CALL 1-866-563-4248 ITALY - Parma to Venice - Biking Tours RESERVATION FORM

TRIP DETAILS

Trip Length
6 Days / 5 Nights

2010
Dates & Prices

Trip Hotels
A Blend of
Premium & Classic
Inns

Trip Meals
All breakfasts,
2 lunches and
all dinners but one

What's Included

Start - Finish
Parma - Venice
(Parma - Venezia)
ITALY

Trip Activity Level
Easy

Rated Ideal for Everyone !

NEED MORE INFO ?
Speak to a
Club Toscana
Senior Trip Leader

Click on Image for
TRIP MAP


Easy biking in Italy's Culinary Heartland along the Po River to the Adriatic Sea

This trip is designed for the Italian food lover and cyclist that prefers flat countryside roads in an area well off the usual tourist routes. On this trip, you'll discover the secrets behind Italy's prized prosciutto hams, parmesan cheeses and balsamic vinegars, and all the while relaxing to the soothing sounds of it's most famous composer, Giuseppe Verdi. Cycle from Parma to Ferrara along quiet sideroads to visit its Medieval castles and Renaissance villas, once the extravagant homes and pleasure palaces of Italy's aristocracy. Follow a flat landscape from the traditional well-kept farmlands, quiet canals and untouristed small villages from the Po River plain toward the Adriatic coast with its lagoons, quaint fishing villages, beaches and protected parklands, and some of Italy's most romantic and bicycle friendly countryside.

Day 1 - The Palaces of Parmigianino - Meet at your hotel in Parma.Follow peaceful canals to Colorno and its spectacular 17th-century villa. Known as Italy's "Versailles" for its impressive facade. Visit its lush gardens for the perfect photo opportunity.Ride the Po Valley's flat side roads to the quiet farm village of San Secondo. and home to the 15th-century Rocca dei Rossi, once the chief residence of Parma's powerful Rossi family.

Day 2 - Soragna & Verdi - Visit the birthplace of composer Giuseppe Verdi.Bike to Busseto, home to the Verdi Theater, modelled afer Milan's La Scala, before passing through the quiet villages and open countryside that inspired his music.Learn the secrets of "culatello", regarded as the choicest cut of cured ham. Sample this illustrious ham and other cured specialties at a trattoria in a picturesque village along the banks of the Po River.Spin to Fontanellato, home to the fairytale moated 15th-century Rocca di San Vitale filled with Renaissance frescoes by Parmigianino. Tour this palace to discover its Renaissance fresco covered walls and rooms dedicated to it's illustrious family history.Savor in the culinary delights that have put the Parmigiana countryside on the map.

Day 3 - The Castles of Parma - Take an exclusive early morning guided tour of a local producer of zesty Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and discover how it goes from fresh milk to aged wheels ready for tasting.Follow quiet riverside laneways toward the approaches of the Apennine mountainsArrive at the majestic 15th-century castle at Torrechiara.Enjoy the spectacular views from this hilltop castle and imagine the luxury of living here centuries ago with its frescoed rooms and magnificent mountainside vistas.Continue along countryside laneways past small Parmesan cheese producers, quiet villages, abbeys and convents to Reggio nell'Emilia with its gracious pedestrian zone lined with chic boutiques and food shops.

Day 4 - Ferrara - Begin your day's cycling from Carpi, a quiet Romagnolo town distinguished by its great piazza, Renaissance town hall and majestic castle.Spin along quiet farm side roads through the flat expanses of the Po Delta to Ferrara, a UNESCO World Heritage Renaissance city still surrounded by 5 miles of Medieval walls.Pass by the spectacular 14th-century moated Estense Castle, built by the Dukes of Este perhaps stopping for a visit on your own.The shops in Ferrara are closed this afternoon and every inhabitant in town is out relaxing at one of the cafes surrounding the main square enjoying the social life, chatting and having a cool refreshment.Join the Ferrarese in the cafes or on their "passegiata" evening stroll before searching out a suggested restaurant for a romantic dinner on your own.

Day 5 - Lido di Venezia - Morning ride along the "Destra Po" bike trail, a paved trail that runs along the top of the river embankments of the Po River. Favored by local cyclists, this route is car free and an absolute delight to ride.Visit Chioggia, a mini Venice and one of the Adriatic's most colorful fishing markets.Cycle along the Venetian lagoon's natural sandbanks to Lido di Venezia, Venice's tree lined resort island and home to the annual Venetian Film Festival.

