Venetian Villas and Vineyards Cycling

Italy | VENETO
Italy - pp50-51 - C08VN.qxp_Italy 9/14/15 4:21 PM Page 50
Venetian Villas and Vineyards Cycling
$1,525 per person
8 nights from
b
at a glance...
Totally unspoiled, easy cycling off the
tourist trail - great for first timers!
Charming, friendly hotels; great
Venetian home cooking
Steeped in history: medieval castles,
Palladian villas, Roman roads
Venice, Verona, Padua and Vicenza all
within reach on your rest days
Lots of wine tasting opportunities
What’s included...
• 8 nights - hotel-to-hotel
• all continental breakfasts and evening
meals
• b self-guided cycling with route notes
and maps
• High-quality bikes
• Managed locally by Headwater
employed Representative
• luggage transfers between hotels
See pp8-9 & pp50-51 for details of what the b
symbol means and how our holidays work
• Combines well with our
Italian alps to lake Garda cycling
• 80% sustainability rating
• 92% customer satisfaction rating
Our undiscovered corner of Veneto, just 60 minutes (but a world away) from
bustling Venice, is the perfect setting for a relaxed cycling holiday. Nestled between
the art cities of Padua, home to one of the oldest universities in the whole of
Europe, and UNESCO-recognised Vicenza, the region is bursting with Patrician villas
– built by Venetian nobles to escape the muggy heat of the city - and ancient castles,
although it is surprisingly almost entirely
untouched by tourism. Palladio was the
most famous Renaissance architect and
many of his buildings, including the Villa
Rotonda, can be visited on day 7 of this
interest-packed itinerary.
We take you across the Venetian plain,
past cherry orchards and swaying vine
terraces, with the outline of the conical
shaped Euganean Hills and imposing
Colli Berici acting as a constant
backdrop. The cycling is wonderfully
gentle, over the flatlands of the plain
and the low foothills of the Colli Berici,
along peaceful canalside paths, cycle
tracks and quiet country roads, passing
sumptuous villas and historic towns with
wine tasting opportunities on the way.
En route the cuisine is fabulous, home
cooked meals and you’ll stay with some
of the friendliest people we've ever met.
In Teolo you’ll stay at Tiziana’s lovingly
restored Liberty villa, while there’s a
warm welcome at Valfrido and
Angelina's charming agriturismo near
Vicenza, and at the Ottolitri family's
hotel just outside Galzignano.
Call us on 1-800-567-6286 for a tailor-made quote
Villaganzerla
Teolo
Cortelà
Galzignano
Rome
•
Italy - pp50-51 - C08VN.qxp_Italy 9/14/15 4:22 PM Page 51
Your accommodation
“ A super
holiday. We loved
the area and all the
accommodation. ”
Mr R Crockett
Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Cortelà
Day 2
Cortelà to Galzignano 38km/24mi
Day 4
Galzignano to Teolo 28km/17.5mi or 36km/22.5mi
It’s a lovely circular cycle (route notes provided) to Arquà Petrarca, unchanged since the 1370s
when Petrarch lived here. Visit his well-preserved house before pedalling off through vineyards to
the fabulous Villa Barbarigo at Valsanzibio; the delightfully manicured, C17 Italian gardens here are
the best in the region.
Cycling through swaying vines you reach the charming village of Battaglia where there’s time for a
spot of wine tasting. You must try the local Serprino, a medium dry frizzante wine often compared
to Prosecco, before carrying on through the spa towns of Montegrotto and Abano Terme to the
Renaissance abbey at La Praglia, where an order of Benedictine monks still presides. After
admiring the elegant cloisters and C15 church you cycle to Villa di Teolo where we meet you for
the short transfer up to your hotel in Teolo, an elegant villa perched high above the town.
Day 5
At Teolo
A former Roman settlement, Teolo’s heyday was in the C15 when it became the summer home of
Venice’s doges, escaping the heat on the coast. Many palazzi and formal gardens from the period
remain. You could take a walk in the encircling Euganean Hills (360o views from here) or maybe
take the bus into Padua to admire the town’s Giotto frescoes. Or, for a longer day out, take the
bus/train to Italy’s most romantic city, Venice. Enjoy a cappuccino in St Mark’s Square, take a
gondola under the Bridge of Sighs, admire the opulent gold decor of the Doge’s Palace or visit the
Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The list is endless!
