Discovery Italy

Day 1: BOLZANO
Arrival in Milan, welcome by the Discover Italy Now Tour Leader and transfer to Bolzano, the ancient old city, witness of encounters between different cultures and languages.
Alternatively you can fly directly to Bolzano.
Check-in at 3* Hotel, relax and refreshments.
Lunch in an old trattoria and together with the tour leader and in the saddle of your bicycle you start discovering the old part of Bolzano with its elegant baroque architecture and gothic churches and the modern Bolzano with its twenty century buildings...
-Waltherplatz square
-Duomo cathedral
-Piazza delle Erbe/Obstplatz with the colorful fruit and vegetable market
-Talvera bridge/Talferbrucke
-Mareccio castle/ Schloss Maretsch
-the beautiful San Antonio castle/ Schloss Klebeinstein
-Runkelstein castle that mark the entrance into Sarntal valley full of vineyards
-the beautiful district of Gries
-renowned wineries where wine tasting is a must… Lagrein and Santa Maddalena among the best wines
These are just some of the places you are going to visit in the ancient city of Bolzano, immersing yourself in ancient atmospheres in search of art, culture and local traditions.

Evening: live music in a local bar

Day 2 : BENEDICTINE ABBEY OF MURI-GRIES/ BENEDIKTINERABTEI MURI
Wine tasting and local gastronomic products
You start your morning with a bike tour to visit the benedictine abbey Muri-Gries in the main square, surrounded by ancient buildings and then the wine cellar Gries, immersing yourself in wine production techniques tasting as well some of the best local wines as for example Grieser Lagrein.You continue with a walk in the surrounding vineyards between romantic and charming atmosphere
Lunch in a local trattoria tasting the local products.
BOLZANO - TERLANO 14 km by bike
TERLANO - VILPIANO 4 km by bike
VILPIANO - MELTIN by cable car
VILPIANO - NALLES 4 by bike
Your journey continues with a fantastic itinerary, biking along a road lined with vineyards and orchards that cover the whole valley and flanked by the river Adige in the background while the castles pop up on the surrounding hills.On the schedule there is also a visit to the centenary winery cellar ”Produttori Terlano” that are going to welcome you in a nice taverna for wine and local products tasting.Then you continue with a few minutes pleasant cable car tour from the nearby village of Vilpiano / Vilpian to Meltin / Molten.
Dinner at ”Vivaldi Arunda”, another interesting wine cellar.From Vilpiano / Vilpian you cross the river Adige and in a couple of miles you get to Nalles / Nals.

Evening: Dinner in one of the most famous and prestigious wineries in Alto Adige, in business since 1556, at ”Cigno Castle / Schloss Schwanburg” or in a local restaurant tasting local food & wineAccommodation in 3* Hotel or Farm House.

Day 3: NALLES – MERANO 14 km by bike
After a rich breakfast you join a bike tour to Merano, a beautiful tourist resort with important spas that take advantage of the many mineral water sources.You visit, together with your Tour Guide, the Gothic castle with its collection of ancient weapons, Duomo cathedral and Via dei Portici, Rametz Castle, a beautiful sixteenth-century residence, entirely surrounded by vineyards and home of a wine cellar and a wine bar.Lunch: At the visited wine cellar or in a local trattoria.
MERANO - PARCINES / Partschins 9.5 km by bike
Your picturesque biking journey continues traveling to Val Venosta / Vinschgau, among villas and orchards. You continue your art, culture and good food itinerary.Once in Parcines we recommend you to visit the beautiful gothic church with the onion shaped tower and its castles: Stachelburg, Spauregg and Gaudententhurm.

Evening: Dinner in a local restaurant.
Accommodation in 3* Hotel or B & B

Day 4: PARCINES – CHIUSA/KLAUSEN, 70 km by bike
Wine tasting and local gastronomic products
Your itinerary takes you to Chiusa / Klausen, a town that has a long, intense history.
Chiusa / Klausen is the first important stop on the way to Bolzano-Brenner. It used to be the gateway to Italy on the Brennero road.You are going to visit the old town with its important and beautiful houses, dating back to the sixteenth and seventeenth century, the Chapel of Madonan di Loreto, on a cliff above Sabiona Monastery / Kloster Säben overlooking the city and the valley.
Within walking distance you immerse yourself in an area of vineyards and visit the remains of an early christian basilica.Lunch in local restaurant and wine tasting at ”Cantina Valle Isarco”. That is the area of Valle Isarco / Eisecktal that produces in particular white wines.
CHIUSA - BRESSANONE 13 km by bike
Your biking tour continues to Bressanone / Brixen, one of the most beautiful and rich in history of South Tyrol, where you find a fascinating fusion of gothic, renaissance and baroque style.Your tour takes you also to the suggestive via dei Portici / Laubengasse, full of shops where you can buy local products.
A visit to the Duomo cathedral, with its ancient towers and the cloister with its interesting frescoes...is also on the schedule.

Evening: relax
Dinner in local restaurant and accommodation at 3* Hotel or B & B

Day 5: BRESSANONE – NOVACELLA 3 km by bike
Wine tasting and local gastronomic products
The morning starts with a bike tour to the Abbey of Novacella, a great center of culture and rich in art works.
The tour continues with a visit to Abbey’s wine cellar where, since at least nine centuries, are produced abbey’s wines, made from grapes from the local vineyards.
Lunch.
NOVACELLA- VARNA 2 km by bike
Your itinerary continues to Varna and then to the nearby town of Fortezza that allows bathing.
Back to Varna you can spend a relaxing evening

Evening: End of the programme dinner with a good glass of wine from the vineyards in Tyrol
Accomodation in 3* Hotel or B&B