Grand Tour d'Italia
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Grand Tour d'Italia
Trip Leaders
Upcoming Dates
- August 29, 2009
- September 19, 2009
Accommodations
Classic
Ability Level
Expert
Terrain
Flat start, then hilly to incredible descents
Distance
750 miles
Arriving
Ferrara
Departing
Gaeta
Price
- $5,495 - 5/16/09, 6/5/09, 8/29/09
- $5,695 - 9/19/09
Single Supplement
$950
Bike Rental
Included!
A Unique 15-Day Journey from Northern to Southern Italy
Highlights
- An excellent value: more miles, more sights—more of Italy for less
- Cooking demonstration
- Overnight sojourns at cultural gems: Venice, Ravenna, Florence, Arezzo and Spoleto
- Visits to ceramic capitals: Faenza, Deruta, and Castelli
- Stays at Italy’s fourth-largest lake and an idyllic seaside resort
- A stay at the base of Gran Sasso, the highest Apennine peak
A stunning portrait of Italy emerges on this seven-region journey. The canals of the Po Delta … the verdant Apennine mountains … Florence—the jewel of the Renaissance … and the moonscape of the Sibillini mountains are only a few of the highlights of this inspiring and unforgettable trip.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Ferrara
Our Grand Tour starts in Ferrara, a Renaissance city with a majestic castle at its center, rich in history and an outpost of papal power to the north, and what else, bicycles!
Day 2 – Ravenna
Zigzag through orchards of fruit trees and around lagoons to Ravenna, once a major Byzantine city. On our way we also enjoy crossing the Reno river via a boat bridge.
Day 3—4 – Florence
Farmlands rise with you into the Apennines during today's ride into Tuscany, our longest ride of the trip. Day 4, take the day to relax and immerse yourself in the pleasures of Florence. A must: Venturing to nearby Fiesole to bask in the mellow Florentine sunset.
Day 5 – Arezzo
Cross the panoramic Sette Ponti (Roman "Road of Seven Bridges") en route to medieval Arezzo. Our ride today is picturesque through ancient olive groves and vineyards with a distant view of the Chianti hills.
Day 6 – Castiglione del Lago
Follow a gentle terrain of wheat and sunflower fields from the region of Tuscany into Umbria and to Lake Trasimeno.
Day 7—8 – Spoleto
Stops along the way include Deruta, Italy's ceramic center; Bevagna, with its Roman ruins; and Montefalco, a wine village. Of course, we'll pause to give our approval to the local product.
Day 9 – Norcia
Ride to the mountain town of Norcia.
Day 10 – Ascoli Piceno
Our ride through the Apennines is one of the most spectacular of our trip! This beautiful ride will offer incredible views of mountain peaks, valleys, and verdant forests. Make a quick stop along the way to pick up some truffle and/or porcini mushroom sauce from our favorite store!
Day 11 – Fonte Cerreto
We push off for Abruzzo’s ceramics center. But first, take some time to ride around Ascoli... enjoy its sparkling piazza and pick up some fruit from the market. The panoramic views on this trip will continue to amaze you!
Day 12 – Caramanico Terme
A wondrous moonscape unfolds during today’s climb. This rolling route takes us through Calascio, an abandoned village, and Capestrano. A series of hills bring us to Caramanico Terme.
Day 13 – Scanno
Today's route will take you through a lush and rugged mountain range, passing several charming villages. Wind along a steep gorge to the authentic village of Scanno.
Day 14 – Gaeta
Climb through the Abruzzo National Park. Our shuttle then takes us to Gaeta, a medieval seaside village. Tucked in a quiet bay, you will enjoy the serentiy of our hotel, as we celebrate the completion of our incredible Italian journey.
Day 15 – Arrivederci!
Enjoy breakfast in Gaeta before departing. An excursion to Ponza is a great idea before heading home!