This bike tour follows one of the most ancient pilgrim’s routes from France to Rome in Italy, to the grave of Saint Peter. Your holiday starts in Aosta in the Alps and then along the longest Italian river, the Po. You will be surprised by the variety of landscapes and cultural remains of Roman times. You will discover the rice fields of Vercelli with lots of birds, the plains of Lomellina, Vigevano with its splendid square, and Pavia, with its Chartreuse plunged in the green land of Lombardy.
Day 1: Individual arrival in Aosta
Day 2: Aosta > Chatillon/Saint Vincent, ~35 km
Today there are some easy ups and downs while you descent through the Aosta Valley. You cycle on the right side of the river Dora with the mountains on your side. Pay some time to visit the castle of Fenis, one of the most beautiful of the region before crossing the river to reach Saint Vincent with its famous Casino.
Day 3: Chatillon/Saint Vincent > Pont Saint Martin, ~30 km
Still on undulating terrain, you cross the river a couple of times, descending towards the end of the valley. Along the route you can stop to visit the castle of Issogne, enjoy the view of the vineyards in Arnad and Donnas, admire the impressive size of the fortress of Bard, which you pass under on the ancient Roman way, until you end the day in Pont St. Martin with is marvelous Roman bridge.
Day 4: Pont Saint Martin > Viverone, ~51 km
Today you leave the Aosta Valley to enter the Piedmont region. The route is easier and you start to see some plain with the moraine hill of Ivrea on the background. Stop in Ivrea for a break and take some time to wander on its narrows middle age streets and visit the castle of the „Green Count„, before reaching the Lake of Viverone where you'll spend the night.
Day 5: Viverone > Vercelli, ~55 km
Today your itinerary is in the middle of the plain, the route is flat. You cross many rice fields, which are typical for this region and which look like thousands of lakes when they are completely flooded in summertime. The panorama is varied by the presence of the Partecipanza wood where is placed the abbey of Lucedio. Vercelli is a large town with many monuments to be seen. Do not miss the Church of S. Andrea, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved Romanesque monuments in Italy.
Day 6: Vercelli > Vigevano, ~40 km
Still riding on the plain, you leave Piedmont and arrive in Lombardi. You cycle through the „lomellina„, a fertile plain where rice fields are still the predominant landscape. Along the route you encounter the battlefield of Vinzaglio where was fought one of the independence wars of Italy. Your final destination is Vigevano with its Sforzesco Castle and the main square „Piazza Ducale„, designed by the famous renaissance architect Bramante.
Day 7: Vigevano > Pavia, ~43 km
Easy path, most of it on the Ticino river natural park. Shortly after leaving Vigevano you encounter the Ticino River Natural Park, one of the best preserved in Italy. Clear waters and shading trees lead you during this stage where you'll cross a boat bridge. Before arriving in Pavia you encounter the Certosa, north of the town, which deserve a stop to admire the church and the monastery. The city of Pavia awaits you with its famous covered bridge over the Ticino River and the historical center of the middle age.
Day 8: Departure or transfer to Aosta
