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Medieval Mantova to Romantic Verona

Lakes, rivers & vines of northern Italy
 
This self-guided hotel-to-hotel cycling holiday, with luggage transfers, is a treat for Renaissance lovers. The magnificent art and architecture inspired Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Your journey takes in picturesque Lake Garda and the beautiful Sigurtà Gardens (tickets included).
Medieval Mantova to Romantic Verona. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Medieval Mantova to Romantic Verona. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling holiday in northern Italy

Cycling right up to Verona’s atmospheric Roman Arena via the iconic, red-brick Scaligero Bridge is just one of many highlights on our journey on two wheels through Lombardy and the Veneto.
Mantova, where your journey begins, is a Renaissance gem. Surrounded by lakes on three sides, the city has hardly changed since the days it sheltered Shakespeare's love-struck hero Romeo, following his exile from Verona. You’ll be equally enchanted by your second stop, Valeggio, whose medieval houses jut out into the river, and your day exploring the magnificent Sigurtà Gardens will be one to remember. 
Let’s not forget the cycling itself, which reveals a wonderful variety of scenery as you journey along the picturesque banks of the River Mincio, around the southern shores of graceful Lake Garda, and through vineyards framed by the pre-Alps to reach Verona.
 

Book with confidence

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Our flexible booking policies >
Check the destination entry requirements >
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 5 8 13 17 22 26 29 28 24 18 11 6
    mm 52 50 61 67 85 86 62 88 64 82 79 53
  • Arrival in Mantova
    Night 1: at Casa Poli (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of cycling.
  • Out-and-back route from Mantova: 29km
    To help you warm up for the coming days, we suggest a pleasant out-and-back lakeside cycle to the west of Mantova. Passing through the Mincio Nature Reserve and the picturesque village of Grazie, your target is  Rivalta, a small river port from where you can enjoy a short boat excursion.

    Alternatively, you way wish to spend today in Mantova – a compact city that was once ruled over by the powerful Gonzaga family. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its Renaissance architecture, Mantova can easily be explored on foot, so spend your day visiting artistic treasures such as the frescoed Palazzo Ducale (closed Mondays) and Palazzo Te, as well as the 11th-century Rotunda church, then take a boat ride (pay locally) across the lake to see how, from this perspective, the elegant, red-roofed city seemingly floats on the water.
    Out-and-back route from Mantova: 29km
    Take a boat ride to gain a different perspective of Mantova
  • Mantova to Borghetto: 35km
    Leaving Mantova, you skirt its lakes and then turn north through the nature reserve bordering the gently flowing River Mincio. Keep your eyes peeled for herons, egrets and white storks as you cycle. Your target, located due east of Solferino, site of the battle in 1859 which led to the creation of the Red Cross, is Valeggio sul Mincio. This charming village is built beside the river, and some houses jut right into the water. You stay at the Hotel Faccioli in the neighbouring district of Borghetto for two nights.
    Mantova to Borghetto: 35km
    Pause for lunch
  • Circular route from Borghetto: 25km
    While it is tempting simply to potter around the village on your day here, we highly recommend cycling to nearby Sigurtà, an extensive country park referred to as a ‘temple of nature’ due to its extraordinary variety of flowering plants and trees (tickets included). Take your time to pedal along the cycle trail within the estate, where you’ll find plenty of inviting spots for a leisurely picnic, then head out into the Custoza vineyards before looping back to Borghetto.
    Circular route from Borghetto: 25km
    Sigurtà Gardens
  • Borghetto to Verona: 48km
    The River Mincio accompanies you north once more to its source at Peschiera, a bustling town with impressive Venetian fortifications on the shores of Lake Garda. After pausing to explore, you follow a lakeside trail before heading eastwards through vineyards and orchards to join a canal path for the final leg into the very heart of Romeo and Juliet’s city. Arrival at the Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra brings a real sense of achievement.
    Borghetto to Verona: 48km
    Pass along the shores of Lake Garda
  • Day in Verona
    We include a City Card giving a variety of free entrances and discounts, so you can follow in the star-crossed lovers' footsteps to explore the wealth of Roman monuments – not to mention the wide array of pavement cafés and osterie (wine bars) – which lend this romantic city such charm.
    Take your time to explore charming Verona
 

