano
The Veneto: from its moutain tops to the sea through towns of artistic interest and Palladian Villas
Above: Lio Piccolo, S. Maria della neve • Opposite: Pellestrina, along murazzi
L
ooking at the Misurina Lake, surrounded by the most beautiful mountain tops of the Dolomites, 1750 meters of altitude, we cannot imagine that within a week we will be in the magic town of Venice; from the silence of the mountain to the lively crowds of tourists that walk around calles, bridges and magnificent palaces. We’ll cycle through Belluno and Feltre, the northernmost town of the ancient Republic of Venice, to arrive in the Valsugana Valley. In Bassano del Grappa we will cross the river over typical wooden bridge heading to the fertile Po Valley. Here and there Ville Venete dot the landscape of vineyards and cultivated fields. Once in Treviso we will go along the Sile River the old way to Venice and its lagoon. We will be surrounded by a relaxing and calm nature on an excellent cycling path. Following two stretches of land we will reach the heart of the lagoon at Lio Piccolo and Lio Maggiore. In the lagoon the environement is unique: barene,
velme, ghebi, ship canals surrounded by brìcoe, brakish plant life and a great variety of birds among which we can find gruccioni and pink flamingos. From Punta Sabbioni we will get a boat in order to reach the Lido of Venice. Here the offing starts, very different from the water that surrounds the lagoon. After crossing the Villas’ Lido and the liberty style hotels, here it is Malamocco, the oldest part of Venice: the XVI century houses with their gentle colours will create a dreamlike atmosphere. The island of Pellestrina presents a completely different character: small, bright coloured houses where fishermen with their nets and boats still work. The last ferry takes us to Venice passing right in front of San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale. This unique and incomparable town doesn’t allow us to run our bikes: 400 bridges and steps will get us walking to discover its beauty and get lost in it, for those who want to, it is possible to extend the stay in Venice.
TREK&BIKE
IN THE DOLOMITES
We’ll go through: Calalzo, San Vito di Cadore, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Cimabanche, Misurina Lake, Dobbiaco, Villabassa, Monguelfo, Valdaora, Brunico. Unesco World Heritage: the Dolomites.
3
Duration: 3 days Difficulty: beginners/intermediate
The Long Dolomites way, near Cortina d’Ampezzo
T
hree-days full immersion in the amazing landscape of the Dolomites. By bike from Calalzo we will follow the cycling path of The Long Dolomites way down to Cortina d’Ampezzo. The pearl of the Dolomites, in the middle of the wide Valley of Boite, offers a unique panorama upon the Dolomiti Cadorine: Tofane, Pomagagnon, Cristallo, Faloria and Sorapiss, Becco di Mezzodì, Croda da Lago and the Cinque Torri. We will continue in the natural park of the Dolomiti d’Ampezzo to have a break at the Lake of Misurina. After a day’s trekking we will start the itinerary by bike going downhill to Dobbiaco, and then the Pusteria Valley cycling path will take us to Brunico. We will walk around the smooth but extraordinary ring of the Tre Cime of Lavaredo. Starting from the Auronzo mountain hut we will reach the Locatelli mountain hut from where the view is absolutely breathtaking.
Walking around the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and biking from Calalzo to Dobbiaco
THE LONG DOLOMITES WAY Duration: 3 days Difficulty: beginners
We’ll go through: Belluno, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Misurina Lake, Cimabanche, San Vito di Cadore, Pieve di Cadore, Borca di Cadore, Perarolo di Cadore, Ponte nelle Alpi. Unesco World Heritage: the Dolomites.
4
The Long Dolomites way, to Cimabanche
T
his is an enjoyable and relaxing route that runs on bike paths, surrounded by the superb landscape of the Dolomites. It starts off by the Misurina Lake, minutes away from the Lavaredo mountain tops, and arrives in Belluno. After a short bus tranfer we will start our tour which goes mostly downhill. The itinerary follows the cycling path of The Long Dolomites way, the old railroad Calalzo–Cortina. The first part of the trail belongs to the natural park of the Ampezzo Dolomites and is a well-travelled dirt road surrounded by forests. We will then ride on asphalt, in the wide Valley of Boite. The second part of the route tracks another fascinating path: the old highway 51 of Alemagna which, once a very important road has now barely no traffic. We will enjoy the road and its windings caved in the stone that follow the deep and narrow valley, where the River Piave flows.
