Discover Romagna, the Land of La Dolce Vita

Highlights: Byzantine mosaics, 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Arrive in Ravenna today, once the capital of the Western Roman Empire. Your centrally-located hotel allows you to walk to Dante's Tomb and the UNESCO World Heritage mosaics of San Vitale, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia this afternoon. Don't miss these early Byzantine churches with their colorful mosaics that draw travelers from around the world, as well as the beautiful Renaissance historical center of Ravenna.

Accommodation: Hotel Centrale Byron or Hotel Diana.

Highlights: Faenza International Ceramics Museum and Renaissance Town Square

Exiting Ravenna you have the choice to visit another very important Byzantine masterpiece: Sant'Apollinare in Classe. Cross the plains through fruit plantations and arrive to Faenza. Your hotel is a restored convent near the central square of this regional market center and famous ceramics town. Enjoy the bustle in the market square and the main "piazza" which is always full of bicycle riders of all ages. Faenza is world-renowned for its hand decorated ceramics; we recommend a visit to the International Ceramics Museum as well as several of the local artists' studios specialized in this colorful pottery.

Daily distance: 53 km (33 miles)
Elevation gain: +164m (538 ft)
Terrain: Mostly Flat

Accommodation: Hotel Vittoria, or similar.

Highlights: Castrocaro Castle, Terra del Sole Medicean Fortress, Romagna farms

Two options are available today: both include a ride to Terra del Sole, a planned border town built by the Medici family in 1564 to protect the northern frontier of Tuscany. Those who want an easy day will ride to Terra del Sole and Castrocaro and back to Faenza at the base of the low foothills. This will give you time to explore the famous International Ceramics Museum. 

Castrocaro Terme is a picturesque medieval city on the lower hills below the Apennines. We recommend a visit of the castle at Castrocaro! On your return ride to Faenza, you may choose to pick up supplies for an outdoors picnic in any of the countless farms along the way!

You have two options for your ride today:

Option 1: Daily distance 41 km (25 miles) - Elevation gain: +203 m (667 ft) - Terrain type rolling hills
Option 2: Daily distance 38 Km (23 miles) - Elevation gain +280 m (918 ft) - Terrain type rolling hills

Accommodation: Hotel Vittoria, or similar. Upgrades available - please inquire for details.

Highlights: Medieval Brisighella; Via degli Asini

Enjoy a quiet ride through vineyards and kiwi orchards on your way to the enchanting medieval town of Brisighella. You should certainly plan to explore the historic town center and to see the unique Via degli Asini, one of the best preserved medieval artisan streets anywhere in Italy. The homemade pasta in Brisighella is worth a lunch stop (and the gelato is not bad, either)! Your ride continues through lovely scenery on to Riolo Terme, a picturesque town on the Romagna hills, with its medieval castle and moat still intact.

You have two options for your ride today:

Short option: Daily distance: 28 km (17 miles) - Elevation gain: + 421 m (1381 ft) - Terrain: Hilly
Long option: Daily Distance: 56 km (35 miles) - Elevation gain: + 855 m (2805 ft) - Terrain: Hilly

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Riolo Terme, or similar. Upgrades not available

Highlights: Wine village of Dozza; beautiful views across the Po Valley; historic Imola

Your ride today takes you through more vineyards and rich orchards to the Medieval hill town of Dozza, famous for its wall murals. The castle in Dozza houses the Emilia-Romagna Regional Enoteca or wine museum. Regional specialties include the red Sangiovese (father grape of Chianti) which is gaining more and more worldwide recognition as an important wine in and of itself, the light and fizzy Lambrusco from the hills of Modena and Bologna (excellent accompaniment to the regional cold cuts like prosciutto and salame), or the sweet Albana di Romagna. Tonight's destination is Imola, famous for its Formula 1 racetrack. Originally built as a Roman town along the Via Emilia, the historical center is worth exploring this evening.

Daily distance: 50 km (31 miles)
Elevation gain: + 520 m (1706 ft)
Terrain: hilly

Accommodation: Callegherie 21 Boutique B&B, Hotel Zio Imola, or similar.

Highlights: Bologna - Italy's Culinary Capital

We'll leave Imola to ride to Bologna today, Emilia Romagna's administrative capital, and, arguably, its culinary capital too. Home to the oldest continually operating university in the world, Bologna has a long tradition of studies, arts, and gastronomy. Speaking of gastronomy, Bologna gave birth to the mortadella, vulgarly distorted abroad as "bologna," although the fresh, artisanal mortadella has nothing to do with processed ham! Make sure you put this culinary delight on your 'must try' list!

Option 1: Daily distance 66 km (41 miles) - Elevation gain + 324 m (1063 ft) - Terrain type: mostly flat
Option 2: Daily distance 63 Km (39 miles) - Elevation gain + 771 m (2529 ft) - Terrain type hilly

Accommodation: Hotel Il Guercino , or similar.

Highlights: Tour End

Your bicycle ride in Emilia Romagna ends this morning in Bologna. If you have the time you might consider an extra night or two in Bologna to enjoy the rich cultural history here. Alternatively, train connections are convenient to Rome, Venice or Milan. Thanks for joining us and buon viaggio!

PLEASE NOTE : The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. 

How to get there and away:
Fly in and out of Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ)

Starting point: Hotel Centrale Byron – Via IV Novembre 14, Ravenna
- Take the Marconi Express Monorail, that connects the Bologna airport and train station
- You can also take a taxi from Bologna Airport to the train station
- There are frequent direct train connections between Bologna and Ravenna, the trip is about 1-hour long. The hotel is located about 1km from the train station. You can walk 10 minutes or take a 5-minute taxi to the hotel
 

How to get there and away:
Fly in and out of Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ)

Ending point: Hotel Il Guercino Via Luigi Serra, 7 - Bologna
- To get from Hotel Guercino to Bologna Airport, use a taxi (25min) or the Marconi Express Monorail (see "Starting Point" for details)

Private airport transfers also available: please inquire for rates and reservation

Long-term Parking options are available both in Ravenna and in Bologna: please inquire for reservation instructions and prices.

Final arrival and departure instructions along with other detailed pre-travel documents, will be e-mailed prior to your travel, with information specific to your departure (including the actual hotels used on your tour dates, which may vary from the hotels listed above.)