Through the Euganean Hills
Among medieval villages, walled-up cities and noble Ville Venete
13th April > 14th April 2013
This easy bike tour goes all around the Euganean Hills. The first natural park in Veneto, the Euganean Hills are a group of sweet hills with volcanic origins, which rise in the middle of the Po Valley, southern-west from Padua. For the beauty of their landscapes, they have been always a privileged place for the building of villas and noble abodes. Here there are a lot of Ville Venete, we will visit two of them, possibly the most representative. We will find many others close and far along the way. We will go through the estate of Lispida Castle: the cellar, the inside garden and the wide park are lovely to discover.
The first guided tour is Catajo Castle, its large frame is of rare beauty, so its park and private garden. Built around the half of the 16th century, it is a mixture of a military castle and a princely abode. It is situated close to Battaglia channel and has a private bridge above it.
We will stop for a short visit in Este, Monselice and Aquà Petrarca too. This last town is the arrival of the first biking day, and here we will have the possibility to visit not only the city center but also the house of the great poet Petrarca, who lived here for a long time.
Our tour ends with the visit to the mighty and astonishing Abbey of Praglia, surrounded by the wide countryside, which is still cultivated by the monks, who deal among others with cosmetic, herbalist and beekeeping. Hard to resist to such delicious things!
Sites of interest

- The most beautiful Italian villages: Arquà Petrarca
- Touring Club Italiano Orange Flag: Arquà Petrarca
PRICES AND CONDITIONS
The tour fee includes the full board and other services
- 1 night with breakfast in a three stars hotel *.
- 1 three-course-dinners with typical local recipes,one drink (1/4 liter wine or 300 cl beer), tap water and bread are included.
- 2 packed lunches, which includes sandwiches, fruit, a dessert, water.
- 3 tour guides, 2 by bike and one with the agency van (two guides for groups from 10 to 15 people).
- Visits (see the program).
- Agency van, which follows the whole tour in order toguarantee: the luggage transport service, the picnics for lunch and snacks andthe availability and the assistance during the tour.
- Insurance for medical matters and in case of loosingthe luggage, and for the risk of tour cancelation.
- Color tour handbook with historical and artisticinformation and information about the tour itself.
* The hotels' names are writtenin the program. Only in case of problems, it could be possible that the hotelswould be replaced with others of the same or higher category.
The fee does not include
The travel from the individual address to Bastia Padovana; tips or personal extra costs.
Tour fee
195 euro in double room
210 euro in single room (5 available places)
155 euro kids till 12 years old, in the room with two adults
40 euro additional fee per person – ONLY for groups from 10 to 15 participants
Extra services
Bike renting: renting an excellent bike costs 25 euro for the three days of the tour. Renting a bike includes: safety lock, water bottle and waterproof Ortlieb back bike pack.
Bike transport: For who has no possibility to carry the bike on trains or private cars, the transport of the bike from the private address to the start of the tour on the agency van costs 15 euro (roundtrip), while availability lasts, with the condition that the bike will be delivered in Verona or in places appropriate to the trip.
Transport: the transport of a participant from Verona (or a place appropriate for the trip) to the start of the tour with the agency van costs 20 euro (roundtrip), while places last.
Number of participants
It is expected a minimum number of 16 participants and a maximum of 22, with 3 guide tours. Additional fee will be applied in case of smaller groups (10 to 15 participants).
Information about the fee
The fee is calculated with a minimum of 16 participants. In case of groups with 10 to 15 participants an additional charge will be applied. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, the tour cannot start and the registration fees will be returned as soon as possible through bank transfer.
15 euro is the registration fee, already included in the tour fee, which includes assurance and administration costs; this sum will not be refund if the trip will be canceled.
People coming alone and willing to stay in double, are asked to pay an extra sum of 10 euro, if no match with other participants is possible. This is the contribution to the single room extra charge.
Booking, substitutions and penalties
50 euro are to be paid with the reservation; the rest of the sum when the tour will be confirmed.
Substitutions are possible, but the agency needs to be informed about it. In case of substitution 10 euro are to be paid to the agency and other extra substitution costs, if the agency had to go
to them.
If a participant renounces a tour, the following penalties will be applied, which could be refund if and with the conditions of the assurance for cancellation risk, included in the package:
- from the booking to 44 days before the start of the tour, penalty of the 20%
- 45 days before the start of the tour, penalty of the 50%
- 30 days before the start of the tour, penalty of the 75%
- 15 days before the start of the tour, penalty of 100%
Documents and visas
Identity card valid for foreign travel and health Card.
Information and program changes
The information given before the tour starts, will be sent by email. The program above can be subject of changes for organization or weather grounds.
Deadline for enrollment 20th February 2013
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIKE TOUR
Duration: 2 days, 1 night, 2 days by bike
Period: from Saturday 13th April, in the morning to Sunday 14th April 2013
Difficulty: beginners
Place: Italy > Veneto
Tour description: The tour is a short trail with two night-stops with start and arrival in Bastia Padovana, village close to Rovolon, Teolo and Padua. The trail tracks secondary roads with low car traffic and bike paths, as the recommended part along the seashore. The road bank is asphalt or we will be pedaling on nice dirt roads. The path is mostly flat with few light climbs.
Visits: guided tour of Catajo Castle, Praglia Abbey; short visit of Lispida Castle.
PROGRAM OF THE BIKE TOUR
Day 1 - 13th April 2013
Independent travel with arrival at Bastia Padovana; appointment at 9.00 a.m. by the cemetery car park.
Bastia Padovana > Arquà Petrarca
About 55 km – mainly flat path
Start at 9.15
Arquà Petrarca – Hotel Villa del Poeta***
Day 2 - 14th April 2013
Arquà Petrarca > Bastia Padovana
About 45 km – mainly flat path
Start at 9. Expected arrival time: 5 p.m., than individual way back.