Going down along the bike path Cortina–Calalzo and the Alemagna road
SILE RIVER AND THE LAGOON OF VENICE
We’ll go through: Treviso, Casier, Casale sul Sile, Quarto d’Altino, Portegrandi, Caposile, Lio Maggiore, Lio Piccolo, Jesolo, Cavallino, Treporti, Isola di Burano, Isola di Torcello. Visits: Cavallino lighthouse, Basilica of S. Maria Assunta in Torcello. Unesco World Heritage: Venice and its lagoon.
5
Duration: 3 days Difficulty: beginners
Lagoon of Venice, along Sile River
T
he tour starts off in Treviso, the walled city, with its many canals where the River Sile flows. From there we follow the ancient and natural way to Venice: the River Sile, where a nice cycling path takes us through a lush landscape. We will then cross the wide countrysi-de dotted with old country houses called “cascine”, down to the northern part of the lagoon of Venice. We will cycle its perimeter to reach Lio Maggiore and Lio Piccolo, stretches of land that touch the heart of the lagoon. We will stop for the first night in Lio Maggiore in a wonderful and typical agritourism in order to fully enjoy the quiet of this marvellous landscape, surrounded by water. Here we can taste the marvellous products of this land in its typical and home made recipes: fish, birds, and vegetables. By boat we will reach Torcello and Burano and visit them to get a closer insight into the hi-story and life of the lagoon environment. Back to the sea we’ll leave the boat in Portegrandi to get on our bikes again and, from there, back to Treviso.
Sweet, brackish, salty: the ways of the water
THROUGH THE EUGANEAN HILLS Duration: 2 days Difficulty: beginners
We’ll go through: Bastia Padovana, Este, Monselice, Arquà Petrarca, Battaglia Terme, Villa Contarini-Venier. Visits: Catajo Castle, Praglia Abbey, Lispida Castle wine cellar, Villa dei Vescovi.
6
The Natural Park of Euganean Hills, near Lispida Castle
T
he first natural park in Veneto, the Euganean Hills are a group of sweet hills with volcanic origins, which rise in the middle of the Po Valley, few kilometers south-west of Padua. For the beauty of their landscapes, they have always been a outstanding place for the building of villas and noble abodes. Here there are a lot of Ville Venete: we will visit two of them, possibly the most representative. We will find many others along the way. Our track runs smoothly at the foot of the hills and follows a nice web of cycling paths, mainly along brooks, in the middle of the countryside. We will visit the walled towns of Este and Monselice with their nice monuments; in Arquá Petrarca, a part from the ancient borgo, it is possible to see the grave of the «sommo poeta» and his house. Along the way we will go to the Abbey of Praglia, part of a huge monastery, that still lives of the work of the monks.
Among medieval villages, walled-up cities and noble Ville Venete
FROM PORDENONE TO THE SEA
Duration: 3 days Difficulty: beginners
We’ll go through: Pordenone, Portobuffolè, Motta di Livenza, Caorle, Concordia Sagittaria, Portogruaro. Visits: Sesto al Reghena Abbey.
7
Ponte a bilanciere over the Livenza River, near Caorle
W
e will start off in Pordenone, nice town with enchanting palaces, fascinating long arcades, the lovely gothic City Hall with its eccentric pinnacles and a huge clock. Behind us there will be the Monte Cavallo and the Cansiglio Forest, in front of us the plain and just a bit further away the sea. In our ring trail we will go along the Livenza River heading south, and then along the small, quiet and transparent Lemene River, biking then northwards. Along the tour we will visit beautiful Venetian style small towns, which the winged lions of Venice keep an eye on: Portobuffolè, Motta di Livenza and Concordia Sagittaria, an old Roman settlement, and the magnificent town of Portogruaro. In Caorle, little jewel on the Mediterranean Sea, we will visit the nice Romanic Cathedral with the characteristic cylindrical bell tower and the church of the Madonna dell’Angelo, on Caorle’s very eastern cliff. Our last stop will be the village of Sesto al Reghena where we will visit the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria in Sylvis: with its precious frescos it is the most interesting walled monastery in Friuli.