Accommodation

Your accommodation is as diverse as the settings: a stylish city hotel, a small country hotel, and an Art Nouveau-style hotel in Verona.
 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 17 April 2022 - 30 June 2022 & 01 September 2022 - 31 October 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    17 Apr - 20 May 2022 £980 £375
    21 May - 19 Jun 2022 £1020 £385
    20 - 24 Jun 2022 £1095 £485
    1 - 30 Sep 2022 £1020 £385
    1 - 25 Oct 2022 £995 £380
    3rd & 4th person discount -£95
    Single traveller supplement £95

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Electric bikes available: add £58 per person

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Prices for Mantova and Borghetto include an extra day’s hire of a standard bike. If you are upgrading to an e-bike, add a further £14pp per day.
    Casa Poli, Mantova (B&B) Double room Single room
    17 Apr - 30 Jun 2022 £124 £179
    01 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 £124 £179
    Hotel Faccioli, Borghetto (B&B) Double room Single room
    17 Apr - 30 Jun 2022 £82 £95
    01 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 £82 £95
    Grand Hotel des Arts, Verona (B&B) Double room Single room
    17 Apr - 20 Apr 2022 not available not available
    21 Apr - 11 Jun 2022 £120 £220
    12 Jun - 30 Jun 2022 £166 £316
    01 Sep - 05 Sep 2022 £166 £316
    06 Sep - 20 Sep 2022 £112 £206
    21 Sep - 27 Sep 2022 £180 £340
    28 Sep - 02 Oct 2022 not available not available
    03 Oct - 04 Oct 2022 £180 £340
    05 Oct - 31 Oct 2022 £90 £164
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Verona or Bologna
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying into Milan.  To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Aberdeen - Bologna (via Paris) Air France 
    Aberdeen - Verona (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Birmingham - Bologna (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Birmingham - Verona jet2,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Birmingham - Verona (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Bologna Ryanair 
    Bristol - Verona jet2,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Nottingham East Midlands - Verona jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Bologna Ryanair 
    Edinburgh - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Edinburgh - Verona easyJet,  jet2 
    Edinburgh - Verona (via Paris CDG) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Glasgow - Verona TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Humberside - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Leeds Bradford - Verona jet2 
    Leeds Bradford - Verona (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Bologna easyJet 
    Gatwick - Verona British Airways,  easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Bologna British Airways 
    Heathrow - Verona British Airways 
    Heathrow - Verona (via Rome Fiumicino) Alitalia 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Bologna Ryanair 
    Stansted - Verona jet2,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Bologna Ryanair 
    Manchester - Bologna (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Verona easyJet,  jet2,  TUI 
    Manchester - Verona (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Bologna (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Verona TUI 
    Newcastle - Verona (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying into Milan.  To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Verona

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail from Verona to Mantova (0h45) £6 1700
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    own arrangements to Verona airport pay locally flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Bologna

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail from Bologna Centrale to Mantova (2h15) £12 1600
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    rail Verona Porta Nuova to Bologna Centrale (0h55-1h55) £14 1300
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • Verona city card
  • tickets for Sigurtà Gardens
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 9 reviews
  • Jon C, Southampton
    01 October 2019

    We really enjoyed the rides from Brunico to Bressanone, Bolzano to Trento and Borghetto to Villa Sagramoso, mainly along smooth, peaceful, riverside cycle paths. We also loved exploring the ancient cities of Trento and Verona and of course all the wonderful food and wine! Joining together the "Orchards & Vineyards" and "Medieval Mantova to Romantic Verona" holidays worked really well for us, and it was fascinating to see how the character of the countryside, food and people changed gradually from Austrian to Italian as we moved south.

    Restaurant recommendations (and warnings): Our 'stand out' meal was at Al Vicoli in Trento - superb food, wine and a great atmosphere. We also enjoyed the Ristorante La Cantina at the Hotel Faccioli in Borghetto, Ristorante Locanda Vecchia Custoza Sas in Custoza, and the Trattoria Dal Pansa near Lake Garda. We also liked the Antica Osteria Leoncino Rosso in Mantova and especially the wonderful Antica Osteria "al Duomo" near the cathedral in Verona. Neither of these is very fancy, but both seemed very Italian and good value. We struggled to find restaurants in Bolzano, especially on a Sunday evening when virtually everything is closed. Hopfen & Co is NOT recommended. The Agriturismo Relais Villa Sagramoso Sacchetti is a fantastic place to stay, but not on a Wednesday when the two most convenient restaurants are closed. Note that the Trattoria da Guido is not working at present, and it seems you have to make a reservation to get into Trattoria Biondani.

