Canals in Venice. Photo by Patrick Hickey Colorful boat in Chioggia - photo by Flickr:maurobrock

Mantova to Venice

Italy Bike + Boat Tour

Since 2009 this has been one of our most popular tours that was expanded with addition of the brand new lovely Ave Maria. This italian boat has been totally rebuilt in order to meet the highest expectations. The tour takes place within the Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto regions of Italy from Mantova to famous Venice via Castelguglielmo, Ferrara, Adria, Porto Levante and Chioggia.

Never before has there been a Bike & Boat tour in Italy like this!! You can relax on board the boat every evening instead of shuffling from hotel to hotel, and enjoy leisure sails while cycling through gorgeous Italian countrysides and villages during the day.

The tour starts in Mantova (Mantua) – beautifully surrounded by lakes. Its centro historico is not to be missed – dozens of fascinating piazzas, churches, monuments and courtyards!

Castelguglielmo is a small town of about 1800 people within the Veneto region. Via small villages and hamlets, you’ll make your way to Ferrara. Ferrara is known as the City of the Renaissance, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ferrara has many early Renaissance palaces and one of the best preserved Renaissance walls in Italy.

Adria lies between the mouth of the Po and Adige Rivers and was once an Etruscan city. Porto Levante is a great port town with incredible seafood, fantastic views as well as the great wildlife of the Po Delta National Park.

The coastal town of Chioggia is Venice in miniature. It has great medieval architecture and a famous fish market. Last but not least is the great city-on-water, Venice. Venice is a delight of lavish pallazi, elaborate bridges, quaint piazzas and magnificent churches all crammed into a maze of narrow streets and canals.

This tour is also available from Venice to Mantova.

Tour Dates

  • 2012 dates:

  • Departures from Mantova:
  • Ave Maria: Saturdays on March 31, April 14, 28, May 12, 26, June 9, 23, July 7, 21, August 4, 18, September 1, 15, 29, October 13 and 27, 2012.
  • Vita Pugna: Sundays on April 29, May 13, 27, June 10, 24, July 8, 22, August 5, 19, September 2, 16, 30, and October 14, 2012.
  • Departures from Venice:
  • Ave Maria: Saturdays on March 24, April 7, 21, May 5, 19, June 2, 16, 30, July 14, 28, August 11, 25, September 8, 22, October 6 and 20, 2012.
  • Vita Pugna: Sundays on May 6, 20, June 3, 17, July 1, 15, 29, August 12, 26, September 9, 23, October 7, and 21, 2012.

Skill Level

Easy, guided tour

Easy guided Bike & Boat tour with daily distances from 17 to 34 miles. The tour is entirely on level ground. Much of the pedaling is along rivers and canals on tarmac bicycle paths or roads with a low volume of car traffic. It is anticipated that the boat will sail some of the way during breakfast or evening meal to make getting out of the towns easier or to shorten the stages. During the weeks in which departures are from Venice to Mantova, the daily program needs to be read in reverse order.

Where You’ll Stay

On board the VITA PUGNA, a Comfort class ship or the brand new AVE MARIA, a Comfort Plus ship.

What’s Included

  • 7 nights accommodations on board
  • Breakfasts, self-made packed lunches, and dinners
  • Aboard the Ave Maria, 3 course dinners
  • Detailed route descriptions & maps
  • Bus transfer: Ferrara-Zelo/Ferrara-Adria
  • Mid-week service of cabin cleaning and towel changes
  • Information pack
  • Tour guide
  • 27-speed hybrid bicycle
  • Harbor charges

What’s Not Included

  • Beverages
  • Museum entrance fees
  • Ferry Ticket transportation in Vencie
  • Electric bike (available for supplement)

Mantova to Venice Map

Book This Trip

TourBike + Boat
TypeGuided
SkillEasy
Length8 days
From€840
Print Tour

Tour Boats

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Mantova to Venice Map
  1. Saturday: Individual arrival in Mantova
  2. Sunday: Mantova - Governolo - Zelo, 32 mi. (50 km).
  3. Monday: Zelo/Castelguglielmo – Ferrara - Adria, 32 mi. (50 km)
  4. Tuesday: Adria - Porto Viro - Albarella , 22/35 mi. (35/55 km).
  5. Wednesday: Albarella - Chioggia, 25 mi. (40 km).
  6. Thursday: Chioggia - Venice, 19 mi. (30 km).
  7. Friday: Venice, free day.
  8. Saturday: Venice, departure following breakfast.