Day 6
Teolo to Villaganzerla 38km/24mi
Day 7
At Villaganzerla
Day 8
Villaganzerla to Cortelà 35km/22mi or 39km/24.5mi
Day 9
Leave Cortelà
Belvedere Resort ai Colli
Villa Lussana
Agriturismo l’Albara
HHH
Galzignano Terme (Days 2+3)
Wine service
The day starts along the canalside path to Este. This delightful medieval town with its pastel,
arcaded buildings boasts a C14 castle and an altar piece by Tiepolo in its cathedral. Your next stop
is Monselice - visit its medieval castle (converted into a sumptuous residence for a Venetian noble
in the C15). From Monselice you follow the canal past the C19 Villa Italia, before arriving at the
Ottolitri family’s friendly hotel just outside Galzignano.
At Galzignano
AA
Cortelà (Days 1+8)
Arrive at your friendly agriturismo run by Gabriella and Alessandro, in time for dinner.
Day 3
Agriturismo Il Feudo
Today starts with an exhilarating downhill through the Euganean Hills to the medieval castle at San
Martino. Then, cycling by the Bacchiglione River, you reach Cervarese Santa Croce in time for a
relaxed lunch in the square. From here, it’s into wine country once more to reach your charming
agriturismo at Villaganzerla where you’ll receive a warm welcome from Valfrido and Angelina.
There’s time for a dip in the pool (typically open June - end September) before dinner.
You could relaz by the pool but it’s a shame to miss out on Vicenza! A cycle path (those feeling lazy
can catch the bus) takes you there past the famous Palladian villa, La Rotonda. Nicknamed “Venice
of the Terra Firma” for its marvellous architecture, Palladio designed dozens of the city’s buildings,
from the Basilica Palladiana in the main square to the Teatro Olimpico. There’s plenty to explore.
Today’s route follows the Strada del Tocai Rosso (the only area outside of Hungary where the red
Tocai is grown). The wine road links a string of pretty villages, each with their own Venetian
campanile. Then it’s out across the plain to reach Vo’Vecchio, criss-crossed with canals. The
Euganean Hills are spread out in front of you as you cycle through the vineyards to Gabriella and
Alessandro’s agriturismo for your last dinner.
HHH
Teolo (Days 4+5)
AAA
Villaganzerla (Days 6+7)
Treat yourself...
For extra nights we recommend staying in Teolo or
Villaganzerla. We can also arrange city break add-ons in
Venice or Verona at the start, or end, of your holiday.
Room upgrades are available from $10 per person,
per night, based on 2 sharing.
Dates and Prices (US$)
Departs every two days
Tour Only
2016 Departures
May 11-21
May 23-Jun 30
Jul 2-30
Aug 1-31
Sep 2-8
Sep 10-Oct 16
$1,525
$1,715
$1,780
$1,780
$1,780
$1,629
Singles: Add $8 per night for sole occupancy of a double room.
Child: Prices on request.
Group Size: No minimum group size.
Departs: Every two days from May 11 to Oct 16.
Duration: 9 days (8 nights).
Meals: Continental breakfast and evening meals.
Other details: For “What your holiday price includes,” see “Booking
Information” section pp 48-51. Please note that cycling helmets are
compulsory in Italy for children under 16. As we cannot provide these, we
strongly recommend that you bring your own.
Tour starts: Vicenza train station 13:33. Pick up, then transfer to hotel, 50
mins.
Tour ends: Vicenza train station by 13:26 (transfer provided, 50 mins).
Rail options: Venice Mestre to Vicenza 13:02/13:33.
Return: Rail Vicenza to Venice Mestre 13:26/13:58.
Rail supplement: $84 round trip per person, standard class, $160 first class.
CO8VN
For further details visit: www.breakaway-adventures.com