Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Tour begins in Lucca, Italy
Highlights: 17th century wall, welcome dinner at a trattoria
Arrive this afternoon at our hotel in Lucca, where we'll fit bicycles. Lucca was a Roman town and one of medieval Italy's most prosperous city-states. Today, Lucca retains its medieval charm with its small shops and sidewalk cafés. Take a walk or ride on the 17th-century wall that surrounds town before we gather for a glass of wine and a welcome dinner at a favorite trattoria this evening.

Day 2: Pisa
Highlights: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Piazza of Miracles, Lake Massaciuccoli
Our first day of pedaling takes us to Pisa where you can visit the Leaning Tower and the Piazza of Miracles. Our route to Pisa takes us by Lake Massaciuccoli, where Puccini wrote many of his operas. After a stroll through Pisa, head back to the less-touristy town of Lucca to enjoy an evening passeggiata along the main pedestrian way. Dinner is on your own tonight. Distance: 61 km (38 miles).

Day 3: Birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci
Highlights: through the hills of Tuscany, Medici Villa, Leonardo da Vinci museum
We pedal around Monte Pisano today on our way to Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. Our route follows a forested road along rolling hills for most of the day. You'll arrive in Vinci mid-afternoon with time to visit a museum with scale models of Leonardo's inventions, or to ride the 13 km to San Baronto - a ride that some customers have called the most beautiful they have ever taken. Dinner together. Distance: 56-82 km (35-51 miles).

Day 4: Florence
Highlights: Olive groves and vineyards, bicycle into Renaissance Florence
Terraced hillsides of olive groves and vineyards line our route today as you climb gently over Monte Albano. From there, you'll enjoy spectacular views of the Arno River valley. We'll ride as a group into Florence, where our hotel for the next two nights is located along the banks of the Arno River. It is within easy walking distance of the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, and other city sights. Distance: 45 km (28 miles).

Day 5: Wonders of Florence
Highlights: Uffizi Gallery, statue of David, Ponte Vecchio, Brunelleschi's Duomo
This is a rest day in Florence, so take it easy and enjoy this fabulous Renaissance city. We're happy to help you make reservations to visit the famous Uffizi Gallery or the Accademia, home to Michelangelo's David. At sunset, take a walk down to the Ponte Vecchio to engage in the passeggiata (or "evening stroll"). Dinner is on your own.

Day 6: Fiesole and the Apennine mountains
Highlights: Fiesole's Etruscan ruins and views of Florence, mountain town
Leaving Florence we pedal together to the ancient Etruscan village of Fiesole. Enjoy lunch, take time to explore the ruins, and then head out for a leisurely afternoon of riding in the foothills of the Apennines. Our destination is the quiet mountain town of Borgo San Lorenzo, where we'll enjoy dinner together. Distance: 42 km (26 miles).

Day 7: Over the Apennines
Highlights: Beautiful scenic downhill, olive oil tasting, ceramics in Faenza,
You'll cross the Apennines this morning on a spectacular ride over Passo la Colla, then it's downhill to Faenza, one of Italy's premier towns for handpainted ceramics. Along the way, we'll pass through Brisighella, where you can sample some of Italy's finest olive oil. We'll visit a ceramic studio in Faenza to learn about traditional Faenza designs before dinner together. Distance: 68 km (42 miles).

Day 8: Ravenna
Highlights: Lunch at family farm, vineyards, Basilica of St. Apollinare and its mosaics
Sample life in rural Italy as we pedal to Paola's family farm. We'll enjoy a light lunch and before heading off to Ravenna, the last capital of the Western Roman Empire. Ravenna is famous for its mosaics, and you'll have a chance to visit some of its historic sights, including Dante's tomb, St. Apollinare in Classe and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, this afternoon. Dinner is on your own this evening. Distance: 55 km (34 miles).

Day 9: Adriatic beach
Highlights: Lunch at farm cooperative, Comacchio, Adriatic Sea and beach
Feel free to explore more of Ravenna this morning before we pedal to a local agriturismo (farm cooperative) for lunch together. Then, it's on to Comacchio, once one of the Adriatic's most important trading towns. Like Venice, Comacchio was built on a series of islands and it retains similar charms with gondolas plying the city's many canals. Our day ends on the beaches of the Adriatic at a seaside resort hotel. Distance: 55 km (34 miles).

Day 10: Po Delta
Highlights: 9th century Abbey of Pomposa, bicycle through the Po Delta, Este hunting lodge
The estuaries of the Po River delta are some of Italy's best bird habitats. You'll cycle through some of these estuaries this morning, including the Lido di Volano bird reserve. From there, our route takes us to the 9th-century Benedictine Abbey of Pomposa before continuing north along quiet levee roads to our hotel in the Po Delta. Dinner together. Distance: 83 km (52 miles).

Day 11: Bicycle to Venice
Highlights: Bicycle along the Venetian lagoon, fishing villages, final dinner on the Lido
Venice awaits today as you enjoy a leisurely ride along the Lidos of Pellestrina and Venice, islands that protect the Venetian lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. You'll follow these natural levees to reach our hotel on the Lido. Once at our hotel, you'll have time to head into town for an afternoon of sightseeing. Stroll St. Mark's Square and visit the Rialto Market. Or take a gondola ride down the Grand Canal. Tonight we'll enjoy a final dinner together at a small trattoria on the Lido in Venice. Distance: 52 km (32 miles).

Day 12: Farewell
Highlights: Enjoy Venice, or continue exploring Italy!
After breakfast you're on your own to enjoy Venice and its remarkable cathedrals, canals, and museums. Or spend the day relaxing on the beach. Whatever you choose, enjoy!