L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 www.italoamericano.org 18 L'Italo-Americano 5 itineraries to discover Italy by bike Slow down, shape up and take your time: traveling by bicycle can be a real treat and the best way to explore and get to know many areas of Italy. In the past few years all major cities and many smaller towns have embraced the two wheel philosophy and nowadays find- ing rental bikes -whether is for just an hour or for a few days- is easier than ever. For a list of rental bike places by region visit http://biciedintorni.org/ noleggio/index.php. Bicycle itineraries dot the boot from North to South and from West to East, but there are some that are more scenic than others: L'Italo Americano has compiled a list of top excur- sions to discover Italy by bike - some easy, some more difficult, all incredibly beautiful. F r o m G e n o a t o P o r t o v e n e e r e : t h e C i n q u e terre by bike. A stunning trip that starts from Genoa, nowa- days definitely worth a visit thanks to a recent restyling. From there take the funicular t r a i n t o C a s e l l a , w h e r e t h e views of the Gulf and the ine- briating scent of the trees in b l o o m w i l l t a k e y o u r b r e a t h away. The first part of the jour- ney is the most difficult, but the small villages surrounded by olive groves make it worth it. Stop in Cicagna and visit the Eco-museum dedicated to the ardesia slate, a local material used for many important build- i n g s , i n c l u d i n g t h e s t u n n i n g Basilica dei Fieschi in nearby Cogorno. The path continues t h r o u g h l u s h V a l G r a v e g l i a , amid uninterrupted views of the Mediterrenean, before plunging d o w n t o P o r t o v e n e r e , a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour takes 5 to 7 days and can be made as part of a group b y b o o k i n g t h r o u g h http://www.ecologicotours.it/ From Alghero to Cagliari: biking through the West of Sardinia. Fall in love with the beauty and charm of Sardinia's West Coast with this enchanting bicycle tour: get away from the crowds and get in touch with the real, authentic Sardinia. The panorama alternates between hilly landscapes, still mostly deserted, to the bluest of seas: in a little more than 250 miles you will get in touch with more than 4000 years of history, from the ancient nuragic civilization to t h e A r a g o n e s e d o m i n a t i o n , through the Punic and Roman eras. Nature too will leave you speechless: during the tour you w i l l s e e r o l l i n g h i l l s , w h i t e beaches, wetlands and lagoons, all beneath a cobalt blue sky. T h e t o u r t a k e s s e v e n n i g h t , eight days and can be booked through http://www.sardiniacy- cling.com/. Sellaronda bike tour: dis- cover the Dolomites on two wheels. Those who enjoy the mountains will be stunned at the beauty of the Dolomites with their pink-orange hued rocks and lush green forests. From CHIARA ASSI S e l v a V a l G a r d e n a t h e t o u r takes you around the Gruppo Sella massif through an amaz- ing tour that goes through four valleys and four mountain pass- e s : P a s o G a r d e n a , P a s s o Campolongo, Passo Pordoi and Passo Sella. The tour is not for the fainted hearted, although is now possible to rent e-bikes for those who need a little help dur- ing the steepest ascents. But don't worry: many gondolas are open in the summer and will let you bring your bike on board should you prefer to go down- hill only. For more information o n t h i s e p i c t o u r : http://www.valgardena.it/en/hik ing-biking/mountainbike-rac- ing-bike/sella-ronda-mtb-tour/ A n e l l o d e l T r a s i m e n o : U m b r i a b y b i k e . B e a u t i f u l views of Lake Trasimeno and the surrounding hills make this circular 50 mile tour one of the m o s t s c e n i c i n I t a l y . F r o m Castiglione del Lago the route will take you through several quaint Umbrian fishermen vil- l a g e s s u c h a s T u o r o s u l Trasimeno and Sant'Arcangelo, as well as seemingly never end- ing olive groves and vineyards. T h e c a s t l e o f M o n t a l e r a , a fortress built back in the 12th century and surrounded by old oak trees, is the highlight of the tour and a splendid spot to take a b r e a k f r o m p e d a l i n g . F o r d e t a i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n : http://www.bikeinumbria.it/ Naviglio della Martesana: the perfect escape from the city. Visiting Milano for Expo 2015? Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and take this short and easy bike tour that from Via Melchiorre Gioia in downtown Milano fol- l o w s t h e M a r t e s a n a c a n a l , designed by Leonardo Da Vinci and opened in 1496, all the way to the countryside of Trezzo sull'Adda. The path is flat and easy to follow, making it very popular with those with chil- dren and there are plenty of places to stop and have a drink or bite to eat. For more infor- mation about the path and about bike rentals: http://www.piste- c i c l a b i l i . c o m / i t i n e r a r i / 2 0 7 - milano-cassano-dadda-trezzo- sulladda-naviglio-della-marte- sana Traveling by bicycle can be a real treat and the best way to explore and get to know many areas of Italy Those who enjoy the mountains will be stunned at the beauty of the Dolomites

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