*All distances are approximate. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

DAY 1: Arrival in Mantova.
Your cabins will be available from 4 p.m. The boat is moored at Porto Catena, just a short walk from the city-center. The meeting with the tour guide and the crew is scheduled at dinner-time, approximately 7 p.m.
Mantova is one of the most beautiful towns in Northern Italy, where a lot of worldwide known artists left their masterpieces, thanks to the assignment of the famous Gonzaga family.

DAY 2: Mantova - Governolo - Zelo, 32 mi. (50 km).
The boat will take you to Governolo, stronghold of the Mincio Pirates. Here you find the biggest basin of Italy, built in order to control the Mincio River. Here, you’ll take your bikes and start riding, following the flow of the Po River. You pedal until the village of Ostiglia, with the ruins of a medieval fortress. After a ride along the Canal Bianco, you will reach Zelo, where the barge will moor for the night.

DAY 3: Zelo/Castelguglielmo – Ferrara - Adria, 32 mi. (50 km)
Following breakfast you will start cycling towards Ferrara. Once you have reached the town, which earned the name of "city of bicycles", you will be enchanted by the historical centre, still surrounded by the old city walls. From Ferrara, a short bus transfer will bring you to Adria, an ancient Greek port, famous for trading amber coming from the Baltic.

DAY 4: Adria - Porto Viro - Albarella , 22/35 mi. (35/55 km). The boat will bring you to Porto Viro, from where you will start the daily ride into the maze of the Po Delta, an uncontaminated paradise between marshes and lagoons of the Po, pedaling in the heart of nature. The destination is Albarella, a private island of ancient traditions. In case of low water, you will start cycling directly from Adria, for approximately (35 mi.) 55 km.

DAY 5: Albarella - Chioggia, 25 mi. (40 km).
Today you will be suspended between water and land, as you will pedal between the Po Delta and the mouth of the Adige River. You follow thne the Po-Brondolo waterway, which links the river to the Venetian lagoon. You will stay overnight in Chioggia, famous as "the little Venice". A visit to the fish market at dawn is an absolute must.

DAY 6: Chioggia - Venice, 19 mi. (30 km).
Today the ship will bring you to the Oasis of Ca’ Roman, a sandy islet surrounded by pine-woods. Pedaling along the lagoon, you will reach Pellestrina and from here, ride on the new bicycle path as far as the ferry landing stage. A short boat ride takes you back up the Lido island, along the ‘Murazzi’, with a stop in Malamocco, the ancient harbor. Overnight is at the Island of Giudecca, not far from St. Mark's square, with an amazing view of the lagoon.

DAY 7: Venice, free day.
Free day in Venice at your disposal. After a wonderful awakening with a view of the lagoon, you have the whole day to your liking, to discover the magnificent historical center of the capital of the 'Republica Serenissima', or its wonderful islands. You will want to obtain an ACTV ticket to take advantage of exploring this intriguing city.

DAY 8: Venice
After breakfast and the customary goodbyes, free time for individual visits of Venice before returning home.

*Itinerary from Venice to Mantova also available by request.

Book This Trip

Questions? Call us! 877-965-2064 or e-mail us

Mantova to Venice Boats + Barges

  • Ave Maria Photo

    Ave Maria Italy Comfort Plus Class Boat Comfort Plus class boats are very nicely furnished 5-star ships containing cabins with low beds, private bathrooms, a large dining area, separate saloon, and more.

  • Vita Pugna Photo

    Vita Pugna Italy Comfort Class Boat Comfort class boats contain larger cabins with private bathrooms and low beds (no bunk beds).

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