Through Caorle and Portogruaro to the plain of Pordenone
AQUILEIA AND GRADO’S LAGOON Duration: 3 days Difficulty: beginners
We’ll go through: Strassoldo, Clauiano, Palmanova, Cervignano del Friuli, Grado, Valle Cavanata Reserve, Outfall of Isonzo River Reserve, Aquileia. Visits: Strassoldo di Sotto Castle, Aquileia Basilica, wine tasting at the cellar of Foffani family. Unesco World Heritage: Aquileia archeological area and Basilica.
8
Isonzo River, near the outfall
T
his easy route runs through the lands of Aquileia to reach Grado, passes among inland vineyards and along canals and drained plains, and finally goes to the sea. We will bike along small streams till the natural park of the outfall of the Isonzo River, from where we’ll be able to enjoy the wide Gulf of Trieste. We will then follow a beautiful and long bike path along the seashore till the natural reserve of Cavanata Valley, which is a paradise for bird watching. We’ll visit Strassoldo, a tiny well-preserved medioeval town; Palmanova, the XVI century city with the shape of a nine-pointed star; Aquileia, roman town with a gorgeous archeological area and a great Basilica; Grado, the golden Venice-looking Island with a Paleo-christian Cathedral and an ancient Baptistery.
From inland vineyards, to the outfall of the Isonzo River into the sea
BLED LAKE AND THE ALPE ADRIA Duration: 4 days Difficulty: Intermediate
We’ll go through: Nova Gorica, Bled Lake, Radovljica, Kropa, Žirovnica, Mojstrana, Kranjska Gora, Fusine Lakes, Tarvisio, Malborghetto, Resiutta, Venzone. Visits: Vintgar Gorge.
9
On the hills of the Lake of Bled
W
e will start our tour at Lake Bled, pearl and icon of Slovenia, jewel in the national park of Triglav, to discover the Alpi Giulie that touch both Italy and Slovenia. It is a land of great landscapes, crossway of culture and history. Close to Bled we will go to visit the spectacular Vintgar Gorge. It is a rocky canyon where the Radovna River flows, with its emerald-green waters. Down there there are paths, galleries and wooden bridges that lead our way through the bright green. We will then ride through the Radovna Valley and the Sava Valley, passing by Kranjska Gora along cycling paths that run astride Italy, Austria and Slovenia. From Tarvisio, surrounded by amazing mountains, we will get the Alpe Adria Cycling route that goes on the track of an old railway. Along the Tagliamento River we will reach Venzone, completely distroyed by the 1976 earthquake and named national monument, it is one of the best examples of artistic recontruction.
Crystal clear waters and blossoming meadows, between Italy and Slovenia.
LANGHE: UNIQUE FLAVOURS Duration: 3 days Difficulty: Intermediate
We’ll go through: Alba, Benevello, Bossolasco, Serravalle Langhe, Murazzano, Serralunga, Grinzane Cavour, Treiso, Barbaresco, Neive. Visits: Serralunga Castle, wine tasting in the Ceretto estate Acino.
10
Langhe, vineyards near Neive
T
his itinerary takes us to fulfill all fantasies about this marvellous part of Piedmont: landscapes, food and wines. Starting in Alba our way will be up and down hill. Along the Langhe’s Romantic Way we will admire stunning views from the most suggestive terraces: a silent parade of hills covered with vineyards coloured with amazing nuances. Grapes swap with hazel trees, the Langhe round hazelnut, so typical of this region. On the hill tops we will get the chance to see small villages and medieval towers. We will visit the XIV century Serralunga Castle, medieval slender stronghold and the mighty Grinzane Cavour Castle. We will stop in the Monsordo- Bernardina Estate and in the Acino, a big round shaped structure from where, in the middle of the vineyards, we’ll be able to taste wine and enjoy the landscape.
Smooth hills with vineyards, hazel trees and truffles
RAVENNA AND THE PINEWOODS Duration: 3 days Difficulty: beginners
We’ll go through: Ravenna, Porto Corsini, Casal Borsetti, Valli di Comacchio, Sant’Alberto, Sant’Apollinare in Classe, Lido di Dante, Po Delta Nature Reserve. Visits: Ravenna, San Apollinare in Classe. Unesco World Heritage: Ravenna and the eight Paleochristian buildings.
