1. Mantua
The barge welcomes guests starting at 4.30 PM. A meeting with the tour leader and the crew is scheduled at 6.30 PM with a refreshing aperitivo). After dinner we can stroll into town and savour the historic centre. Benvenuti a Mantova !
2. Mantua tour circular ride (35 km)
This morning is dedicated to the discovery of this little visited cultural gem with its three picturesque “lakes” formed by the Mincio, and its surrounding countryside. Once a City State ruled by the Gonzaga family, Mantua is now considered by many as Italy’s “Sleeping Beauty”. In the afternoon a local guide will lead the group on a walking tour through the historic centre starting from the Piazza Sordello with its magnificent cathedral and Palazzo Ducale and on through the city centre to Piazza delle Erbe with its Clock Tower and a cathedral which is a jewel of Renaissance art and architecture. After the tour there will be free time before dinner.
3. Mantua – Governolo – Zelo (50 km)
A short cruise along the lush banks of the Mincio takes us to Governolo, where the Mincio flows into the Po and forms the largest inland basin in Italy. At Governolo Lock, once a vital staging post for local navigation, we begin cycling following the Po through Ostiglia (famed for its medieval fortress and for the fierce fighting in 1945 when then allies drove Hitler's forces north. Next comes the village of Bergantino with its museum of fairground rides and street organs (all working). The village is in the centre of Grana Padano cheese country (a rival to Parmesan) and we stop for a tasting. Finally, we catch up with our barge at Zelo, a sleepy village on the Canal Bianco, the waterway which runs parallel to the Po.
4. Zelo – Ferrara – Adria (50 km by bike and 60 km by bus)
After breakfast we cycle through farmland, orchards and hamlets to Ferrara, another key City State of ancient Italy. We visit this historic town and discover its centre which is still surrounded by the original city walls. Under its powerful rulers, the Este family, medieval Ferrara attracted architects, artists and scholars and even today its University of Ferrara is considered one of the hest, From Ferrara a transfer by private coach takes us to Adria. Once close to the shores of the sea which bears its name, Adria was an ancient Greek port famous for trading Baltic amber. Its remarkable museum also bears witness to its Etruscan, Roman and Venetian heritage. After dinner we have a "paaseggiata" into town for a well-earned grappa or gelato.
5. Adria – Porto Viro – Chioggia (40 km)
An exhilarating day of discovery alternating sailing and cycling starts with a short cruise to our drop-off point at Porto Viro and the exploration of the Po’s delta. This unique wetland park is the prime reserve in Europe for herons and home to several colonies of flamingos. At the mouth of the River Adige, which flows fast and cool from the Dolomites we follow the Po-Brondolo waterway and reach the Venetian lagoon and Chioggia. Our overnight stop is the Island of Pellestrina.
6. Pellestrina – Venice (30 km)
Venice beckons but first we cycle through what seems to be another world - Pellestrina, the first of two islands we traverse this morning, is a humble fishing backwater- picturesque with its boats and nets. A short island-hop by ferry lands us on the Lido. Fashionable in high society since the Belle Epoque, the Lido now is home to the Venice International Film Festival. We visit an historic glass factory on Murano Island with a glass-blowing demonstration. Finally, our floating hotel takes us past St Marks Square to our marina in Venice, After dinner we can savour Venice by night after the crowds have gone.
7. Venice
In the morning a local walking tour guide will help you discover the capital of the ancient “Serenissima Republic of Venice”, which held sway over much of the Mediterranean (and beyond) for centuries. The tour starts at Piazza San Marco and continues through the biggest sestiere of the city, Castello, up to Campo dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo with its imposing gothic church.
The tour ends at Rialto Bridge and you have the afternoon to soak up the timeless beauty of Venice.
8. Venice
Depart after breakfast .
The barge welcomes guests starting at 4.30 PM. A meeting with the tour leader and the crew is scheduled at 6.30 PM with a refreshing aperitivo). After dinner we can stroll into town and savour the historic centre. Benvenuti a Mantova !