Day 6 - Venice - Homeward bound.Bid a final farewell to the Venetian Lido and take a private transfer into the heart of Venice to your post-trip hotel, the train station or the airport.As always, we would be more than pleased to help you with any of your post-trip travel planning.
Arrivederci and Buon Viaggio !


"Thanks so much for great sights, wonderful places to stay and great riding.
Thanks also for taking care of everyone in our group and being so flexible with our sidetrip ideas."
- Steve and Courtney, Denver CO


Our Italian Travel
Specialists are Ready
to Help you with
All Your Travel Needs

  • Convenient pick up at your Parma hotel and drop off at your Venice hotel

  • Touring the 15th-century Rocca di San Vitale filled with Renaissance frescoes

  • Exclusive guided tour of a local Parmigiano-Reggiano producer

  • Cycling through verdant countryside to the majestic 15th-century castle at Torrechiara

  • Wandering the Medieval streets of Ferrara

  • Riding the spectacular sea side lagoons to Venice

  • Lambrusco wines, balsamic vinegars, Parmigiano cheeses and Parma hams

TRIP DATES & PRICES
Please click here to see if your preferred travel dates below have been sold out.

Dates
2010
Blended Inns Guided
US $ Price p.p. dbl. occ.
Single Room
US $ Add for sgl. occ.
Self-Guided
Trips
March 29 - April 3
April 5 - 10
April 12 - 17
April 19 - 24
April 26 - May 1
May 3 - 8
May 10 - 15
May 17 - 22
May 24 - 29
May 31 - June 5
June 7 - 12
June 14 - 19
June 21 - 26
June 28 - July 3
July 5 - 10
July 12 - 17
July 19 - 24
July 26 - 31
Sept 6 - 11
Sept 13 - 18
Sept 20 - 25
Sept 27 - Oct 2
Oct 4 - 9
Oct 11 - 16
Oct 18 - 23
Oct 25 - 30
All Dates

$ 3,198.

All Dates

$ 560.

Blended Inns Trips
Save $ 300. p.p.
TRIP PRICE REDUCTIONS (above itinerary only)
When booking 4 people together, reduce your trip price by $ 200. per person
When booking 5 - 8+ people together, reduce your trip price by $ 400. per person

Price Guarantee - Please note that if your booked trip (name, version and departure date) receives a price reduction from your original booked price, we will automatically give you the new reduced trip price. Additionally, as always with Club Toscana, once you have booked a trip (name, version and departure date), we guarantee that you will not have to pay any potential trip price increases above your original trip combo price before your departure.

Reduce your Trip Price - We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express for all your trip payments. Club Toscana offers a reduction of 2% off your trip payments when you pay by check, money order or bank transfer.

Trip Prices - Price variations (if above) are a reflection of seasonal hotel rates. All trip prices are per person based on a room with double occupancy. Single room charges are additional for guests traveling solo wishing a double room all to themselves. Self-Guided prices are listed as a savings per person off the Guided Trip Prices. Self-Guided trips require a minimum of 2 participants to reserve space on any of the above trips except dates highlighted above.

Featured Trips when highlighted above, have additional space available and include guaranteed departures hosted by one of Club Toscana's Senior Trip Leaders.

Other Trip Dates - to find other trips with space available on your preferred travel dates, click on our 2010 Calendar.


BLENDED PREMIUM & CLASSIC INNS HOTEL SELECTION

Locanda del Lupo (pictured) - Soragna (2 nights) - built by the Meli Lupi Princes, maintains its original atmosphere with antique furnishings and 17th-century paintings. Its rustic restaurant is the perfect blend of authentic atmosphere and time honored local specialties.
Hotel Posta - Reggio nell'Emilia (1 night) - built in 1280 for the town magistrates, it has served as the home to Italy's marquis Sigismondo d'Este and from 1515 as one of Italy's oldest hotels.
Prisciani Art Suite - Ferrara (1 night) - an "art" hotel fitted inside an elegant 14th century building located steps from Ferrara's lively pedestrian center and the fairytale Estense Castle. Each suite has been individually furnished by a different international interior designer and comes complete with warm oak flooring, contemporary furnishings and frescoes throughout.
Hotel Meridiana - Lido di Venezia (1 night) - a gracious country-house inn located among the Lido's leafy boulevards only a few minutes walk from the island's vibrant heart with its sidewalk cafes and the Lido's expansive sandy beaches. The hotel's decor is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie Book while breakfasts are served in its peaceful garden courtyard.

