Cycling in Northern Italy, some of the best riding in the world, offers a diverse terrain. We are in the middle of northern Italy, surrounded by both the Alps and the Dolomite mountain ranges. Located on the south side of Lake Garda, we are part of the Lake Region of Italy with Lake Maggiore and Lake Como within less than a day’s drive. Our position at the south of the lake provides us with a variety of ride types: flat around the lake, hills to our east in the Valpolicella wine region, and mountains as we head north into the foothills of the Alps. A short trip by van also allows us to explore the Dolomites.
Lake Garda, also known as Benaco, is the largest lake in Italy, and is situated among the three Italian regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige. Lake Garda, with its 25 picturesque villages, all bound by the Gardesana state road and reachable with the highway, is rich with historical monuments, castles and fortresses, so it offers a general view on its incomparable history. That is the reason why famous writes and painters choose Lake Garda as their favourite holiday destination: here they are able to find the inspiration they need to give birth to their art. Lake Garda’s waters touch numerous places and even three Italian provinces: Verona , Brescia and Trento. Lake Garda’s climate is mild all year long, with its warm (sometimes hot) summer months (from the end of April to the beginning of October) and its winter months characterised by rare rainy days. This climate is the ideal one for the cultivation of local products as for example olives, lemons and oranges, wines and truffle: worldwide known products that are very much appreciated by locals and by visitors.
The historic city of Verona was founded in the 1st century B.C. It particularly flourished under the rule of the Scaliger family in the 13th and 14th centuries and as part of the Republic of Venice from the 15th to 18th centuries. Verona has preserved a remarkable number of monuments from antiquity, the medieval and Renaissance periods, and represents an outstanding example of a military stronghold. The historic city of Verona today contains elements representing its 2,000 year history: the Roman period, Romanesque, Middle Ages and Renaissance which have survived intact until the 19th century. The walls surrounding the city prevented 19th century development such as industry and railroads within the historic city. The urban structure, as a result, shows exceptional coherence and a large degree of homogeneity
Mantova is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy, and capital of the province of the same nameì. In 2016, Mantua became Italian Capital of Culture. In 2017, Mantua was the European Capital of Gastronomy, included in the Eastern Lombardy District (together with the cities of Bergamo, Brescia, and Cremona). In 2007, Mantua's centro storico (old town) and Sabbioneta were declared by UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family has made it one of the main artistic, cultural, and especially musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole.
The city has been recognized as one of the world's four fashion capitals thanks to several international events and fairs, including Milan Fashion Week and the Milan Furniture Fair, which are currently among the world's biggest in terms of revenue, visitors and growth. It hosted the Universal Exposition in 1906 and 2015. The city hosts numerous cultural institutions, academies and universities, with 11% of the national total enrolled students. Milan is the destination of 8 million overseas visitors every year, attracted by its museums and art galleries that include some of the most important collections in the world, including major works by Leonardo da Vinci. The city is served by many luxury hotels and is the fifth-most starred in the world by Michelin Guide
The lagoon and a part of the city are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parts of Venice are renowned for the beauty of their settings, their architecture, and artwork. Venice is known for several important artistic movements—especially during the Renaissance period—has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music, and is the birthplace of Antonio Vivaldi. Garden islands and lagoon aquaculture yield speciality produce and seafood you won’t find elsewhere – all highlighted in inventive Venetian cuisine, with tantalising traces of ancient spice routes. The city knows how to put on a royal spread, as France’s King Henry III once found out when faced with 1200 dishes and 200 bonbons. Today such feasts are available in miniature at happy hour, when bars mount lavish spreads of cicheti (Venetian tapas). Save room and time for a proper sit-down Venetian meal, with lagoon seafood to match views at canalside bistros and toasts with Veneto’s signature bubbly, prosecco.
Vist the Motor Valley. An area in Emilia Romagna... just 2 hours from here, where you can find the museum and the factory of some of the most famous brands of sports and luxury cars of the world. The "must to see" places are:
- Ducati factory and museum
- Ferrari factory and museum
- Lamborghini factory and museum
- Maserati factory and museum
- Pagani factory and museum