11
Ravenna, channels in the Classe Pinewood
T
he tour unfolds along the southern and northern coast of Ravenna, where Po Delta Reserve is. We will cross the pinetrees wood of San Vitale and of Classe, along the lagoon areas and many canals, where big houses stretch wide fishing nets on the water. A beautiful road between Reno River and the vast basin of Valli di Comacchio will give us the feeling of being surrounded by water, as in a biblical vision. This humid area is populated by widerange of birds and along the path we will eventually be able to see the flying pink flamingos: a big community lives here. From the beautifully preserved nature Reserve of Bevano torrent, we will reach the sea, going through an area with hardly any tourist. We will than track the sandy coast to Dante Beach. With the pinetrees wood on the other side it is a unique scenery. This tour is not only about beautiful natural landscapes, but it crosses also astonishing architectural beauties: here history has left amazing art pieces. The churches, adorned with wonderful mosaics, and eight early Christian buildings of the city of Ravenna are Unesco World Heritage Sites, and will be an unforgettable memory.
History, art and nature in the Po Delta Nature Reserve
SIENA AND GARGONZA CASTLE Duration: 3 days Diffuculty: intermediate
We’ll go through: Siena, Taverne d’Arbia, Asciano, Rapolano Terme, Modanella Castle, Gargonza Castle, Rapale, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Montaperti. Visits: Gargonza Castle. Unesco World Heritage: Siena.
12
The Crete, near Asciano
T
he itinerary twists and turns through hills dotted by cypresses and isolated cottages, woods and olive trees, ancient borgos and small sober castles, among Crete and Chianti, remarkable places one totally different from the other. The Crete offer a moon like landscape: smooth and sweet hills come one after the other, with their calanchi and biancane. Bright green in springtime, red with poppies or yellow with sunflowers in summer time, ocher nuances cover them in fall. Chianti is a region covered both with vineyards and with woods that comb the countryside in such a marvellous way. The tour develops in a sweet up and down hill on quiet roads: peace and silence around us. Such an unadorned landscape leads us to the amazing town of Siena, a treasure chest full of works of art: the Mangia Tower, steeples and dome-shaped roofs, the Cathedral with its precious marbles, the Piazza del Palio and many rich buildings.
Crete Senesi, round hills, small villages and wonderful castles
L’EROICA: A LEGGENDARY ROAD Duration: 4 days Difficulty: Advanced
We’ll go through: Radda in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Brolio Castle, Pianella, Siena, Buonconvento, Montalcino, Torrenieri, Pieve a salti, Ponte d’Arbia, Asciano, Modanella Castle, Rapoano Terme, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Vagliagli. Unesco World Heritage: Siena.
13
The hills of Chianti, near Radda
L’
Eroica as an event, takes place the first Sunday of October, and you can be part of it only of you have got a bike that dates back to the 80’s or earlier. Beyond the yearly event, l’Eroica is an itinerary in the beautiful Tuscany, that runs mostly on dirt roads. Thanks to the work of many volunteers it is today possible to bike the mapped roads of this itinerary, and we can follow the big bordeaux “E” along the 205 km path, through the long roads and up and down the sweet hills. To the traditional tour we added a short deviation, which will bring us at the Modanella’s Castle, that is not to be missed. We’ll go up and down the steep Chianti hills and the Crete Senesi. Everything is so beautyful that it is impossible to get tired: the vineyards, the woods, the country, the old castles and the forgotten countryhouses make the landscape dreamlike. We’ll enjoy the ancient fascination of the dirt roads, which gently mark the landscape.
A magnificent immersion in Chianti Wine’s lands through the soft hills of Tuscany
LAZIO AND PONZA
Duration: 8 days Difficulty: beginners/intermediate
We’ll go through: Sperlonga, Fondi, Fondi Lake, Monte S. Biagio, Itri, Gaeta, Formia, Ponza, Terracina, Sabaudia, Aurunci Mountains Park, Mount Orlando Park, Coast of Ulysses Park, Circeo Park, S. Felice Circeo. Visits: Fossanova Abbey.
14
Ponza, panoramic road
Along ancient roman roads in the Circeo National Park and the Coast of Ulysses.