2. Mantua tour circular ride (35 km)
This morning is dedicated to the discovery of this little visited cultural gem with its three picturesque “lakes” formed by the Mincio, and its surrounding countryside. Once a City State ruled by the Gonzaga family, Mantua is now considered by many as Italy’s “Sleeping Beauty”. In the afternoon a local guide will lead the group on a walking tour through the historic centre starting from the Piazza Sordello with its magnificent cathedral and Palazzo Ducale and on through the city centre to Piazza delle Erbe with its Clock Tower and a cathedral which is a jewel of Renaissance art and architecture. After the tour there will be free time before dinner.
3. Mantua – Governolo – Zelo (50 km)
A short cruise along the lush banks of the Mincio takes us to Governolo, where the Mincio flows into the Po and forms the largest inland basin in Italy. At Governolo Lock, once a vital staging post for local navigation, we begin cycling following the Po through Ostiglia (famed for its medieval fortress and for the fierce fighting in 1945 when then allies drove Hitler's forces north. Next comes the village of Bergantino with its museum of fairground rides and street organs (all working). The village is in the centre of Grana Padano cheese country (a rival to Parmesan) and we stop for a tasting. Finally, we catch up with our barge at Zelo, a sleepy village on the Canal Bianco, the waterway which runs parallel to the Po.
4. Zelo – Ferrara – Adria (50 km by bike and 60 km by bus)
After breakfast we cycle through farmland, orchards and hamlets to Ferrara, another key City State of ancient Italy. We visit this historic town and discover its centre which is still surrounded by the original city walls. Under its powerful rulers, the Este family, medieval Ferrara attracted architects, artists and scholars and even today its University of Ferrara is considered one of the hest, From Ferrara a transfer by private coach takes us to Adria. Once close to the shores of the sea which bears its name, Adria was an ancient Greek port famous for trading Baltic amber. Its remarkable museum also bears witness to its Etruscan, Roman and Venetian heritage. After dinner we have a "paaseggiata" into town for a well-earned grappa or gelato.
5. Adria – Porto Viro – Chioggia (40 km)
An exhilarating day of discovery alternating sailing and cycling starts with a short cruise to our drop-off point at Porto Viro and the exploration of the Po’s delta. This unique wetland park is the prime reserve in Europe for herons and home to several colonies of flamingos. At the mouth of the River Adige, which flows fast and cool from the Dolomites we follow the Po-Brondolo waterway and reach the Venetian lagoon and Chioggia. Our overnight stop is the Island of Pellestrina.
6. Pellestrina – Venice (30 km)
Venice beckons but first we cycle through what seems to be another world - Pellestrina, the first of two islands we traverse this morning, is a humble fishing backwater- picturesque with its boats and nets. A short island-hop by ferry lands us on the Lido. Fashionable in high society since the Belle Epoque, the Lido now is home to the Venice International Film Festival. We visit an historic glass factory on Murano Island with a glass-blowing demonstration. Finally, our floating hotel takes us past St Marks Square to our marina in Venice, After dinner we can savour Venice by night after the crowds have gone.
7. Venice
In the morning a local walking tour guide will help you discover the capital of the ancient “Serenissima Republic of Venice”, which held sway over much of the Mediterranean (and beyond) for centuries. The tour starts at Piazza San Marco and continues through the biggest sestiere of the city, Castello, up to Campo dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo with its imposing gothic church.
The tour ends at Rialto Bridge and you have the afternoon to soak up the timeless beauty of Venice.
8. Venice
Depart after breakfast .
The
programme has been planned to
feature navigation along the
Fissero/ Bianco canal, which
runs parallel to the Po and
connects Mantua to the Adriatic
Sea. Due to organisational
reasons, weather conditions or
provisions issued by local
authorities, the itinerary may
be subject to some changes
before and/or during the
holiday. Issues with high and
low water, as well as logistic
obstacles such as officially
ordered - previously not
announced - repair work on locks
or bridges can modify some of
the daily stretches or overnight
stays and may even request a
transfer by bus. These decisions
are only taken by the boat’s
captain.