Please note: The above selected inns are subject to accommodations availability upon trip request. As there are many charming Classic Inns located along our route, if we need to choose an alternative lodging, it will meet or exceed the above selection in ratings, settings, amenities and views.

UPGRADE YOUR TRIP HOTEL SELECTION
Upgrade the accomodations on your Parma to Venice Biking trip with some of the following; (additional charges may apply)
Hotel Duchessa Isabella - Ferrara (1 night) - is an elegant Relais & Chateaux residence that comes with coffered ceilings, ancient frescos, and the owner's collection of antique clocks.
Hotel Quattro Fontane - Lido di Venezia (1 night) - is a gracious country-house inn located among the Lido's leafy boulevards. Its gardens, guest and sitting rooms offer a refined and elegant atmosphere.

Have another favorite hotel or seen a recommendation in a travel magazine or internet site, or have you received a glowing recommendation from a friend. We can include any hotel located along our trip route to make your vacation experience customized to your specifications. Give us a call to see how we can include your favorite hotels into your trip. Some additional charges might apply to cover changes in hotel rates.


TRIP START AND FINISH INFORMATION

Trip Start - Parma, Italy
As a convenience to our guests, we will meet you at your hotel in Parma at 9:00 am. or by special arrangement, the main train station or airport.

Parma is serviced by a regional airport with connections to most major Italian cities and a main train station located on Italy's main express and high speed train service routes. Parma's main train station can be reached from Milan in about 1.5 hours depending on the train speed or from Rome in about 3 - 4 hours. We would recommend spending your pre-trip evening in Parma. Our reservations office can make all your pre- & post-trip hotel, flight and train travel arrangements.

For Italian train information and online tickets, please go to the Italian FS National Train Schedules web site.

For pre-trip accommodations, we suggest a visit to Tripadvisor.com for a list of the most recommended hotels based on visitor reviews.

Trip Finish - Venice (Venezia), Italy
On the final trip day, we will take the 10 - 15 minute passenger ferry into Venice. We would be pleased to accompany you to your post-trip Venice hotel, the Venice Santa Lucia main train station for trains to Milan (1.5 - 2 hours) or Florence (2.5 - 3 hours) and Rome (5 - 6 hours), or we can accompany you to the passenger boat for the direct route to the Venice Marco Polo Airport for flight connections to most major European cities.

Usual arrival in Venice is around 10:30 am with earlier arrivals by request.

For Italian train information and online tickets, please go to the Italian FS National Train Schedules web site.

For post-trip accommodations, we suggest a visit to Tripadvisor.com for a list of the most recommended hotels in your destination city based on visitor reviews.


TRIP ACTIVITY LEVEL

THIS TRIP IS DESIGNED FOR ALL ABILITIES - Rated easy, we have designed this trip to be suitable for everyone, from the casual or occasional biker with other travel and site seeing interests to the experienced biking enthusiast looking for that extra distance challenge. Since your preferred biking pace and interests might vary from day to day, we have a daily list of optional routes, distances and route terrain to give you exactly the kind of cycling you would like to experience. To learn more about how we rate the activity levels on our trips, please go to our Activity & Terrain Levels web page.

TRIP DAILY DISTANCES & BIKING TERRAIN
DAY 1 (42 kms. - 26 miles) - Easy riding on a flat landscape along canals and quiet farm side roads.
DAY 2 (56 kms. - 34 miles) - Easy riding on a flat landscape through small villages and along quiet farm side roads.
DAY 3 (51 kms. - 31 miles) - Easy riding on a flat landscape along a riverside laneway and quiet farm side roads.
DAY 4 (75 kms. - 46 miles) - Easy riding on a flat landscape through small villages and along quiet farm side roads.
DAY 5 (66 kms. - 41 miles) - Easy riding on flat terrain on quiet riverside bicycle paths and side roads along the sea coast.

Each of the above daily distances are typical on quieter, smooth surface paved roads and can be increased or decreased to suit your individual biking style, endurance and interests. Your Club Toscana trip guide and vehicle are always available to offer assistance including lifts up hills or to bypass any difficult sections.


Please note that the above itinerary and it's routes are typical for this trip and can be adjusted to accommodate different hotel choices, your choice of optional routes, optional shorter or longer daily distances, your personal daily biking pace and interests, and special local events that you might wish to join. Weather conditions and unannounced road repairs, etc. can also alter the routes, distances and daily schedules.

