We meet you at Venezia (Venice) Marco Polo airport for transfer to Castelfranco or to collect your luggage. Water taxis are available directly from the airport to transport you into the heart of Venice for an afternoon exploring the canals and passageways of this romantic Italian town. Trains leave from the banks of central Venice to transport you to the center of Castelfranco on a regular basis. 

 

Our hotel in Castelfranco is ideally located in the heart of the old town, where you will find an abundance of cafes, gelaterias and shops. We will assemble bikes in the basement of our hotel and organize a shake-down ride prior to our evening meal.   The ride is thru the farmland and vineyards of the fertile Veneto region with a delightful stop in Asolo, one of the most enchanting regions in Italy, for our first taste of gelato. 

 

An Italian dinner tonight within the walls of the old town is planned as a welcome to the Veneto and Dolomiti. And we will enjoy the fine Italian tradition of a post-dinner walk with gelato and perhaps cafe. 

 

Following in the footsteps of the inhabitants of Vicenza, we’ll head north to the cool green mountain plateau of Asiago (1000m elevation). The fertile Veneto region has nurtured the creative soul of Italian culture from the early 800’s to modern times. Bassano del Grappa, famous for its ceramics and distilled liquor, is a fascinating town, inviting exploration and a mid-morning cafe at one of many small restaurants.  We enter the foothills of the Dolomiti as we ride thru Bassano del Grappa and across the recently restored footbridge in the old section of town. From here we leave the flat plains behind and ride upstream along the Brenta river to a secluded switch backed route. Climbing up to the Altopiano (high plateau) of Asiago we’ll enjoy the lush green meadows where great forests once stood before being harvested by Venetians for her galleys. The villages of the Altopiano were almost entirely destroyed during the First World War, but today thrive with an abundance of ski resorts and refugios all served by the rich beauty of the mountains.

 

The Asiago plateau offers great options for loops that include descents to the river valley and ascents to the plateau. There are lots of little roads thru vineyards and orchards that are quiet and delightful for riding and chatting with friends.  

 

The highlight for today is a picnic lunch on Passo Borcola followed by a wonderful rolling descent leading to a pleasant climb up to Folgaria. From Folgaria it is a short climb above Carbonare where we take a sharp left turn and descend toward Levico Terme and Trento. 

 

Today we sample a bit of the mighty Dolomiti as we traverse high above the Trentino valley (Alto Adige) wine region. We ride a few kilometers of the Weinstrasse (strada del vino) on the way to our hotel in Caldaro.

 

Today we ride into the Dolomiti as we leave the Alto Adige via a high traverse that allows us to peer across the deep gorge into the heart of the Dolomiti. The climber’s option today follows the strada del vino to Terlano, and then climbs into the hills for a ridge top ride on tiny roads leading back to Bolzano.  Leaving Bolzano we climb up thru hillside vineyards to a tiny road that traverses above the river gorge separating us from the Dolomiti massif. 

 

Sleeping beneath the imposing cliffs of the Sciliar del Siusi we awake with anticipation for the day of riding deeper into the Dolomiti. One option is to drop back into the Alto Adige gorge and climb over the Passo della Erbe to re-enter the Dolomiti from the north into Val Gardena, site of annual World Cup ski racing. 

 

The Sella Ronde is THE classic loop in the Dolomiti, both in wintertime and summertime. So, it is fitting that we include this spectacular loop in our itinerary. Of course, there are numerous other options for anyone looking for more elevation or distance than the 4 passo day we have on the itinerary.

 

We stay another day in beautiful Corvara to afford us the opportunity to ride one of the most difficult climbs in the region the “classic direction” of the Giro d’Italia. Or to simply enjoy the surroundings a perhaps a leisurely ride over two smallish nearby passes. Whatever your choice we know it will be rewarded at day’s end with a delicious dinner. 

 

We retrace a portion of yesterday’s ride enroute to our climb over Passo Fedaia with stunning views of the mighty Marmolada. We finish the day with a climb over the Passo Falzarego before a rim searing descent into the ski resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

 

Of course we must include the classic Passo Tre Croci (1805m), but for energetic riders we offer a bigger loop taking us into Austria near the Lienzer Dolomiti. You won’t miss a thing as we include all of the high points in the region on either loop. 

 

Perhaps the most awe inspiring rides in the Dolomiti originate in Cortina. The rock cliffs serve as trail markers for winter skiers and today they will guide us to unimaginably stunning views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. 

 

OK…if you watch or follow the Giro d’Italia, then you have heard of the Passo San Pelegrino. Today we include 4 passes that are frequently used in the Giro; the Passo Giau, Passo Staulanza, Passo Duran, Passo San Pellegrino.   Do not worry, we also have an easier route. Our mountaintop finish is rewarded with a night in a classic Italian rifugio where we will enjoy a hearty mountain meal in the Italian tradition. 

  

The names of the passes we climb today are not exactly household names, but we know you will never forget this day around your household.   We descend from Passo Pellegrino to the ski town of Moena before starting our climb over Passo Rolle, which is followed by a descent toward the Veneto near Feltre. However, there is one more pass to climb today; the Passo Brocon where we again enjoy a mountaintop finish and a stay in a wonderful traditional Italian Refugio hotel and enjoy a feast of flavors unmatched any other night. 

 

Today we leave the Dolomiti and return to the Veneto and our gracious hosts at Hotel alla Torre in Castelfranco. However, there are a few more climbs to enjoy and a few sweet descents to savor as we climb the backside of Monte Grappa and descend to Asolo for a mid-afternoon gelato treat before the final kilometers of mellow riding to Castelfranco.