Above: The ancient Via Appia near Fondi • Opposite: Ponza, overlooking a bay
W
e will explore the vast part south of Latina, between tha sea and the mountains. Our constant reference will be two ancient roads called Via Appia and Via Flacca, that back in Roman times ran at the foot of the mountains and on the coast. Over the centuries, on those important roads of trade and communication, humans began to settle. Here they built religious stuctures that still today are considered of great arquitectural and artistic value. Very relevant is the importance of the Caetani Family who ruled this area for over three centuries, until 1500. Here evidence of their military, religious and civil power can be seen. The district of the Agro Pontino is interesting for the measures taken to reclaim this area. They were made during the twenty years of the fascist power and deeply changed the environement. Here we find the Regional Park of Circeo born in those years to save a little part of he unwelcoming thou beautiful forest of Terracina. Apart from the Circeo Park, a lot of other regional or natural parks help to preserve that landscape. They are the natural park of the Coast of Ulysses, the Aurunci Mountains, the Mount Orlando, the Mount of Ausoni and the Lake of Fondi. Beautiful towns make the context even more remarkable: Sperlonga, Terracina and Gaeta, rich with art and history. They look at the sea and on gorgeous beaches. The pearl of the itinerary is the Island of Ponza, undescribable for its sumptuos beauty, we will go through it to discover its most hidden bays.
PUGLIA AND MATERA Duration: 8 days Difficulty: beginners/intermediate
We’ll go through: Trani, Ruvo di Puglia, Altamura, Matera, Alberobello, Cisternino, Locorotondo, Ostuni, Polignano a Mare. Visits: Castel del Monte, town center and rupestrian churches of Matera, Cripta del Peccato Originale, Cristo La Selva. Unesco World Heritage: Matera: the Sassi and rupestrian churches, Castel del Monte, Alberobello: the Trulli.
15
Itria Valley, ancient group of trulli
From the Sassi of Matera to the Trulli through the green inland
Above: Matera, Sasso Barisano • Opposite: Locorotondo
T
he tour starts off and ends by the sea; it develops in the inland, in the marvelous Apulian countryside with olive and almond trees, gardens and beautiful typical houses, the trulli. We will visit sunny little towns, marvellous romanic cathedrals and the peerless Matera, with its Sassi, the rupestrian churches and the misterious Gravina where we will go to discover the Cripta del peccato originale, a litlle hidden jewel, and the Cristo de la Selva little church. Through a slightly up and down road we will reach the Murgia, the highland that crosses Apulia and Basilicata. Along the way we will visit the fortress of Federico II called Castel del Monte that cuts the endless countryside. Left the charming Matera behind, we enter the Itria Valley among the Trulli (typical and special stone houses with a conical roof). We will visit some of them and see them around us while we bike, sometimes grouped in villages, as the unique Alberobello. We will then head for the coast passing through Ostuni – the white town – looking at the sea from above. From Ostuni we will go down, going through the park of the Coast Dunes, with ancient olive trees around us we will reach the sea where small bays and low cliffs follow each other. The biketour finishes in Polignano a Mare, one of the most beautiful towns in the area, which is proudly perched on a cliff.
GREEN-BLUE SALENTO Duration: 8 days Difficulty: beginners
We’ll go through: Castello di Copertino, S. Maria al Bagno, Torre S.Giovanni, Torre Mozza, Pescoluse, Castrignano del Capo, Patù Centopietre, S. Maria di Leuca, il Ciolo, Castro, S.Cesarea Terme, Porto Cesareo, Otranto, Laghi Alimini, Torre dell’Orso, Le Cesine, Acaya. Visits: Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli, Presicce, Galatina and Basilica S. Caterina, Leuca Piccola’s Sanctuary, La Cutura Botanical Garden.
16
The Bay of Otranto
Along the sea, among ancient olive trees and baroque palaces
Above: The Cliffs near Otranto • Opposite: Pajara near Presicce
O
ur tour in the very end of the southern Italian peninsula covers the whole Salento area and unfolds mostly along the seashore. Old sighting towers, white beaches, low cliffs and lovely lagoons among sand dunes are to be found along the Ionic coast. The Adriatic coast is more undulating, with higher broken cliffs and cosy tiny bays. Reaching Leuca is spectacular. We will watch the sea and the waves from the square in front of the Basilica of Santa Maria De Finibus Terrae; from the very high lighthouse we will see where the two seas meet. We will explore the inland too: the beautiful Apulia countryside in bloom, with isolated rural houses among olive trees. On the side of the path we will see remains of stone-age civilizations: dolmen, menhir, huge stones. By bike we will visit small villages with big and important palaces, oil mills caved in the stone, a gorgeous botanical garden. Along the coast we will pass close to the PalasciĂ lighthouse. Our eyes will be enraptured by the ochre and dark red colours of the old bauxite caves. We will take time to visit the narrow lanes of Gallipoli and Otranto, the white stone cities facing the sea, looking for Angevins and Aragon castles, the monumental fountains, the ancient cathedrals. We finish up our round tour in Lecce, where we started. There we visit the baroque palaces, embroidered with the stone of Lecce, and taste some delicacies in the well-known pastry shops.
