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Come join us on a beautiful ride along the famous Bike Path of the Sun! In this tour you will journey by the mysterious castles of Trento, the golden fields and vineyards of Tuscany, along the irridescent banks of the Arno River, by the tranquil shores of the lake of Bracciano, and finally end the tour in a triumphal ride around the famous Colosseum of Rome!
Reserve your spot today!
Trip duration: 19 days.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Day 1: Registration and Welcome Dinner
Meet the VeloTours team at our booth in the Innsbrück Train Station. We will escort to your hotel and after settling in, join us for a trip briefing and welcome dinner in the heart of the old city center of Innsbrück!
Day 2: Stage: Brenner Pass-Brixen. Trip distance: 57 km. Elevation gain: -810 m.
In this breathtaking downhill ride we arrive to the quaint town of Bressanone/Brixen, where Papa and young Mozart briefly stayed during the year of 1769. Starting our ride from Brenner Pass, where Hannibal crossed, elephants and all, into Roman territory, we stop for lunch and gelato at Vipiteno, then visit an old castle owned by the famous Thurn and Taxis family of Austria as we continue on our way.
Day 3: Stage: Brixen-Bolzano.Trip distance: 45 km. Elevation gain: -382 m.
Today we continue our all-downhill ride past castles and along Alpine landscapes into the Tyrolean and old Austria-Hungary city of Bolzano, which was annexed by Italy at the end of the First World War.
Day 4: Stage: Bolzano-Trento. Trip distance: 63 km. Elevation gain: -72 m.
Riding along the South Tirol Wine Road and passing no less than 100 castles along the way, we lunch accompanied by a good bottle of Gewürztraminer, a wine typical of this region, before following the banks of the Arno river into the fortified city of Trento.
Day 5: Trento
Take a full day to explore the multiple towers, churches, palaces, the duomo, and the castle of Buonconsiglio in this beautiful walled city! At a crossroads of the Austrian and Italian cultures, the capital city of the Tyrol boasts a charming city center with original Renaissance-era buildings and elegant shops and boutiques as well as the famous fountain of Neptune. In the evening, don't forget to try the typical canederli for supper!
Day 6: Stage: Trento-Bardolino. Trip distance: 77 km. Elevation gain: -125 m.
Continuing our travels past many old castles, after a short hill climb we descend to the impressive views of the crystalline Lake Garda. We arrive at the town of Bardolino, which gives its name to the wine produced in the region.
Day 7: Stage: Bardolino-Mantova. Trip distance: 70 km. Elevation gain: -46 m.
On today's ride along the transparent, emerald-green Mincio river, we stop for a typical tortellini lunch and ice-cream at the beautiful but hidden medieval town of Borghetto. We then arrive in Mantova, UNESCO World Heritage Site, home of the Dukes of Gonzaga and also the city of Romeo's exile in Shakespeare's famous Romeo and Juliet.
Day 8: Mantova
Take a full day to explore this city just recently inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list. After a stroll in the gardens of the Ducal Palace, a visit to the Duomo and Basilica, or admiring the frescoes at Palazzo Te, why not take a short train ride to nearby Verona (another UNESCO World Heritage Site) for evening dinner in the outdoor cafes surrounding its Roman Arena?
Day 9: Stage: Mantova-Modena. Trip distance: 73 km. Elevation gain: 15 m.
A pleasant ride along country roads in the area famous for its prized Balsamic vinegar brings us to the ancient city of Modena, where sports cars manufacturers Ferrari, Lamborghini, De Tomaso, Maserati, and Pagani have their factories and headquarters.
Day 10: Stage: Modena-Bologna. Trip distance: 40 km. Elevation gain: 20 m.
Today's short ride gives us plenty of time to explore the red-roofed city of Bologna. Considered the culinary capital of Italy, Bologna is also home to the renowned and oldest university in Europe, founded in the year 1088, whose graduates and community included the poets Dante Alighieri and Petrarch, the scientists Copernicus, Galvani, and Marconi, and personages like Thomas Becket, Pope Nicholas V, and Erasmus of Rotterdam. For dinner today, of course, we cannot forgo sampling the typically Bolognese spaghetti al ragu !
Day 11: Bologna
Take a full day to stroll Bologna's squares, arcades and arches. Listen to its church bells or visit its many classical music schools, conservatories, and academies, admire its towers and palaces, churches, or museums, and of course...its conspicuous red-roofed buildings. And for a dose of modern design and technology, why not take a look at the collection of sports motorcycles at the Ducati museum just outside the city center?
Day 12: Stage: Bologna-Florence. Trip distance: 97 km. Elevation gain: -4 m.
Today we finally encounter some hills (and a small pass! 958m) as we cross the Appenines into the region of Tuscany. This moderately difficult ride with lots of hills is worth it though, as we are rewarded with arrival into one of the most beautiful cities of Europe.
Day 13: Florence
This renowned city, UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cradle of the Italian Reinassance, was home to great masters like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Dante Allighieri, Galileo Galilei, Donatello, Raphael, and Botticelli. Take a full day to explore its magnificent paintings and sculpture collections at the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia Gallery, and the Bargello. Then spend some time visiting admiring the superb architecture of the Duomo, designed by Brunelleschi, the Campanile, and the doors of the Battistero. After walking in and around the Palazzo della Signoria, take a stroll over the Ponte Vecchio into the Oltrarno and Palazzo Pitti, from whose Belvedere you can sip tea or coffee with unparalleled views of the city from above.
Day 14: Stage: Florence-Siena. Trip distance: 75 km. Elevation gain: 272 m.
Today's hilly ride along the famous Chianti wine region in the heart of Tuscany brings us in a glorious downhill descent into to the medieval city of Siena. Don't worry, in spite of the famed Tuscan climbs, there will be plenty of time for wine tasting along the way!
Day 15: Siena
Take a full day to explore this beautiful Reinassance city. Spend the morning in the Piazza del Campo, surrounded by palaces and the Torre del Mangia, and around which the horse riders of the 17 Siena contrade (city wards) race each other each year in an exciting tradition that goes back to the Middle Ages. Siena is also host to a renowned Conservatory of Music and a modern Jazz School, which you may easily stumble upon as you wander its many cobblestoned streets in the city center.
Day 16: Stage: Siena-Acquapendente. Trip distance: 99 km. Elevation gain: 98 m.
Today we ride along the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage road that ran from Canterbury to Rome. We stop for the night in Acquapendente, a town famous for its Flower Festival and its medieval hospital, where pilgrims would often stop to recover from their journey.
Day 17: Stage: Acquapendente-Sutri. Trip distance: 88 km. Elevation gain: -129 m.
Continuing a beautiful ride along the Via Francigena we pass by the shores of lake Bolsena into Sutri, an ancient Etruscan settlement complete with its own Mithraeum, amphitheater, and necropolis!
Day 18: Stage: Sutri-Rome. Trip distance: 71 km. Elevation gain: -271 m.
After almost 900 kms of bike riding we finally arrive into Rome! Our entry into this impressive city is along the Via Cassia (an ancient road connecting some of the most important cities of the Roman Empire), past Nero's tomb, a stone's throw away from the Vatican, and takes us directly into the Colosseum, an obligatory stop for celebration and, of course, pictures. We end the day with the traditional goodbye dinner in a trendy restaurant by the famous Piazza di Spagna!
Day 19: Time to go home!
Free shuttle to Termini train station provided by the VeloTours van team. Or, if you prefer to take your time to explore this magnificent city, contact us at the time of reservation to arrange an extended stay!
Route Map Reserve your spot today! |
