Tour Details

"Mangia Bene" means more than just eating well.

It means living the good life in Italy and that means staying in special places that let you check in to the Italian lifestyle. We leave no stone unturned in the search for ideal accommodations. Our charming and authentic hotels, inns, and guest houses are always of the highest quality, offering double rooms with private baths, nutritious breakfasts and secure bicycle storage.

In addition, we look for properties with something special, whether it's an agriturismo offering private rooms on a working farm, olive oil press, or vineyard, a locanda housed in a historic convent, Medieval castle or Renaissance villa, or an albergo classico with a spectacular view or prime location.

Because such properties tend to be small, our groups are strictly limited to a maximum of 12 guests. We spend 2 nights in most hotels. This allows you extra time to relax and enjoy the property or possibly to take a day off from riding. We often book hotels with resort amenities such as swimming pools and gardens. Some offer optional activities such as massage, golf, tennis, or horseback riding.

Buon Appetito!

Most cyclists agree that Italy has the best food in the world. We take the time to research the gastronomy and cuisine of each area we visit. Through our partnership with Slow Food, we are able to treat our guests to some of Italy's best regional cooking. All CycleItalia trips include daily breakfast and dinner at least half the nights. Lunches are open to allow you the freedom to choose the style and expense of your pranzo. Group dinners include antipasto, primo, secondo, dolce, vino and caffe. Open nights allow you the freedom to explore local ristoranti at your leisure.

Wine is one of Italy's greatest treasures, and each region has its own bounty to offer. We include a selection of local wines with each group meal and offer hosted wine-tastings on each of our Classic Road Vacations. Our rideguides and cityguides include reviews of unique local wines and point out wineries and wine shops in the area.

Ride Routes

Steaming plates of pasta just taste better after a full day's ride through the peaceful Italian countryside. At CycleItalia we research ride routes that challenge the body while delighting the senses as they wind through sleepy stone piazzas, climb toward hilltop castles, glide along terraced vineyard ridges, and plunge down corkscrew descents. Each vacation offers an average of 100 kilometers (60 miles) per day (Tasting Series Vacations average less). Our aim is to satisfy even the fittest and fastest riders while providing options for the rest of us.

Our carefully-designed ride guides include detailed maps, computer-generated direction charts with cumulative and intermediate distances, custom elevation profiles, and useful information on local sights, wine, and cuisine. Legendary Climbs feature detailed accounts of each climbs racing history.

On the road, CycleItalia clients enjoy some of the best support in the industry. Says one client, "With CycleItalia I feel like I have my own personal guardian angel."  Our support vehicles provide water, snacks, and expert mechanical help as well as the occasional lift.

CycleItalia can also advise you on the proper equipment for your trip. From gearing to clothing to bicycle travel cases, let our extensive experience help you to make the right choices. A custom Santini jersey and socks are included with every trip. Additional items such as shorts, gloves, and windjackets are available for purchase at promotional prices.

Vehicles

CycleItalia offers a seat for every guest. Trips of 12 guests will be accompanied by a 9 passenger van and a station wagon with rooftop bike racks. We provide all of your ground transport. We'll pick you up at the airport, transport you, your bike, and your luggage during the trip, then drop you off back at the airport. Support vehicles provide custom drop-offs, luggage transportation, and support on the road.

On a typical riding day, one vehicle will transport luggage and any guests wanting to be dropped ahead on the route or taken directly to the next hotel. The second will "sweep" the route up and back, offering encouragement, mechanical support, refreshments - even a lift if you've decided to skip that little 14% grade up ahead (we won't tell). They often meet at our designated lunch spot, offering a ride if you've overdone it at pranzo or transporting your purchases from the local winery or frantoio.

Arrivals and Departures

Please do not book airfares until you receive your pre-trip confirmation packet.

The length of transatlantic flights combined with the time zone changes will require you to depart the USA one day prior to the arrival day of your CycleItalia trip. The reverse situation will get you home on the same day you depart from Italy.

Our friends at Premier Travel will be happy to assist you with airfare information on flights to connect with CycleItalia. Call Premier Travel at (712) 252-0008 or email.

Liabilities and Responsibilities

Release of Liability: CycleItalia LLC will require each participant to read and sign a Release of Liability waiver as partial payment for their trip. This form will be sent to you with your confirmation materials.

Rights and Responsibilities: We will gladly answer any questions to help you select your trip, though the tour participant accepts any and all responsibility to choose an appropriate trip for their cycling skill level and fitness and to carefully read all the pre-trip instructions prior to departure.

All prices are in US dollars and are based on exchange rates in effect at time of publication. While we make every effort to avoid it, CycleItalia reserves the right to add a surcharge to prices should the US dollar lose substantial value against the euro. Call for details.

CycleItalia takes no responsibility for the failure of any person to provide services we have contracted for.

CycleItalia staff may be required to make decisions (including the removal from the group of any guest) deemed to be in the best interest of the group as a whole and these may occur without prior notice.

We reserve the right to cancel any trip at any time prior to departure, for any reason and refund of any payment received by CycleItalia shall constitute full settlement.

Appropriate adult behavior is required at all times.