QUALITY TRAVELS BY BIKE In all our proposals, quality comes first. We pay great attention to all details, which make the travel a pleasant experience to remember.
Who we are and what we offer Simonetta Bike Tours is a small tour operator based in Verona, Veneto. Our specialities are guided tours by bike for groups. Our routes are carefully studied and tested In Italy in particular, there are not so many paths for bike lovers. We prefer easy dirty roads or longer ways, if those are niecer and guarantee a more enjoyable ride. The study of the best paths is maybe what distinguishes us more. Our proposals offer a good balance among art, nature and culture Even if some tours put the emphasis on the pleasure of natural landscapes or of cultural beauties, we truly think that one aspect completes the other. In most of the tours, you have visits and guided visits to historical centers, villas, castles, abbeys, and food and wine tasting (activity that would be harder to single travelers). Our aim is to offer holidays to enjoy without worries That’s why we choose to offer all-included tours, drinks and lunches as well. During the biking time, for lunch, you’ll find a buffet of fresh products: a service which is always appreciated, because it makes the group feeling stronger, allows to stop in stunning but maybe isolated places (with no restaurants nor other facilities), avoids wasting time buying a personal lunch. We choose beautiful and comfortable Hotels, and first quality Restoration We think that, after a good day of
biking, it is a pleasure to visit a city walking. That’s why our Hotels are normally in city centers or on special spots. The dinner menus care about having local dishes and are every nighy offer a different gourmet. For accuracy and transparency we write the names of the hotels we choose in our programs. We propose travels with a limited number of participants The small group guarantees a great possibility for social relations, unexpected friendships and a lovable friendly time together. Twenty-two people are the normal limit of participants, for some tours the threshold is lower. Three tour leaders and the agency van Normally every tour has three tour leaders, two by bike and the third on the agency van. The tour leaders are experienced, active, attentive and joyous people. The agency van is available anytime, and this assures a safety feeling and a secure trip. Luggage, medical and travel cancellation insurance are included Who books a tour, normally tries to spend as less as possible, and often just a few decide to spend more to have the insurance in case of travel cancellation. We include it in the general costs because set backs can happen. First quality bikes on hire On request, we supply our first quality bikes.
All tours you find on this brochure and on our web site have already been tested. All packages can be customised according to group’s size, nationality, either needing or not needing a leader. Should you choose the option with a leader please bare in mind that all our leader speak english, german, spanish and french. On www.simonettabiketours.it you’ll find more info and more details.
For further information or requests, write to: Simonetta Bettio simonetta@simonettabiketours.it - cell +39 334 54 87 382 [Italian] Anna Magrin anna@simonettabiketours.it - cell +39 349 24 48 114 [English– Spanish – French] Elisa Zambelli elisa@simonettabiketours.it - cell +39 320 05 99 523 [English – German – French – Portuguese]
Simonetta Bike Tours - Cycling holidays for curious cyclists Vicoletto cieco San Carlo, 2 – 37129 Verona – Italy | fax +39 045 711 17 61 p.iva 03969700230 | Registro Imprese di Verona REA CCIAA n. 380687 | Autorizzazione della Provincia di Verona n. 6382 del 13.12.2010
Our tours in Italy 2014
1
Verona and Garda Lake
2 From the Dolomites to Venice 3 Trek & bike in the Dolomites
3 2 1
6
4
9 7
5
8
10 11 13 12
4
The Long Dolomites Way
5
Sile River and Venetian Lagoon
6
Through the Euganean Hills
7
From Pordenone to the sea
8
Aquileia and Grado’s Lagoon
9
Bled Lake and the Alpe Adria
10 Langhe: unique flavors 11 Ravenna and the pinewoods 12 Siena and Gargonza Castle 13 L’Eroica: a leggendary road 14 Lazio and Ponza 15 Puglia and Matera 14
16 Green-blue Salento 15 16