Mantua-Venice - MS Ave Maria Italia

From Mantua to Venice – along the banks of the river Po and numerous canals, the fascinating Po Delta and the famous lagoon. There are countless UNESCO world cultural heritage sites: the Renaissance city of Mantua, the medieval town Ferrara and the Doge city Venice. Enjoy cycling on excellent flat paths. This tour is also suitable for inexperienced cyclists. The tour starts in Mantua.
Here you can find further information on the MS Ave Maria Italia.

Day 1 Arrival in Mantua
Embarkation from 6.00 pm. Explore the city, which is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site.

Day 2 Round trip Manuta, approx. 35 km/25 mi
The first bike tour will take you through the surroundings of Mantua. In the afternoon there is a guided tour of Manuta’s countless Renaissance monuments.

Day 3 Mantua - Zelo, approx. 50 km/31 mi + boat trip
You’ll cycle on easy paths along the river Po and the Canal Biano to Zelo. Visit a museum and a cheese factory.

Day 4 Zelo - Adria, approx. 50 km/31 mi + bus transfer
Enjoy a beautiful bike tour to Ferrara, a town dating from the 14th century, which is also a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. Overnight stay in the former harbour town Adria.

Day 5 Adria - Pellestrina Island, approx. 40 km/25 mi + boat trip
Today you will cycle from Porto Viro through the nature park in the Po Delta. Constantly changing streams create a number of different eco systems with countless plant and animal species.

Day 6 Pellestrina Island – Venice, approx. 25 km/19 mi, boat trip
Be sure not to miss the fish market at sunrise. Then you will make your way to Venice between the Adriatic and the lagoon with bike and boat.

Day 7 Explore Venice
In the morning you’ll take part in a guided tour of the ‘Serenissima’, then you can explore the city or the islands of the lagoon by yourself.

Day 8 Departure
After breakfast your tour from Mantua to Venice on MS Ave Maria Italia ends.

Here are the details on MS Ave Maria Italia.

Included in "Mantua-Venice - MS Ave Maria Italia":

• 7 nights aboard in your chosen category
• full board (7x breakfast, 6x packed lunches, 6x dinner excl. beverages; only 1x dinner in Venice)
• afternoon coffee and cake served daily
• 1x cabin cleaning
• bed linen and towels supplied
• welcome drink
• guided city tour in Mantua
• several short guided city tours
• tasting of grappa and spirits in a local distillery
• visit to a Grana Padano cheese dairy
• visit "Museum of the Carousel + Folk Theater"
• visit glass blowing factory, Murano
• transfers by bus Ferrarra-Adria
• guided cycle tours in english
• digital travel documents in english
• rental bike included!
   

Accomodation:

• outside cabins, approx. 7-8 sqm (75-86 sq ft), with ensuite WC and shower
• upper deck cabins with openable bull eyes
• level-access beds which can be moved
• lower deck cabins for 3 guests too
• upper deck cabins for 3+4 guests too

Rental bicyles:

• We offer comfortable unisex-bikes with 21-speed gearboxes, equipped with a bike bag and a bike lock. We also offer e-bikes if desired.
• If you choose to wear a helmet, we recommend using your own due to the variety of head sizes and shapes and for hygienic reasons.

Bookable dates 2027:

• Arrival on saturdays
  20.03. + 03.04. + 17.04. + 01.05. + 15.05. + 29.05.
  12.06. + 26.06. + 10.07. + 24.07. + 07.08. + 21.08.
  04.09. + 18.09. + 02.10. + 16.10.

Prices:

All prices are per person.

• Booking code "Mantua-Venice - MS Ave Maria Italia":
  RS-IMAI-7M
• how you can save some money
• costs of cancellation

Additional costs:

• eventually Venice city entrance fee: approx. 5-15 €/person, payable on site
• ACTV ticket for public transport in Venice and the lagoon
  We recommend purchasing a 48-hour ticket, which costs around 35 €

The booking process

Arrival to "Mantua-Venice - MS Ave Maria Italia":

• The MS Ave Maria Italia is berthed in Porto Catena, close to the town centre.

• Arrival by car:
  Secure and unsecured paid parking spaces located between 500 - 1500 metres (0,3 - 0,9 mi) from the ship.

• Arrival by train:
  Mantua railway station, approx. 1.5 km from the boat landing stage. A taxi costs approx. 20 €.

• Arrival by plane:
  Airport Verona:
  Airlink shuttle bus to Verona Porta Nuova station, journey time approx. 15 mins, standard fare approx. 5 €.
  From there, take the train directly to Mantua station, journey time approx. 45 mins, standard fare approx. 5 €
  Airport Venedig Marco Polo:
  Take the ATVO shuttle bus or ACTV bus no. 15 to Venezia Mestre station; journey time approx. 25 mins; cost: 15 €
  From there, take the train to Mantua station; journey time approx. 2,5–3 hours; 1 change; cost: approx. 15 €

• Embarkation at 5 pm, luggage can be left from 1 pm.

Return transfer:

• under your own steam by train from Venezia S. Lucia to Mantua, every hour, duration approx. 2-3 hours, 1 x change, standard fare approx. 15 €
  trenitalia.com is a helpful on-line resource (DE/EN/FR)

Personal bikes:
As space is limited, it will not be possible for you to bring your own bike on this tour.

Perfectly looked after:
During your tour, we are available between 8 am and 8 pm, 7 days a week. We are happy to help with any kind of problems you might be having. You will find this emergency number in your travel documents.

Please note:

• As is the case with all boat trips, changes in travel itineraries due to the weather, high or low water levels, technical issues or regulatory requirements can be undertaken at any time.