Family Cycling Holiday: Ferrara and the Po Delta Park

Day 1: Ferrara
Individual arrival in Ferrara and check-in at the hotel. At 6 p.m. welcome meeting and bicycles delivery (if rented). If you have time, explore the historical city centre of Ferrara made of narrow streets where you can spot hidden courtyard gardens together with medieval and Renaissance houses. Do not miss the Castle, the Duomo, Via delle Volte, Palazzo dei Diamanti and the Jewish Quarter with the Museum and the Cemetery. The city also offers many cultural events especially in Spring and Summer.

Day 2: Ferrara – Gambulaga (28 km)
In the morning you can spend some more time visiting the city centre of Ferrara, before taking the cycle path that will lead you first to the Basilica of San Giorgio Fuori le Mura, then through a cultivated countryside up to Voghenza, located in the ancient Po Delta and important centre during the Este era. We suggest to visit the Tomb of San Leo, hosted inside the church, the Modeling Musem, the Necropolis of Voghenza and in Voghiera the beautiful Delizia del Beriguardo Verginese with its Archaeological Museum. At a few kilometers from Gambalunga it is also possible to admire the exterior of another Delizia: the Castle of Belriguardo, which is not far from the Due Laghi del Verginese. Dinner and overnight at the hotel/agriturismo in Gambalunga.

Day 3: Gambulaga – Pontemaodino – Pomposa (40 km)
After leaving Gambalunga you will reach the Pieve of San Vito which, together with the one of Argenta, is the oldest church of the whole Ferrara province. The route continues then towards Migliarino, also known as “the town of seven towers”, that you will reach cycling through fields and alongside the ancient riverbed of the Po di Volano. In Codigoro you can enjoy an excellent ice cream at the Gelateria Riminese, just before crossing the bridge on river Po. The cycle path will lead you then to the Benedictine Abbey of Pomposa, masterpiece of Romanesque art. You are now at the gates of the Po Delta Park. Next to the Abbey, at Corte Madonnina, you can also enjoy a tasting of  the local Wines of Bosco Eliceo, known as “I Vini delle Sabbie” (the Wines of the Sands) and other typical products. Dinner and overnight at the hotel/agriturismo in Pomposa.

Day 4: Pomposa – Comacchio (37 km)
Relax and leave all your thoughts behind because you are going to plunge in the suspended atmosphere of the Po Delta Park. From the Abbey of Pomposa you will continue following the cycle path on the Po di Volano river bank and cycle through the Oasi di Canneviè, a small brackish lagoon home to hundreds of birds. From the northernmost of the Lidi di Comacchio to the mouth of the Po di Volano, the cycle path then runs through the Pine Forest Natural Reserve of Volano up to the seaside resort of Lido delle Nazioni. From here you will start cycling along the shores of Porto Garibaldi, the port with the most important fleet of  fishing boats in the Northern Adriatic. Onboard the small ferry on the canal port you will reach Lido degli Estensi then head towards the Valli di Comacchio. Along the route, don’t miss the view from the tower on the Longonovo canal, surrounded by water. Dinner and overnight at the hotel/agriturismo in Comacchio.

Day 5: Comacchio – Argenta (47 km)
In the morning, spend some time to explore the beautiful old town of Comacchio and discover the amazing Trepponti, pentarch bridge dating back to the 17th century. One of the best ways to discover Comacchio, also known as the “Little Venice”, is aboard a Batana, typical lagoon boat  sailing along the internal canals. The cycle route continues then across the Po Delta Park in the direction of Argenta, skirting the Valli di Comacchio, the largest brackish wetland in Italy. You will finally reach Argenta cycling through the Valli di Mezzano and on the cycle path along river Reno. Dinner and overnight at the hotel/agriturismo in Argenta.

Day 6: Argenta – Ferrara (41 km)
In this last cycling day you will leave the nature of Po Delta Park to go back to the charm of the city. After leaving Argenta, you will meet first the ancient Pieve di San Giorgio and then the Valli di Argenta, birdwatching paradise and home to the Museo delle Valli, one of the few ecomuseums existing in Italy,  hosted in a rural building dating back to the 17th century. You will finally get back to Ferrara cycling along the Po di Primaro. Hired bicycles are to be returned in Ferrara by 6 p.m.

Day 7: Ferrara
End of services after breakfast.