In an effort to enhance this itinerary and to help you get the most out this destination and your traveling experiences with Club Toscana, we are continually in the process of researching additional local routes, accommodations, dining establishments and interesting places to visit. Some of these "new finds" could be included in your specific trip.


WHAT'S INCLUDED ON YOUR CLUB TOSCANA BIKING TRIP

Convenient pick-up directly from your pre-trip hotel's front door and drop off in Venice.

Over 20 years of European adventure travel experience.

Cheerful, professional and trusted bilingual trip leadership with intimate knowledge of this trip's travel area, its culinary secrets, art history and cultural distinctiveness.

All transportation from trip start to finish.

Exclusive lodging with private amenities in wine & olive oil estates, charming country inns and historic town houses.

All buffet breakfasts, 2 lunches and 4 dinners featuring regional favorites and local specialties.

Private support vehicle for shuttles (throughout the trip), for welcome lifts (to bypass that extra effort or for a quick short cut to your hotel), and on-board refreshments.

Special events, private tours, local experts and entrance fees to historical sites and museums, and other events or tours listed on the itinerary.

Use of a professionally maintained, fully equipped 24-27 speed aluminum TREK road bike or TREK hybrid bike with gel seat & suspension, an insulated rear rack bag, a Pro bike helmet and a new personal water bottle.

Detailed trip maps, route directions with options and a complimentary Club Toscana T-shirt.

All baggage transportation from rendezvous to final drop off.

Convenient drop-off directly to your post-trip hotel or the nearby major rail station, airport or rental car agency.

Unsurpassed customer service to compliment one of Italy's great walking & hiking vacations.


TOP REASONS WHY NEW GUESTS CHOSE CLUB TOSCANA & WHY OUR PAST GUESTS HAVE CHOSEN TO TRAVEL WITH US AGAIN

Since our beginnings, Club Toscana has prided itself in producing active vacations that are the closest thing to a private trip, complete with the sort of comforts and camaraderie that comes from visiting old friends.

We have spent over two decades designing itineraries that take in the most interesting countryside destinations, the most stimulating mix of history and culture, the best selection of terrain from flat to invigorating, and the region's most characteristic accommodations -- always with an eye on exceeding your expectations.

The Personal Touch - Many Club Toscana guests have traveled in large groups with some of our industry's major outfitters and have found traveling in those larger groups a little less convenient and relaxed compared with Club Toscana. These outfitters' somewhat inflexible rendezvous and trip drop-off locations, scheduled group meeting times and fixed dining locations & times are good for some, but perhaps a little too rigid for our guests.

Flexibility - We adapt every one of our trips to the interests and abilities of the guests that are booked on that particular trip. We design our daily routes and itineraries for maximum flexibility so you can have as much or as little activity as you would like each day -- with us you never need to follow the schedule. We are ready to go when you are ready to go, we are waiting at the start of every hill just in case you need a lift and we adjust each trip to your specific interests and time schedule.

Service - We take care of everything -- from making sure your luggage is safely transported to the next hotel, to always having a refreshment or a welcome lift when needed, to pointing out that special wine or antique shop, and always allowing you as much free time as you would like to get the most out of your European active vacation.

Knowledge - Traveling with Club Toscana is about discovering beautiful locations, its people, history and culture, all in a private-group-like setting -- the ideal vacation experience. After over 20 years traveling in this trip's location, we know the trip area intimately.

Trip Leadership - Our pleasant natured, well organized and informative North American trip guides individually have at least 20 years of experience guiding active travelers throughout every region visited by Club Toscana. We maintain a guest ratio of 8 guests to 1 guide plus a dedicated trip vehicle to ensure your comfort and security.


NEED MORE TRIP INFORMATION?

E-mail our office at travel@clubtoscana.com or call our professional travel advisers at
Club Toscana Reservations at 1-866-563-4248 toll free 8:30 am to 5:30 pm (EST) Mon. to Fri., 8:30 am to 1:00 pm Sat.
They are ready to answer your trip questions and arrange all your pre and post-trip travel needs for a truly all-inclusive European Active Vacation.



Royal City Travel / American Express Travel Services
10 Paisley Street, Suite 8, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1H 2N6
North America Toll Free 1-866-563-4248
travel@clubtoscana.com

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