Greece to Italy
- Overview
- Details / Dates
- Day By Day
- Trip Leaders
- Testimonials
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Greece to Italy
A Multicultural Spin through the Cradles of our Civilization
Highlights
- Compare and contrast ancient and modern Greece and Italy in a single trip
- Stroll the site of the original Olympic games
- Feel the achievement of climbing to the lofty Passo L'Inferno
- Walk amid the ruins of Brutus's villa in Velia
Description
From law to literature to language, our culture bears the indelible imprint of the ancient Greeks and Romans. On this all-new Ciclismo tour, your bike becomes a veritable time machine as you pedal to classical ruin sites and pause in villages that hold fast to their old ways. Yet you'll feel at home at every stop of the way, thanks to comfortable accommodations, terrific food, and tour leaders who handle all the details - and plan those little, unexpected experiences that make your trip truly one of a kind.
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Price
Apr: $6,295
May - Oct: $6,395 -
Single Supplement
$1,100
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Ability Level
Expert
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Terrain
Rolling
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Distance
497
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Departing
Santa Maria di Castellabate, Italy
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Arriving
Loutraki, Greece
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Bike Rental
Included
- View our Suggested Reading
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Other Trips You'll Like
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Dates
- April 30, 2012
- June 6, 2012
- September 22, 2012
- October 23, 2012
Day 1: Loutraki
Meet your companions on a warm-up ride to ancient Corinth, followed by a welcome dinner.
Day 2–3: Nafplion
Spin across the Corinth Canal to the storied Peloponnese, continuing to Mycenae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of King Agamemnon. on Day 3, ride a loop to Eipdaurus, the third-century B.C. theater whose acoustics are so impeccable, it still hosts summer theater festivals.
Day 4: Stemnitsa
A day of pure cycling and rich rewards! Climbing several mountains, we arrive in the Arcadian village of Stemnitsa, known for its fine gold and silver jeweler's school and a preserved Byzantine church that houses precious frescoes.
Day 5: Olympia
Even cycling gods and goddesses deserve a break, and you'll get one on today's mostly downhill run to Olympia.
Day 6: Lampeia
The Olympic spirit may very well sweep you up on this morning's tour of ancient Olympia. Originally a sanctuary where sacrifices were given, it became a site of athletic competition before a Roman emperor abolished the games as being too pagan. In the afternoon, ride up to a traditional mountain village.
Day 7: Kalavrita
On our last day in Greece, we'll explore the stunning Cave of the Lakes.
Day 8: Ferry to Italy
Down to the sea on cycles we go. In Patra, we'll board the overnight ferry to Bari.
Day 9: Matera
Benvenuti all'Italia! A short shuttle will bring us to Matera, the city of caves and a filming location for The Passion of the Christ. Its sassi cave dwellings have merited a UNESCO World Heritage sites designation. If you're hungry for the road, join an optional ride to the town of Montescaglioso, whose origin dates to the seventh century B.C.
Day 10: Castelmezzano
Begin with a roller coaster of a ride that affords wondrous views of Monte Ingino, the Brandano River valley, and Lago di Giuliano. For lunch, we'll break in Roman Tricarico. On a longer loop, you'll ride through Grassano, the site of author Carlo Levi's exile.
Day 11: Padula
Zip downhill to Viggiano, where we'll fuel up for a challenging climb (but oh, the views!) that ultimately brings us to Padula.
Day 12: Palinuro
Beginning in the Tangaro Valley, we climb steeply to the Passo L'Inferno before coasting down to dense forests, olive groves, and apple orchards.
Day 13: Santa Maria di Castellabate
Hug the Mediterranean coastline to the Greek ruins of Velia. Continue along the coast of Cilento to Santa Maria di Castellabate, where our farewell celebration awaits.
Day 14: Arrivederci
Transfer to Agropoli train station to make rail connections.
Guides for this trip
Related Testimonials
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George B., Pecos NM had this to say about Greece to Italy:
The Greece portion of this tour was fantastic - great cycling and tons of history! -
Harold M., Athens GA had this to say about Greece to Italy:
A lovely trip! Physically challenging and intellectually stimulating. -
Peter B., Hong Kong had this to say about Greece to Italy:
This new tour offers spectacular, remote locations.
