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Italy

A Cycling Journey: Northern Italy From the Alps to Verona

Program No. 20865RJ
Unravel the enchanting story of Northern Italy as you cycle from the Alps to Verona, learning about Roman monuments, traditional vineyards, ancient villages and authentic cuisine.
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BicyclingOutdoor AdventuresSmall Group
Length
12 days
Rating (4.85)
Activity Level
Starts at
4,499
Flights start at
1,050

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
20 meals ( 10B, 1L, 9D )
2 expert-led lectures
17 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
An experienced Group Leader
10 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 98 miles, approximately 2.5 hours riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile; generally flat terrain.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
At the Innsbruck Airport, we will board a motorcoach and ride to Silandro in the South Tyrol region of Italy. Our route will take us through the Passo di Resia, an Alpine pass connecting the Inn River Valley with the Val Venosta. This pass was formerly part of the Via Claudia Augusta, an ancient Roman road that allowed people and goods to pass from the Adriatic Sea to Donauworth, Germany. En route to the hotel, we’ll stop to see a fascinating site near Curon with a striking landmark: a 14th-century church steeple towering from the lake. Lake Resia is an artificial lake created in 1950, when two smaller lakes were unified for the sake of power generation, submerging several villages and 1,300 acres of cultivated land. We will stop in the intriguing village of Glorenza featuring perfectly preserved city walls with parapet walks, seven towers, and three gates. This smallest town in South Tyrol was an important trading center for bringing ores and salt to Innsbruck Meals will be typical of each area. For breakfasts, we will choose from a variety of meats, cheeses, eggs, yogurt, cereals, breads, juices, and beverages. Most lunches will be on your own to enjoy the cuisine of your choice in each location. Dinners will typically be three-course meals. Evenings will be free to go out and explore independently, spend time with new Road Scholar friends, or just relax. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Orientation: The Group Leaders will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Whether biking in beautiful countryside or vibrant cities, Road Scholars will learn to understand and deal with local traffic, account for other bikers along the way, and be prepared for the unexpected such as sudden stops. Group Leaders will always provide a summary of each day’s activities. At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Biking about 10 miles; primarily paved, short distances on hard-packed gravel, bicycle paths, village roads. Walking about 1 mile
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will start our morning with a short taxi ride to the mountains near Lasa. We’ll learn about the origins of the famous pure white marble mined from the mountains near Lasa, which is used extensively in many of the world’s monuments and statues. We will return to Silandro after our visit.
Lunch:
On your own to have what you like in Silandro.
Afternoon:
We will assemble with our Group Leaders in the hotel lobby for a presentation on safety, rules of the road, and the Corner System: the way in which we will navigate throughout the program followed by bicycle fittings for each participant. We will also have test rides to ensure participants are able to safely start, stop, and control their bicycle. For our biking field trips, a support vehicle will accompany the group each day until after lunch in the event of emergency situations. Thereafter, the driver and vehicle will drive to the hotel and place luggage in our rooms. We will start our bicycling program with a short ride around and near Silandro. We will explore a village in the heart of fruit orchards and green pastures. The landmark of the city is the 320-foot-high bell tower of the parish church, believed to be one of the highest in Tyrol. The remainder of the afternoon is free time for you to enjoy the views of the Italian Dolomites.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and biking in the morning.
Activity Note
Biking about 24 miles, mostly downhill. Walking about 1 mile; generally flat terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
The Val Venosta runs from Passo di Resia to Merano and has a special microclimate of dry and sunny days that is perfect for fruit cultivation. Our biking route will take us through the town of Laces, sometimes called the “apple capital,” where many of the largest cooperatives of the valley are located. We will stop in Naturno.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like in Naturno.
Afternoon:
In Naturno, we’ll visit San Procolo Chapel, home to magnificent 8th-century frescoes, the oldest in the German-speaking world. Our field trip will culminate in the aristocratic spa town of Merano, famous for its picturesque promenades, towering cathedrals, and lush gardens. We expect to arrive in Merano late afternoon and check in to our hotel.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and biking in the morning.
Activity Note
Biking about 21 miles. Walking about 1 mile, standing up to 2 hours at a time; uneven terrain, stairs, cobblestones.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll change our cycling shoes for walking shoes this morning for an expert-led walking field trip in Merano’s old town. We’ll view its elegant architecture and learn the vivid history of this former Roman crossroad. We’ll also marvel at the via dei Portici, a corridor of arches supported by masonry columns that connect the Piazza Duomo to Piazza del Grano.
Lunch:
On your own to have what you like in Merano.
Afternoon:
Moving on, we will pedal along the Adige River through acres of vineyards to Bolzano surrounded by Dolomites of The Italian Alps. The town feels and looks more German or Austrian than Italian, and German is the predominant language spoken here. We expect to arrive and check in to our hotel in Bolzano in the late afternoon.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