  • Mrs Y McDiarmid
    New Zealand
    30 September 2019

    I found that this trip got better as we went along.  Montava was interesting medieval town which has a 'faded glory' to it.  But everything else was amazing.  Only one small point, it would have been good to have a few more instructions for the return trip to our accommodation from Verona, as after a big day sight seeing we struggled a bit to remember the return route!

  • Mrs R Bohin
    Gainsborough
    18 September 2019

    We really enjoyed this holiday. We had an extra night in Mantua and that enabled us to see most of the major sights in the town as well as doing the route to Rivalta. We had a guided tour round the Palazzo d'Arco, fortunately in English, which was a memorable experience. We visited some very good restaurants there, Salco Grasso, La Cucina, and our favourite, Il Cigno.

    At Borghetto we decided to sample the famous tortellini in Valeggio. The meal (trio of pasta dishes) personally served by Nadia at La Borsa was an experience not to be missed. 

    We had two extra nights at the Villa Sacchetto Sagramoto, a real treat. Rather than cycling into Verona we took a taxi from the hotel. A bus is available too, but for that an early start is required. On another day we cycled back to lake Garda to see Lazise, rather busy even at the end of September, and our last ride was into the Valpolicella area, and back along the canal to Bussolengo. We ate at Da Guido on three evenings (we liked it a lot!). You can walk there (and also to Jonathan's Pizzeria) along the canal path. We didn't need to use a torch.

  • john
    07 September 2019

    Absolutely a great trip. We would both do the trip over again. The quality of the bikes was superb as was the quality of the accomodations and the scenery was spectacular.

  • Mr B Colgate
    Chichester
    02 September 2019

    We really enjoyed cycling round the Sigurta gardens and thought that was the only way to see such a vast area. We had a lovely meal in 'Antica Locanda al Porta' Settimo. The walk back to Villa Sagramoso Sacchetti in the dark on the road was a challenge and a good torch would have made it safer. 

  • Mr G Robinson
    Reading
    31 August 2019

    Arriving at the Villa Sagramoso Sacchetti after a long hot cycle ride was like arriving in heaven. Such a special place, yet you felt as though you we’re staying with a friend. The highlight of a consistent excellent holiday. Who would have thought cycling in Italy could be so good.

  • Mrs N Pryce
    Chard
    31 August 2019

    We really enjoyed this holiday. We chose electric bikes as we aren’t regular cyclists and were very impressed with them. Everything went like clockwork. The hotels were charming and very well placed and the cycle routes well planned and easy to follow. The scenery is stunning; we saw tortoises, beavers, and cycled alongside herons and egrets. We decided to go by train and thanks to the detailed itinerary put together for us, we stopped off in Turin, then continued to Milan and Mantua. After our cycling, we added on a break in Verona, then a train to Munich to see our son, and back to London via Paris. All our tickets and seat reservations were organised by Inntravel and everything was timed and organised to perfection. It was a real adventure and we want to do it all over again.

  • anon
    15 June 2019

    More information needed about lake trip in Mantova. A good 10 Km cycle from the hotel so we just missed morning trip and information about pm trips there was inaccurate (on the ferry company website).

    Sigurta gardens lovely and the restaurant Locanda Vecchia Custoza a real treat, for food, wine and the view.

     

  • Anon
    01 June 2019

    Excellent holiday, well planned and routes were straightforward to follow and varied in scenery.

    A good mix of places and hotels to stay.

    Good quality bikes, with comfortable seats!
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – cycling holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety, not least proving your vaccination status or taking a test in order to travel.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • Our cycle supplier will provide you with a hybrid bike with 21 gears; a bottle holder; waterproof map case on handlebars; panniers/ saddlebags; puncture-proof tyres; lock; and a repair kit. Electric bikes are available as an upgrade (see price panel), subject to availability, and must be requested at the time of booking. The bike shop also has a limited number of tandems.
  • While we would always recommend that you take your own well-fitting helmet, they can be hired locally for a small fee. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to hire a helmet.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes, which remain the principal means of navigation).
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.
  • You are responsible for damage to or loss of the rental bike while it is hired to you. Always be careful to lock it up, ideally to an immovable object, and remove all easy-to-steal accessories whenever you leave it unattended.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines (but not, currently, with Ryanair). As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact Abi and Lizzie to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out a policy with our recommended provider (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Italy, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The principal official language is Italian, though some regions have a second official language, such as South Tyrol, where German is widely spoken. The currency is the Euro. Italian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 5/23/2022 7:37:44 PM