Following arrival at Treviso or Venice airport, we will transfer you to the charming town of Treviso. With its meandering waterways and tranquil atmosphere, it’s an ideal starting point for your trip.

On arrival, we will provide you with all the information you will need for the duration of your trip, before leaving you to enjoy your self-guided tour of this beautiful corner of Veneto. Arrival time permitting, there should be time to explore the town before enjoying an evening meal in one of the town’s great restaurants.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 500 Metres Approx.

You’ll make a gentle start today leaving Treviso behind, as you ride alongside the fertile, cultivated countryside towards the Montello hills that lie below the Piave River. This area was the site of a deadly battle in June 1918 during the Austria-Hungarian war and today, a majestic military memorial below the hill commemorates the event.

A short diversion will take you to the ruins of Sant’ Eustachio Abbey before riding onwards and into the foothills of the Montello. This is a popular ride with the locals and it’s highly likely you’ll find yourself sharing, and enjoying, the roads with fellow Italian cyclists.

Much of the route follows a delightful tree-lined water course and enroute to Asolo, you’ll be able to check out the imposing Villa di Maser. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, the villa, constructed in 1550, is one of the most admired works of Venetian architect Andrea Palladio.

Having rested whilst visiting the villa, you’ll be ready for the only significant climb of the day, as you make your way up to the town of Asolo. Situated on top of the hill and considered one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, Asolo has always attracted artists and writers from all over the world, including Victorian poet and playwright Robert Browning.

After strolling around the town and perhaps enjoying a drink in the main piazza, all that remains is a short, sweeping descent to your hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1100 Metres Approx.

Today you will head into the heart of the Prosecco region towards Bassano del Grappa, one of the most important towns in the region. Leaving Asolo, the road meanders over rolling hills and past hamlets watched over by numerous small castles. Heading north, you’ll ride towards the imposing Mt Grappa and into its foothills, before heading into Bassano del Grappa along the Brenta cycle route.

The main attraction, once in the town, is the Ponte Vecchio, or “Old Bridge” of Bassano, another of Andrea Palladio’s masterpieces, which spans the Brenta River in the heart of the town. Many shops and bars surround the bridge, including Italy’s oldest distillery which dates back to the 18th century and still serves the local “Grappa” to its customers today. Maybe not the best idea to start on the Grappa so early, but you will arrive in Bassano in time for a morning coffee and Italian pastry in one of the piazzas or overlooking the river.

Once back on the bikes, the route heads towards the Piave River and into the rolling hills of Ezzellino and the Colli Asolani, surrounded by Prosecco vineyards and topped with hamlets and castles.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 800 Metres Approx.

Today you will head into the heart of what is known as the UNESCO Prosecco region. The route heads towards the Piave River and into the rolling hills of Ezzellino and the Colli Asolani. Having crossed the Piave River, the vineyards become ever-more obvious and there is no mistaking that you have entered the heart of the Prosecco region. As you head towards Follina, the road from Valdobbiadene rises upwards as the vineyards spread themselves extensively on the steep hills below.

On arrival at your accommodation, you may wish to enjoy a well-deserved glass of Prosecco in the satisfying knowledge that it was produced within a 20 km radius, and very likely in the hills through which you have just ridden.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 900 Metres Approx.

Local riders consider today’s route to be something of a classic “must ride” as it takes in some of the best scenery and presents some of the best riding that the Prosecco region has to offer.

Leaving the accommodation, the riding begins along the fertile lower valley, separated by the high Monti dei Visentini and the lush rolling hills of Prosecco. Next you’ll ride past the small lakes of Lago di Lago and Lago di Santa Maria, surrounded by lush woods and prairies. Heading south beyond the lakes, you’ll start climbing through the hills as the woods give way to vineyard after vineyard clinging to the rolling hills.

A popular beauty spot, and well worth a visit to take a few photos, is Molinetto della Croda, a water mill set below a picturesque waterfall, just off the road between the villages of Rolle and Refrontolo. Later, looping west through Compea, you’ll ride through the 117 hectare DOCG region of Valdobbiadene, famed for its high quality Valdobbiadene Superior of Cartizze Prosecco.

Partially retracing some of the latter stages of yesterday’s route, you will pass through Follina where a visit to the abbey with its stunning cloister is a must-see before finally making your way back to base.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 700 Metres Approx.

It’s time to bid farewell to Follina and head back to Treviso. The journey south leads you past numerous medieval castles such as the castle of Collalto di Susegana, the tower and bastions of which still stand having withstood first world war bombardments, and the privately-owned Castello di San Salvatore with imposing walls and towers telling tales of great imposing dominance in the region.

As you pedal, once again, through Nervesa della Battaglia, your week of riding draws to a conclusion as you follow the tyre marks of the many local riders and head into the Montello Hills before one last sweeping descent through the countryside surrounding Treviso.

You should arrive in Treviso in time to enjoy your final afternoon and evening exploring the beautiful and oft-overlooked city before sitting down to enjoy a one last Italian dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, it’s time for your transfer to Treviso and to say your final farewells to Italy.

For those wanting to stay for a few extra days, Venice is a short transfer and an ideal location to soak up more Italian culture.