No biking today. Walking about 1 mile, standing up to 2 hours at a time; uneven terrain, stairs, cobblestones.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will learn about Bolzano’s artistic and cultural treasures with a local historian who will walk us through the city. We’ll see the pink sandstone and multi-colored roof tiles of the Duomo (cathedral) in the delightful medieval center. We will also have a guided visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, featuring Ötzi the Iceman — the remarkably intact 5,300-year-old mummy discovered in Alpine ice back in 1991. We can see an exhibit showing the naturalistic reconstruction of Ötzi using 3D images of his skull as well as X-ray and CT images from two Dutch artists, Adrie and Alfons Kennis.
Lunch:
In a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. You might like to wander through the market squares, take the shuttle to Runkelstein Castle to view its spectacular wall paintings, or ride the levitating funicular from Bolzano to the mountain village of Colle for panoramic views.
Dinner:
On your own in the hotel or at a restaurant in Bolzano.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and biking in the morning.
Activity Note
Biking about 40 miles. Walking about 1/2 mile; generally flat terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will leave the German-speaking region of Southern Tyrol behind and enter the land of medieval castles, manor houses, orchards, and vineyards. Wine is king in this area and we’ll be cycling through scores of vineyards. There are twenty grape varieties used in the production of this region’s top quality red and white wines. The most popular is the red Vernatsch grape that accounts for 55% of the grapes grown.
Lunch:
On your own at a location recommended by your Group Leaders along the ride.
Afternoon:
Riding through the heart of Adige wine country, we'll continue biking to Trento arriving early enough to have time for a pre-dinner stroll on your own.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Biking about 30 miles. Walking about 1 mile, standing up to 1.5 hours; uneven terrain, stairs, cobblestones.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will gather at the hotel for a lecture about modern Italy by a local educator. We’ll then set out on an expert-led walking field trip to explore Trento. The Duomo was once the meeting ground for the Council of Trent. The remains of the town of Tridentum, complete with mosaic floors and a water heating system, remind us of ancient Roman art and innovation. We’ll encounter the city’s rich artistic and historic heritage of this city’s elegant Renaissance-style monuments and landmarks in the old city center. Before lunch, we will mount our bikes and follow the bicycle path along the Adige River to Rovereto, whose surrounding mountains were heavily fought over during World War I.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy along the ride at a location chosen by your Group Leaders.
Afternoon:
We will keep going along an old railway track, which will lead us through a gentle pass before descending to the stunning Lago di Garda, Italy's largest lake, with its vibrant blue waters.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure
Activity Note
Biking about 18 miles; starting on flat terrain, short uphill distance along Lake Garda on a paved cycle path before a steep downhill ride. Walking about 1 mile; generally flat terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will start our cycling along the shores of Lake Garda this morning taking in the breathtaking views from the high cliffs of the mountains bordering the lake. We will make several photo stops along the way.
Lunch:
On your own
Afternoon:
We will finish our bike ride and then board a bus to complete our journey to Peschiera. On the way, we will top at a local winery for a wine tasting and a lecture about the wines grown in the Lake Garda region.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant
Evening:
At leisure
Activity Note
Biking about 27 miles. Riding a motorcoach for 25 miles, about 1 hour. Walking about 1 mile; generally flat terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Our last day of cycling will be on the level towpath along the Mincio River, which is Lake Garda's only outgoing stream flow. We'll explore the unique hamlet of Borghetto, the first settlement that developed near the ford across the Mincio River. The three ancient water mills that seem to rise out of the river were used during the Venetian Republic to mill wheat and rice. On arrival in Mantua, we will surrender our bicycles.
Lunch:
On your own in Verona
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will meet a local expert on a field trip around the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the village of Mantua, known for its role in the history of opera and its medieval Renaissance architecture. You will have some free time before we board a coach back to Peschiera.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant
Evening:
At leisure
Activity Note
Biking about 29 miles; bicycle paths, flat to rolling terrain into Mantua. Walking about 1/2 mile; generally flat terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will take our last bicycle ride today as we journey to the romantic medieval town of Verona passing through farmlands and villages of the region.
Lunch:
On your own in Verona
Afternoon:
We will explore Verona on a field trip with a local expert. Known for its associations with Shakespeare, Verona is home to a remarkably well-preserved, 1st-century amphitheater. Afterwards, you will have time to for Independent Exploration to see and do what interests you most in Verona. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant
Evening:
At leisure
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, those who purchased flight arrangements through Road Scholar will have an included transfer to the airport. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program.We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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